An excellent day…..

So…. as the transfer of power is made in the USA, Trump says his movement ‘is only just beginning’. Crikey. I do hope not. The world will not be awfully safe, in my humble opinion, if he is allowed to go unchecked once he leaves office. Fingers crossed that wise words are said and taken notice of, in the years to come, for a more peaceful and compassionate world. A world that has an abundance of nature and not arms, and that we can leave to our children and grandchildren in confidence and not fear.

It was with confidence that I got up this morning, knowing that I didn’t have any paint, so I would have a clear-up instead. However, not long after getting up, I noticed an email in my junk, telling me that the pot of paint I’d ordered had been shipped and was on its way. I couldn’t make up my mind whether I was happy or not about that. I had been hoping for a rest….

Anyway, the paint duly turned up at lunchtime, so I got on and painted this afternoon. One more coat of paint on one more wall and then the emulsioning is all done. Hurrah! Just the skirting boards, door and window frames to paint, and the wallpapering to do. All by Monday? Which is when the sofas are promised for the second time. It’s doable. Wish me luck!

Other than painting, I did do other things. I had a bundle of washing to iron – some of Mum’s – and some of ours. So I popped the telly on to see what might be entertaining while I dashed away with the smoothing iron.

I plumped on ‘Staged’. I don’t if you’ve seen it but, basically, once I started watching, I was hooked. I have, therefore, watched every single episode today. I saw several episodes while I did the ironing, then a few while I was having a spot of lunch, then a few while I had a rest from painting, then a few while I ate my evening meal. Made me laugh and the series was certainly very entertaining.

I had a narrow escape though first thing this morning. I thought I might have to go over to Mum’s. The Care Agency phoned up to tell me that the carer couldn’t find Mum’s hearing aids. Well, without them, Mum (and everyone else) is scuppered. She really can’t hear a thing without them. Right then. The plan was to go over to have a good search and, if they couldn’t be found, phone the hospital to see if we can get replacements. Anyway, an hour later, the Care Agency phoned again, to say that the carer had located them under the bed…… yep, me neither!

Because I have been pre-occupied with me painting, I have left John to his own devices the last few days. He was up reasonably early this morning, and spent a good while with medical affairs and, by the time he’d finished, it was gone lunchtime. Soon after, he said he was heading out to collect some equipment that had arrived at Tool Station. “All very safe,” he reassured me, “I’ll just drive up to back door, ring the bell and they’ll pass it to me.” I had to be satisfied with that. I am a bit like a jailer and not wanting to let him out, with this new strain of the virus lurking, but he is a grown-up, so what could I say? Anyway, he came home safe and sound, and he’d masked up and sanitised his hands (I think) so hopefully all will be well.

In the meantime, we have both received a text from the surgery. ‘You have been identified as requiring COVID vaccination at home’. Who? Me? I wonder if they mean Mum, and have made a mistake because she’s already had hers. But then, on the other hand, perhaps they clustered John and me together. I don’t know. But I am very pleased that John has been notified anyway. Just got to wait for the phone call telling us when now.

And…. being a front-line worker in the NHS, Michael had his first dose of the vaccine this morning. Now that’s good news.

While John was busy with his medicals, I had a lovely surprise phone call this morning from Gloria. It is a goodly while since we spoke and so it was really lovely to have a good old natter. There was no purpose to the phone call other than to catch up with an old mate. She had been reminded by something that was said: that life is short and how about phoning someone you haven’t spoken to in ages? So she did. What an excellent example. I must do better and do that myself. Watch out world, I might be comin’ at ya!!

As I have reported previously in the last few days, the COVID infection count is going down, while the number of hospital admissions and deaths continue to rise. It makes me weep to think about all of those people who have lost their lives to the virus. There are thousands upon thousands of people in our own country and world-wide. And, I have to say, that I do question how the situation has been handled here in the UK. We always want to be ‘world-beating’. Well, we sure are – we’re world leaders in COVID deaths as a percentage of the population. What a mess.

• 33, 355 people tested positive from the virus in the last 24 hours
• 1,610 people died in the community from COVID-19
• And 454 people died in hospitals on 17 & 18 January
• It’s Day 14 of Lockdown 3; Day 307 since we began our original isolation last year

But, I live forever in hope. I hope that you all stay well. I hope that my family rides the storms of stresses and strains with ease. I hope that we will see each other face-to-face soon. I hope that love will see us all through. In his speech, ‘Loving Your Enemies’, Martin Luther King said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” So I hope that there is plenty of light and love swilling around – here and abroad, wherever it is needed.

God bless. Stay safe.