leukaemia-limbo-dance

First of all, I’d like to wish my sister-in-law, Gail, a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! All the way over there in OZ, we aren’t able to get to see Graham and Gail for real now and celebrate with them, but we always manage to touch base on high days and holidays if nothing else! Hope you have a great day, Gail.

For me, though, it’s been a funny old day, today. Got up at a reasonable time but couldn’t get going. Looked out on the inviting day outside and then chose to do all the indoor jobs instead. Weird. John, bless him, kept trying to encourage me out. “Come on, it’s such a lovely day out there.” I know, but…..I just want to get some of the jobs on my list ticked off. “You want to be outside in the garden today.” I know, I know, but things are whittling away at me and I want to do them. “OK, I’ll leave you alone.” Thank you.

The jobs I wanted to do were very exciting things like order paint online, sort out a couple of bank accounts, and polish the kitchen cupboards in an attempt to make the kitchen look like it’s nearly finished. And in between, of course, there was cooking and tidying and looking after Mum, so the jobs seemed to take forever, and polishing the kitchen cupboards will now continue into tomorrow.

Best bits of the day are checking in with friends and family and today was no exception. Envy reared its ugly head though on two counts: firstly, Freddie treated us to a nice, rational conversation and told us he was excited to be going on a bike ride with Daddy. I’d have loved to have gone with them but a) my bike is in Cambridge and b) oh, we’re in isolation. And secondly, William had a new paddling pool in his back yard, in the full sunshine, full of dinosaurs and slides and rings and balls to throw. Oooh, it did look good, and I’d have liked to have been in there with him – although to be fair, there might not have been quite enough room for an adult, but I’d have had a go!!

Then this evening, a short and sweet catch-up and trial run on Zoom with the ‘Ragdale Six’. After halting chats on WhatsApp and by email it was lovely to see my friends with smiling faces. Although, because it was the first time we had done a communication this way, there were a lot of anxious faces initially – not least because we couldn’t zoom in on Sue D (see what I did there?) and she was frozen out for a while. I felt a bit short-changed though, I must say, because we all wanted to ‘Clap for the NHS’ at 8 o’clock and so we’d barely done the rounds of, ‘Everyone alright at your house?’ before it was time to go.

The rest of the household i.e. John, Mum and the cats, mostly had a good day. John did more pottering (and hobbling) about, tidying bits and bobs to put out on the front for free, but he had a disappointing moment when he found that the plastic bits he’d sent for to finalise the ‘man-shed’, didn’t fit. Darn it, they’d sent the wrong ones. Ah, well, probably a good thing he wasn’t climbing on the shed again, given that his hip is giving him jip.

Mum managed a toddle in garden again today, enjoying the recently mown lawn and exclaiming at plants that her father used to grow, bringing back lovely memories for her. We picked a posy of flowers, just before we came back in before tea, to bring Spring into the house for her to look at when she can’t, or doesn’t want to, go out. Fresh flowers always cheer you up, don’t they? And the cats? I think they slept most of the day……

So, it being Thursday, we clapped our hearts out for the NHS this evening, and I think we were all thinking of not just those in the NHS, but of every single person in service industries who are looking after us and making sure that society does still function – and it made us clap even harder. Then, as always, a funny joke from John to those who were near enough to hear, before a wave goodbye to the neighbours up and down the road.

Despite all the doctors’ and nurses’ efforts of course, people are still getting sick and still dying. 4,583 people infected yesterday and 616 dead. But the first trial started today for a vaccine. Brave human guinea pigs trying it out. Fingers crossed it is effective, there’s no going back to the drawing board and no adverse effects on those taking part in the trial – please God.

Take care everyone – look after yourselves and your loved ones. Let’s make the most of what we’ve got now lest it change tomorrow.

I can resist anything except temptation, it seems. It’s early morning – time to get up. It’s too tempting to stay abed, so I do. It’s mid-afternoon, and I’m peckish. An apple? Nah…..chocolate’s the thing. The evening gently slides in and overtakes the afternoon, and Quiz Night is thirsty work. Water? Tea? Coffee? Hmmm……..I don’t think so, thank you very much, it’s a Black Velvet cocktail for me. Delicious, but alcoholic – again!! Note to self: resist, resist, resist. Maybe tomorrow?

I know I am a soppy old soul, but really, Wednesday Quiz Nights are such a boost. Not only am I connecting with dear friends, but we’re having a proper giggle and some challenges to our grey matter. Who knew, for example, that the stage name of Paul David Hewson was Bono? Well, I expect you all did (and I know someone who definitely will) but we didn’t, and just groaned and then hooted with laughter when we found out!!

Quiz night is one highlight of the week. But daily highlights are the pleasure of chatting to our sons, in different e-formats, catching up with their differing philosophies of life. All heart-warming and thought-provoking – and strong. How did that happen, I wonder, that we are no longer the leaders? They lead, and we follow now; as it should be, I suppose, as age creeps up on us. Pleased and sad about that.

Old age looks like it’s beckoning, but we’re absolutely not ready for giving up on stuff, so we fight on. Unlike Mum, who seems to have abandoned all challenges, including the everyday ones like making a cup of tea, even. She smiles at me, weakly, and says, “Well, at my age….” and leaves the sentence hanging. So, I thought I’d better check with the doctor whether anything needed to be done just now. What are the symptoms? Staying in bed until lunchtime. Eating, then sleeping again. Teatime: eating, then sleeping again. Bedtime: drinking, then sleeping again. Oh….. that’s just lock down syndrome!!!

Actually, that’s not what the doctor said, but I thought it!! On a telephone consultation, the doctor was incredibly good and very patient; listened well and considered the management of Mum’s sleepiness carefully, before saying, ‘let’s do nothing now……let’s wait until lock down is over…..’. Ah, well.

But you know, it seems to me that lock down generates all sorts of feelings that, under normal circumstances, you’d brush off or deal with. I was galled, for example, to hear her say to the doctor that she was bored. Well, we can’t have that, can we?? First activity: a walk in the garden in the glorious sunshine. And today (we had to smile) she was like the Princess and the Pea, with the sun in her eyes at every stop we made…..I wonder which fairy tale will be next??? Watch this space!

Other than the ‘Mum-filled space’, we have managed very well today. John and I sat for a while, companionably watching the second series of ‘Save Me’. Then John was in his element spending a happy hour or two fiddling with his ‘project’, before filling the skip and trundling wheelbarrows full of ‘stuff’ from the bottom of the garden to the top, and onto the drive; and back again.

We are lucky to be able to enjoy the day – even with its frustrations – but we watched the news too and found ourselves still touched by the stories we heard and saw. Naturally, the most affecting stories are of those who have been infected by the virus and those who have died, and the effect on their families. God bless them all – every single one of the 4,451+ people who are fighting the infection and the families of the 759+ who have died. And God bless you all as you work through the daily restrictions we currently have in place.

I absolutely savoured the night sky tonight. I ventured out, as I did yesterday, into the darkness, but this time, wrapped in the cosiest blanket, my coat and winter boots, to take my time and just be in the garden and the gloom. It was an enhancing experience. Nothing new, nothing unusual, nothing unexpected, but somehow it filled my heart and soul.

The funny thing is, of course, there is no real darkness here where we live. The street light just crowds into the garden, elbowing its way in, so that all you have is a small bowl of stars up above and a halo of light encircling it from the streets all around.

Nevertheless, I chose to stroll down to the bottom of the garden, Monkey Shoulder in hand, to the inherited bench that used to be Mum and Dad’s – and just sat. No expectations, having arrived there too late to see anything but the blackish-blue sky and tiny torches twinkling through. I had been hoping for shooting stars, but either I was too early or too late. But I did see the satellite as it whizzed past the Plough, and I amazed at man’s ingenuity as it went on its way. A dog barked, the wind blew, the chimes chimed, a motorcycle and a car vroomed by and, for a moment or two, I was content.

That is not to say, of course, that the rest of the day brought unrest! Au contraire, mon brave! Generally speaking, it was a good day, with jobs done and easy relationships on the menu.

With a breakfast of pancakes, berries and yoghurt over, it was time to inspect the garden before fixing the ‘feet’ I’d painted to the bottom of the fireplace in the kitchen. John came to my rescue and did the gluing and fixing while I watched on. It’s looking good.

Then on to winkling Mum out for a walk in the garden. She’s always reluctant. It’s beautiful day, with sunshine and everything, but she looks out with trepidation every time. I wrapped her up in her coat and a scarf over her head to ward off the pesky wind, and out we went. Once out there, she thought it was wonderful. The wind wasn’t too bothersome after all, and the sun was so warm. What a pleasure …..oooh, and look at that butterfly!!

It’s always unexpected when the doorbell rings these days, but today, not so. We had had a text message: ‘On way with skip’. Great excitement in the household as we gathered together all sorts of junk to be skipped – whooopee! Well, to be fair… it was John who did the gathering and skipping……

Other than that, we all flopped in front of day-time TV this afternoon; John lamented his painful back and the fact that we weren’t taking advantage of the sunshine; Mum snoozed; and I pretended I was a 16-year old and lightened my hair. Food, then more flopping in front of evening TV…..

So let’s spare a thought for those who can’t flop in front of the TV today, for whatever reason. So many, many people who don’t have that luxury. Especially, of course, those hit by the virus: 4,301 infected, but…. what the (???)….. 823 died yesterday. No complacency and no platitudes please. It’s not over, folks. God bless everyone, whatever you are going through today.

Just as yesterday didn’t feel Sunday-like, today didn’t feel Monday-like, either. None of that dread of work or challenging tasks to do, for us!! We can swan about within our own four walls (or within the garden hedge confines) and do as we please.

And, as there was no Freddie visit today – which, of course, hasn’t happened for weeks – there were no plans to entertain him or be entertained by him. No Paw Patrol or Mister Maker; no making cakes or kaleidoscopes; no climbing the imaginary mountain into the loft with a little picnic, or creating a den magically lit full of little candles; no hugs and no kisses. The sandpit, newly filled in readiness for Spring fun, stays closed; the paddling pool waits to be filled and paddled in and the little ‘forest’ at the bottom of the garden is devoid of a high-pitched, chattering little voice.

No, no responsibility for a little one today….. nor next week, or the week after that, or for the foreseeable…….. and the swanning about, the doing as we please, doesn’t have the same thrill to it that it might normally have.

The lock down gets no easier just because we are four weeks in. I am not used to it; and I have not yet shaken off the sense of bereavement. Our lives used to be so full of the family coming and going, Sunday lunches, staying over, leaving the children with us, leaving the dogs with us, or us going to stay at theirs, to look after the grandchildren while the adults were away. None of that now, and it’s taking some getting used to.

But we busy ourselves, nonetheless. For a start, there’s Mum to look after. Generally, she’s quite well-behaved, and she’s funny sometimes as her memory plays tricks on her – and us! “Would you like a cup of tea, Mum?” “No, thank you, I think I’ll pass on that just now.” A Nano-second later: “Did you make me a cup of tea?” “Erm…no? You said you’d pass?” Then the inevitable: “Did I?” And we fall about laughing.

Not always though, as old habits die hard and emerge to a little irritation. Sometimes we find it’s hard to forgive a transgression that may actually be due to her age, but we recognise it as a ‘Hazel-ism’. “Will you set the table for tea, Mum?” “No, I’m too tired. I’ve done a lot of walking today.” I think the walking involved going to the front door and back. And perhaps into the kitchen and back. Ah, well. And then I remember, she wasn’t nicknamed ‘The Queen’ all those years ago for nothing!!!

In other news, our ‘busyness’ saw John clearing out the left-over paints, fence staining stuff and plumbing equipment from the garage. He decided to give them away and put them out on the front drive with a note, ‘Free – Support Your Local Hoarder‘. Delighted, we saw that within hours the laden table was nearly empty as the local population helped themselves. We do hope their choices have come in handy for them.

We did more outside work today, too, with John jeopardising his back by climbing onto the ‘Man Shed’ roof and fitting more soffits and fascias, and me transplanting more pot plants into the (now) flowerbed at the bottom of the garden and hefting the hefty pieces of wood into place in the bed beyond the plum tree.

On a more leisurely note, I took myself outside this evening at about ten o’clock to gaze at the star-studded sky and watch the satellite whizz by. Such an exhilarating sight, yet soothing at the same time, and a reminder of the speck I am in the universe. Let’s not sweat the small stuff, eh?

Sweating the big stuff are still all those front-line workers, especially those in hospitals and care homes looking after the Coronavirus-infected and the dying people. In hospitals, 4,676 people were counted as infected yesterday and 449 people died. Fewer than previously, but still an enormous number, and an enormous number of families affected. We may be specks in the universe, but we are the whole in someone’s life just now and we must keep our nerve in staying put to avoid the infection spreading and perhaps spiking again. Let’s hold tight to get it right.

My early starts have been getting later and later. To the point that I almost don’t even know what an early start is any more. The alarm goes off, and I snooze it – several times. Do I really want to get up and do another chore? No, I’ll just snuggle under the duvet for a bit longer. But this morning was different. A family ‘Zoom’ session was planned. Not very early at 9.30, but it meant I had to be ‘compos mentis‘ a good hour sooner than normal, with a cup of tea in hand at 8.30.

We were delighted to see everyone who could make it, webcam-to-webcam. The children, wriggling all over the place with parents un-handing them and peeling them off the various bits of equipment, were the entertainment. It was a good catch-up though and went on longer than the half an hour originally planned. Next time, though, maybe a ‘Zoom’ session without the children, no matter how entertaining they are to the grandparents? The parents were exhausted by the end of it, I think!!

I know it’s Sunday, but it didn’t feel very Sunday-like today and, for the first time during the lock down, I didn’t want to ‘go to church’ and I forgot to light my ‘Candle of Hope’ this evening. The online service all looked interesting, and I knew prayers needed to be said, but no, not today. So instead, what did I do? Chores!! The ironing pile beckoned so I waded my way through it, with thoughts of ‘Philomena, (my home help) where are you when I need you???’

While I did the ironing, John did the baking. He’s such a whizz at preparing his own special recipes now: bread, fruit cake, banana bread, and chocolate sundaes. And now he’s stocked up for the week ahead. I think he’s even enjoying it – well, he’s certainly singing and humming a lot to himself anyway!

In amongst the flat lining of the hours that stretch before us, unexpected things happen though, don’t they? We had no expectation of a parcel or visitor at the door today so, when the doorbell rang, I was startled. I flew to the front door to see who was there, only to find no-one. In front of me though, was a little bag, a note and a hand-painted rainbow. Who would be leaving us a mystery parcel, I wondered?

This was written on the note:

In the little bag, were a good half-dozen freshly baked, home-made fruit scones and half a dozen pieces of flapjack. Scrumdiddlyumptious or what??

Well, Mum was pleased and as proud as punch that the Kershaw girls remembered her and her poetry readings, as you can imagine.  I was thrilled that they had taken the time to bake and call and deliver such a delightful surprise and we were able to have a little ‘Contact the Elderly’ tea party after all! (I didn’t have any clotted cream either though….)

I hope the girls will be pleased to know that I put the hand-painted rainbow in our front window and they will see it if they pass by.

And so passes another day of highlights and low-lights, the latter being all of us in a bit of low mood today, if I’m honest, with the expanse of ‘we-don’t-know-where-it-will-all-end’ ahead of us and John shaking his head and saying ‘I don’t get it…’ to a variety of things that do or don’t happen.

But still, I am counting my blessings – we heard from Kelv via the blog which cheered us up; we chatted to the kids; we had blessings from the community, and we have food and warmth and each other here in our lovely home.

Prayers for all those in distress today, from whatever the source, but especially those who have been touched by the virus – all 5,850 infected, of whom over 10% (596) have died, some in the prime of their lives – and all their families. God bless them all.

Saturday, 18 April 2020. The rain is falling, livening up the gardens. The plants are standing taller and look excited to be drinking in the fresh rainwater. It’s a beautiful sight. How did I never notice this before? Too busy, of course. As I watched the rain, I was reminded of that lilting poem ‘Leisure’ by William Davies, so well-known, so poignant, so apt. Now is the time to stand and stare……..so I did and appreciated Beauty’s glance:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Down to earth and on a different plain, I found myself ‘shopping washing’, ‘letter washing’ and ‘parcel washing’ yet again. Malcolm brought our groceries (thank you) round, so they got the great ‘rub over’; the postman brought letters and DPD brought a parcel that got the same treatment.

We opened the letter addressed to Grandma and Grandpa. Oooh, what was going to be inside? A home-made Easter card from William, how thrilling! With his footprints representing a bunny and carrots, it’s one to treasure.

What about the parcel then? We didn’t think we were expecting anything, but thrill of thrills, it was the steering wheel! John could hardly wait to try it in the car, only to find, disappointingly, that it didn’t fit. Oh, cruel fate!! Back to the drawing board.

Moving on from washing anything that arrives on our doorstep, I put my heart and soul into vacuuming round, but was delightfully interrupted three times. Firstly, a little video of Freddie, beating up a poor piece of kinetic sand, which had no answer for him. Oh, I do love him – he’s such a card! Then the doorbell rang, and Livia was standing there, smiling and offering us her traditional Romanian Easter cheesecake. What an unexpected and thoughtful surprise. It was delicious and polished off pretty quickly, I can tell you! And finally, a bittersweet conversation with the Sutton Sleaths; William was under the weather and needed medical attention at Heartlands Hospital. Always a worry when you hear such news, but he was an amazingly brave boy and soon home with antibiotics. Phew! Fingers crossed they work quickly.

As the day wore on, my thoughts turned to entertainment. What would we do for distraction today? Watch Phantom of the Opera on YouTube? Oh, go on then. Highly recommended by dear Anita, I thought I’d give it a go. Mum and John slept through it. I watched and enjoyed the brilliant singing and character portrayals throughout, but I am always uncomfortable with the subject matter, and this time was no different. I have promised myself that I’m not going to watch it again, no matter how stunning the production is – all that bribery, cold-blooded, calculated murder and abduction is too distressing.

Which brings me to the distressing news that a dear man I knew from church, the artist, Trevor Boult, died this week. I am grateful to own some of his originals and prints to remember him by and I wish him God speed. Praying for all his family too.

The cause of death wasn’t COVID-19, I understand, unlike the 888 people who died in hospital from it yesterday and the 5,526 people who were infectees. The figures in relation to Coronavirus still don’t make for great reading and it’s all still a very big worry for our society. Take care everyone. Let’s not get slapdash, let’s nurture our precious lives and make what we can of them.

Great excitement today!! John’s ‘project’ car started again! Not only that, the engine kept running for a good long time. For the second time this week, I got all excited – so much so, that I ran to get my phone to film the momentous occasion of the car purring on the drive. What a lovely sight.

An even lovelier sight was John actually sitting in it on the driver’s side, looking rather pleased with himself. And then, to my delight, he managed to get out of the rather low car with no effort at all. We had been wondering if, at our advancing ages, whether we’d really be able to use the car once it was fixed, i.e. get in and out of the thing, but it sure looks like we will!

Of course, the ‘project’ is in its early stages, so John chose to push the car back into the garage (rather than drive it) with me steering it using a mole-wrench attached to the steering shaft, in the absence of an actual steering wheel. The steering wheel, dear readers, is on order……

In other news, I actually managed to get Mum into the bath today. And, oh, she did have fun! Bubbles and everything. Even managed to set her hair quite respectably so she’s looking pretty smart now. I think the effort perked her up a bit, too, as she helped me make the carrot and coriander soup for lunch. Mind you, I expect we’ll pay for it tomorrow – gulp!!

Other than that, little things – which feel like big things – have pleased me today. The postman delivered a letter addressed to Grandma and Grandpa. What a lurch of the heart when that arrived. We haven’t opened it yet – that’s tomorrow’s treat. Earlier on, as we were on the driveway, Caroline walked past, and we were able to have a ‘social-distance’ chat. I felt human again. At lunchtime, I made soup which was delicious – youngest son, Andrew, chef and purveyor of all good foods, would be proud of me. On social media, I had a giggle at the antics of Freddie and William and the despair of their parents. Just felt a little bubble of happiness.

These moments are beautiful gems in otherwise fairly muddy waters. We can’t see where we’re heading and don’t know how or when the situation will be eased, so I cling on to those sparkly moments and let them shine into my dark ones. Unlike others, who can’t, and are finding the whole experience intolerable. As we all stay at home, domestic abuse cases are increasing and there have been some suicides, we hear on the news.

In addition, news is emerging of the dreadful situation in care homes where the elderly are dying in volumes. Such a frightening scenario for the residents, the carers and the families, and yet, the government has no mechanism yet of calculating how many community deaths from COV-ID 19 there have been, nor any way of stopping the spread of it in the homes. We are still simply counting those who have been hospitalised – of which today, 5,599 are infectees, and 847 are dead. Nearly 15,000 people have died so far – an incomprehensible and, for me, ‘an-unable-to-be-imagined’, fact. Pass me a bottle of wine, anyone? Head in the sand? Yes, I’m just not keen to think about the tragedy of it all today and feel helpless being unable to help.

Do you have a routine to your day now you’re in lock down? I must confess, I don’t. I’m a bit like a puppet with my strings cut. All over the place (what day is it, even?). Best intentions, of course, but not a lot executed. As darkly warned by my Spanish teacher as I failed to produce a piece of homework, the path to hell is paved with good intentions apparently.

As it happens, I did intend to find time for prayer today; chat to John; play a game of e-scrabble with friends; follow friends’/family’s stories and interact with them on social media; reply to emails; prepare food; be kind to my Mum; do some gardening; applaud the NHS/key workers this evening and watch Master Chef. I did all those things. But I seem to have a long list of other things I didn’t do – so perhaps tomorrow? Including hefting the hefty piece of wood into place in the flower bed by the plum tree – a job I thought we might do today.

But, you know, it doesn’t feel like the path to hell, just because I had good intentions that weren’t implemented. And that’s what is so interesting about this testing time – having the time to be and not just do and review some of those ingrained habits and beliefs. I wonder, are you, like me, welcoming the opportunity to take stock? Or are you still on the treadmill, enforced or otherwise?

Anyway, just so you know, I am going to have another at Mum’s hair tomorrow – well, I intend to anyway…… The curlers I ordered have arrived, and they look like they might not fall out at every opportunity as she moves her head, so we’ll see. I don’t think she’s that bothered about having her done to be honest, but we’re a bit fed up of looking at it as it’s not her best look just now.

She does make me laugh, though. She has never been one to drink much, but we have an ongoing battle every day to make her drink something at least. We take her a glass of water, “Here you are, Mum, drink your water.” “Thank you, yes, I will.” She doesn’t. We take her a cup of tea. “Here you are, Mum, drink your tea.” “Thank you, yes, I will.” She doesn’t. “Mum? You haven’t drunk your tea.” She replies, “I’m just drinking it.” And we fall about laughing.

But we did walk to the top of the egg-rolling hill in the garden today, to look at the abundance of blossom on my little cherry tree that Simon gave me when I left work. She made a bit of a meal of it today (unlike Easter Sunday when she was very egg-cited to be taking part in a little competition), but she made it.

No real rhyme or reason as to how she’ll be from day to day. But we are learning some patience. Even John supported her coming in from the garden this afternoon.

But there is rhyme and reason to the isolation, the ‘stay at home’ rule, the social distancing – it is working a bit. The figures are beginning to plateau with the numbers of COVID-19 infectees today at 4,618, and deaths at 861. With the government fearful of a spike in the virus if we don’t stay put, their advice is to continue as we are. Hold fast, everyone.

The bees were a-buzzing, the hover flies were a-hovering, the birds were a-tweeting and it was a great day for gardening. Suddenly, the sound of the bees humming contentedly as they nestle their heads into the flowers seems to be loud! So, too, is the trilling of the birds. And I don’t recall seeing so many hover flies darting this way and that in the garden before. I’m noticing things because I’m not rushing about and, for the most part, the things I am noticing are starting to feed my soul.

Talking of feeding…. is anyone else getting as fat as flawn since the lock-down started? My waistline is now ever expanding – mostly due to imbibing red wine and eating chocolate, things I normally do when I am holiday. My brain clearly thinks I am on holiday. I think I need to have a serious word with myself.

Anyway, the day started well, was good in the middle and ended well. For starters, hubby brought me breakfast in bed! How good is that? He’d cooked banana pancakes, smothered them with berries, pecan nuts and a little maple syrup, and I feasted, and felt, like a Queen.

John, feeling up to it as his chest felt a bit better, ventured out into the garden as it was such a glorious day. I, too, wandered out and we both set to, each to our own allotted tasks. John has been creating a good edge to the rockery – the aim being to prevent the infiltration of those wispy bits of grass that are difficult to weed out. It looks very smart so far; fingers crossed it works! I was keen to weed the bed beyond the plum tree – the bit that was formerly known as the flower garden/formerly the herb garden/formerly the vegetable plot – now it’s just a weed garden with a few flowers struggling to beat their way out.

Truth to tell, I have neglected the garden for the last couple of years, what with one thing and another, so this bed has not been well-tended at all and is very much over-run with lemon balm. Not only that, the soil is bursting out over onto the path, so we decided we’re going to hem it in with some hefty pieces of wood. Got the wood – just need to heft it into place now. Tomorrow’s job maybe?

A satisfactory afternoon’s work, followed by a more than satisfactory WhatsApp video call to Michael, Danielle and William. Eating an ice cream cornet, William chatted away to us, wandering about the garden and showing us little things that he’d found among the stones as if we were there. Heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. I miss all the family so very, very much.

Then followed a delicious evening meal (steak, yum!) before we joined up on an e-link with our Centre Stage friends, Malcolm & Caroline, Linda & Brendan and Nigel & Hazel for another quiz night and a great, remote, social evening, We had been detailed to set the quiz this week, so I found one on t’internet, and thought it would do the trick. Well, it did…..except I hadn’t noticed that it had been set 8 years ago, with several questions specific to that year ……oh, dear, the contestants didn’t do so well. Our historic, percentage score of correct answers has been over 70%. This evening it was an unfortunate 52%. I blame the Quiz Master.

Whilst all this was going on Mum got up late, breakfasted at mid-day, watched TV, declined the offer of a walk in the garden, watched more TV, ate her evening meal (not the steak – it was too tough….) watched more TV and then went to bed. But she quietly enjoyed herself.

We did watch the news together though, and she continues to be shocked, as we do, at the volumes of people infected and dying as they are revealed at the daily government briefing. She is astounded in fact and can hardly imagine what it must be like ‘out there’. Today a slight glimmer of hope as the figures plateaued with 4,605 people infected and 761 deaths yesterday. The numbers remain simply those reported from hospital admissions, however, with the true figures clearly much higher as people are infected in the community and many elderly people are dying in care homes.

But the biggest story of the day has to be Captain Tom Moore. A 99-year old war veteran, walking ‘laps’ in his garden to raise funds for the NHS. His aim? To raise £1,000. His achievement so far? Over £10 million!! It’s just uplifting, isn’t it??

You know it’s come to something, don’t you, when you’re reduced to sorting out your pencil drawer? Well, that was me today. Lots and lots of big jobs still to tackle round the house, but it was the pencil drawer that kept me occupied. Mind-numbing activity, I suppose, so that the harsh reality of being confined to barracks doesn’t come into too sharp a focus.

Not that I am minding the confinement as such, but I’ve begun to notice how my horizons are narrowing a little more each day. We always knew that the lock-down would challenge us both physically and mentally but, as we start our fifth week of isolation, I recognise that knowing is not the same as experiencing. Self-discipline has never been my greatest strength, but I now understand the expression ‘digging deep’ and, in our household at least, we will need to do just that in the coming weeks.

Nonetheless, it’s been a good day today. In addition to sorting pencils, I have been able to tidy up a few administrative loose ends, which is always very satisfying. We also managed to contact the doctor first thing this morning for a telephone appointment to discuss the situation regarding John’s chest. The consultation resulted in a prescription for antibiotics, which were kindly delivered to our door by Julie from Balsall Pharmacy. Hopefully the ol’ man will be on the mend very soon.

Despite the fact that he can’t breathe, John did a bit more of a tidy-up down at the ‘man-shed’ and then insisted on getting the lawnmower going and mowed as much of the lawn as he could manage. So, the garden’s looking good and the plants that I transplanted the other day seem to be relatively happy in their new homes. And here, I thought you might like to see a pic or two of the ‘man shed’?

Mum, bless her, did a lot of sitting about as usual, with her standard television diet of Tenable, Tipping Point and The Chase this afternoon, but she did have a wander about after tea to aid her digestion, and made the effort to look out down Station Road at the crisp, pale blue sky and the setting sun. She even took the initiative this evening and took herself off to bed. That was a first since she came to live with us.

I am not sure what tomorrow will bring, but I am hoping that the news will be better than it was today. The death toll from COVID-19 is still very high, with 778 people having lost their lives, and we can no longer tell ourselves that these deaths are the aged and vulnerable; they are across all ages and even among apparently healthy people. 5,252 people are reported as being infected with the virus, which is an increase on previous daily figures, and the Government has now raised the risk to the UK as high. We knew it was probably going to come this, but we surely didn’t want to experience it; and the experiences of those on the front line right now is just horrific, and they are already exhausted. May God bless them and keep them.