leukaemia-limbo-dance

Do you remember, many moons ago, that I had a rather nice little philosophy that centred around chocolate? It went something like this: Chocolate! The great comforter of all things. Confused by the advice of the government? Stay in and eat chocolate. Anxious about your husband’s health? Stay in and eat chocolate. Suffering from lockdown syndrome? Stay in and eat chocolate.

That was Day 56 of Lockdown Number One. And the mantra has been pretty steady over the course of the last nine months. Yep. Whatever the problem, eat chocolate.

However, I think it’s time to take a look at myself and see if there’s another answer. And what has brought this on? Well, it’s the pink overalls. I love ’em! And I have taken to wearing them whenever I’m doing my bit of decorating. No bother. The only thing is, they’re a teensy bit tight around the waist. I mean, it’s still alright, because they are elasticated in that particular area, so there’s a leeetle bit of ‘give’, but there could be more. Just sayin’. Especially as I have to press the poppers back together at fairly frequent intervals as I work…..

So, this morning, Helpful Henry, aka John, suggested that I might like to weigh myself. Just to see, you know, if I might need to make adjustments to my diet. Well, the scales told their own sorry tale and their recommendation was, yes, definitely, adjustments needed. Chocolate rationing is on.

In other news, we had a bit of a lie-in this morning. I was awake and just strolling though Twitter when a text came in from Andrew: ‘Apparently, I have COVID.’ Whaaaat? He had a test yesterday in readiness for going back to work next week which came back positive. He has no idea where he’s got it from. He’s stayed home for the last two weeks and only been to Tesco to do some shopping. We suppose it must have been from there. His boss doesn’t believe it, saying he thought it might be a false positive and to do the test again, please. So watch this space, folks. Fingers crossed.

We had just settled back on our pillows for a bit more rest, when we were rudely, but thankfully, interrupted by a phone call from Virgin. We are opening a new bank account and were trying to do it online. As often happens, of course, the website takes you down a bit of a blind alley and then says ‘Naah, you’re not going any further.’

In the end, the only solution was to talk to a real person. They sent us a very helpful email and a number to phone. But I was busy, wasn’t I? I was doing decorating, so didn’t initiate the phone call. Not to worry. Virgin is here to the rescue!! A very friendly-sounding chap tried phoning yesterday, but I was otherwise engaged and couldn’t take the call. So, anyway, having made a short story long, a very nice lady phoned this morning and sorted it all out for us. And that’s what got us out of bed.

And then we pottered about. Me, to do the decorating and John to doing accounts, catching up on TV, and checking on the dishwasher, which has got over its sulk and is now behaving very well, and is wearing a halo.

I was sorry to say that I had to involve John in sorting out some niggles relating to the decorating though. I have been determined to try and do it all myself, but some things are currently beyond me. Like filling the long, and large, gaps around the architrave. I was dead chuffed yesterday, when I managed to fill the gaps above the skirting board with decorators caulk, but arthritic hands and the squeezy gun really don’t mix. I wasn’t quite up to it for going around the doorway. Nor was I up to filling in a very large hole in the wall where the wires come through. So… ta-da!! Hero Henry, aka John, came to the rescue!!

Then, this afternoon we trundled out to the University Hospital in Coventry for a boob inspection. It was all very busy, but amazingly well organised. Sit here; walk there; fill this form in; patients only, please; in you come; check, check; see you soon; and off you go. In and out in a very short space of time, thank you very much.

We drove home thinking of having a nice cup of tea and a bit of cake, and I was thinking of having a bit of chocolate too, until I remembered my waistline. I felt a bit deflated and wondered what to eat instead. Melon beckoned, so I ate that. I think there are fewer calories in a melon than in chocolate, aren’t there? Hope so, anyway.

It was quiz night tonight, but John didn’t feel up to it. His eyes have been sore the last few days and it has begun to really annoy him. Especially as he has so many things to do to keep himself well, it feels such a dispiriting thing to have to cope with every day. I’ve racked my brains as to why his eyes should be particularly bad just now and have made all sorts of inane suggestions to him to try and help. Of course, it doesn’t help at all. Just drives him round the bend….but it just dawned on me…. is it the computer work that’s contributing to drier eyes than normal? I shall suggest it tomorrow…… well, maybe, if I can pluck up the courage!

Quiz night was fun, as usual, but not the same without John, of course. And there were questions there, that only he would know the answer to…. ah, well, we still did all right, much to our relief. It was a jolly good quiz, which made us really think. And it was nice to have a catch-up chat afterwards too. How lucky are we, eh? Friends. Fabulous.

So, today and the COVID figures: 18,213 people infected. 696 people died. 197 people died on 23 & 24 November in hospitals.

Take care everyone. God bless.

I never quite know what triggers a mood. But today has been a good day and I have been in a good mood. Might be something to do with seeing Freddie and Harriet through their lounge window; or perhaps the cuddle John gave me; or maybe the lovely sunshine that emerged this afternoon. Who knows?

I was conscious that the Kenilworth Sleaths are feeling a bit stressed what with one thing and another, so I asked if there was anything I could do to help. As it turned out, Harriet had a couple of errands that needed running, so I said I’d pop over to collect whatever needed delivering and do what I could. They are all still in quarantine and possibly going-stir crazy. But it was delightful to talk to Fred-Fred through the patio window at the front of their house.

I suggested that Harriet put the items for delivery out on the path, so that we wouldn’t be breathing the same air. That is supposed to make you laugh, but I see the seriousness of it now that I have written it down. Anyway, Freddie was on his little tablet playing a game, so I joined in through the glass. We had a lovely time and we could hear each other, so we had a nice little chat. I finally dragged myself away, conscious all the time that my presence was making Mac bark and Paul was probably trying to work. I didn’t see Paul or Lily, much to my disappointment, but I suppose people can’t be paraded on a whim, can they?

Anyway, errands run, I came home to fill the car up with trash. We had booked a slot at the local tip to take the junk that John had put together out of the garage and all the re-cycling that we couldn’t fit into our regular bin. There was such a lot of cardboard, courtesy of Mr Amazon, from the parcels that had recently arrived for our birthdays.

We were on time for our slot, but had to wait about fifteen minutes until a vacant parking space became available. Then we got to it and, in a very short space of time, we were done. Ooh, that was satisfying! Must book another slot at the tip again soon!!

Once we were home, we had a bite to eat and popped some cakey things in the oven so that we could have Kaffee und Kuchen in front of the computer screen as we Zoomed in on Sue and Rod for a natter this afternoon. We had such a lovely time, sharing our current experiences. Although, I must say, I think I hogged the conversation a bit. It feels like a long time since I had a proper chat to someone other than John, so I was like a runaway train.

One of the lovely things about where the computer sits in the Computer Room, is that you face south. This is marvellous when the sun is streaming in (although sometimes you have to shut it out, it’s so bright) and this afternoon was no exception. The sun was moving to the west, low in the sky and casting the most subtle shadows and brightness into the room. Nice. Filled my soul. Hope.

We had another cuppa after our afternoon chat but I decided I didn’t want to sit about, even though I felt a bit weary. I am keen to get that room decorated. I promised I wouldn’t bore you with a blow-by-blow account of the decorating, but honestly, does prep never end?

‘Right,’ I thought, ‘I’ll wash down the skirting boards and get painting them.’ Hahahahaha……….no, you won’t, Mrs. Stop up the gaps with decorators caulk first; sand down the walls (long story); fill in the little holes that you missed the first time round; shift the furniture, then shift it back again, etc, etc…… and I still haven’t got to the gloriously exciting bit of putting paint on my paintbrush. Maybe tomorrow.

As I sit here looking at the latest figures regarding COVID infections and deaths, I look up to my right, out of the window, and see a beautiful, bright moon, shining on me and filling my soul differently. So soothing. If it wasn’t Bake-Off tonight, I’d be making John sit outside, under the new patio heater, wrapped in warm blankets, sipping a steaming mug of hot chocolate, moon and star-gazing. We don’t do enough of that. Another ‘maybe tomorrow’ scenario?

So, 11,299 people have been reported as infected with the virus today. 608 people have died of it in the community and 216 people have died in hospitals on 22 & 23 November. We knew that’s how the figures would tip, but it’s still distressing to think of so many families losing loved ones in a single day.

Keep smiling, folks. And take care. God bless.

I am ever hopeful. Sometimes, I find that I am a bit fed up and down, but hope is never far from the surface. I suppose that is mostly what gets me up in the mornings. Hope, that today will be a bit better; that the poorly among us will be healed; that the politicians will see sense; that we will be able to see each other freely again soon; that I will finish (and be satisfied with) whatever job I’ve got on the go at the moment.

Hope is buoyed up by wonderful family and fabulous friends. They are just there whenever I need them. Ruddy marvellous, isn’t it? It is also buoyed up by the support of strangers or lesser acquaintances. In our case, it’s most often the NHS staff. And we were there, at Heartlands, today, for John to try out a new nebulised drug in an attempt to clear the persistent infection from his lungs. What I find amazing is that the staff and the consultants are forever beavering away, trying to improve John’s lot, hoping to see an improvement, hoping he’ll feel a bit better.

Heartlands has recently had some re-arrangement, with the oncology and haematology department moving over to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston, Birmingham. The beloved Ward 19 is no longer dedicated to this discipline but is now a COVID ward. This will mean, unfortunately, a longer trek for us in the future, should John need to be hospitalised again. However, in the meantime, the research department and the respiratory department are still there at Heartlands and keen to engage with John. In fact, they greeted him like an old friend when he arrived today, and they were delighted to see him. And those greetings, just in themselves, seem to offer hope.

Firstly, we met up with a very friendly nurse who administered the nebuliser as a trial this morning, and then we toddled off to a building called MIDRU. I had absolutely no idea what that meant and neither did the nurse when I asked her – even though she worked there! It transpires that it means: Medical Innovation Development Research Unit. Anyway, the research team want to take blood samples for part of their COVID investigations. We don’t believe John has had COVID, but they are keen to compare his samples with those who have a similar respiratory complaint and who have had it. It’s always fascinating, and John is always keen to contribute to the science. And it made me think. Being ‘an interesting case’ and a willing participant, John is a contributor to the hope for many others.

And so I am thankful for all the people, like John, who are willing guinea pigs for the benefit of the greater population. And there have been thousands of them, haven’t there, for the COVID trials? And there’s hope on the horizon, that a vaccine might be available and it might work, for a while at least, and we might get out of this enforced ‘huddling at home’ business. Fingers crossed. See? Hope – right there!!

Other than a trundle across to the hospital today, we have been busy with one thing and another. John has still been looking at the accounts in between having a rest and watching TV. I have been wrestling with stepladders, paint pots and brushes; and then, later on, wrapping paper and labels and stamps.

I decided I ought to try and get Graham and Gail’s parcel sent across to OZ earlier than normal, since we have no idea what the impact of COVID might be on the workforce and whether it might slow up the transition of any parcels. The wrapping took me all evening, would you believe it. My wrapping paper cupboard was in a mess, so I threw everything out onto the floor so that I could tidy it as I wrapped. Crikey!! I haven’t half got a lot of bits ‘n bobs. P’raps I ought to start a wrapping service.

Anyway, I finally got the parcel sorted and wrapped ready for posting. Then, I thought to myself, why didn’t I pay online and print the postage label off? Well, I did it, but I didn’t half get myself into a muddle. The parcel is multi-packeted. The online postage page asked for the weight of each item. Gosh, I don’t know! Crikey, I’ve parcelled the bloomin’ things up now! Had to make it up…….ah, well, I am sure approximations will do, she said, hopefully…..

There is hope, too, in today’s figures and the announcements made by the government today. 15,450 people have been infected with the virus today and 206 have died from it, plus 123 people in hospitals who succumbed in the last couple of days.

The figures have gone down a bit. Will it be a trend? I’m hoping so. That’s my new favourite phrase.

Take care everyone. God bless.

It was another one of those days when I didn’t know whether I was coming or going and it all felt a bit treacly. I woke up early, intending to ‘go to church’ but didn’t in the end, just sat in bed reading my book. When I finally winkled myself out of bed it was already mid-morning. Shall I have a shower now, or later? Later. I’m going to be decorating.

But I didn’t start the decorating until this afternoon. There was tidying to do. And washing up. Which all seemed to take ages and ages. It was lunchtime by the time I’d done all of that, by which point John had taken himself outside, with the rake, to gather up all the golden leaves adorning the drive at the front, and then into the back garden to gloriously reveal a green lawn underneath the golden carpet. He worked very hard all day, and I watched a bit as I stood at the sink sorting out the pots. I was putting off the decorating obviously.

I sat down on the sofa for a drink of orange juice and a snack. Still putting off gathering up all the decorating stuff. I relaxed and read a bit more of my book. Then felt guilty, so got off my bum and went into the former-office-cum-snug-cum-gym to survey the scene. I may have said this before…. but I hate the prep….. ah, well, I did eventually buckle down to it and finally, finally, got one coat of paint on the ceiling. But it felt very hard work today.

Had to laugh at myself though. I got all ready in my nice, new pink overalls. I knew that they’d be warm so I just popped a T-shirt on underneath. Just as I was getting my bits and pieces ready, I thought I ought to go to the loo first so that I could really take a run at my paint pots. Got a bit of a shock as I dingle-dangled the sleeve over the edge of the loo though, didn’t I? Oh, blimey, that needed a wash and dry before I could carry on wearing it! I mean, nothing is ever simple is it? Made me chuckle though.

The afternoon’s decorating was threatening to run on into the evening, but fortunately, John came in from the garden, Darth Vader-style, and said, “That’s enough for the day. Stop now.” I thought I’d do as I was told, so I stopped. We sat on the sofa and trawled TV programmes for a minute or two. Plumped on Blue Planet II which turned out to be quite soporific. John was soon snoozing and I felt my eyes going. But I needed a proper clean-up after my exertions this afternoon, so I ran a bath. Oooh, luxury.

While the bath was running, I whacked some chicken and veg into the oven to roast, so that it’d be all ready when John was awake and I’d finished bathing. Unexpectedly, John appeared at the bathroom door. I hadn’t thought he’d wake up yet, but actually, he’d only got up to go and have a lie down on the bed. He sorted out lighting the candles in the bathroom for me and then disappeared for a proper rest. And I had a proper rest in the bath. It were luvverly.

It’s funny though, isn’t it, the things that trigger melancholia? As I lay in the bath I thought of all the times I’d done that when the boys were little and they’d sometimes got in with me – and I was reminded of my favourite little book: ‘Five Minutes Peace’ by Jill Murphy. And I felt sorry that those times are over and wondered where the time had gone to. I know everyone says, ‘Don’t know where the time goes’, but sometimes it’s just a bit more poignant than others. And then, I thought of all the things I’d done wrong as a parent and wished I could have the time back to do parenting properly. And that’s how it gets you, isn’t it?

After we’d eaten our evening meal, which turned out to be delicious, John decided he’d go back to accounting on the computer. He is playing ‘catch-up’ and is probably about half-way through now. I am not in the mood for numbers or what we’ve got where so I am no help to him at all. Thank goodness he has his head screwed on, that’s all I can say.

The evening passed with John popping his head round the corner every so often to tell me something monetary, while I addled my brain with Strictly and I’m a Celebrity. Although it was late, neither of us wanted to go up to bed so I read to the end of my book, and John watched The Undoing.

So here we are, at the end of another day where COVID features prominently in the news but with the possibility of Christmas get-togethers. Sadly, many families will be mourning the loss of loved ones this Christmas due to the virus and will no doubt wonder whether their infections were avoidable.

The data today shows 18,662 people infected and 398 deaths, plus 137 in hospitals, related to the virus. It looks like it’s slowing maybe? Although there’s thousands and hundreds still……

Take care everyone and take heart – there’s a vaccine on the way. God bless.

I only had two glasses of Prosecco yesterday, so I couldn’t have been drunk or have a hangover, but today has been an odd sort of day. I am assuming it’s because it’s an anti-climax after the excitement of the last few days with birfdays and everything.

We chose to stay in bed this morning, a-snoozing and reading and checking out e-puzzles ‘n things. John did get up to get me a nice cup of tea though, for which I was very grateful. Then the doorbell rang, and I sped downstairs to find dear Margaret on the doorstep, just about to turn round and go home, thinking we weren’t up/in. As it was nearly mid-day, I am not surprised she was surprised that we were still a-bed.

Anyway, I reassured her that we were awake, but we were just lolling around, not having opened the curtains or anything. At which point, she indicated a sweet little parcel popped into the porch, with an apology for a late birthday gift. Crikey! No need to apologise. I wasn’t expecting a gift, so I am delighted to have one, belated or not.

Such a lovely present though – a silver charm in the shape of a pot of blue paint and a paintbrush dipped into it. A nice little nod to all the painting and decorating I am doing at the moment! Made me smile.

I decided it was, perhaps, time to actually get up at that point, and so did John. In fact, John came panting into the lounge, thinking he was missing the rugby matches that were on today. Phew! What a relief to find that he wasn’t.

But that was more or less our day – a little bit of prep-work in the former-office-cum-snug-cum gym, ready for painting it tomorrow, interspersed with TV viewing of rugby matches and Strictly. And eating and drinking cups of tea, too.

We both did a little bit of computer work, one way or another, too. John still ploughing through the accounts, and me ploughing through payment of Mum’s bills. In addition, we both, separately had a fiddle with the dishwasher, which is on the blink. John noticed that there was a problem on Thursday, but set it going in the hope that it would right itself. It didn’t, so we switched off overnight. I switched it back yesterday but it seemed to go for hours, so we turned it off again. Once more into the breach this morning, I had another go at putting it on a different programme, only for it go for hours again. Right! That’s it then! Hand-washing the pots from now on…..and John plans to tinker with it tomorrow. To be honest, I am not holding out a lot of hope, but the man works miracles with loads of other things, so why not this?

On the COVID front there have been 19,875 cases of infection today and 341 deaths in the community; and 195 deaths in hospitals in the last two days. Lily is on the mend, and Harriet’s test was negative, so that’s all positive, isn’t it?

Take care everyone. God bless.

Eeeh, but it’s been a good day! Thank you to everyone who sent well-wishes and gifts, or phoned or zoomed in. Made me feel very special.

We planned a bit of a lie-in this morning and John was going to get me a cuppa in bed, but very early on I could hear the binmen outside and had a sudden thought, “Did we put the bins out?” Having gone to bed early, I wasn’t so sure we had. No, John said. We didn’t. I ran downstairs to see if I’d be in time, but the re-cycling lorry was already half-way down the street. Ah, well, we’ve got an appointment at the tip on Tuesday so, no worries. The ordinary bin hadn’t yet been collected though, so I left that one out at least.

Of course, that was it, really, I wasn’t tired any more. So I made the cuppa we’d promised ourselves and brought it back to bed, and read my book for a bit. Then the doorbell rang, so I hot-footed it downstairs again. How delightful – a bouquet of flowers…for me.

I decided I may as well stay up, so I popped some pain aux raisins in the oven for breakfast and pottered about a bit until the doorbell rang again. Another parcel. This time, it was the most unexpected of treats…. you’ll never guess! It was a box of Magnum ice creams. Crikey!! I knew it was ice cream before I opened it. It said so on the box. And it was addressed to John and me. So I ran back upstairs with it and woke John from his slumber to excitedly share it. How very, very exciting.

Now that John was awake he thought he ought to get up and show willing on the birthday front. So we sat down in the lounge and I opened cards and presents. Honestly, the ol’ man had worked hard to pull some great stuff together from the boys and friends and me Mum: alcohol x 2: Courvoisier brandy and a bottle of Monkey Shoulder whisky; a pair of pink dungarees; a dashcam; a box of chocolates; a Karcher window washer; a gorgeous make-up bag; some socks; a massive bar of chocolate and a cuddly toy….not really a cuddly toy, but you get the gist.

We decided that we’d just take the day as it came and not force ourselves to do anything very much, so it was a delight when Danielle said that William had made me a little present. The gift and a homemade card to Grandma duly arrived, with its maker, his mother and brother, whereupon we had a little ‘party in the porch’, which made my heart sing. The gift, a votive candle holder, hand-decorated by William is delightful. Twinkly blue and heavenly when lit up. Although I understand that sparkly stuff is now banned over in Sutton. It’s got everywhere!

Thought you might like to see a little sample of the gifts that arrived today…. good, eh?

After our little ‘party’ and fond farewells, we decided to have a bite to eat and watch a film. Yay!! My choice – whoopee-doop! So I went for ‘Bridesmaids’. A film that never fails to amuse me, with its now-famous scenes of the after-effects of food-poisoning and ‘how-you-deal-with-it-when-you’re-wearing-a-wedding-dress.’ One for the girls.

Had a brief chat to Freddie, who had phoned to wish me happy birthday but, once he got on the phone, he decided to be daft and pull funny faces and sing in a very high-pitched voice. All of which made me laugh. Later on, we zoomed in on the family and had a very pleasant evening together. They got their glasses of wine/prosecco and offered me a toast, which were luvverly. Very, very grateful for technology and the love of my family. They are all wonderful and I love them very much.

So I haven’t had a look at the news today particularly and haven’t caught up with the stats on the COVID front. On a personal note, I know that Lily is feeling a bit better and was craving a Subway this afternoon, so fingers crossed she’s fully on the mend. The rest of the family are still feeling well, so more finger-crossing that they don’t go down with it. Christiana’s test also came back negative, so we’re on a positive roll – I hope!

Not having looked at the COVID figures today, I have decided not to include them today. It is my birthday after all and I don’t want to spoil the wonderful bubble that John, the boys and my friends have created for me today. So, COVID, off you pop…. I’ll stalk your progress tomorrow.

And thank you again – as one of my dear, long-standing friend’s put it: ‘Friends (and I include my lovely family) are cheaper than therapy….and worth their weight in gold’. Yep. That.

Stay safe everyone and God bless.

So, poor Lily. Her test revealed that she has the COVID-19 virus, and she is feeling rather poorly. She is confined to her bedroom which, fortunately, was recently decorated and is lovely to be in. Normally, she wants people to stay out of her room. Now, of course, just when it’s not really appropriate, she’d like company. Such is life.

In the meantime, the family is self-isolating and stuck in the house. Freddie seems to be having a whale of a time and we have had some lovely photos and videos of his adventures in the last couple of days. They have made a massive robot out of cardboard boxes and we have a couple of videos of Freddie roaring towards the camera. Great fun. Long may it last. (Well, not the virus or the self-isolation, but the fun and games…)

Chez nous, our daily humdrum has continued. I got up early to join in with Jaime’s yoga session this morning, which was bliss. Especially as I did the class in the lounge and used John’s laptop for the Zoom session. The laptop had been put away, but was easily found as, for once, all of its component parts were in the drawer, and not strewn over all parts of the lounge. Also, the sun was streaming into the lounge this morning so that, when it was relaxation time, it was exceedingly toasty.

After the session, I decided to catch up on some TV while I had a late breakfast and cuppa. The trouble was, with that hour or so of relaxing on the sofa, I felt tired for the rest of the day and really didn’t want to be ploughing on with things. I did, however, do the ironing, so that I could call round to Mum’s to drop her washing and shopping off this afternoon.

John had an enforced late start to the day as I was flailing arms and legs around in the lounge. Once he was up, though, he decided he ought to tackle the accounts. It’s while since he’s done them and it’s taking a bit longer than he thought it would. Chuntering sounds trickled round the corner from the ‘library’ area where he has his desk, into the lounge, making me chuckle. He’s so funny talking to himself.

Before I went to Mum’s I checked on the text message I’d had from Tracey, her cleaner. Tracey had visited yesterday and told me she thought Mum was a bit muddled. I feared the worst – as I always do, of course. Anyway, Mum was delighted to see me when I got there but kept shaking her head, and finally said, “I can’t hear a word you’re saying.” A change of batteries in her hearing aids and there we were. No confusion at all. Forgetful, yes. But not confused.

When I told Tracey later, she laughed and told me that she’d offered to change Mum’s hearing aid batteries but Mum had refused, rejecting ‘those weird-looking things in peculiar packets’. She didn’t have the chance to refuse my offer, but she was a bit muddled when I asked her to pass me her hearing aids. She started hunting high and low for them. “Aren’t they in your ears, Mum?” I shouted. She looked puzzled. Like a magician magicking a coin from behind someone’s ear, I reached out and lifted each one from her lugholes. She had no idea that that’s where they were. Life’s exciting when you don’t know what’s coming next, isn’t it?

Over in Sutton, we gather that Thomas is none the worse for the accident yesterday and all is fine. That’s a relief. Thank the Lord.

Still being tired, I have suggested to John that I might have an early night. He thinks that’s a good idea – especially as I dropped asleep mid-way through MasterChef this evening – bit of a give away, that.

With regards to the rate of infection for COVID, the incidence for today is currently at 22,915; 501 people have died in the community and 230 in hospitals on 17 & 18 November.

The debate still rages on about how to deal with the pandemic and what to do about Christmas, but there is hope in the air, now that vaccines are on the horizon. The administration of any vaccine will be a logistical challenge but I am hopeful that this time next year we will have a more settled outlook. As someone said on Twitter today: “Better to have empty chairs this Christmas than empty chairs in Christmases to come. Let’s have family celebrations when we’re all full of vaccine.” What do you reckon? Good advice?

Stay safe everyone. God bless.

Wherever you look there is something happening. Whether it’s in the States or here in the UK, there is some drama unfolding every day. And here, today, there was a bit more drama on a family level.

Thomas, atop Michael’s lap, managed to bring a hot cup of tea down upon him this morning. Fortunately, his parents’ quick-thinking averted a serious injury, but not before the paramedics were called to check what damage had been done. It didn’t need a trip to hospital, but it did need lots of TLC and a few deep breaths. Horrible thing to happen.

Then, just as we are sort of thinking, OK, let’s meander through the day, there’s a message from the Kenilworth Sleaths that infers that COVID might be lurking in their home. Yet to be confirmed, of course, but Lily was unwell yesterday, and her friend, with whom she walks to school, has been tested positive for the virus. Oh. Ah. Hmm…. fingers crossed that if it is the dreaded lurgy, she doesn’t feel too unwell with it and gets well soon; and doesn’t pass it on to the rest of the household. Or us. Or anyone else.

Other than that, we have had a day of medical stuff really. We were up early to get to Heartlands for John to have an infusion of immunoglobulin. “I’ll go back home,” I said. “OK,” John replied, “but I don’t think I’ll be as long as the last time, so you might want to hang about?” No. I didn’t want to hang about. I took the drugs that John no longer needs to the pharmacy for disposal, then headed home.

At home, I popped up to the pharmacy to collect my own drugs then went home for a belated breakfast. I sat on the sofa with a cup of tea. Ah… the sofa is always soooo inviting. I stayed sitting on the sofa for a goodly while, surfing social media and playing an e-scrabble game. Then, looking at the time, I thought I ought to get a wriggle on as John would be phoning me any minute to go and collect him. I just about managed to finish tidying the lounge and vacuuming in there when he rang. “Ready?” Ummmm…. OK, on my way.

We were just on our way back when Paneesha rang. It was a scheduled telephone consultation but, of course, we were in the car. We stopped so that we could concentrate. Lots of stuff about checking on John’s chest – and would he take part in a trial to double check that he hadn’t had COVID unknowingly? Always one to support research, he naturally said yes, so that involved more telephone conversations later on in the day, and ‘when you come in next week to see so-and-so, can you call in to see us afterwards, please?’

Once we were home, John settled on the sofa, feeling tired from a poor night’s sleep last night, and the after-effects of the infusion. He was buoyed up by the postie arriving with more parcels however, and the errant brownies, that Christiana had baked, finally arrived. I think he’s eaten most of them already…..

I had promised myself that, before embarking on decorating the former-office-cum-snug-cum-gym, I would clear out the utility room so that I had a bit of a fresh start. That took me all afternoon, more or less. And then I started humping the things from the ‘room-to-be-decorated’ to new places, so that I can get at everything. All good.

And this evening, it was quiz night. Another great evening and another fabulous set of questions. It is just so lovely to be among a group of non-judgemental people who don’t care if you know the answer or not because someone else will, even if you don’t. At the interval, I popped to get a drink “What are you going to have?” John wondered. I thought I might get something alcoholic. Well, that was it then. We wellied the Grey Goose that John had been given for his birthday/. It was delicious. To be fair, John wellied it more than me…..

So, COVID. You are a bit too close to home. Christiana has had to have a test and is now self-isolating, having visited someone at home who has since been confirmed as infected. Lily is in bed poorly, having been in close contact with a friend who has been confirmed as positive. What to do, folks? On the prayer list – that’s all I can do just now.

Ironically, the figures of people infected is down again today at 19,609. Deaths are still high at 529 in the community, and 171 in hospitals over the last couple of days.

Keep your distance. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Ventilate your work space or home space when others are in it….. I’m a broken record, I think. I wonder if anyone is listening?

Stay safe everyone. God bless.

Well, well, well. I have actually finished painting the ‘library’ area in the lounge. I have even tidied it up, strapped all the wires together to unravel the rats’ nest that was under the desk and hung the curtains back up.

There is still the wallpapering to do and the curtains to be steam cleaned, but I am not doing that yet, as I am moving on to another project.

You may recall a while ago that John really worked hard putting new laminate flooring in the former office. A room that we still don’t know what to call – it’s still the ‘former office-cum-snug-cum-gym’. No doubt we’ll get its name sorted one day. However, I digress. I have pinched a roll of very smart wallpaper from the Kenilworth Sleaths (more of their cast-offs, thank you very much) and plan to repaint the whole room and paper one wall – in time for Christmas. This is a contingency. Just in case Mum comes over at Christmas and can’t get herself up the stairs. We will put a bed in there and it is there that she will sleep. She will have access to the cross-trainer if she would like it too, as that will be housed there also – well, probably, if there’s enough room, that is.

However, I shan’t bore you with the day-to-day blows of how I get on in there unless there is something really exciting to report. I mean, I’ve done the decorating thing to death, haven’t I?

So, I have done decorating and tidying all day, but John, however, has been writing his ‘thank you’ letters – I think. Well, he’s been on the computer in the computer room all afternoon anyway, so I think that’s what he’s been doing. And his birthday celebrations have gone on. He’s had a couple more presents arrive today but, disappointingly, a couple of things still haven’t arrived. A lovely card that Carol made and was posted last Monday – there’s still no sign of that; nor is there a sniff of a lovely perishable that Christiana sent in the post on a ‘signed for’ delivery, last Thursday. If the perishable does arrive, however, at this rate there might be more than a sniff…..

John wondered where the day had gone to. Then he remembered. He’d stayed in bed until lunchtime, then spent the afternoon on the computer and whoosh! There it was gone. It’s amazing how quickly the day goes when you spend half of it in bed.

I had a little chat to Lily this afternoon via text messaging – it was her birthday yesterday and it sounds like she had a lovely time and had all the gifts a girl could want. Catherine did that lovely elder sisterly thing of hosting a quiz night for Lily and her friends. I thought was an amazing thing to do, given the situation we’re all in. However, the excitement of the day clearly took its toll and Lily has felt under the weather all day today, with swollen glands, which is a shame.

We also had a nice little chat to William this afternoon via video-messaging. He is very excited that it’s my birthday this week. He thoroughly enjoyed the excitement of John’s birthday, so he can’t wait for the next one! Oooh, grandchildren. I just want to squeeze them tight and never let them go.

But, having said yesterday that I thought I was getting the hang of this lockdown lark, I find myself a bit up and down today. The ‘up’ of course was getting my little bit of decorating done; the ‘down’ was triggered by a WhatsApp conversation with the College Crew, postponing our lovely, annual Ragdale Hall trip, from this coming February to February 2022. Oh…. that’s so not good. Fingers crossed that the virus will be under control by then and we’ll be able to enjoy our few days away together. It is just such a wonderful time together each year that it breaks my heart to have to say ‘let’s not risk it this time’. So much heartache over the last eight months that it’s crippling sometimes.

Anyway, I do my best to look on the bright side – no-one likes a moaner, do they? Although I am not sure there is much of a bright side to the volume of deaths due to COVID today: nearly 600 people (598), in the community and 204 in hospitals over the last two days; although the volume of people infected was slightly down at 20,051.

Stay safe everyone. Do lots and lots of hand-washing, mask wearing and ventilating indoor areas if you’re with work-colleagues or work men. God bless.

.

So, we’re twelve days into Lockdown 2 and I think I might be getting the hang of it a bit. I have stopped hankering to go out and am resigned to a more gentle rhythm of life, I think. There was no dashing about today and no sleeping like yesterday – I just picked up where I left off on the painting situation and got on with it.

I was up reasonably early, awaiting a shopping delivery, which came pretty promptly, I have to say. And, for the first time ever, I actually managed to refuse a ‘swap’. Usually, I just grin inanely and say, yes that’s fine. But today, they were offering us almond milk instead of hazelnut milk and that’s no good as so often it goes to waste. We open it to use in an omelette or something and then it just moulders in the fridge. So, I said, “No, thank you,” and left it at that. Go, me!

I left John in bed to catch up on his sleep, but even he managed to get up mid-morning, rather than at lunchtime. He has had a very good day, in my opinion. He is still trying to sort out the contents of his man-shed, with one half of it full to the brim with wood for sawing up and burning on our winter fires. So he went off to the bottom of the garden and sawed away. Did an excellent job and didn’t seem to be too worn out by it all, which was a bonus.

Meanwhile, I was doing second coats of paint on the ceiling and skirting board in my ‘library’ and a first coat on the window wall. I planned to do a second coat this evening and get the whole thing finished, but I thought better of it and decided to pace myself. It’ll be done tomorrow.

I have yet to fill my father’s bookcase with books, however. I decided to wait a bit until the paint was really, really dry. In the meantime, it’s doing a beautiful job of housing all of John’s birthday cards, of which he had many. And about which he was very pleased.

I really can’t wait until that area is finished. We are still mulling over how we will furnish it. John has his desk there tucked into the corner which is quite nice, and we have a very large chest of drawers with all the games in – another cast-off from the Kenilworth Sleaths – but we’re undecided as to whether to keep it and paint it the same colour as the shelves or whether to discard it and move another set of shelves in. Oooh, decisions, decisions. At this rate, we’ll hardly recognise ourselves when the house is neat and tidy and the new sofa arrives, furnishing the lounge the way we want it! Mind you, we did get a letter saying, ‘Due to COVID, your furniture delivery may be delayed…..’ ah well, it’ll give me more painting time, won’t it?

This evening we sat among the decorating debris and watched the first programme in a series of four about Oscar Pistorious. Fascinating programme and looking forward to watching the rest. We also watched I’m a Celebrity and marvelled at the fortitude of a frightened man. That was also fascinating – a study of one man’s response to primordial fear.

Talking of fear – the virus has caught up with 21,363 people today and killed 213 people, plus 141 people in hospitals over the previous two days.

The figures are interesting and suggest that we may still need more ‘lockdown’ time – or tighter restrictions anyway – when this period ends. Christmas is going to be interesting isn’t it, folks?

Stay safe everyone. God bless.