Week Six Day 1 Another week, another hat. I can’t believe I am on my 5th hat of lockdown. I have worked through the dressing up box, avoiding those that are culturally inappropriate – can’t believe we let the boys wear a Rasta hat with dreadlocks attached to Jamaica Day at primary school. I might have to become a little more creative if this goes on for much longer. Looking back over the photos, I am clearly rotating a much reduced wardrobe, with a strong stripes theme.
The Monday morning meetings are a mixture of a nice catch-up with what we have all been up to over the weekend and a depressing wave of negative news regarding student numbers and University finances. Hard to remain positive in light of what looks like it’s going to be a really tough time ahead.
Week Six Day 2 An unexpected letter arrived from a dear friend, who has taken to making face masks for those she loves and I was lucky enough to receive two from her in beautiful fabrics. It has not occurred to me to wear a mask on the few occasions I have ventured out to the shops, but perhaps it is going to become a way of life and something I need to get used to. She has offered to make them for the boys and Robert in more manly colours, but they prefer the option of the masks Robert uses for asbestosis clearance, much more industrial.
It is Mr Ashworth’s birthday so as part of our exercise for the day we dropped a present round (a real gift for the current situation) and sang him Happy Birthday from a safe distance at the bottom of his garden. Although not able to get up close it was lovely just to chat and catch-up on news.
Week Six Day 3 The dart board has been a great addition to the house, but we are wearing away the grass in front of it, so Robert has decided we need an oche. He and Nick have dug the hole and edged it with suitable stones (set in cement no less) and he is now wondering where he can get some gravel from in lockdown. Most people are worrying about flour, pasta and loo rolls but Robert wants 2 bags of gravel.
I ventured out on the bike again and this time pushed on from my original circuit to a whole lap of the Valley, which involves a hill. I picked my hill well though, a long and winding one, rather than a short, steep vertical climb and I was suitably chuffed to get to the top without stopping. I did however get lost on the way home (how can you get lost 3 miles from home) and alarmingly descended back to the valley floor via Rotten Row, a road I prefer to avoid in the car let alone on my bike, but better to go down it than up.
Week Six Day 4 It never ceases to amaze me that when Robert sets his mind to something it seems to happen – two bags of gravel have been found and the oche is complete. We have challenged the Ashworths and the Hoares to a virtual darts tournament on Saturday afternoon, Nick is quietly confident we’ll do well because… we have him on our team of course!
Pizza night again, another roaring success, even Alex, who had been sceptical that it could be fun to make your own pizzas, admitted it was a good night
It being Thursday evening we finished off with our usual NHS hoot and clap, the first with Alex home and he looked slightly horrified at the noise we make, particularly the hooter. Elsa has got used to the hooter (finally) and so came over for a pat and we had a lovely chat (at a distance) with her owners about the impending arrival of her litter of puppies. Very exciting, due in 5 weeks. Will need to be strong and resist the temptation to say we’ll have one. Robert does not need anything else to look after.
Week Six Day 5 One of my colleagues suggested as a bit of fun we post a picture of ourselves at 20 on our Teams chat. I was horrified, not only because I pretty much hate every picture I’ve ever had taken, but also because apart from wedding or really drunken snaps, I genuinely have very few old photos of myself (largely because I pretty much hate…). After digging deep into a drawer, that has just become my next lockdown tidying project, I came up with a couple I was happy to share with colleagues – I was sober (relatively) and wearing enough clothing. They were a bit grainy, but for a step back in time here they are. 1982/3 I think, so me at about 20.
The afternoon brought about a frenzy of domestic chores, so that the weekend, which promised glorious weather, would be a housework free zone. The boys were unimpressed with the whirlwind of activity, particularly when asked to participate. Rewarded ourselves with drinks on the patio and tried to forget the world outside is still heading to hell in a handcart.
Week Six Day 6 Weather as promised was lovely, and so Robert spent a couple of happy hours strimming in the orchard, while next-door neighbour, Nick, who has decided to grow vegetables, tried out his new rotavator. The peace and quiet of the Hambleden Valley was shattered by the whine of Honda engines, until they wore themselves out. The bees are really busy, the apple trees are covered in blossom which they are mad for and the wisteria is due out any minute – I love to stand and listen to their busy humming.
We lost the dart competition, both the game of Round the World and 501! The Ashworths have a ringer! Hels (who can barely see the board) only has to be told what number they need and she hits it! A very misspent youth hiding in there somewhere, and she looks like such an angel. Our star of the show (the Smallest Boy) failed to live up to his billing! A great way to pass an hour and we agreed to same time and place next week, weather permitting.
Week Six Day 7 More gardening – this time he’s off planting, much quieter. Then I decided a long walk was the order of the day, so we headed out into the woods, dropping off the Ashworths’ darts medal on the way.
A fantastic walk which we’d never done before that took us up to Fawley and back again, beautiful views and lots of wildlife because there aren’t many people out and about. The only person we saw was a colleague from Greenlands, Jaime who was also out with her husband. I haven’t seen her for a couple of months and she is clearly having a baby, due at the beginning of June. Such a lovely surprise to see her and looking so well. Also nice to have something positive to talk about as we went on our way.
After nearly six miles of walking I thought I deserved a couple of hours on my lounger in the garden with my book and a glass of wine – it was nearly 3pm so foolishly I didn’t bother with suntan lotion. Engrossed in my book for a couple of hours, I managed to turn my legs a lovely shade of lobster pink. You think I’d know better by now! I am now an attractive two-tone of pink & white. A lovely barbq’d chicken for dinner rounded off the day and weekend perfectly. I am waiting to hear what lies in wait work wise next week – to furlough or not to furlough that is the question.
