DAY 22
Monday has rolled round again and I enter a second three week furlough leave period, probably, and hopefully, the last, though to be honest, while the sun shines it isn’t too tough a gig.
I kicked the week off with a walk along the river with Sarah C-S, a civilised start to the week, which was just what I needed, because I got over excited at the darts match yesterday and as a result drank too much! Sarah has had a knee issue and so is patiently rebuilding her step count, while icing and elevating the knee to reduce swelling and let it heal. A frustrating time for her as there is only virtual access to a physio for non-essential treatment, but she is seeing signs of improvement. We had a distanced coffee afterwards, chatting and watching the many birds and fledglings at our bird feeders in the courtyard. Sparrows really are the noisiest bunch – one big, rowdy and dysfunctional family. Part of our conversation was invariably taken up with the Black Lives Matter movement and the demonstrations over the weekend, which manage to feel both absolutely the right thing to do and completely the wrong thing to do at the same time. Racism is without a doubt something that should not be tolerated in any form, however having committed to lockdown and to trying to limit, the impact of COVID-19, it seems wrong to jeopardise this by massing together. An uncomfortable choice to make whatever you decide.
Over the weekend Edd’s father-in-law, Ray, sadly passed away, losing his battle with cancer. I struck me again, as it did when our neighbour Oliver died a couple of weeks ago, how much this wretched virus and the resulting lockdown has restricted the chance for family and friends to come together and collectively mourn and grieve the loss of someone they loved. Another of our rituals, the opportunity to say goodbye and pay your respects, compromised. There really is no part of our lives unaffected by this disease.
I am beginning to recognise a trend in my pattern of activity. When I have issues I am struggling with (the brutal death of George Floyd) and need to work through mentally, I set about a physical task. It has to be something that completely consumes me, which seems to give me the time to process things and regain my equilibrium. While we have the boat back in the boathouse, the garden was looking a bit neglected. Robert had suggested to the new owners, that as part of the deal, we’d be happy to maintain it, so on Monday afternoon I set about hacking back, weeding, edging and generally tidying the area up. Two hours later I realised it was quite a big task and definitely more than an afternoon’s work! My head was back in a good place, but my back was knackered!
DAY 23
My weekly walk with Anne and Milo. I decided against riding my bike there, as my back was still grumbling as a result of Monday’s manual labour. I also needed to go to the supermarket on the way home, so I drove to meet them. The weather, which had looked a bit iffy early on , brightened up and we had a really lovely wander in the woods.
Post walk and Sainsbos (other supermarkets are also available) I went back to the boathouse to complete the task, this time accompanied by my lovely assistant, Robert. With his help we got it all done and bagged up 11 big bin bags of rubbish. Very satisfying and pleased it is all ready for the summer – now all we need is the sun.
DAY 24
Tonight it’s Book Club and it’s my choice of book and so the meeting is to be held at my house. We have decided, given the relaxation of the restrictions, to hold the meeting face to face, rather than by Zoom. The meeting will need to be outside and this would not normally be a problem, other than the weather forecast isn’t looking good. I fear the gazebos will need to make a reappearance. I WhatsApp all club members advising them to wrap up warm and bring a blanket. We may have been compromised by the corona virus, but not by the British weather.
To off set any damage done by eating and drinking in the evening, I decide to go for an early morning (8.45 is early in my world) bike ride round the valley and I am rewarded with glimpses deer and a fox. I return an hour later suitably smug.
The afternoon was devoted to baking, as I thought it would be nice to create snacks that people could just pick up and eat at Book Club rather than anything communal – so reducing the risk of virus transmission. I spent a couple of really happy hours in the kitchen cooking and listening to my 80s playlist – so many happy memories. Who would have thought I once wanted to be an anarchist or leapt around to the Jam and the Specials – not leaping any more, but singing along very merrily. Interesting that I sometimes struggle to remember what I had for dinner yesterday, but the lyrics of Eton Rifles are still stored away for future use.
Book Club started at 7pm – an hour early to avoid the late evening cold. Predictably it poured with rain and we huddled under the gazebos wearing coats and wrapped in blankets. The book choice was The Hate You Give (thanks for the suggestion Edd) and it was universally well received. We pick all the books for the year at our Christmas meeting, and so it was completely co-incidental that the story was so topical. The discussion was a lively as ever and we all agreed it was worth braving the elements to be able to sit down together. Everyone left after 11pm, completely oblivious to the late evening cold. We had a special visit from Boris, because some of the club members had yet to meet the puppies and within a minute of him arriving, Alex was in attendance for a cuddle – we are all completely besotted with these puppies.
I tidied away and crawled into bed at midnight, tired but elated again after personal interaction with a group of friends – thinking how lucky we are to have the space (and gazebos) to be able to do this outdoors.
