I’ve just had one of those dinners where at the end of it I put knife and fork down, looked at my empty plate, and thought, that was good. Simple, good food with fresh ingredients makes me happy. Well, I say fresh, but it did include frozen chips. Being happy, or at least not depressed, is a vital ingredient for surviving this weird time. You could probably say good food is a vital ingredient in surviving.
On the whole I think I am surviving fairly well. Walks mainly with Celia and always with my camera around the local area are a constant source of delight and interest. The weather is a huge help. Tomorrow it’s due to rain. Maybe I should have left renewing the car insurance until the morning. On the other hand that sheaf of papers has now been filed away, another task has ticked off the list. I read an article a few weeks ago about not having long to do lists. Have one or two tasks on post-it notes which you then keep as a record of what you have achieved. That last bit might not be great for me as I am not good at throwing things away, and I can imagine a scenario where over months my home could just be covered in yellow coloured squares. However I know that anxieties are bubbling away somewhere. I woke at half past three this morning feeling tremendously anxious and a bit unsafe, but I could not tell you why. It took quite a while to get back to relaxed, deep sleep. My carpal tunnel in my left hand didn’t help. You wouldn’t think numbness would be painful, but it is. Is there a link between carpal tunnel and anxiety, carpal tunnel and champagne? Might be interesting to find out.
I finished the jigsaw last night, so today I could dust and vacuum without fear of vacuuming up a piece.
My work is done
Finished
There’s been a lot of talk about people tending their gardens, my friend in Lisburn has been sending me stunning photos of her plants. Fortunately some of this creativity has spilled into the streets. Look at this perfect little pink and white flower someone had planted by a tree in the street.
Pretty as a picture
This is one of the joys of our walks, spotting plants, birds, details of buildings. There are some wonderful roses. Look at these, big, intricate, fragrant.
Aren’t
These
Fabulous
They were in a garden in Cancell Street (yes we went there again). Later we saw these lovelies in Kennington Park. Buds, they look like red roses, but as they open the yellow takes over. Gorgeous.
Red bud
Open in sunshine
Newly opened
Open
Earlier I nearly tripped over this little tabby sitting untroubled outside a shop.
Just sittin’
Not bothered
Find the beauty in your days, it’ll help you survive.
Stay safe, and remember tomorrow at eleven to observe a minute’s silence for all our key workers who have died during this crisis.
A Minute’s silence
Isobel (and Cat)'s Blog 
My standards have fallen considerably. Lovely close up flower pictures. A friend commented that she now knows where every new rose has bloomed. Looking at the statistics for my county – which are zero cases – reminds me that I haven’t set foot outside of this perimeter in six weeks.
Standards in general, or some in particular?
Zero cases? Gosh, Southwark is high on the list for confirmed cases in London, which is the top of the list for the U.K.
Today we have grey skies and rain. I am finding it quite exotic.
Standards particularly for the work week: what constitutes a “day’s” work, whether getting dressed is required for “work”, does taking an hour’s walk constitute part of “work”. And apologies, I misstated the number of cases in our County. My postal code is zero percent. My city is currently just over 50 cases and my county is over 1000. It is fascinating to finally grasp the “flattening the curve” concept as seen in data for the last six weeks.
A friend who works in a school for children with special needs, many of them PMLD, is required to Zoom twice a day. The head teacher, who is not zooming, has told staff their contracted hours are from 8.15 am until 4.30pm and they are to be available for all that time. I can see where she is coming from, but this situation is putting new demands on all of us and both the staff and the children and their families, have had restructure their lives and the school day model doesn’t fit the situation. The parents don’t like it, the staff are finding it stressful, their families, barred from a room during zoom time, have their lives further curtailed. I could go on. There has to be recognition that managing and minimising stress is a part of your everyday structure.
Really enjoyed the photos, Isobel. I also appreciate that you are sharing your journey through the pandemic – I think it an important way to stay connected and to encourage each other.
Thanks Pat. When my anxiety surfaces I am quite (British sense) surprised, as most of the time I feel I am staying pretty calm. I am glad I had this blog and people I have met through it to come to to record each day and process some of what is going on. Reading your posts and Ruth’s from across the pond do enhance that feeling of community.
Thanks, Isobel. I consider you a part of my community and look forward to hearing how you are coping and what is happening in your neighborhood. Most of the time I am feeling calm, but I know that this is something that I should fear. I just don’t let my fear cripple me.
Sounds familiar…