The Coronavirus Diaries, 19th August 2020

A wet, wet day, but somehow whenever I needed to go out there was a pause in the rain and I stayed dry. Last night’s walk and drink with Cynthia was fun. At our pub of choice there was a sign telling us to wait to be seated, so we did. Then we were asked if we had made a reservation. We hadn’t, but there were places at a shared table outside which was perfect. The evening was warm, we were in shirt sleeves. I imagine a lot of pubs will be hiring those outside heaters as the days cool down.

My tasks today were mainly work related, or return-to-paid-work related as I am dipping my toe in the water on Saturday and reading up the rules and regulations, the advice, the precautions, and trying on my face shield for the first time. I was disappointed to find it already had some dents in it despite the padded envelope it arrived in. However Carol tells me they are being sold in our local market now so I may get another. at this rate I am going to need a drawer for masks and face shields. I have a new bottle of hand sanitiser to take with me, and goodness only knows what.

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The Coronavirus Diaries, 28th May 2020

My supper included butter beans and baby potatoes with sage pesto. Over the last few months sage pesto has featured heavily in my meals. It’s delicious, and it’s both very cheap and very easy to make. Usually I pick the sage from our garden where it grows in abundance. But there is some of the sage with the big leaves growing in a communal bed just down the road, so I picked that this time. Weirdly it tastes quite different, not as nice, and is much drier. I used the same quantities of everything, so I can only assume it is a singular property of this variety of sage. I don’t plan to use it again.

Still with plans, I finished the podcast plan, next I need to record it, but the duster called to me insistantly. With my windows open and breezy weather there was even more dust to disperse than usual. I’m not going to run my finger tip along the shutters tonight as I have a nasty feeling they are already gritty. I’ve already noticed stuff that’s blown through the window on the kitchen floor. However, the flat feels clean and there’s certainly less cat fur on the carpets.

My constitutional took me to Blackfriars where I dropped off a jigsaw for a friend. She’s not currently there, being one of those with two addresses, but the concierge took it to give to her. I think she’s going to be a member of our jigsaw syndicate when she does come to London again. The day was warm, but not as hot as it has been. Perfect for the boat, but Stuart plans to do some work there at the weekend, so I shall remain a landlubber for a few more days. I forgot to take my little Olympus with me today, so these pictures ae from last week outside the William Booth Memorial College.

Hope in Pictures

The Coronavirus Diaries, 28th March 2020

When Celia and I met for our walk along parallel paths this afternoon we were trying to remember how long we have been on lockdown. Is it a week? Less? Time has taken on an elastic quality. Tonight the clocks go forward an hour and we welcome British Summer Time. However, March has got its animals mixed up. It is supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. After days and days of blue skies and warm sunshine this afternoon March remembered it is supposed to be the windy month, and sent me back to coat, hat, gloves and scarf. It also got my washing dry very quickly. Definitely more leonine than lamb like.

All the people taking their daily exercise allowance near their homes, are they becoming more aware of their local environment? Certainly Celia and I are not the only ones to stop to watch a crow gathering soft material to line its nest, a robin eyeing us from a low branch, sparrows clustering around a bird feeder.

It is both comforting and disorientating to see the non humans going about their normal lives. The swans are nesting by the lake in Burgess Park again.

Nesting swans