Day Forty Five - Panic, Turds and Music

Moment of panic on my walk this morning. Ahead of me I saw what appeared to be a man falling to the ground! I was too far away to see clearly but it looked as if his arms and legs were flailing about and I feared he was having some kind of fit or seizure. I got my phone out to call 999 with all kinds of thoughts going through my head. How close should I, could I, get safely? In a life and death situation I guess all thoughts of coronavirus should dissolve? But when I got nearer I realised it was some jerk of a jogger doing his rather exaggerated stretches on the bloody path! FFS! The path!! Prostrate on the path! Can you believe that? Or is it me? It's actually reminded me of the time when I was walking up there and a couple had brought their home gym equipment to a patch of the grass there to do their exercises. I would like to say surely that's not essential but maybe they lived in a very tiny flat and just didn't have the room to do it. And they were socially distanced from everyone else so I guess it was okay. I've never seen them since that one time.

Whilst we're on the subject of my daily walk I've noticed that most days I come across a trail of small dog turds. They're not always in the same place, they're on different paths. But they look the same each day. So I've come to the conclusion that some arse takes his dog for an early walk and the poor dog has to poo as it walks along. And I guess any dog owner who is prepared to let the dog do that is not prepared to clear aforementioned crap off the path. It's like a slalom when you're walking. That's walking, there's absolutely no hope for the joggers! There are several places you can see where they've splatted the turds. Apologies for the subject matter but, see here, I tell it like it is. 😉

I haven't mentioned much about the music I've been listening to on my walks lately, have I? ( no, thank goodness, I hear some of you say). Well, tough, I'm going to tell you about it because it's my blog and I'll do what I like. 😉 I've been going for albums more than compilations recently. I seem to be able to maintain a reasonable rhythm without needing a strong beat. Today I was listening to Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay. When I hear the song, Paradise, I always think of my friend who emigrated to Portugal.

'When she was just a girl she expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
So she ran away in her sleep and dreamed of
Para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes.'

Somehow it seems to summarise her view of things, before she went to Portugal that is. Kinda makes me sad because I miss her and she's still chasing her dreams to a degree. But then aren't we all?

Yesterday I was listening to Neko Case's Hell On. I love Neko. One of those people I discovered quite unexpectedly. Somebody lent my brother a hard drive absolutely full of mp3 files. He was down staying with my mum at the time, that's how long ago it was, and he lent the drive to me to take whatever music I wanted from it. There's lots of stuff I did know but I'm always keen to try new stuff. I listened to an album there from Neko. It was called Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. I absolutely loved it. I kept listening to it. There is a curious kind of echo she gets not just to her voice but to the guitars and keyboards. And it has a interesting kind of atonal quality to it. It's not what you'd call commercial for the most part but she is a gifted lyricist. I then checked out all her albums, everything she's ever done. And I continue to buy her albums when she makes them. I've seen her twice too. And that's brilliant because she doesn't tour often and she certainly doesn't come to the UK that frequently. I saw her once at the Union Chapel in London which is an amazing venue. And I was right at the front. I could've touched her!  I went with my sister who was interested to see the venue. Couple of years back she was over here again and she was doing a gig at the Barbican. I asked my sister if she wanted to go. She said no she wasn't that bothered about seeing her again. So I kinda thought oh well that's that. Glad at least I got to see her once. And then I had this amazing surprise from my sister. She booked us seats! And it was a lovely surprise just before Christmas. They were fantastic seats too, not the front row, but only a few rows back. So I'm happy now. If I never see her again I'm okay with it. 

My sister and I were discussing how different our postal deliveries are. She lives in London and her post tends to come in one great bundle on one day. Whereas my deliveries seem to be as normal. But we were talking about how we sanitise the post. And she was telling me about what she calls her "sanitation station". She has one of those kitchen trolley things that won't fit in her current kitchen but did in her old apartment. So she has it by the stairs. She lives in a corner house, a two up, two down house where the front door opens straight into the living room. So the post will come straight into her lounge so to speak. That's why she has her sanitation station there by the front door. And I was telling her about my sanitation basket. Which I also have right by the front door. So anything coming in; me, any deliveries, any post, can be dealt with and sanitised there in the hall without bringing any potential contagion further into the house. I've got wipes, disinfectant spray, hand sanitiser, gloves and facemasks all in a little plastic basket. Here is a photo because I'm sure you can't wait to see what it looks like.

It's Thursday again. How the weeks spin past. So quickly. I can hardly believe it. So it'll be the clap for carers again tonight at 8 pm. I'm not sure I'm going to join in today. I think it was a novel idea to begin with but it has lost so much of the initial impact. People are making it about themselves, as so often happens. I may change my mind though. Sentimental old fool that I am. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Day Forty Four - Tree Felling and Testing

The house at the back of me has inherited a glorious oak tree. It was originally in the garden of one property but when that property was up for sale, these 'rear' neighbours as I'll call them, bought the place and added the bulk of the garden to their own. Today they decided to 'maintain' the oak tree. That  appeared to involve employing the services of some cowboys to hack the tree into a most unoaklike shape traumatising the wildlife and possibly causing some avian nest desertion. 'Trimming', I use the term loosely,  an oak in spring also increases its chance of falling prey to disease - oak wilt - so ecologically it's been a bad day. The equivalent of covid-19 for the oak tree I shouldn't wonder.

It was raining when I left the house this morning. But I stubbornly continued. OCD is thicker than water. It eased considerably as I got into my stride. I was earlier than usual and there were more people in spite of the wet!! That all helped to make me feel less of a freak for walking in the rain! I was deliberately earlier because it's Wednesday and my veg delivery arrives shortly after 6. I don't like it being out there unattended for too long. Just in case anyone gets the bright idea of stealing it. Of course today it was a different driver and it was much later than 6! I needn't have worried.

My sister had an update about Auntie Pat from my cousin and forwarded it to me.

'The latest on Pat is that she is being nursed in bed and is still frail but does not have symptoms so that sounds cautiously hopeful. I don't think she would be able to answer her phone yet.'

I must take heart that there does not appear to be any deterioration. 

In the news today I find that I am now eligible to get tested for coronavirus. But surely that is only if I have symptoms? Over-65s and those who need to leave their homes for work will be able to get tested. Also Germany's infection rate is climbing again. Interesting they are citing one of the reasons being Germans chafing against the lockdown and compliance with social distancing slipping. And I think that is exactly what is happening here. I wouldn't be surprised to hear our infection rates start to climb again. 

Last night I had a sore throat. Uncanny given that I had been to the shops for the first time in six weeks. Psychosomatic? It was gone by the morning. I think it might have been because I didn't swallow my blood pressure pill cleanly. It got stuck. It might have started to dissolve in my throat. I can't think of any other reason. 

There is going to be a suspension of postal deliveries on Saturdays due to coronavirus. It's to ease the burden on the posties. Because of social distancing rules the nature of the work has had to change and there are some off sick and self isolating due to the virus. They'll still collect mail and deliver parcels and specials delivery items though. I think it's fair enough. Like the refuse guys they are under-praised key workers during this pandemic. 

Forty four days! Who would have thought it. I didn't think I'd maintain anything every day for this long. I thought it would dwindle down to a few times a week, then a couple of times a week then once a week maybe!! I've less readers than I did have. But that's okay because I'm not doing it to get followers and readers. I don't always trust my memory so it's good to have everything written down. I also want to have something to look back on and refer to in  the future no matter how things turn out. I still wonder whether this has changed me? Not intrinsically, I don't think, I'm still me, but I'm definitely more reclusive. More anxious about being near other people. Wonder what a psychologist would make of it?

Day Forty Three - Rain, Shopping and A Short Story

It was pouring first thing and I decided against going for a walk in it. What I did do was make the decision to go out shopping! It has been six weeks almost since I set foot inside a shop. I thought that with less clement weather fewer people would be about. I checked the opening times of the shop, 8.30 and decided I would arrive as close to that time as possible. It was a fascinating, slightly fraught experience but ultimately successful in that I purchased everything I set out for. It was interesting to compare how different attitudes are at a later time in the morning. Unless my 'keep your social distance please' sweatshirt really does work! 😂 

In order to make it more of a walk, not just a straight there and back, I walked the long way round to the cliffs, to, what I call the roundelay which is a path around a circular bed, and because of the rain there was nobody there. I then walked along past the library through the Library Gardens, again completely empty, and through the churchyard and then round up to Greens, the Health Food store. I also wanted to have a look at the chemist to see what the state of play is there for when I need to collect my prescription. They weren't open at that time in the morning but I could see a sign saying they only allowed 2 people in the shop at once. There were a few people about,  one dog walker and another woman out for a walk made no attempt to social distance. It was all down to me.The only other times I felt my social distance was compromised was actually at the shop. No one is allowed in the store. They have trestle tables outside. I stood on the curb. I had a list which I put on the table and the guy took it. It was when he came out to put all the stuff on the table for me to bag up and I needed to pay that the social distance was less than it should be. And  I carefully avoided a street cleaner emptying the bins by walking out into the road and I thought he saw me do that then he came round to the driver-side of his vehicle and we almost collided. 

Knowing me I will probably be stressed for the next seven days and imagine that every symptom is the virus. I apologise in advance.😉

The rain has persisted all day. I'm not unduly concerned because the garden certainly needed it. I'm hoping there is enough to refill my water butt too. Regardless of water wastage the rainwater is much better for plants than water from the tap.

I did some obligatory hoovering downstairs. I used my rechargeable Dyson. When the battery ran out I plugged it in to recharge and I settled down in my study to write another story. Gazing out of the window for inspiration I saw a car draw up. I recognised it as the rather flash sporty car of one of my old school friends. And she bought me a beautiful pot of yellow Calla lilies. Note the wonderful, variegated leaves. We had a very brief socially distanced exchange, her at the gate, me at the door which did make a very pleasant interlude to the morning.

Today there was a minutes silence for us to show our respect for all those NHS workers who have died during the pandemic. The BBC's Panorama did a programme about the dreadful situation regarding PPE.It was shown last night. Our local hospital was featured. Not in a very good light I must say. If the programme's information is accurate and honest then the government have a lot to answer for in the failure to provide key workers with the appropriate equipment. 

I wrote another short story. I call this one "After the Pandemic". I've submitted it to Pendemic and I've put it on this blog as a separate post. Once I get an idea in my head I just can't do anything until I've set it down on paper and let it go where it wants to go. But I did hoover upstairs as well. And I have washed both the kitchen and the bathroom floors. So I'm not completely slovenly, just a bit.

No more news on poor Auntie Pat. I'll go with that 'no news is good news' thing but that wasn't the case last time. I'm not going to hassle people for information. I just have to be patient.

Gregg's, the bakers, are apparently planning to reopen 20 of their stores in a controlled trial. They're going to reopen on the 4th of May.(May the 4th be with them 😜) Only takeaways and deliveries are going to be offered and the trial will involve shorter working hours. I must admit I didn't even know they closed! I thought as a baker they counted as an essential food shop. It follows the decision that B&Q took to open more than half of it stores last week. They introduced social distancing measures. As my friend says surely it's no different to going into a supermarket. I suppose it's not. It's just the more shops that are open the more people there are about and the more risk of spreading the virus. But then what do I know?! I'm frightened I'll catch the virus from my own shadow!

After the Pandemic - A Short Story

Lucy checked her equipment and adjusted her uniform and PPE kit once she had stepped out of her vehicle and proceeded to the cafe entrance. There was one table outside so she started by checking that the two seats were the minimum 2 metres apart. Using her tablet she ticked the appropriate box. All premises, domestic or commercial, had temperature sensors in every entrance and exit. So that when you went through if your temperature was above normal the alarm sounded and you were denied access.  The activation of the sensor alarm alerted the Temperature Control Officers who arrived as speedily as they could in their Sanitation Van and carted you off for further testing.  It was an unpleasant sight to witness. 

Lucy went through the cafe door where the sensor remained green. Entering the premises she took an appraising look at the overall space. She could spot a potential anomaly fairly accurately now. Initially when she first took the job she measured everything. She’d been issued with a laser distance measurer and for the first few weeks on the job it was her ‘go to’ device. But now she confidently assessed distances and when she felt the need to double check she was always surprised at how accurate she was.

This little cafe must have had at least twice the number of tables and chairs before the pandemic. The current regulation stated that each table must have a width of at least two metres, no more than two chairs, each to be placed at either end of the table. Service was performed with the recently invented social distance trolleys. Ordered food and drinks were placed on the trolley and the waiting staff had an extendable serving spade whereby they could serve the customer easily from the statuary 2 metre distance. Only one member of staff per trolley. Only one table to be served at a time. 

The cafe wasn’t full. So it was easy to assess the conformity to the regulations. Lucy often wondered whether once the inspection was over there were any transgressions. She tried to make her inspections at different times each day so that none of her premises would know when she was coming. She been glad to get the job ultimately. She had been placed on furlough from her original position at an insurance brokers. After the first lockdown ended they had reduced the staff considerably. She was one of the last in so she was one of the first out. And now she was a fully fledged member of the Social Distance Police. It wasn’t necessarily a popular job. She saw herself in the same bracket as traffic wardens. 

If she found a transgression. She had to electronically register it in front of the premises owner. On those occasions the individual had great trouble maintaining social distance. Once or twice Lucy had been quite frightened that the protocols were going to be ignored and she might even be physically attacked. If that happened she had to report it instantly and she then had to go into social isolation for seven days with testing. Just in case.

Everyone was anxious for a vaccine to be available. An effective vaccine. There had been many trials but none proved to be wholly effective. Until that time social distancing and PPE seemed to be the only weapon against spreading the virus. Many people lived in a kind of lockdown where they could.  They felt safer. Communication remained in the domain of digital devices. There was an air of unease that punctuated the atmosphere like an electrical storm. Those people who had been blasé in the initial stages; those who felt it was ‘just flu’, ‘a lot of fuss about nothing’, those who believed every conspiracy theory going, were now possibly among the most scared as the full import of the virus’s deadly intent had become clear to them.

Lucy’s day was mostly predictable. Overall there were few transgressions. It was dull, tedious work. But it mean she could pay the rent and keep herself fed, treat herself to a Netflix subscription. She kept in touch with her family and friends using the usual methods, various platforms that enabled group chat. It was the best that could be done in the situation. Travelling was frowned upon by and large. Occasionally she had a “social occasion” with a friend. But if you went to a bar or a café and you were socially distanced you often ended up having to shout to make yourself heard. If premises were full, which was rare to be fair, Lucy found it almost comical that you were in a room where everyone was shouting at one another. It usually ended up being more trouble than it was worth. So people stayed at home.

All that made Lucy worry about the security of her position. If people stopped coming out altogether would her job be safe. What could she do if the employment  was terminated. The desperate desire for a vaccine became overwhelming sometimes. People, Lucy included, scoured the news every day in the hope that some breakthrough would be achieved.

Lucy was approaching the last premises of the day. She left it till last because she didn’t like coming here. It was a bar. She found it a tad pretentious. There was always the feeling that they were trying to “get one over” on her. They rearranged the furniture on a weekly basis so that more often than not she would need to take actual measurements rather than rely on her visual appraisal of the layout. The owner was one of those men who believed himself to be irresistible. Lucy thought he was a jack the lad. He always communicated with a cheeky Chappy type approach as if it was all a big laugh. In truth Lucy envied him that attitude because for her it was all too, too serious. 

As she went in she saw that the furniture had been rearranged yet again. She was measuring and she found one table was only a metre and a half apart. With a sinking heart she summoned the owner while she registered. Or tried to register. For the owner grabbed hold of her arm and the device and tried to stop her. It happened very quickly. 

‘You really don’t want to be reporting me, you know.’ he said, the charm and smarm now disappeared,’ Trust me, you really don’t.’

It was then Lucy saw his hand go to the waistband of his jeans drawing her eye to the metallic glint. She gasped. He looked at her with gimlet eyes. Cold, hard, steel gaze. Lucy swallowed.

‘Okay, so let me just move this table a little bit. And then we’re all fine and dandy aren’t we?’

And so saying he moved the table slightly. He then patted Lucy on the arm and smiled showing his gold teeth. 

‘So I’ll see you next week shall I? And we’ll say no more about this? You wouldn’t want anything unpleasant to happen would you? ‘

Lucy sensed that none of these questions were really requiring an answer. She backed out of the bar and returned to her vehicle shaking. It was some minutes before she felt able to drive back to her apartment.

For several days afterwards Lucy was anxious, withdrawn, The experience had unnerved her. It had caused her to question whether she should report him. Would he be able to find her? Would he carry out the implied threat?

But seven days rolled around and another visit to the premises was imminent. Lucy felt physically ill. She almost thought of calling in sick but knew that it would simply be delaying the inevitable. So she took a deep breath, summoned all her reserve and opened the door.

The noise was deafening. The alarm. Ear splitting.The lights flashing strobe red. Within minutes the Temperature Control Officers arrived in their van, full hazard gear adding to their threat. Lucy was shaking and crying and striking out in all directions as they restrained her and placed her in the van.

The bar owner shrugged, turned round and went back into his property.

©Gill Chedgey

Day Forty Two - Optical Illusions and Boris Returns

I experienced something weird this morning. Given that I follow the same route every day for my walk the outlook is the same. Not that I grow tired of it. The estuary can be very soothing and quite beautiful particularly when the sunshine is on the water. But this morning everything that usually seems quite distant seemed much much closer. It was as if everything was in walking distance and I could reach it all quite easily. Of course I couldn't. It must've been a trick of the light but it was palpable and curiously unnerving

Our prime minister, Boris Johnson, is back at work. I wonder what that will mean for the country? I feel that his experience of coronavirus must surely affect his views on how dangerous it is.  'The UK is at the moment of maximum risk in the coronavirus outbreak, Boris Johnson has said, as he urged people not to lose patience with the lockdown.' He is saying there will be a refinement of the lockdown. Hmm, I am wondering what those refinements will entail. I probably won't do much different. I still fear a second, deadlier wave if we exit lockdown too soon. 

In comparison New Zealand claim to have successfully stopped transmission of covid-19 effectively eliminating the virus. Bold claims. They may have stopped transmission but eliminated the virus? I don't think so. From what I've seen it's a pesky little blighter that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I've admired Jacinda Ardern but I hope this isn't  complacency. 

I've been a bit apathetic today. I've spent the bulk of the day reading, some outside as the threatened cloudy day has been punctuated by sunshine but the forecast for the next few days suggests a great deal of rain. Goodness knows the garden needs it. But I don't know what I will do about my walk. The forecast shows an 80/90% chance of rain at the time I go out in the morning. Will I brave it? Get myself soaked through? One thing does occur to me. People are likely to stay indoors if it rains and that might mean less people about if I want to go to a shop. I'm running low on my preferred breakfast cereal which I get at the health food shop. They make it up themselves. It is delicious. It has oat germ, oat bran, malted wheat flakes, seedless raisins and, what they call LSA mix, linseed, almond and sunflower seeds all ground up. The big plus is it's sugar free which is quite hard to find in most breakfast cereals especially stuff like Kellogg's. 

Quiet day today on the communications front. I think I was all 'phoned out' after yesterday. Given that I'm not really a very talkative person  it was a marathon day! Sometimes I feel like I'm merely an observer of life now. I watch from my window as people go by doing their 'essential' outings. I see people in their gardens DIYing as if their lives depended on it. I can only imagine what lockdown is like for people who don't live alone. I think I'm talking to myself more and I'm talking out loud more. I think there's a tendency to do that anyway when you live alone and you spend a great deal of time alone. There's a kind of need to break the silence. Or maybe that's just me!!

Day Forty One - Squirrel Stalking, Phone Calls and Lockdown Limbo

After a ridiculously early start this morning because my hands hurt, my foot hurt, my hip hurt I was out well before six for a walk. Foolish? Because I was hurting? Maybe so but I actually felt a hell of a lot better for doing it by the time I came back. So I took the opportunity to sit in the garden and read while it was beautifully quiet. I love that time of the day. No one is up and about, just me! I was engrossed in my book but I suddenly realised I was being watched. There on the fence, suitably socially distanced I might add, kudos to him, there sat a substantial squirrel. He was frozen, poor thing, with fear. I think he'd been going merrily about his business, not expecting to see anybody at that time in the morning but there I was. We watched each other for a few minutes. I tried to talk to him very gently assuring him that there was no way I was going to hurt him and he could relax. Like an idiot I assumed he knew exactly what I'd said. He started to go forward then his nerve deserted him. He turned tail and ran back down the fence. I went back to my book. Minutes later I came indoors No sooner had I done that then I saw him again coming back down the fence and just to prove himself that he was quite safe he came down onto the table where I'd been sitting with my book, looked in at me as if to say is it safe for me to proceed? Then off he went up the side way to do what ever he meant to do in the first place.

 That has nothing to do with coronavirus but it brightened my day. It's been a day of telephone calls and text messages hence I've got very little else done. My sister-in-law phoned me. She has ongoing problems with her eyes and has an appointment at the hospital tomorrow.  I do worry about her having to go anywhere near a hospital. But the statistics for her county are lower than in other places. I guess it's because it's predominantly a  rural type area. You're actually socially distant whether you want to be or not!   I think she just needed to chat to somebody. The medication she is on makes her very, very dopey she said she's sleeping for about 11 hours a day. That's something I can only dream of. I do feel sorry for her.  She spends so much time worrying about other people and running around after them that she neglects herself. And I think these health issues are the result. My NHS  friend phoned just for a chat. She is still off with a hamstring injury.  Seems to have forgotten my cheese! Never mind.  And then I phoned my brother. We talk a couple of times a week. Great piece of news there, he's finally decided to download WhatsApp. His daughter persuaded him to so that she can send him photographs. I don't know why I'm so pleased but I am!  He's been spending a lot of time singing and videoing himself singing and posting these to Facebook. I don't do Facebook so I can't see them. It seems to be occupying him and giving him a great deal of pleasure.

 News from the auntie Pat front isn't too encouraging. Had an email yesterday where the Home had said she was poorly and confused. That worried everybody. A follow-up phone call today  and we've been told she is frail and confused. All down to semantics?

 Apparently the government is under some pressure to ease lockdown to improve the economic situation. This has come up several times. It seems to me that if the lockdown is eased too early the economy will not have a chance to pick up before the second wave of the virus hits and we're in another lockdown. So what is gained by ending it early? I hate the way that something  as serious as this becomes another pawn in the game of politics. It shouldn't be. Everybody should be working together in unity to try and get on top of this thing. But no, politicians do use it to try and discredit another party, make themselves and their own party look good. Do any of them actually care about the people and the country? Our prime minister Boris Johnson returns to work tomorrow. I wonder if his attitude  and his plans to proceed with the handling of the situation will change now that he's been so ill.  As far as I can see people decided to ease lockdown for themselves. I saw somebody walking along today with a great big hikers backpack full to the brim. Where were they going? There is probably some reasonable explanation but it didn't look like anything essential to me. And there are still people delivering free magazines and newspapers.  I don't think they're essential and we're all being so careful with post and shopping it's just one more added problem. I picked one up today with some gloves and put it straight in the recycling, didn't even look at it. It's also been delivered by a stranger who wasn't wearing gloves. I wiped the gate afterwards. Am I interpreting all these sanctions too literally,  being too pedantic and  a bit of a nitpicker? I don't know? Answers on a postcard please.

Day Forty - Home Sweet Home!

 I do not have the full details. But I have been told via a round robin email that Auntie Pat is back in the care home!  I wasn't anticipating this. And I have loads of questions but I'm absolutely delighted and relieved.  My gratitude is boundless.

 I didn't go for a walk today. Everything seemed to be hurting. I had a dreadful night.  And I was expecting my friends who go shopping very early on a Saturday to turn up on my doorstep with strawberries and cheese as they did last week, well cheese and pineapple to be precise which viewers of my blog will have been quick to spot. 😉 It's got to be something of a habit this, the Saturday visit.  The expectation is quite high. But it just goes to show that you can so easily start to take things for granted. There was absolutely no sign of them. I felt quite disheartened.

However my friend did WhatsApp me later asking me to download Zoom and join in a quiz night  which they are going to do every Friday. But I still have so many concerns about Zoom so I declined. It hasn't gone down well.

 I think we've reached a strange kind of halfway house in this lockdown fiasco. All the time now I'm observing people behaving much more normally than they were. I'm not sure if that's because there is an adjustment to the lockdown or whether the people really are bored with it all and are just going to go back to normal regardless. Just watching the traffic and the people in my road, markedly different from a few weeks ago.  I think people are moving about in a more relaxed manner, less concerned about keeping the distance clearly less concerned about being out at all. My neighbours either side are much more receptive to callers now. It's all very noticeable.

 I've not looked at any news stories today. I've lost the motivation. A lot of it is beginning to be very repetitive and not particularly uplifting reading.  But more than that I suppose there's nothing new to be said. There don't appear to be any new developments in the scientists' understanding of the virus. It's been pretty clear that an effective vaccine won't be available till at least the end of the year. And the continual debates and questions about when will lockdown end, how will it end et cetera are beginning to annoy me. The death rate continues to rise.

I had a further message from my friend. She didn't go shopping today but her partner did and he got me some cheese. That was very kind of him. She said they were going to bring it along this afternoon. But some news has completely thrown her. The girl she job shares with. The girl she shares an office with. The girl -  has coronavirus. I think it's made my friend very uneasy. I'm not sure whether I shall see her today or not. I've prepared a little bag of goodies for them. Every time they buy me something they won't take any money for it so I've tried to do this kind of exchange thing. I kinda like it.

I continue to be and feel quite reclusive. It's almost like a rehearsal for if I get to be a  very old lady who can't go out and can't go to the shops. This is how it will be. Maybe it's a good exercise for me to see how I get on.

People in various locations have started hanging bunting across the street. I think it's supposed to represent the rainbow symbol that's being used to support the NHS. I've noticed dribs and drabs of it on my walk in the morning. But one of the girls ( I say girl, we're all women in our mid sixties) on the old schoolgirls WhatsApp group posted a picture of her street and it seems like every house is involved. Something kinda nice about it but it strikes me as being incredibly paradoxical. Bunting is associated as a celebratory thing, street parties -  it just doesn't seem to work when the whole country is in the midst of a pandemic lockdown. Or am I just a miserable git?

Day Thirty Nine - Expletives, Disinfectant and UV Light

I made myself pretty unpopular on my walk this morning. I saw a couple walking their dog ahead of me. The dog was off the lead. So I rerouted to take another path that would allow me to avoid them and social distance myself. However the dog had other ideas. He saw me. Stopped in his tracks. Then he started to bound over to me. I was shocked and without thinking I told him to 'Fuck off.' Not pleasant, not pretty, I know. The couple called him back and comforted him. Or her. I didn't look. And, understandably they glared at me. Pre coronavirus, pre lockdown, pre social distancing  this would never have happened. Firstly, I would have welcomed the dog, petted him and probably exchanged some pleasantries with the owner. Secondly, had I felt threatened I would have just offered a simple 'shoo' or something mild like that. But no, the horror of the virus caused me to unreasonably  use the foulest language. I apologise unreservedly.

We had an update on Auntie Pat. Yesterday there were no further symptoms but her oxygen levels were low so they gave her some. She had a yoghourt and a cup of tea. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. My cousin thought it was hopeful.

I started a new journal today. In addition to this blog I keep my own diary/journal on a daily basis. I use notebooks, not preprinted diaries because I prefer to have as much or as little space as I need to write whatever I want for that day. Out of curiosity I looked back in my January - April journal that I've just finished to see whereabouts I made the first mention of coronavirus. It was on February 11th where I wrote 'Coronavirus is going to be an issue. Avoid hospitals and doctors I reckon.' !!! My psychic abilities know no bounds. 😉

Trump has come up with a novel cure to rid ourselves, once and for all, of this confounded contagion. That is to ingest bleach or disinfectant. Or irradiate bodies with UV light.

'"So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous - whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light," the president said, turning to Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response co-ordinator, "and I think you said that hasn't been checked but you're going to test it. 

"And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside of the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you're going to test that too. Sounds interesting," the president continued.'

'And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning? 

"So it'd be interesting to check that."

Pointing to his head, Mr Trump went on: "I'm not a doctor. But I'm, like, a person that has a good you-know-what."

He turned again to Dr Birx and asked if she had ever heard of using "the heat and the light" to treat coronavirus.

"Not as a treatment," Dr Birx said. "I mean, certainly, fever is a good thing. When you have a fever, it helps your body respond. But I've not seen heat or light."

"I think it's a great thing to look at," Mr Trump said.

Mr Trump has previously hyped a malaria medication, hydroxycloroquine, as a possible treatment for coronavirus, though he has stopped touting that drug recently.

I was trying to tell my neighbour about this but I couldn't get the words out for laughing so much. Can you believe that anyone can be that daft? Yes, I can. But a world leader? He's been heavily criticised. Doctors are urging the public not to try it. I do think the virus might be vulnerable in the heat from the sun. But, having said that, it has taken quite a hold in what I think of as warm, if not hot, countries. 

I've had a quiet day today. My hands have been pretty painful. So I decided to rest them. It's mostly my left hand and I noticed that typing this morning was very uncomfortable but it's easier this afternoon, like now, while I'm typing this so I reckon the resting is working. I did take some painkillers with lunch though. It's frustrating as I was on something of a roll with my domestic and horticultural activities. 

Day Thirty Eight - Variety is the Spice of Life

Yes, as you can see I've renewed my subscription to findacliche.com! Variety? I changed my music method for this morning's walk. Yesterday I dug out my old iPod shuffle. It must be 15 years old at least I think I got it even before I had broadband!! I wasn't even sure whether it would still work but I dug out my old lap top and fired them both up. Hey Presto. I think you have to ring the changes sometimes. They say variety is the spice of life and there's not too much of either at the moment, variety or spice! So you gotta try somehow.  I used this old 'pod primarily for workout music. It's a miscellaneous mix chosen for the beat. I used it when I went to the gym. So there's some sadness there too. I stopped going to the gym regularly after Mum died. It wasn't a conscious decision it just happened. But all these songs reminded me of those days when I cared for Mum. She liked a nap in the afternoon as old ladies often do. But she worried that I got bored!! So I used to go to the gym when she had her nap and that satisfied her. Songs I haven't heard in a while - Martha and the Muffins Echo Beach - great for working on the cross trainer! I got a good rhythm going this morning.

Then I continued with my cleaning programme and added a little rearrangement to the shelves.  They used to hold a car boor sale in the station car park on a Sunday morning. I attended occasionally but rarely bought much. But one day a curious Chinese figure caught my attention. I passed it by telling myself I had enough tut around the hose, I didn't need any more. But I couldn't get this figure out of my head. So I returned to the stall and paid £1 for it. When I started to research its origin I found that it is a Chinese mud man figure of Confucius! Variety? Right? Whilst researching the figures I found many other poses. And I learned that some of them are quite valuable. They all seem to be very collectable. And you have to examine the marks on the bottom to check whether or not they are old. But I also saw pictures of Chinese mud men in various tai chi poses which I found very interesting. I ended up collecting a few which I found in charity shops and on Ebay.

They get dusty along with everything else on my dresser. But it's a mammoth task to remove everything, wash it and put it back so I'm doing it bit by bit. Whether I'll manage the top I don't know. Because that means getting the steps out and that really plays havoc with my back. But I was pleased with what I achieved today. I even did some gardening. Not for very long though. It's very difficult. .As well as my back being painful the arthritis in my wrists was really what stopped me today. Nevertheless, in an effort to try and stay positive I did manage some which is an improvement on last year. So I slapped some tiger balm on my wrists and hope that they'll calm down a bit.

My next door neighbours had their other daughter in this afternoon with her two sons, their grand sons. I believe they were keeping a distance but nevertheless it does go against the protocols of lockdown. We are not supposed to have visits even from friends or family. And my NHS friend who is off work with a hamstring injury says she wants to go back to work because she is now bored! I suggested that it was better to be bored than to run the risk of picking up coronavirus. I'm not sure how well that went down. Her partner has gone back to work because he says the wifi at home isn't fast enough. It's all falling apart........

No more news on Auntie Pat. I'm hoping that no news is good news. I haven't  looked at or heard any of the news today, I've been that busy! They could have found a cure for Covid-19 for all I know. That would be good wouldn't it? Not overly optimistic if I'm honest.

Day Thirty Seven - Lockdown Knockdown, Soup and Scrubbing

I think my neighbours may be among the group of people who have adhered to lockdown protocols initially but are now fed up and prepared to relax them. They've had their daughter to visit a couple of times this week, sitting in the garden, chatting and looking at photos, I think, from what I could hear. I was not eavesdropping! Their voices were quite loud. I had to stop reading. It's none of my business, I know, but I do think they are foolhardy given their health and age. But I don't think they are alone. My other neighbours have had a couple of friends call today. Admittedly they are chatting on the drive with an almost social distance. There's a definite shift I feel. Traffic and passers by continue to be more plentiful. I suppose it is inevitable. I'm not going to break lockdown though. I am too scared! No more news on Auntie Pat and I'm not going to make a nuisance of myself and keep on asking, I'm sure we'll be told if there's any significant change.

Someone on social media yesterday reckoned that in the winter of 1999/2000 there were 20,000 deaths in the UK from flu. Mr. Blair was the PM and he didn't order lockdowns etc. They were suggesting our current situation is an over reaction. To date in the UK there have been 17,337 deaths from COVID-19. But surely it depends on how any months those statistics were complied over for there to be a viable comparison. The UK figure has been accrued in what seems to me to be a short space of time comparatively.

After curtailing my walk this morning because yesterday's garden activities were hurting me I feared today might be one of those unproductive days which frustrate me dreadfully. But I found a burst of motivation, more than energy since I don't think my energy is actually lacking! And I scrubbed the glass cabinet! I washed all the glasses and shelves.I took down all the photos on the top and cleaned them. I sorted through the drawers and put it all back before lunchtime! Then I made some soup again. Lots of people are making sourdough during this lockdown. I'm making soup! I make a big pot and have it all week for lunch. It makes for an easy lunch. Previously, (i.e. B.C. Before Coronavirus) - I might have gone out and bought something specific for lunch or had a lunch out with friends maybe. Can't do that now. 

I find that though I feel lonely I am not craving company. It's almost the reverse. If I get a call or text message I'm almost groaning at the interruption. I was pleased to hear from mynfriend in Portugal yesterday but I think there's a subliminal acceptance of this isolation as the norm. I think that's quite worrying. 

I've been writing bits and pieces. I wrote this skit which is a bit silly but it amused me to do it!

Global Pandemic Project 

Representatives from all countries are in a school room. Their Global Pandemic Projects have been submitted for a ‘halfway’ assessment and students are being given their marks and a brief critique on their attempts by the World Health Organisation.

WHO1: Thank you everybody. We have looked at all of your efforts. Some very good work from many of you. Unfortunately there are some of you who just haven’t been listening to us and really haven’t put enough effort into your projects. It’s very disappointing. 

WHO2: I’d like to make special mention of some outstanding work. New Zealand? Do we have a representative?

JACINDA ARDEN raises her hand.

WHO2: Ahh, yes, Jacinda. Please stand up.

JACINDA STANDS

WHO2: An excellent approach, New Zealand. You may want to check on your immigration policies as I think many people will want to come and live in your country! You locked down before you had any deaths at all. A very smart move. The result of that is your country has suffered 12 deaths only. A*. Very well done.

The rest of the class starts clapping.

JACINDA holds up her hand: No, no, no applause please. 12 deaths is still 12 deaths too many.

The class stop clapping and look down at their desks in sobering silence. Jacinta sits down.

WHO2: And now to Singapore. Halimah Yacob?

HALVAH YACOB stands up.

WHO2: Oh, Singapore, you started so well. Suppressing but without a lockdown. Your army making all those face masks for everyone. It was inspirational. Then it went wrong didn’t it? I’m afraid it was bound to happen without a lockdown. You failed to consider the numbers of migrant workers didn’t you? And how quickly the disease spread amongst them? I’m sorry but we can only give you a C.

HALVAH JACOB offers an unsmiling nod and sits down.

WHO2: South Korea, please? Moon Jae-in?

MOON JAE IN stands.

WHO2: Well done. Your policy of testing, tracing and treating without lockdowns has been most effective. Congratulations. It is also worth mentioning that with this country’s action we have been able to identify that people are testing positive twice for the virus leading us to think that having it once does not necessarily lead to immunity. Another A*.

MOON JAE beams and puts his hands together in namaste.

WHO2: United States of America?

Silence. 

WHO2: Do we have a representative? Donald Trump?

Silence disturbed by some vague mutterings. 

The Canadian representative JUSTIN TRUDEAU stands.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU: I think he’s suing China, sir.

He sits down, shrivelling at the look of disdain from the WHO personnel.

WHO2. USA does not get a pass. F for fail.

WHO2: United Kingdom. Boris Johnson?

DOMINIC RAAB: He’s off sick, sir. I’m taking his place.

WHO2 stares silently at Raab saying nothing for several minutes..

WHO2: Oh dear, UK. One of the most disappointing performances worldwide. You wouldn’t listen. You stopped testing. Bleating about herd immunity for a virus that we don’t know enough about. You left it too long to lockdown. Your population don’t seem to understand what lockdown actually means. The deaths tell us all we need to know. This is a fail. A spectacular fail. 

DOMINC RAAB sits down without changing his expression. 

Thank you and goodnight.

Day Thirty Six - Phone Calls and Fears

I was about to hang the washing out when my mobile phone rang. Initially exasperated I looked at the display and my face lit up as well as the phone. It was my friend who emigrated to Portugal three years ago. (Lots of my friends live abroad don't they?!) She and her husband run an abandoned animal home. It wasn't their intention when they first went out there but things kinda escalated. Sad thing is all their resources go towards the upkeep of these animals and their plans for self sufficiency are on the back burner to a degree. But it was great to chat with her.  We have a similar sense of humour and like similar books.  I last saw her in September when she came over for the Proms in the Park but I haven't talked to her for months.  Our call was over an hour long! That's long for me because I'm not a very talkative person. But it took my mind off other things.

Other things being poor Auntie Pat. Sometimes it's like Chinese whispers the way information is interpreted or misinterpreted. As my sister observed personal temperaments can skew an interpretation. My cousin rang my sister after having spoken to the hospital for some more accurate detail after yesterday's email. The small strokes mentioned yesterday were longer ago than implied and the hospital confirmed they have all the notes. There is no real change other than the fact that they are concerned about a loose bowel movement which may be a symptom of the virus. (If it is then I've had the virus for years 😉). But the care home are not happily waiting for her to be discharged. Far from it. They will not countenance having her back after testing positive. So at the moment she has to stay in the hospital. I wish we could talk to Pat and know that she isn't 'terrified or lonely or feeling abandoned' as my sister said.

The WHO envoy David Nabarro has said that the coronavirus is not going to go away and we must learn to live with it. I suppose I instinctively knew that. There's also some concern about whether the public wearing masks will affect supplies for front-line staff. But there does seem to be some suggestion that infections are 'flattening out' and the peak may be over. Is it true or is it wishful thinking from those who are tired of lockdown?

I can see myself remaining quite reclusive whatever happens. It's almost a conditioning I've undergone. I'm instinctively avoiding any close contact with people. But also being horribly aware when others appear to be too close. I see them from the window and I yell 'Social Distance Please!' I don't think they can hear me! It's scary how quickly this has happened to me. At the end of the month I will need to put in another repeat prescription request. If I go back to Day One of this diary I detailed my last prescription trip! This time I have to nominate a pharmacy where it can be relayed electronically and I can pick it up from there. It will be the first time in over a month that I will have to venture into town. And I'm frightened. It's been so long. I might wear a face mask. And I'll wear gloves because if I have to go into town I'll call in at the Health Food Store. But I really don't want to go!! And it bothers me because I think I should want to go further afield. I wonder if others feel the same? I'm worried this is all irrational and I'm going a little crazy.

I tried to do a little more gardening today. My gardener has begun to take bookings again but I haven't made any. Social distancing is going to be very hard. He always needs the toilet. Even if he's only here for an hour he goes at least once. I don't really want anyone in the house. He doesn't wash his hands. But he uses the banister rail and the door handles. So it'll be a major spray and wipe job if I did let him up there. Oh, for an outside toilet!!  He likes to be paid with cash. I'm not doing cash at the moment. But the arthritis in my hands is so bad now that I can't do very much effectively. I was quite shocked at both the pain and the weakness in my hands when I tried to pull out a weed!I suppose I could see what I've done as pretty good under the circumstances but there's a long way to go.

Day Thirty Five - Anxieties and Rainbows

Too many cooks is the cliche that springs to mind today as I try to find the relevant information about poor auntie Pat. Three cousins all offering information which isn't necessarily all as clear as I'd like it to be. My sister talked to one cousins's husband. He reckoned they didn't do a hip replacement so much as a re-alignment to fix the femur. I have to say that sounds more plausible if she had broken the femur. He also said the care home are happily waiting for her to be discharged from the hospital which indicates that they are okay with her having tested positive for covid-19 which puzzles me. Surely anyone with the virus would be most unwelcome in a care home? No one is sure why the hospital are holding her which is ominous but it might be because of the raised temperature. 

Then there was an email from another cousin. Not the cousin who told us of the coronavirus positive test yesterday, a different cousin, his sister in fact. She says,

 'Just spoken with the hospital and Auntie Pat is up and about and, although has tested positive for Covid 19, she is not symptomatic having neither a cough or temperature.  She is now in Kings Ward C

She has a little low blood pressure and is on an IV and has a loss of appetite, but has had a little something to eat.

The main worry was that she appeared vacant and not engaged.  I mentioned the small strokes that she has had with recent anaesthetics  and the nurse agreed to recommend that the doctors look into this tomorrow.'

So, no longer a raised temperature. Sounds better than yesterday. But inconclusive. A waiting game I fear and a jigsaw puzzle of details. 

I didn't sleep well last night worrying about Pat but that didn't stop me getting up and walking at 6 this morning. Chilly but somehow I needed to move. The wind has persisted today which has made being outdoors something of a battle. So I hunkered down and did what I do when I need to escape - writing and reading. One phone call from a friend and some text messages from my sister and that's the extent of contact today. I'm okay with that. I'll have an early night and steel myself for tomorrow's news and updates.

Because of the personal stuff I haven't kept a check on the broader aspects of the lockdown and the virus, nationally or internationally.I think that's interesting in itself. When it starts to hit closer to home you stop looking outside of that. So I had a brief trawl through some of the news. Apparently our convalescing PM is cautious about easing lockdown restrictions. Perhaps having the illness has helped him see sense at last. Still too little,too late. But someone has thrown a spanner in the works by suggesting the lockdown was likely to do more damage than the virus. Hmm, not sure how you quantify that one. A comparison with lives lost because of the virus and lives lost because of the lockdown? That's a no brainer. I think there will be a great divide. Those people who have been personally affected by the virus, by contracting it themselves or loved ones or losing someone close will be fully in favour of maintaining a lockdown. They will have experienced first what this virus is capable of. Those who have not been touched at all by the virus other than to have their lives disrupted and inconvenienced will long for the lockdown to be over. 

Another study of the virus suggest that high air pollution levels could raise the risk of dying. That's offered by one study. Another says it is too early to prove a direct relationship. Too early, exactly. We still do not know the full nature of this virus. So we proceed with caution. But I see people getting fed up and beginning to throw caution to the wind. A friend drove round to see her granddaughter. They stayed in the car maintaining a good distance and watched the children play on the front driveway. So although lockdown protocols were breached it doesn't sound as if the behaviour was irresponsible. Afterwards they went straight home but the friend said she wished they could have gone for a longer drive. But, to me, that indicates the seeds of discontent beginning to cause someone to alter their behaviour. This is a person who was scared to leave the house a couple of weeks ago. Interesting. 

Let's end on a cheerier note. I do seem to have been glum lately, I saw this at the end of my road on my walk the other day. 

My sister thought the blue and the indigo were a bit 'wonky' but I thought the overall effect was lovely and uplifting. People are gradually putting these up everywhere. I've seen people with bunting and flags too. Folk finding ways to get through this. 

Day Thirty Four - No Escape

I am very sad today and I won't be writing much. My cousin had an update from the hospital to say that Auntie Pat has tested positive for coronavirus. She has no symptoms other than a slightly raised temperature and she is getting over the operation well. So she is still in Hospital at the moment and can't go back to the Care Home just yet. I have all kinds of questions. Did she pick the virus up in the hospital? Or did she already have it from the home? How come she is recovering well from the surgery if her body is fighting the virus? It seems like a contradiction. I am not expecting answers but I just can't help asking the questions. I feel very worried. The realisation that few of us will get though this unaffected in a personal way has become concrete. I suspected it. I felt it was just a waiting game. I'm scared I'll never see Pat again.

And that's all I can write today.

Day Thirty Three - Education, Strawberries and Rules, Rules, Rules

No walk today. My activities of yesterday have a knock on effect. I've a very sore leg. I think it might be achilles tendon related. It certainly hurts more on flexion so I decided a walk wouldn't be sensible. I'm also experiencing a modicum of discomfort typing this as my efforts in the garden have exacerbated something in my left wrist, arthritis, tendonitis? Who knows? I'm a real old lady today. I loathe the fact that what you do one day means you have to deal with the fallout the next. I found an old pot of tiger balm which I've applied to my leg and there's a temporary easing.

Discussions about the lockdown continue. The ending of it and how it will be implemented dominate. Education figures high on people's list of concerns. There are many parents who have embraced the whole home schooling thing and may even have afforded their children a broader education than if the schools had remained open. Debatable point for sure. My friend's daughter in law says she has really enjoyed home schooling her three children, interestingly the 'nearly two year' old is included. But she says she hasn't stuck to a timetable. She waits until they say they're bored and then she does an activity with them believing they will learn more effectively than if she insists on dragging them away from something else they're already enjoying. My friend says that's in stark contrast to her other son's family. The two eldest children have been shipped off to their grandmother's every so often, (hmm lockdown breakdown? or not?) and I believe she has made some attempt at homeschooling. But they aren't doing anything in their own home. The general fear is, when the schools resume, that there will be a marked discrepancy between those children who have been continuing with their education during lockdown and those who haven't. It will be interesting to monitor this.

Strawberries have featured several times in this diary. Folk who know me well know I love strawberries. My NHS friend who always goes shopping on Saturday during the priority slot for key workers habitually, now, gets strawberries for me if the store has any. They didn't last week and they didn't this week. She bought me a pineapple instead. (I love pineapples too! ) Then early this afternoon there was a ring at the doorbell, which has me going into a panic nowadays. It was my next door neighbour having placed a punnet of strawberries by the door!  How kind! I felt dreadful though. Their car had been gone from the driveway for hours today. I was unkindly thinking that since they were that long it couldn't have been an essential trip. It may not have been wholly essential but they certainly went to the supermarket. And they thought of me which was incredibly thoughtful. Fast forward an hour or two. I'm listening to The Doors full volume with the headphones on. My phone lights up with a message. It's my NHS friend telling me there are......... strawberries outside my front door!! Her partner had seen some at the greengrocer's on his walk and thought that I would like them.  He knocked but I didn't hear him because I had the headphones on. I wasn't expecting any more callers today, funnily enough!! Another punnet of strawberries. I didn't tell either of them, my friend or my neighbour, that I got some strawberries in my Sainsbury's delivery this week!! 😂🍓

This was in the Old Schools Girls WhatsApp feed today. It's funny, but it isn't because it is more accurate than it should be.

'Lockdown rules explained, for those that are not Lockdown rules explained, for those that are not too sure or maybe sure.

1. You MUST NOT leave the house for any reason, but if you have a reason, you can leave the house.

2. Masks are useless at protecting you against the virus, but you may have to wear one because it can save lives, but they may not work, but they may be mandatory, but maybe not.

3. Shops are closed, except those shops that are open.

4. You must not go to work but you can get another job and go to work.

5. You should not go to the Drs or to the hospital unless you have to go there, unless you are too poorly to go there.

6. This virus can kill people, but don’t be scared of it. It can only kill those people who are vulnerable or those people who are not vulnerable. It’s possible to contain and control it, sometimes, except that sometimes it actually leads to a global disaster.

7. Gloves won't help, but they can still help so wear them sometimes or not.

8. STAY HOME, but it's important to go out.

9. There is no shortage of groceries in the supermarkets, but there are many things missing. Sometimes you won’t need loo rolls but you should buy some just in case you need some.

10. The virus has no effect on children except those children it affects.

11. Animals are not affected, but there was a cat that tested positive in Belgium in February when no one had been tested, plus a few tigers here and there…

12. Stay 2 metres away from tigers (see point 11).

13. You will have many symptoms if you get the virus, but you can also get symptoms without getting the virus, get the virus without having any symptoms or be contagious without having symptoms, or be non contagious with symptoms...it's a sort of lucky/unlucky dip.

14. To help protect yourself you should eat well and exercise, but eat whatever you have on hand as it's better not to go to the shops, unless you need toilet roll or a fence panel.

15. It's important to get fresh air but don't go to parks but go for a walk. But don’t sit down, except if you are old, but not for too long or if you are pregnant or if you’re not old or pregnant but need to sit down. If you do sit down don’t eat your picnic, unless you've had a long walk, which you are/aren't allowed to do if you're old or pregnant.

16. Don’t visit old people but you have to take care of the old people and bring them food and medication.

17. If you are sick, you can go out when you are better but anyone else in your household can’t go out when you are better unless they need to go out.

18. You can get restaurant food delivered to the house. These deliveries are safe. But groceries you bring back to your house have to be decontaminated outside for 3 hours including frozen pizza...

19. You can't see your older mother or grandmother, but they can take a taxi and meet an older taxi driver.

20. You are safe if you maintain the safe social distance when out but you can’t go out with friends or strangers at the safe social distance.

21. The virus remains active on different surfaces for two hours ... or four hours...or six hours... I mean days, not hours... But it needs a damp environment. Or a cold environment that is warm and dry... in the air, as long as the air is not plastic.

22. Schools are closed so you need to home educate your children, unless you can send them to school because you’re not at home. If you are at home you can home educate your children using various portals and virtual class rooms, unless you have poor internet, or more than one child and only one computer, or you are working from home. Baking cakes can be considered maths, science or art. If you are home educating you can include household chores within their education. If you are home educating you can start drinking at 10am.

23. If you are not home educating children you can also start drinking at 10am.

24. The number of corona related deaths will be announced daily but we don't know how many people are infected as they are only testing those who are almost dead to find out if that's what they will die of… the people who die of corona who aren’t counted won’t or will be counted but maybe not.

25. We should stay in lockdown until the virus stops infecting people but it will only stop infecting people if we all get infected so it’s important we get infected and some don’t get infected.

26. You can join your neighbours for a street party and turn your music up for an outside disco and your neighbours won’t call the police. People in another street are allowed to call the police about your music whilst also having a party which you are allowed to call the police about.

27. No business will go down due to Coronavirus except those businesses that will go down due to Coronavirus not sure or maybe sure .

Worrisome news from Japan as their doctors warn of a health system breakdown because cases are surging. But given what my friend who lives in Japan told me, I'm not that surprised. Their lockdown hasn't been strict enough. More lax than ours even. I worry for my friend and her daughters.

Something I've wanted to say but haven't for fear of being labelled sexist is that those countries with female leadership have done much better in controlling the virus. I can say it now though because other people are too. British Vogue ran an article on the subject. They make the point though that it is not because of their gender but because they deserve to be in leadership positions to begin with. Hmmmm. Interpret that as you will........ I'm saying no more.