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!
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