Day Sixty - Eight - Nephews, News and Silly

I was fully intending to go out for my early walk today but my plans were thwarted when I fell back to sleep! Most unusual for me. I figure I must've needed that extra half hour. But it cemented the decision not to venture out this morning. Instead I did the tai chi form in the garden. I say the form. I got about halfway through the final part when my memory deserted me. So I just gave a bow and came indoors. Funny how the wheels of fate conspire to propel you in a certain direction. Astute readers might remember that I said I had a Sainsbury's delivery booked. It was due today. They always send you an email detailing those items they can't send you. I got the mail nice and early and I was a little bit disappointed to find they had no eggs and no satisfactory substitute. Wonder what the hell is going on with eggs at the moment? Abel and Cole didn't have any. My sister in London couldn't get any at the Co-op or Waitrose. She ended up buying some very expensive ones at Tesco's but let's not go there. I'm a vegetarian. Eggs are an important part of my diet. So I had the idea that maybe, just maybe, my health food store might have some. Now you probably know how stressed I get about venturing out into the wider world. Reader I girded my loins, no I didn't actually. I donned a protective facemask and some protective gloves and off I went intending to be there when they opened. I was too early. But the owner, bless his heart, served me anyway. Very quickly, very efficiently. All the things I wanted including that elusive breakfast cereal. (I bought three bags call me a panic buyer if you wish) And I walked back the long way round so that I could see my beloved sea. And it was a fairly trouble-free journey, everybody was pretty much social distancing. It was very easy for me to maintain a social distance even if other people didn't look like they were inclined to. In fact I was thanked by one jogger for social distancing. Which although they made no effort to do it on their part they did at least acknowledge that I was prepared to do so and somehow that pleased me.

The Sainsbury's order arrived on time. And if I was regretting not going for my walk this morning I changed my mind because after you've sanitised everything you've bought and put it away in its right place that's a workout in itself I think. Nevertheless after I'd done all that I did some yoga too so I feel like I have done enough exercise today.

I was worried I might have upset one of my school friends. She messaged me yesterday evening saying that we should arrange to meet remotely along a local road, early in the morning when no one is about. She was going to get dropped off with one chair or two and we could have a face-to-face chat at well beyond the obligatory 2 m minimum social distance. . That may sound horribly contrary after my whingeing of yesterday. It just wasn't anything I wanted to do, too many silly people about Her reply was slightly snippy I had suggested people are silly and she said she's not one of them. I never meant to call her silly at all. I was referring to everybody else. But I suspect that she probably goes most places by car and is less aware of how ridiculous some peoples' behaviour is. But the road she suggested is the one I walk down and even early in the morning I see for myself how silly some people can be. And that's just walking. When you are sitting down it becomes even more hazardous. And I just don't have any desire to have a socially distanced conversation out in the open. But I'm also beginning to wonder whether I don't actually want to have that much to do with other people anyway. Which is a sad state to get into. I'd like to see my brother and sister. I know that.

My brother messaged us last night to say that my nephew had eaten and was fiddling about on his laptop which was all fairly normal. And he's texted me again this afternoon to say that he thinks it's probably what he often has when he's rundown. Nevertheless I remain concerned.

South America seems to be the latest area to have a surge in coronavirus infections and deaths. IKEA are going to reopen their stores on June 1. But they're not allowing families in one adult and one child only. It looks like next Thursday will be the final clap for carers. The lady that started it in the first place has acknowledged how political it has become. I think it would be a good place to end it. I shall join in then in the final one. There are hints that lockdown easing will start in London ahead of parts of the rest of the country. Apparently there have been no new COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours. Two words. Cautious optimism.