Day One Hundred and Twenty Two - Music, Surgery and Objections

My poor friend who sometimes give me a lift to tai chi has broken her wrist in two places! She fell over a wall. Goodness me, the accidents that have occurred during this lockdown really make me wonder if home is a safe place? She won't be restarting tai chi. But she agrees with some of my concerns about how the tai chi teacher is organising the classes and his overall attitude. I felt a bit better about that. Didn't feel it was just me being over cautious and paranoid.

I managed to catch the postie on duty today and ask him about Leon. He says he hasn't seen him for about a month. He hasn't been at work. But they don't tell staff why people are off. I was immediately concerned that Leon might have contracted COVID-19. But this guy said no they've been told that none of the posties in their office have gone down with the virus. That's a good thing to hear but it does make me concerned for Leon; whether he's had an accident or something. The postie said it might be stress. They've been under such pressure with the increasing post because of people buying stuff online during lockdown. Ridiculously I felt guilty.

My current bout of "productivity" is taking its toll on my body. I had to stop my gardening activities this morning because my wrist just was so painful. I put a medicated pad thing on it that had a cooling affect which was comforting. But it does make me mad. I just wanna get on and do things. It's not that I'm unwilling it's just that my body will not let me. I did do some more housework though. And I've sorted one or two little bits. I phoned the library about how to return my books. They're not properly open for people to go and browse. I wouldn't anyway. But they have what they calling a click and collect service. You can reserve up to 7 books online and then go and pick them up. I don't think I'll do that because I have lots of books to read. But they have a place where you can go and return your books. I've got two I've have had out since March, February even so it'll be a good thing for me to get those back. I might do that tomorrow. The library is one of the things I miss. But I don't miss it so much that I want to borrow books that might be contaminated.

My friend who has cancer is up at the London hospital this afternoon. I hope she'll let me know how it goes when she gets back. But if she doesn't I'll just have to wait and be patient. She'll probably be emotional and tired.

I haven't mentioned my walking music lately have I?  A great variety of music from Cher to David Bowie. I've also been playing some of my own compilations. Some years ago the radio station jazz FM had a late night programme called the Late Lounge. And it played a marvellous collection of ambient and chill out music. I also used to download a podcast called Bit Sounds. Again it was similar music. Kind of sad and musically using what I call "rain chords ". There is something mournful and moving about the music. I'm also still playing through my CDs in the home. And one I tried to play yesterday wouldn't play and I was fearful that my CD machine had failed. When I tried the CD in the computer it spat it out in disgust. So I think the disk might be corrupted. It was a burnt disc not a shop bought one. However I was so disappointed because I enjoyed the music so much that I downloaded it from the iTunes Store. It was a soundtrack to a TV series from the 70s called the Rock Follies. I think my dear friend in Gran Canaria who sometimes read this blog will remember the music and the series. So that was what I was listening to this morning and joyfully remembering the majority of the lyrics and belting them out.

A lot of people in the country are objecting to the mandatory wearing of a face mask in shops. I don't remember there being such a vocal objection when they were made mandatory on public transport. But I just think it's this country. People would object to whatever they're asked to do. They can't look at the bigger picture and consider the reasons why. I laughed a few days ago because one politician said it shouldn't be mandatory It should be left to the common sense of the people. But they haven't got any common sense as far as I can see! There was even a #NoMasks hashtag on social media yesterday. But whatever happens, whatever you're asked to do, there will always be people who are compliant and people who violently oppose. And I think it's particularly prevalent in a country like ours. Democracy and freedom. I think that's what it's called? I wear one whenever I go out apart from my morning walk when I see too few people for it to be necessary. But if they made it compulsory to wear them I would on my walk too, it wouldn't bother me. Except they can steam your glasses up if you don't get them on properly.

As I'm writing this I've just had a message from my friend. She is having the surgery on the 13th of August. It's not that I'm superstitious but I wish it wasn't the 13th. Am I being silly? She's having the pre-assessment now. She has to go up three days before to have a Covid test. She'll be in three nights. And she has to quarantine in two weeks time and then for one week after. I've got very mixed emotions. I'm glad that something is being done. Glad the treatment is going to start. But I still feel dreadfully worried about her. It's only natural isn't it? I'll be worried even if it wasn't lockdown and there wasn't the risk of Covid.