Goodness me….day 31. I never in my life ever imagined such a thing would happen ….although we can still go out for exercise etc, it still feels totally surreal.
Went outside for the 8pm to clap for carers and saw something I haven’t seen for quite some time….contrails. a plane!! I can’t recall seeing a plane for weeks now so was quite surprised to see this. I just read this article and I think we are certainly for the foreseeable future, going to see less planes than we are used to.
I got into a bit of a spat a few days ago about Richard Branson wanting a bailout….and of course I complained bitterly, especially considering he’s a billionaire…so today a friend of mine sent me this 😂😂😂👏👏👏 the website is fake btw….
Brilliant 🤪🤪🤪
So today was my 65th birthday!! 🎂🎊🎉 and I am so surprised that I got this far 😂😂😂 I’ve decided that in honour of this milestone I should keep a diary….so let’s see…I’m not very good at keeping a diary, but you never know…..
They my daughter and family, sent me a delightful box of decorative biscuits from biscuiteers…almost too good to eat
So pretty Gorgeous tulips from the lady who does our shopping.
I got to chat to my daughter and grandson this morning and we had planned a virtual afternoon tea and cake via facetime, but the wee cherub fell in down the outside stairs and gashed his head….so instead they dashed off to A&E to get him checked over. So perhaps tomorrow…
A virtual birthday Awwww 😥😥😥😥💙👶🏻
Other than that, a quiet day….had a snooze during my break and caught up with my paperwork, did my chores and that was it really.
I saw this shared on Facebook and it’s so true its painful….
Passing this on. It’s brilliant:
The UnOfficial Coronavirus Guidelines
Basically, you can’t leave the house for any reason, but if you have to, then you can.
Masks are useless. But they will protect you. They can save you, no they can’t, they’re useless, but wear one anyway. Now they’re mandatory. But maybe. Or maybe not.
Stores are closed, except for the ones that are open.
You should not go to the hospital unless you have to go there. Stay out of the ER at all costs unless you’re having a medical emergency. Then it’s okay.
This virus is deadly but still not too scary, except that sometimes it actually leads to a global disaster. Stay calm.
There is no shortage of groceries in the supermarket, but there are many things missing when you go there in the evening, but not in the morning. Sometimes.
The virus has no effect on children except those it has affected or will affect.
Animals can not get infected, but there is still a cat that tested positive in Belgium in February when no one had been tested yet, and a tiger.. and one really deadly but also possibly fictional but very sick bat.
You will have many symptoms when you are sick, but you can also get sick without symptoms, have symptoms without being sick, or be contagious without having symptoms.
In order not to get sick, you have to eat well and exercise, but also never go out to the grocery store so eat shelf stable processed crap and stay inside your four walls but also stay healthy.
It’s better to get some fresh air, but you may be arrested if you’re getting fresh air the wrong way and most importantly, don’t go to a park, the fresh air there is deadly.
Under no circumstances should you go to retirement homes, but if you have to take care of the elderly and bring them food and medication then fine. Just wear gloves. The same ones. All day.
You can get restaurant food delivered to the house, which may have been prepared by people who didn’t wear masks or gloves. But you have to leave your groceries outside for 3 hours to be decontaminated by the fresh air that also may have virus particles floating around in it. Or you can wipe your groceries with Lysol. But not the food because that will make you sick. No, it’s totally unnecessary to wipe the groceries.
Even though the virus can stay on cardboard for 24 hours. Also, you can’t get the virus from eating food with contagions on it. But you can get it by putting it in your mouth. Wait. What?
Taxi drivers are immune to the virus apparently since you can still take a taxi ride with a random taxi driver. Just don’t take the taxi to your mom’s house because you know. Stay away from your mom.
You can walk around with a friend if you stay six feet apart but don’t visit with your family if they don’t live under the same roof as you. Even if you’ve all been locked inside for two months already. You may still have the virus and just not know it yet. You’ll find out. Wait another week. Wasn’t that a week? Might be the next one. Keep waiting.
You are safe if you maintain the appropriate social distance, but you can’t go out with friends or strangers at the safe social distance. Social distancing means you shouldn’t leave your house and don’t be social, except you may go to the liquor store but don’t socialize there while you’re being socially distant.
The virus remains active on different surfaces for two hours, no, four, no, six, no, we didn’t say hours, maybe days? But it takes a damp environment. Oh no, not necessarily.
The virus stays in the air – well no, or yes, maybe, especially in a closed room, in one hour a sick person can infect ten, so if it falls, all our children were already infected at school before it was closed. But remember, if you stay at the recommended social distance, however in certain circumstances you should maintain a greater distance, which, studies show, the virus can travel further, maybe.
If you have symptoms, call to book a diagnostic test. We will hear your symptoms on the phone and if you are eligible for a test, you don’t need the test. Assume you have it and quarantine for two weeks. If you don’t have symptoms, you are not eligible for the test. Quarantine for two weeks or better yet, until we lift restrictions, which may be in a week, a month or 6 months. Also, whoever wants a test can get a test.
We count the number of deaths but we don’t know how many people are infected as we have only tested so far those who were “almost dead” to find out if that’s what they will die of.
The virus will only disappear if we achieve collective/herd immunity…but stay inside until the virus disappears because we have no immunity.
Author unknown.
No wonder people are confused.
Ultimately we need to NOT go ‘back’ to normal. Let’s give future generations a chance of a decent life. The best thing to come out of this terrible virus is that the planet is having a chance to breathe and recover, albeit not as much as we would like – consider the vast amount of plastic that is being generated to fight Covid-19….that’s going to impact the planet/environment in a very destructive way.
Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth II 94 today…I was lucky enough to see her in Windsor for her 90th birthday, and have her walk right in front of me 🥰🥰🥰👏👏💚💚 the Queen. Sadly there’s no gun salutes or Trooping the Colour this year…looking forward to 2021….
I found this awesome book for my grandson today 😀😀 Its amazing and since the theme in the nursery is space, this will fit right in.
The universe works in mysterious ways….I’ve been so worried about travelling next week and inadvertently contracting the virus and possibly passing it on, or the incoming carer bringing something in with her….so today I got a call from the agency to ask if I could stay on here for another 2 weeks as the incoming carer is ill (has a bad cold) and is self-isolating, as well as which my next job has been cancelled because that family want their carer to extend her stay as well. So there it is….no travelling next week, but sadly it also means I don’t get to see my family….
I saw this on one of the Camino pages today and thought I’d share it with you:
Johnniewalker Santiago posted the following on the Camino Discussion Group this morning. For those who might not have seen it, he has given permission to post his communication with John Brierly here. It’s well worth the read!
LETTER FROM JOHN BRIERLEY: CORNAVIRUS AND THE CAMINO, OUR LAST WAKE UP CALL Two years ago I asked members of the group to send me questions that I would put to John Brierley in the second interview with him I’ve published. I’ll re-post the questions and answer soon. We keep in touch with each other and I asked him for his thoughts on our current situation. This is his reply. He invites us to engage in a useful and loving dialogue about the issues he raises.
Dear John You sound well and lock-down seems to be proving a creative time for you! So here is a response that might, or might not, stimulate some creative thinking amongst our pilgrim family. … I trust that once the world comes out of this pandemic we will, collectively, want to do things differently – but there is much talk of getting back to ‘normal’ which would be a travesty. Consensus reality and the status quo is literally now killing many of us and the earth support systems on which we depend. At best we are looking at a severely diminished quality of life over the near horizon. We have to find a ‘new normal’ by way of an elevated consciousness — not only for us but crucially for the generations that follow. These are portentous, perhaps pompous and certainly presumptive statements. Even if you see them as holding some truth you might legitimately ask, what has any of this to do with the caminos de Santiago.
I have always believed that the camino holds a key to a fundamental re-appraisal of how and why we live our lives. It was this conviction that created caminoGuides and this remains its only raison d’être, it has no other purpose nor ever will. Providing my publisher doesn’t go bankrupt (many may) a new guidebook to the Camino Invierno will go to print later this year. I attach a draft introduction which offers a reflection on the positive potential of the Coronavirus to help bring about the change that is needed if we are to learn to cooperate to face the challenges that are now on a global scale. (see below)
The real challenge is just around the corner and it is not coronavirus! I see this pandemic as just a wake up call that we may, or may not, heed. All the signs at the moment are that we are going to miss this opportunity just like we missed previous wakeup calls. We bailed out the banks in 2008 and now look set to bail out the oil and aviation industries with vast sums of public monies while offering paltry sums to small sustainable energy and business enterprises. As Greta Thunberg asks, ‘where are the adults?’ Our collective thinking is juvenile at best and often infantile. Eldership is nowhere to be seen but we need to find it urgently and perhaps it lies closer than we think… in ourselves. Rabbinic sage Hillel the Elder asked the rhetorical question, “If not me, who? If not now, when?”
I was a little concerned at the severity of the draft (below) until I listened to an interview with David Attenborough yesterday where, for the first time, he says this is it — no further chance to kick the can down the road. Coronavirus is our last gentle wake up call, the real threat to our collective survival is just around the corner. Pass on what you think might be useful to generate useful and loving dialogue so that we might better forge a new path going forward.
The Coronavirus brought with it much grief and its impact on many levels will be felt for years to come. This is no less true for the camino as in any other sphere of life. Pilgrim infrastructure and albergues that took decades to put in place are struggling to survive, some have already closed permanently and others will follow. The virus was named by the World Health Organisation as, ‘…an enemy against humanity’. This is an unfortunate epithet because, from Gaia’s perspective, humanity itself has become the most destructive force on the planet. If the devastation that arose from this pandemic brings about a paradigm shift in human consciousness it may yet contain a blessing in disguise. For at least a generation we have, collectively, lived beyond the means of the planet to sustain us and all of life that surrounds us. We are not the only sentient beings that occupy the earth and we have wilfully and woefully ignored the plight of nature herself. Now, today, we can change the way we think and act. We can move from fear to love. We can choose to respect each other and the natural world that is our home. We can… but will we? Each of us is part of the whole we call humankind and artificial borders can separate us no more. Indeed they never have but only in our deluded and limited understanding of the nature of reality. Coronavirus taught us that we are all part of the same delicate balance of life on earth. Will we heed its warning or revert to business as usual … until the next crisis strikes again?
“We have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.” Martin Luther King Jr.
The photo shows the medieval bridge A Ponte de Taboada. This is the point where the Winter Way joins the Camino Sanabrés. Both, in turn, connecting with a larger network of caminos that link us with the rest of Europe and, by extension to every nation on earth. The great insight of the First Nations has always been to remind us that, Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself… we may yet find we are brothers after all.
Blessings… John Brierley
Certainly something to think about….do we really want to go BACK to where we were before?
I had a fab walk this afternoon…such a beautiful day
And I popped out quickly this evening to watch the sunset
And I can’t quite believe I’m still blogging 29 days later….😀 stay safe folks 🌈🌈🌈
Well, here we are….day 28 of lockdown. What a surreal 4 weeks this had been. I don’t even know what to think anymore.
I’ve pretty much given up watching the news because it infuriates me beyond measure. I simply can’t watch them trotting out the same excuses anymore.
I read an article in the Sunday Times shared by a friend, and truly the list of failures is appalling. I know Bozo considers himself to be something of a Churchill reincarnation, but truly, beyond both being racist….at least Churchill was decisive.
Johnson should have stuck to either writing witty articles for the papers, or continued his career as a travel presenter. His ‘finest hour’ came and went with the 2012 Olympics… He sure as hell is not a leader. Like the orange swamp thing across the pond he talks in sound bites….although we should be thankful we can at least understand what our clown says….
Talking of across the pond….it takes a serious level of stupid to behave the way those idiot protesters are behaving. One can only hope that Darwin’s theory is correct and nature will seek out the stupid….
For some weird reason, today just flew by…..I wasn’t particularly busy and I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, but suddenly it was 9pm….I seem to have hit the jackpot lately with my client’s meals…she’s eaten just about everything on her plate the last 2 days. Its really gratifying when the people I cook for enjoy their meals, so its been nice to see a clean plate. I also hate waste and throwing food in the bin is anathema to me. Albeit into composting, its still a waste.
Unfortunately my brother-in-law is back in hospital with further chest pains, which apparently he is not meant to be having after they inserted the stent, so that’s a huge worry. I’m concerned for my sister…they’ve been married for decades and have been joined at the hip since they met….so this is particularly stressful for her. I had a look see for flights to SA in the event I need to go, but the UK is listed as a ‘high risk’ country and citizens are banned from entering the country…at least for now.
The irony of a 3rd world country considering a 1st world country as a health risk has not escaped me….
Shoe is on the other foot….
Its extraordinary to me that to date they have only had 58 deaths
I remember my scepticism when Ramaphosa put the country into lockdown….I’ve had occasion to eat my words. For such a poor country, and with so many millions living in close proximity to each other,social distancing is like as wishful thought…but he acted decisively, he acted fast and there was no mucking about with going out for exercise or walking the dog….it was Stay at Home or else….draconian perhaps but its worked. They’ve been on lockdown for almost the same length of time as the UK and yet their death rate is so much lower it doesn’t even warrant a percentage. “South Africa’s lockdown was imposed before a single death had been recorded and has been ruthlessly enforced by the authorities ever since”.
However its not all rosy in the country and they’re experiencing severe food shortages and rioting…
Besides which the projections for Africa as a whole are not good. The worst is yet to come.
Anyhow, that’s me for today…I’m off to bed now. I had a restless night last night, so hoping I don’t have a repeat. As I’m lying here it’s so quiet out that I can hear a tanker hooting in the Bristol Channel….oh and I haven’t seen any shooting stars yet…I live in hope 😃😃🤔
Take care folks. I’ll post the Sunday Times article right after I’ve posted this in the event you’re keen to read it. Be safe…..wherever you are in the world.
“It is the oldest known meteor shower still active and was first observed in 687 BCE. As they come through the atmosphere, the meteors reach speeds of 50kms a second, but most will burn up before reaching the surface of Earth.” Thankfully the weather has improved and we have clear skies so I’m hoping I get to see this!!!
Actually it was a lush day after all despite a grey start. So much do that I went out for a walk and managed a decent 3.56kms.
Lush all round
My daughter phoned just as I got to the mound and it was amazing to chat to them again 🥰🥰🥰 and so thrilled to hear my grandson say “Granny!!” properly this time 👏👏👏💙👶🏻 He is such a little charm. Cannot wait to see him again.
My little boo 💙👶🏻🥰
On my way back to the house I spotted some more free books, so added a few to the collection 😉🤣🤣
Absolutely brilliant. I’ve been following his story for some months now and he is so inspiring with his determination and goodwill. Magic.
Other than that, nothing much else happened really. Covid-19 is wreaking havoc and the debates etc etc etc rage on. The orange swamp thing in the WH is completely off the rails in the US, while in the UK Bojo is still in hiding while different ministers are being wheeled out of the cupboard, dusted off and trotted out to stand in front of the camera and say whatever it is that they say….none of it means anything anymore and most certainly, any trust that may have existed is gone. The results of their actions are becoming increasingly obvious and it’s an ongoing farce. Promises are broken quicker than they are made. Urgh.
Anyway, it will play out the way its going to play out…..life will never be the same again….
Oh wait….I found my favourite sweet at the shop today 👏👏👏👏👏
And another day down, another day bites the dust – will this ever end? Not for a while apparently…its so bizarre.
The numbers are just escalating and the number of people who are infected is frightening….somewhere, somehow, we are all going to come into contact with this thing…and no-one has any ideas….
Our politicians; not just the UK, are all just marking time and making noise….because no-one has a clue.
So lockdown till mid-May 😱😱😱 I simply cannot imagine how people are coping. I really do consider myself to be one of the very lucky ones…I’m working, getting paid, in a safe (for now) environment, I have food to eat (paid for by the client) and I don’t have to venture out unless I choose to. I have books to read, a window into the world (my phone) and my family are safe. I am totally blessed.
I spoke to my daughter today via facetime and watched my grandson playing in the garden 100s of kms away, heard him say Granny for the first time 🥰🥰🥰 and chatted briefly to my son-in-law about his job. He was wearing a pair of wellies I bought him some months ago and apparently he was walking sideways at first trying to get used to them. 💙💙💙 He’s such a funny little boy, so intent and so focused….when he sets his sights on something it’s like a laser….and he will not be diverted. He sometimes walks with head down, his hands behind his back and absolutely focused on getting to wherever he decides to go…looks like a little old man 😁😁 They’re safe and healthy.
Finally my walking poles arrived….but not to where they were addressed….no, instead they arrived at the ‘return’ address 🤣🤣🤣🤪 which fortunately I thought to have added as it’s my daughter’s address. So I shall soon be reunited with my trusty walking buddies. Gemini, I have missed you…wish you were here.
I finished reading the 8th book since I arrived here just 2 days short of 4 weeks ago…it was a different world then. This has been a rare luxury and I haven’t read this many books in such a short period of time for decades. Literally decades. I used to read vociferously in SA, and although I’ve read plenty of books in the last 18.5 years, I’ve not read 8 in 4 weeks 😁😁 a bit of a record.
An unexpected but satisfactory ending
Just before I hopped into bed I leaned my head on the windowsill to listen….to the sounds of silence. No cars, no bikes, no barking dogs, no TV, no music, no people talking….just pure palpable silence. Bliss.
I’ve been on Facebook for much of the day 😝😝😝🤔🤔 bloody hate it, but it’s so addictive. I follow a few Camino pages and every day I’m astounded at the number of people who seem to think that they can still walk the Camino this year. A common question is: “my airline has cancelled my flight for June, should I book for September?” Seriously, these people are living in lala land. If they could pull their heads out their proverbial….they might just realise that Spain is not going to be remotely able to deal with a bunch of tourists…pretend pilgrims. Ignorant…!!! So many people who are involved with the Camino have posted on the pages about the devastating effects of Covid-19 and how the infrastructure is struggling and yet these ‘pumpkins’ just don’t get it. Gahhh.
Talking of pilgrimage….I bought the April edition of Countryfile a few weeks ago and am just about to delve into an article about Holy Island and St Cuthbert’s Way. On my list of walks to do….I’m guessing that the Camino I planned for 2021 is going to be on hold…instead I’ll look at walking a few of the long list of UK walks I want to do, 3 of which are pilgrimages following in the footsteps of Saints.
Nothing much else to add really. I didn’t go out again today, had a snooze instead which is a treat. But I think I will make an effort tomorrow. I only have another 8 days here so want to make the most of it while I can. I’m booked to return in July for 3 weeks, and hopefully by then the lockdown will be lifted and I can venture further afield.
This thing feels interminable….today was one of those days that I felt squished…so I just acknowledged the feelings and avoided Facebook as much as possible and kept the TV on any channel except the news. 5 USA is getting a good airing 🤨🤨🤨 I don’t actually watch or listen but it’s just comforting to have voices in the background.
I communicated with my sister and brother-in-law first thing this morning….just giving them support… He’s doing well and impatient to get up and start walking and looking forward to going home on Sunday. My sister is having a bit of a wobble which is to be expected…so she’s making macaroni cheese for supper. Sensible girl. It’s a staple of our childhood and one of our favourite ‘Mommy’ meals 🥰🥰 I too make it as comfort food, and often make it for my little family when I visit.
I spoke briefly with my daughter…giving her some hints on making, what is in my opinion, the perfect bowl of porridge 😉 I caught an even more brief glimpse of my grandson before he whizzed off…busy busy as usual. 💙👶🏻 The parentals weighed him today…he’s 24lbs now….started life as scrap of a thing at 7lbs ….its so extraordinary how humans develop. Its been fascinating watching him go from that tiny helpless little being into the bustling little toddler he is today …apparently he’s learned to say Daddy 😀😀😀💙👶🏻 and runs around the house shouting Daddy Daddy Daddy 😂😂😂❤
The result..looks good to me 😋😋😋
Okay….Wowwww. I checked Capt. Tom’s justgiving page…its smashed through the £20million ceiling….oh my gosh. Its gone crazy….£20 449 435.47 and growing. Thats a £4million increase since I checked late last night!! 😯😯😯😯 It’s a phenomenal amount of money and so uplifting!! I do feel for all the other elderly people also doing amazing things to raise funds for the NHS…something about this little gentleman has touched a chord around the world…
Earlier today- Extraordinary
They’re now considering a Spitfire fly past for his birthday 👏👏👏 Imagine if they could give him a flight!! That would be amazing.
Was watching Channel 5 – Stonehenge: Digging Up Britain’s Past. The history of this island is absolutely fascinating. I find it endlessly interesting. We’re so lucky to have so much history to explore. I’ve had the amazing experience of standing in a 5,000 year old burren in Ireland…..beyond description really.
I watched a bit of the news this evening, just to catch up, and I really feel so sorry for the religions; Judaism and Islam, and others that require people to be buried a particular way…within 48 hours of death…they can’t do that now and it must be so hard. 😭😭😭😭😭 This virus has affected us in a myriad of ways that are almost impossible to comprehend.
I read something really interesting yesterday….the Japanese custom of putting their hands together and bowing developed after the Spanish Flu in 1918….a way of avoiding contagion by touching another person’s hands…..the shame is that we Westerners barge in and expect them to shake hands….perhaps we need to develop the same customs….🤔🤔 I wonder what changes we will see in the future? Its certainly going to be a different world 🌍🌎🌏
So yesterday I read that we could expect to see a meteor shower over the next few days…..I got all excited and hung out the window last night, but didn’t see anything…a tad disappointed but never fear its here till next week…except what did I wake up to this morning?? Yup, you guessed it…rain!! Seriously, why am I even surprised. If there’s a hint of an eclipse or a meteor shower, you can almost guarantee it will rain 🤨🤨🤨 anyway here’s the link just in case
Wowww, what a way to start the day…Capt. Tom has now raised over £12million for the NHS 👏👏👏💙💙💙 that’s £2 million overnight….extraordinary. what a wonderful initiative to uplift our spirits.
In the darkest times, there is always a light to guide the way 🕯🕯
🎖🎖🎖💙💙💙🌈🌈🌈
If you’re keen to show your appreciation, you can send him a thank you or 100th birthday card
Thank you and happy birthday 🎂🎉🎊🎈🎈🎈🎁
So here we are, day 24 and no real end in sight. I saw an article this morning that indicated social distancing could last until 2022. 😱😱
Meanwhile the plastic pollution has increased exponentially with people discarding their single use plastic gloves….in the feking streets 🤬🤬🤬
Seriously, come on people, surely you have more common sense or understanding that you should throw them in the trash!!! Or probably not because the type of people who do that are the same people who toss the cigarette butts in the street, plastic bottles in the grass, and candy wrappers in the gutter. They are disgusting. It infuriates me beyond belief. For years we’ve been fighting against plastic pollution and these morons just increase it without a care.
Frankly I think the fact that Covid-19 lasts for up to 5 days (or more depending on which ‘report’ you read) is an argument for ditching single use plastic. Of course that would also include PPE which is mostly plastic….so its tricky. But if we stop plastic willy nilly, then PPE wouldn’t be an issue and could be manageable. It also begs the question…is the NHS having their plastic incinerated? Does anyone know?
I saw this in the paper this morning 😁😁
I love how the English language keeps developing and evolving. Its a fascinating language and I love playing around with words…and of course Scrabble is my favourite leisure time game….just wish I could play it more often. I always totally admire foreigners who speak English because it’s not the easiest of languages to learn. Take the word spit for instance…it can be an action or a description. Its something nuckleheads do because they can’t keep their gob in their mouths and the distance between their ears is narrow and doesn’t leave enough space for brains 🧠 or it can be a narrow (see there’s that word again 😉) piece of land jutting out…usually into the sea, which is where I’d like to toss the yobs who spit 🤣🤣🤣🤣
One of my favourite exercises in school was listing words spelt the same, but with different meanings. These days I keep myself occupied with word searches and the previously mentioned polygons. However, I don’t like crosswords…😝😝😝
On the home front I got to see my grandson again just before lunchtime and watched him busy busy in the garden. Geez, that boy doesn’t sit still for more than 5 seconds at any one time. I took loads of videos of him when he was a baby (which I watch frequently), and even then while still barely out the womb, he was always moving moving…legs, arms and head…every video. The only time he was ever still was when he was asleep 🥰🥰🥰 and how much I loved just watching him sleep…so precious and so tiny.
My brother-in-law has had his operation in Cape Town and is out of surgery and doing well…thanks be that it wasn’t any worse…. They’re also fortunate to have (and pay a lot of money for) private medical aid, so instead of going onto a waiting list, he had the operation within 48 hours after the heart attack. I’d love to have private medical aid again like I did in South Africa, although it was expensive, it was still affordable, but BUPA charge a small (large) fortune with all manner of caveats and restrictions and limits….so what’s the point. I’ll work an extra 4 days each month just to pay for it and likely get declined when claiming…. insurance companies…they like to keep as much of your money as possible. So yeah, NHS for me and frankly, that’s no bad thing. I’ve only had occasion to use a hospital twice, maybe 3 times in 18 years, so I’m good.
Talking of hospital, I think Matt Hancock looked like he was going to have apoplexy on the Piers Morgan show this morning 😏😏😏 Jeez, he got burned and nailed to the wall. I may have mentioned before that I’m not a fan of Mr Piers Egotistical Narcissistic Morgan, and usually switch over to something else rather than listen to him, but by golly I’m enjoying watching him hang our ministers on a hook and make them squirm. I know I shouldn’t laugh, and they’re coping (not quite) with an ‘unprecedented’ situation atm, but I just wish they would stop bloody playing politics and be honest…say what’s happening. Don’t flubbergust and prevaricate and tell 🐷🐷🐷🐷ies when they KNOW the truth will come out. If they just stopped dancing around the issues and avoiding straightforward answers and admit they f¥cked up, you could have more respect for them. We don’t expect them to be perfect or have all the answers, but just for once be honest. 😡😡😡
Okay I’ll get off my 🧼🎁 now 😎😎😎😎
One last word on Piers….besides enjoying the daily 🔥🔥 he’s giving the government ministers, he’s pushing for Capt. Tom to get a Knighthood….he does have a ❤ after all 😁😁
I had a fantastic conversation with my sister in Cape Town this afternoon. She and her hubby have been involved with mountain search and rescue for a couple of decades now, both there and when they lived in Ireland. She was regaling me with tales of some of the ridiculously stupid situations people get themselves into on Table Mountain. Its unbelievable….reminds me of some of the people who go walking up Mt. Snowdon in sandles, no maps, no food, no water, no emergency items and no warm clothes. Seriously. 🙄🙄🙄
I’m not particularly heartbroken about it…but I was looking forward to walking the Portuguese Camino again, this time with my younger sister, but hey ho, there are so many walks I want to do in the UK, so I might just concentrate on those instead….especially for the foreseeable future.
Clap for Carers again tonight and I get the feeling that enthusiasm for this is escalating in our street…nice turnout. ❤🌈👏👏👏💙💙💙 Neighbours wave, looking this way and that…”are you out”? “Yes, hello, nice to see you” rings out along the street. A real sense of community, coming together in a time of crisis, although we feel far removed from any hint of a crisis. Day to day, except for the unusual stillness of the day, and the lack of busyness…cars, bikes, trucks…hardly seen nor heard, you’d never think that our country is in the midst of a pandemic. I’ve never felt more remote…. Next week, being my last Thursday here for the time being, I’m going to take my client’s great big bell and ring it like crazy 🛎🛎🛎🛎🛎🛎🛎😉😉 just for fun
Ding ding ding
I leave the following Monday so can hide away till then 😂😂😂😂
I didn’t go out for a walk today… simply didn’t feel like it…..instead I snoozed and read and chatted with my sister….tomorrow as they say, is another day…
So just before I end off for the night I had another peek at Capt. Tom’s Justgiving page…OMG….. £16,316,160.37 I can’t even begin to express my thoughts on that…bloody marvellous. I just hope it gets to the right people, is used wisely and isn’t a way for the government to wriggle out of the financial black hole they created through their cuts.
Huge congratulations Capt. Tom you truly deserve that 🎖 and Knighthood…you’ve inspired a nation…
Okay so after deciding to not continue keeping a ‘diary’ of this weird, surreal situation we’re living in, called ‘Lockdown,’ I changed my mind…these are strange times and after thinking about it, I just felt like I needed to record my thoughts and feelings and links of interest…one day my grandson might be interested to read them and get a very tiny glimpse of this weird weird time.
My client keeps saying ‘we’ve never lived through anything like this before ‘ and of course she’s right…we haven’t. Other countries have dealt with similar issues like the Ebola virus that is still causing death in the Congo, or the HIV virus that has caused so much death worldwide, and we’ve had other flu virus epidemics but this, this is different….no other crisis has caused a worldwide lockdown with 90% of businesses shut down. Although the word is/has been overused, it is unprecedented….
There are so many tragic tragic stories, heartbreaking stories that flatten you with sadness for the people living and dying in those stories….
Then we have the heartwarming stories like the now world-famous 99 year old Capt Tom. I mean what a perfect name for someone who will go down in history….
What started out as a generous idea to raise £1000 for the NHS, has turned into a worldwide phenomenon with thousands now calling for him to be on the Queen’s Honours list….for a Knighthood. 👏👏👏👏🎖🎖
As I write the amount donated has gone over the £10million threshold. Wowwww. Extraordinary doesn’t even begin to describe it. Beyond incredible. Bless his socks!!!
Amongst all the chaos of Covid-19 we keep hearing about inspiring stories, see people doing fantastic things and learning more about how in times of crisis, so many people step up and be amazing. And there are so many!!! I simply love that the rainbow has become a symbol of the times…🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
On the home front, I ventured out of doors during my break today for the first time since last week and covered a decent 2.54kms and got back to the house in my designated hour. The weather is absolutely fabulous and I’m convinced Mother Nature is teasing us…..I don’t recall seeing so many blue sky days in a row in all the years I’ve lived in the UK.
Enroute I noticed this crowd not practicing social distancing….clearly they didn’t get the memo 🙄🙄🙄
2 metres chaps!!
Along the way my daughter phoned and I got to spend some virtual time chatting to her and my grandson and a brief hello to son-in-law 🥰🥰🥰 I miss them so much. He was reading a book and my daughter let me watch how good he is at turning the pages…for a 15 month old he’s very impressive. Most toddlers his age tend to rip books apart, but he’s ever so careful with his books.
On my way back to the house I passed the shelter next to the clock tower and found a lot of free stuff, so carefully selected a few books and a toy to take home for him
Books and more books 😍😍
I doubt many children have as many books as this boy.
I stopped off at the castle mound and climbed to the top where I noticed this beautiful installation
Easter Cross ❤❤❤
Its really weird to realise that I’ve been here now for just over 3 weeks and we’ve settled in really well together. Sadly it also means that my time here is rapidly nearing the end. Despite the really awful start, I’ve been quite happy here and although I do get bored, I am quite content. Not something I experience very often. Unfortunately the day draws near to when I have to venture out into the wide world again and I can honestly say that I am afraid.
I’ve done everything in my power to keep myself and my client safe from the virus; being absolutely vigilant about washing anything that may have come into contact with the virus and baking the newspaper and magazines etc on the Rayburn. But once I start travelling it’s all out of my hands and I’m not embarrassed to say I’m afraid.
Afraid some idiot may think they’re above all this and travel despite having symptoms. I’m afraid some moron will think its clever to spit at me or anyone else like they’ve done to others. Krist, what kind of twisted mind would do that??? Afraid I might accidentally come into contact with the virus…despite my precautions.
I’m dreading the long journey on 2 trains and the tube…its going to take bloody hours from here to there and that’s assuming there are no cancellations. And all the time I’ll be exposed. Urgh.
And then when I do get back I won’t even have the joy of spending time with my family….I’ll possibly be exposed to the virus at some point of my journey and I’ll have no way of knowing. So to keep them safe I’ve decided to keep my distance. I can only hope that by the time my next assignment ends in mid-May that the worst of this thing is over.
Meanwhile we got news today that my beloved brother-in-law had a minor (thankfully) heart-attack last night and is now in hospital 😥😥😥 I feel absolutely distressed for my sister as she and her hubby are joined at the hip. And he’s not yet even 50. Its insane. But he’s in hospital and the procedure they’ll perform is simple and hopefully he’ll be home soon.
Worrying times and we’re all so far away.
Anyhow, that’s me for today. I finished my 7th book yesterday 😂😂😂 and have just started the 8th….this has been a real treat for me as I don’t often get time to read as much. Oh and I’m working my way through a few polygons…a bit like scrabble but with only one word. My daughter maintains I’m some kind of weird word person 😁😁😁
So there we are, or is that here we are 😏😏😏 in the 4th week of lockdown….who knew at 00:01 on 1st January 2020 as we celebrated the arrival of the new year what a bastard of a year it was going to be…
Keep safe folks, maintain social distancing, wash your hands and please don’t take chances…stay home.
Not Just a Granny 
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