Day 18

I must be so unusual, staying home for the last 18 days has been calming, relaxing and enjoyable. There’s a little guilt in that I don’t achieve what’s on our to do list, but so what - the ironing can wait another day, we have enough clothes, one shirt or dress waiting doesn’t matter. Neither of us is going anywhere nor seeing anyone for perhaps months as we are self isolating until it really safe to emerge from Pixie Towers. The blanket for DiL is growing, have been able to sit outside and work on it when the wind wasn’t too fierce.

Ian reading his new sour dough book, part of a kit from Sous Chef received for his birthday from DD and SiL. My gift to him has had to be postponed, it is to be the Art Pass so we can visit even more places than Kew Gardens, V & A, Royal Academy or National Trust to which we belong already. 

Much work has been done by Ian in the garden, pots moved around, beds dug, potting up, just tidying up after winter so this was the view when I sat outside in the sunshine. 

We have been advised not to cut the grass until March has gone, so we won’t, especially as the forecast is for colder weather again. 

We have been following our church’s FB live video of church services,  evening prayer tonight, tomorrow it will be Eucharist from the vicarage study. One is reminded that it is now “where one or two are gathered in my name” . We are finding it strangely comforting, no distractions whilst the service proceeds yet one can tell that others are ‘in church’ too. Truly our church is not a building anymore but the many who connect online. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/story/reader/?page_story_id=1505695996158083

If this doesn’t work, the FB page is SS Philip & James Church Whitton. There was another first, our vicar was installed virtually as Priest in charge of a neighbouring parish, again this video is online.


https://londondiocesanfund-my.sharepoint.com/personal/archdeacon_middlesex_london_anglican_org/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Farchdeacon%5Fmiddlesex%5Flondon%5Fanglican%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FVideos%2F2020%2003%2025%20Licensing%20of%20David%20Cloake%20as%20PinC%20St%20St%20Hounslow%2Emp4&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Farchdeacon%5Fmiddlesex%5Flondon%5Fanglican%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FVideos&originalPath=aHR0cHM6Ly9sb25kb25kaW9jZXNhbmZ1bmQtbXkuc2hhcmVwb2ludC5jb20vOnY6L2cvcGVyc29uYWwvYXJjaGRlYWNvbl9taWRkbGVzZXhfbG9uZG9uX2FuZ2xpY2FuX29yZy9FVHBWV1NPajZ3QkZwelhhR3RLY1doY0JqY0dveWp3NmpMWnNGZmdweDNrMXBRP3J0aW1lPUllOXlhbXJUMTBn


Not sure whether this will work, would be interested to have some feedback. I try and respond to to blogs but Blogger makes it difficult for me, I’m a bit naughty, I read a blog, not only on Blogger think I must go back and comment on that and then don’t.

We have it easy here, thoughts go out to everyone struggling with isolation and the difficulties caused by this virus.

Decision made

Yesterday I spoke to the asthma nurse at our GP practice, it was decided that given my health record it would be best if I stayed away from people although I feel absolutely fine. Much time was spent contacting people to explain why I wouldn’t be around given I show no signs of being unwell. Monday and Tuesday were busy social days, went to a knitting group in our local garden centre, Tuesday I worked at Local Studies, although I work on my own project there have decided not to attend for a while.

As one who doesn’t suffer from cabin fever this will be a good opportunity to complete various projects like this Moorland blanket for DiL using Attic24 colour scheme with trellis pattern stitch.

The above was written on Thursday, now it is Friday morning, will be staying home of course, have heard DS and family won’t be coming here next weekend, the event he was attending has been cancelled. My main concern is I won’t be motivated enough to use the time constructively, wasted much time completing sudokus, browsing on line,  I need to finish the crochet blankets and Ian’s socks and then there is reading group book, Dear Life by Alice Munro. The first story has been read, so along with the daily paper, Metro and City-AM there is plenty to keep us occupied. If the cold wind drops I will be out in the garden for fresh air. 

What to do?

All around the world the Coronavirus is discussed, comparison is made with flu and other illnesses, age plays a part in the jigsaw for it appears I have reason to be concerned, I have COPD, or asthma or bronchiectasis,  (no one is ever quite sure), except that I do get very breathless, have just finished a dose of antibiotics and am old/elderly/ancient. Already I have postponed a dentist appointment after hearing that one floor of the building in which the dentist is situated has had to be deep cleaned. Now I’m concerned about using the Underground and indeed South Western Railway, concerned about going  into London or indeed using public transport at all. So far I’m continuing social gatherings, last Wednesday saw me in the local Costa where the knitting group meet, this coming week a group of us gather in a garden centre cafe bar, today we were at church, in the Peace gave DH usual hug, avoided hand shaking, it was easy to do as I was on Sidesman duty.

We had hoped to go out to the local park today for exercise for the grandchildren who have graced us with their presence this weekend, however heavy rain in the afternoon precluded this. Instead they invented a game based on the fact that GS had been taught about volcanoes so all the cushions they found downstairs became lava, not quite sure what role their blankets played.

 Not very clear but in first and third photo the cushions are piled up to be the volcano, in the second photo the items on the floor represent lava. No, I’m not sure really how it all works but it kept them happy whilst heavy rain and sunshine alternated. DH played chess with both children, fortunately we have two chess sets, later Alice now 3 years old, insisted I read the Usborne Starting Chess to her, she was telling me what the pieces were, she knew how to move them too, more than I do! DS started playing chess at 3, fortunately we have the top junior chess club locally so DS was able to join that when he was 6 - all a long time ago.