Friday: Day 38

The system that was set up by the government for vulnerable people like me has worked, there is so much media criticism of the handling of the pandemic that I am pleased to announce this. From receiving the paper letter last Saturday, I registered with government Monday, on Tuesday started using Sainsbury’s online delivery webpage, a first time, apparently needed to compile a shopping list first which we did, then all day kept trying to see if a slot appeared for the next three weeks! If didn’t try within the hour had to keep logging in again, felt a bit disheartened considering all the online discussions about no slots. Woke on Wednesday morning about 7, was in the toasty warm, drifting in and out of a light doze, half asleep mode,  when suddenly recalled the previous day’s actions, half heartedly grabbed iPad  to find a choice of slots this week, with different charges according to time of day.

Woke Ian, logged on, we booked for Friday between 9 and 10 am, today the driver came a few minutes past nine, he was cheerful, understanding that it was our first time, it was appreciated he couldn’t put the deliveries on the kitchen table as I’m vulnerable. Gave me great joy that Ian isn’t worrying about provisions, possibly we may continue with deliveries after our lives return to our normal. Usually I like Waitrose for shopping, however the Sainsbury store carries so much more stock, we went for the Taste the Difference range and organic where possible. We had even managed to add to our needs yesterday evening, now we intend to keep an open list to add items as we think of them. I consider food now part of the way of being healthy, along with sitting in the sun to top up Vitamin D which until today I have been able to do.  

Pictures taken rather haphazardly of the delivery, ice cream was already in freezer, I think some other items may have been stored away, obviously I haven’t touch any of it yet. 

Thankfully we are both well, the warm sunny weather has helped our good mood, Ian has been able to garden, old outdated seeds have been scattered in case they still flower, today it has started to rain this afternoon, the water butts will fill and the watering hose stowed away. I’m awaiting Stylecraft DK yarn to complete Daughter-in-law’s blanket, meanwhile I’ve mastered the border of the Sweet Pea blanket so am concentrating on that. 

Saturday: Day 32.

The texts from NHS Coronavirus keep popping into Messages on my phone, today the paper notification came from the surgery, somehow it seemed more real. More information than in the text, solved the problem of whether I should register my current situation as I have great support from Ian, he is isolating but does go into our front garden, forbidden to me according to the letter. I don’t touch the post, Ian carefully opens the letters and parcels, at first I didn’t realise what he was doing, felt miffed he’d opened May Country Living magazine. This morning our milk was delivered at 3am, Ian went downstairs, bought it in, washed all the bottles, the handle of the crate, it takes time and breaks his sleep pattern. The same cleaning with deliveries  from the greengrocer and the cheesemonger today, these are independent businesses in our local High Street, we will support them in person once this pandemic passes.

The post brought some paintings from the grandchildren, the rainbow has been put in the front window, the sheet quotes Charlie’s hand, saying “print me, colour me and pop me in your window to bring some happiness and rainbow love to the world”. #windows of happiness.

Although not as the printed outline of the cross suggests I think the circles of paint are rather artistic, reminds me of stained glass. The children were painting outside, the unpainted sheet in the foreground shows the outline for the cross.

Work continues on the crochet blanket, today I’ve ordered more 🧶, I think using trellis stitch rather than neat wave stitch has demanded more yarn, also I suspect my tension is a little loose so it is long and a bit narrow, more a blanket for a bed rather than for a sofa. Perhaps I shouldn’t crochet while playing scrabble, no wonder I lost, even by a small amount.

Wishing all the joy and peace this Easter, we will be gathering round an iPad for the live FB streaming of our church service Ss Philip & St James Whitton. As no one will be in the church building tomorrow Mrs Vicarage posted pictures of previous flora arrangements.

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.