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Thankfully we are both well, the warm sunny weather has helped our good mood, Ian has been able to garden, old outdated seeds have been scattered in case they still flower, today it has started to rain this afternoon, the water butts will fill and the watering hose stowed away.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.

Saturday: Day 25

Firstly, just want to reassure my few readers that Ian and I are still feeling great, we potter along, we read the papers, attempt the crossword and sudokus, Ian has been gardening, I crochet, we sleep well and long, at least eight hours.

 Just now Ian made two palm crosses, we used the leaves from a palm type tree, the stems grow over our front fence from the neighbour's garden, we used to put the fallen leaves back over the fence as the law commands, we were told not to do so.  The crosses are for tomorrow’s Palm Sunday service which will be streamed on Facebook, a tutorial was posted on the church’s FB page for those who didn’t know or had forgotten how the make the crosses. It was planned that those who wished could join the residents of the care  home opposite the church building to make crosses, it is always a riotous and jolly occasion.

Last Monday we joined the WhatsApp group for our road, well it is an avenue, in name and fact as it is tree lined, we joined in the clapping on Thursday, today it was suggested we have afternoon tea at 3pm out the front of our properties.

Garden table and chairs with hidden crochet cushions, on tray teapot with Earl Grey loose tea, Emma Bridgewater mugs, coconut slices, serviettes and cake forks. These in honour of 4 year old grandson who insists on using one when cake is served, at least in our house. All this on the driveway outside garage doors!

I’d made the cake earlier in the day, old fashioned creaming method to produce this:-

As we will not be going away for some time I have decided to use up the contents of the tiny travel bottles, we have many small size toothpaste tubes, shower gel,  hand cream which is much need as the backs of my hands are sore with all the hand washing.

Earlier in the day we had a delivery from the small local greengrocer,  the dozen eggs in brown paper bags had been removed before the photo was taken.

Even the post arrives early, I think it was around 9am, perhaps before but so much better than around 2 pm which has been the norm for some time here. 

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.

February

So, what has been achieved when Dennis prevented us from our visit to the South Coast. At last I’ve used up all the stash of Rowan Big Yarn making four cushions for our kitchen chairs. Slight problem in that I haven’t enough yarn  left to do the border on the last cushion as the odds and ends of one colour have different dye numbers, even to my untrained eye there is a slight difference in shade. At the Costa knitting group last week I was offered some Big Yarn, if the donor doesn’t come back to me  I will see what John Lewis’s haberdashery can offer on Saturday, will be there for Knitting & Crochet Guild meeting. JL are being difficult about the use of their Community Hub so difficult to plan ahead, nor is it easy to find an alternative venue in Kingston.

Not easy to see the edges need tidying up, also sorry, one side the stripes are north south, the other side are east west, actually all the cushions are rectangles  made with treble crochet stitch. I’m pleased with this stashbuster. Next project will be to finish Ian’s socks, the Tramlines sock pattern I have made before very successfully, I left the socks in favour of the cushions and the crochet blankets as they needed less concentration than turning heels.

Last Friday we were able to see the grandchildren, who had a day trip by train to London, a visit to the Natural History Museum, along I think with every other child on half term to see Andy’s Clock, apparently seen on BBCs children’s TV.

Family posing with the clock behind, I’m not sure even now why it is important, also children were beginning to tire, they are only four and a half and three years and one day!

We had shuffled around the dinosaur displays, I think a few opportunities for ancient grandparents to sit for a while would have been appreciated in this great hall, I admired Alfred Waterhouse’s architecture more than the dinosaurs, clever as the exhibits were.