Back to ‘normal’ today, a workday for those who still have such things. In our immediate family we still have two people working, though one is on school Easter holiday this week and another is working from home and wondering how much more work there will be after this week.
Our extended family includes several people working in the health service in various roles, and we worry about what we hear from them about the lack of/inadequacy of PPE – quite a contrast with the continued failure of anyone in government to acknowledge their failings and accept responsibility.
Garden/allotment – so much going on here!
- I am gradually tidying the garden front and back, and making them look and feel inviting. I am so much appreciating other people’s front gardens while out on my walks, and want even more to make mine a place of beauty not just for ourselves but for others passing by. This year I have sown quite a few flower seeds, and I hope to have a good display in the front garden, as well as on the allotment. I’ve also been told about a local source of bedding plants, so I hope to get out to buy some in the next few days.
- I have sown masses of seeds in the greenhouse, and it is a daily pleasure to see them germinating and growing well. There are more to come, and I will gradually need to make space for the new seeds by planting out seedlings that are ready to go (though at the moment the ground is far to hard for any planting).
- barely any rain for weeks, so watering the plot is taking quite a time every day. Which adds to the daily exercise, so I’m not complaining. Yet.
- I may soon run out of potting compost, and I don’t know how I will deal with that. Normally I would just go to the local garden centre and buy another bag or two. These are not normal times, and I will need to find a different solution.
- I am gathering inspiration for autumn planting – especially bulbs (tulips!). One of the allotments on our site has the most glorious display of tulips. I am deeply envious – that will be me next year!
Exercise/staying fit – my (almost) daily walks these days are on local streets, and I’m enjoying discovering and exploring parts of the city I don’t know well (and in some cases, at all). I don’t see many other people when I’m out, and those I do encounter are without fail courteous and thoughtful about distancing whilst also taking time to exchange greetings. It’s very noticeable how very grateful people are to those still working hard to care for, feed, and generally support us, as evidenced by the many heart-warming window and pavement chalk displays – see below for some examples.
Craft/making – I’m making progress with several craft projects, each one filling a different role – simple knitting for phone calls, crochet squares for evening TV watching, making time to work on the patchwork which will be a present for someone. Very soon I hope (I’ll have to get a move on….).
House/home repairs, improvement – nope. What can I say. Why would I, when the sun is shining and the sky is blue, and I have the luxury of outside space? (And I have never been more appreciative of just what a luxury and a privilege that is).
Admin – some more jobs ticked off the list today. There’s just one (important) outstanding job I feel anxious about, but I hope that will be finished this week.
Kind deeds/something for others – just look at these front gardens and windows and pavement drawings. I don’t know about you, but seeing these warms my heart, and sends me home wondering what more I can do.
Stay sane! – despite the return of sleepless nights (which I hope is temporary), to my surprise (and some embarrassment) I find myself on the whole enjoying this strange interlude. Also, seeing the inequalities laid bare and the determination of so many to take positive action gives me (a little) more hope for real and lasting change for the better. I hope I’m not wrong and deluded, but I feel there has been a seismic shift in society’s valuing of contributions from those often derided and devalued as ‘low skilled’ (which is generally code for low paid and undervalued). Not least of all because this crisis touches every single one of us, regardless of our social and financial status – not at all in the same way (eg our Housing Minister who has so many ‘homes’ that he apparently can’t quite remember which one is his main home), but illness and death are no respecters of status. (And yes, if you think I sound angry, you’re right, I am – but it’s a creative and positive anger. Mostly).
the magic jug 