In the time of the virus: day 70 (Monday)

It’s day 70.  It’s no longer March, nor April, nor even May.  Now we’re in June.  Spring has gone, and it’s officially summer.  And I’m fearful that all those hard weeks of lockdown are being wantonly thrown away by the UK government, in order to avoid sacking one individual.  And there’s nothing I can do about it.  And so I continue writing my daily accounts until….what?  when?

I honestly don’t know.  But for now, I’m finding it helpful, and if maybe one or two others find it helpful or interesting, or something, that’s enough for me.

Another hot sunny day.  We decided to get going early, and straight after breakfast drove down to some woodland on the Stourhead Estate and had a delightful shady 6 mile circular walk. It’s the same walk we normally do from the Stourhead Garden car park, but as that’s still closed this time we began near Alfred’s Tower.  We barely saw a soul, and we were done by 11am.  Not before a slightly scary encounter with a large suckler herd of very beautiful cows, but the farmer was there and ensured that we were safe so it was fine.

From there to the animal feed place on the way home to stock up on layers pellets for my hens.  As usual, I bought 3 large sacks, which should last me around 3 months.  I’m exploring what I could use instead of feeding them pellets (because they include soya meal, which I would prefer to avoid if possible, for environmental reasons).  On youngest son’s farm they grow their own (organic) barley, which they sprout in batches (this increases the protein value of the grain) and feed that to their hens, but I think they also some bought-in pellets.  I will ask more questions, and if you have any thoughts or suggestions I’d be most interested to hear them.

(And in case you’re wondering, this was another Monday when I did not meet with myself – plans are meant to be changed, especially when there are opportunities to take advantage of.  Tomorrow will do fine).

Then lunch, and tiredness caught up with me big time, so I retired to the summerhouse at the bottom of the garden with my basket of entertainments – my Kindle (for more Wolf Hall), my laptop (to maybe watch a film) and my knitting.  I watched half a streamed production of a classical French play by Molière, which I may or may not have studied for A level, and I’ll finish it off another afternoon.

After that, there was time for the allotment and garden watering.  It seems that with luck we may have some actual rain on Wednesday – what a treat that will be!  I’m planning to go out for a walk in it to really savour the experience.

First peas coming soon I hope

First courgette is forming

I’m finding that, especially when sleep has not been plentiful (and especially during this heat), my days are finding a comfortable routine of an active morning (gardening, or jobs, or a walk…) then a quieter time in the afternoon listening to podcasts or reading and knitting or sewing, and then by the time we’ve eaten in the evening I’m only really fit for something bland and undemanding.  Often we’re watching an episode or two of ER – we’re working our way through from the beginning, and it’s oddly not at all troubling despite all that’s going on in the real world – maybe because it is so clearly fiction and drama, not real life.

Then finishing off my blog post for the day, reading in bed for a while, and so to sleep.

I hope you’re coping with these strange times, and that I’ll see you again tomorrow xx