In the time of the virus: mark 2 day 7

So – end of week 1 of our second lockdown.

For the likes of me, not so bad. The restrictions are relatively minor, compared to the potential good. But.

For many many others, really really hard. Imagine being at home with someone you don’t like (or worse, someone who abuses you). Or having only 80% of your minimum wage pay to somehow live on (you won’t make it stretch). Or worse still, being ill and homeless.

Those of us fortunate enough to have a home, loved ones with us, good health, and enough money to know we can pay the bills and feed ourselves must never ever forget that life is not like that for most people. And go on to do what we can to change things for the better.

Today I have been:

Doing admin: life, farm, allotment

Home making: regular daily stuff; doing washing; ironing; sorting things out to give away

Knitting: another dishcloth on the needles (making some more to sell for the farm before Christmas). More of that colourful garment begun at the weekend, then I frogged the whole thing because I realised I’d made it too wide and there wouldn’t be enough yarn to finish it. I’ll begin again tomorrow.

Walking: a different local walk today, via a local (independent) garden centre, then extended because despite the overcast grey skies, it was lovely to be out walking. Never more than a mile and half away from the city centre, yet at times it felt like being out in the countryside. There were sheep and alpacas grazing in the orchard just up from the garden centre.

Cooking: but no Jewish food going on today either (though in a way everything I do is Jewish food, because that’s the style of cooking I grew up with and where I start from, whatever it is I’m cooking). Tonight was a leek, sweetcorn and chicken pie, using up the bits I took off the carcass on Monday. Much more veg than chicken, but it added flavour and the whole thing was delicious. While the over was on I roasted one of the marrows (aka overgrown courgettes) I’m storing in the allotment shed. I can’t resist roasted marrow – when it’s there I nosh away at it. Also started bread ready to bake tomorrow.

I hope you stay well, and we’ll meet again tomorrow xx

Cut-out of Harry Patch*, suitably decorated

*Harry Patch was the very last surviving WW1 soldier. A remarkable and unassuming man who lived and died locally, not very long ago.