In the time of the virus: mark 2 days 16 and 17 (Friday and Saturday)

Catch-up time. Again.

Friday was a good day, despite spending most of the morning at the dentist having a filling redone. A very different experience from pre-covid: the surgery has had to invest in all sorts of new safety measures and kit; the dentist and dental nurse were wearing full PPE. We’re all learning in these times.

My afternoon walk was shorter than I planned, but still enjoyable. Along the way I met a neighbour and caught up with her very difficult experiences (recurrence of breast cancer, requiring urgent spinal surgery; and now she has to relearn how to walk).

We heard from friends who have become parents to tiny twins. We heard from a friend who is expecting another grandchild at any moment (still waiting….)

I weighed and mixed ready to make my Christmas puddings, remembering and missing my mother-in-law who shared the recipe with me many years ago and from whom I took over cooking the puddings many years ago. Fondly remembering Christmases long past now.

And then there was the knitting. Always, in that cosy corner with regular mugs of tea and R4.

Saturday was another good day. A walk to town to buy vegetables at the Farmers’ Market, then back via one of our local shopping areas. Where I bought cake we don’t need (but will enjoy), simply to support a local business that has stayed open for take-aways throughout the lockdown, and I want them to still be in business when this is behind us.

Then a family zoom meeting – always fun, even though youngest son and his wife were evidently both exhausted (him working nights – but hey, it’s paid work: always good in these times). Granddaughter playing hide-and-seek with us, and enjoying her noticing that her face disappears from the screen when she hides.

The rest of the day was restful and relaxing. I steamed the Christmas puddings, and while I was watching over them sat with my knitting, the i-pad, and copious mugs of tea. The afternoon ended with a surprise and lovely phone call from a good friend who we haven’t been in touch with since the start of the first lockdown. Lots of news to share, including very sad news of a death.

So far this week, new life, death, and serious illness. We continue to count ourselves very fortunate. We plan ahead, cautiously and carefully. We will enjoy Christmas, in that spirit. Anyway, the puddings are made.

Lil was m-i-l’s (and Malcolm’s) neighbour in SE London- a huge character, with a reputation for punctuating conversations with bruising pinches to the upper arm. Her husband lived for his allotment, and used to follow the rag-and-bone man’s horse and cart with a bucket and spade to collect the droppings. Which has nothing to do with Christmas puddings, and everything to do with memories