Love in a time of the Rona

Marching through the fields during my daily government approved exercise I saw, in the distance, a young couple, walking slowly, clearly practising social distancing. I knew they were a couple as could hear them arguing from some way off.  Sure, ‘tis hard to argue quietly when you’re a) you feel quite strongly about something b) you’re in a field and c) you’re more than one meter apart.  

I did try not to eavesdrop, but short of putting my hands over my ears, eavesdropping was inevitable.

She couldn’t understand why he didn’t want to move in with her, at her Mom’s. It was alright for her, he said, because she wasn’t working, and because it was her Mom. But he was supposed to be working remotely. And that’s why he couldn’t talk to her on the phone all day. She said she’d set up a desk in her bedroom. But he thought work video calls might be awkward while she was still in bed, as he starts early. But she could get up with him, they could have breakfast together, before she left him to his work. He couldn’t see this working well for him, and what was wrong with the ways things were? 

As I said, I tried not to eavesdrop but this was all pretty loud, but they stopped arguing for a while, as while I marched past them, so I didn’t get to hear how it got resolved.

They stayed in my mind afterwards, and I had questions that I felt might never be answered. I was now invested in this love story, and was left wondering just what happened next?  

Well, as luck would have it, the next evening I ventured out again for my daily government approved exercise, and decided to take a different route. You can imagine my delight when I saw him standing on a corner. Then I spied her, walking, kind-of-happy-skipping, towards him. I crossed the road, to keep my distance social, as is the way now, in this weird world we’re living in. Despite being on the other side of the road I could see the grins on both their faces. It made me feel warm inside. She was swinging a sandwich bag and shouted ‘I’ve brought snacks’, presumably to make their socially distanced government approved daily exercise, a little more enjoyable, and date-night-like. Or, was I missing something? Are snacks now a euphemism for something else? Just look what's happened to aubergines! And would he be willing to touch her sandwich bag, without the required, but sadly in short-supply hand sanitiser?

As I said, I’m now really invested in this love in the time of the Rona story.

I Think We're Alone Now

Social distancing continues. Yet, the fields behind my home have never been so busy.

The not-so-little-littleun continues to find ways to amuse herself: exercise (short-lived); connecting the bicycle with the pump (not yet connected bicycle with her backside, but clearly doesn't want to peak too soon); a marvel legend movie marathon (and I discovered there were no owls in Guardians of the Galaxy, I was clearly confused with another Guardians film); scrubbing every pair of trainers she owns (is the the low point?) and baking. Though to be fair, baking is a fairly regular thing anyways.

She's doing better than the young woman next door: when her father told (aka shouted) at her get some fresh air she took to a sun-lounger wrapped in her duvet. I've no judgement here, as am expecting duvet sun bathing to take on in this house too. It is after all, only early in Spring.

I'm permanently plugged into Zoom, Teamworks and Teams while working from home, and trying to remember which group I'm in, and whether I'm on mike or camera or both, or muted.  The office game of 'through the key hole' took a downward turn today with the 'whose shower curtain is this' photo competition, but hoping 'something old' might raise the bar upwards, if only a fraction.

Times are tough. But not that tough.

Stay well, and keep your distance.

It's all going to pot

Social isolation Day 3. Managed 10,000 steps at lunchtime, through a muddy field and a deserted wood. Came across 3 humans, 7 dogs and 6 horses, though thankfully not all at the same time. The horses were a welcome addition and the human/dog ratio seemed about right.

Over on mothergoat makes I created a post about turning toilet rolls in pots for seedlings and wondering, really, what the hell is going on with the obsessive making thing? Then I remembered that's what social isolation does to you. At least I'm not talking to the cat all day this time. Because I'm already pretty practiced at amusing myself at home from when I had the cancer thing and couldn't go out, and travel was off the cards. At least this time I don't feel sick as a dog.

Today is International Happiness Day, which I'm pretty sure was made up just to combat the weirdness of our new world order. But I embraced it anyway, and told the trees as much, as I walked through the woods.

Roll on 2021...

I remember, I remember when I lost my mind

Day 2 of working from home for the foreseeable. Thankfully, the much-anticipated London lock-down didn’t materialise, yet still no humans were spotted on either of my two walks.

I often work at home, and usually have no problem focusing or settling down. Today, however felt different. I’ve vowed to keep off the news tomorrow outside of breakfast and tea-time to see if that helps the feeling that I might very well be losing my mind.

The wider family group chat today turned to ways to keep yourself amused at home. In previous times when trapped at home (through parenting or illness) I remember sewing as a saviour for believing being held captive could be productive instead of actual mental torture. So, clearly with time on my hands, this evening I created a mothergoat makes for quilting. Well the first steps anyway, as I didn’t have that much time.  And, if I don’t actually lose my mind I’ll return to it and add more steps, if the interest is there.

The best thing I’ve heard so far about this crazy time we’re living in was the lasagne being made in Wembley. If I knew how to add audio files to blog posts I’d share it with you. I laughed out loud, and don’t we all need a bit more of that?

The times they are a changing

My thoughts go out to those affected by the Corona virus at this disturbing and worrying time.

Fortunately I’ve not really been affected. Yet. Because you can’t really count the inability to get a supermarket delivery and visiting a horror store at the weirdest moment in shopping history.

I developed hoarding tendencies long ago, as like many single parents I have experience of being quarantined with small children and the vomit bug. So, no need for me, to do any panic buying. 

I also have a habit of clicking, without checking volume. We go from one solitary banana to three bunches being delivered. And the pantry is full of things the fam can’t bear to eat any more of. But that was then. These times are changing and sweetcorn will soon be making a supper comeback. 

I can’t get a delivery slot so I'll have to do more real shopping, with less choice. I'm praying sweetcorn isn't the only product in the tinned goods aisle. 

Like an awful lot of folk across the globe, I’m practicing social distancing. Number of humans spotted on my morning commute/hike round a muddy field was zero. That was odd. Not even one dog-walker. My lunchtime wander to the allotment, again saw zero humans, so I couldn’t trial the effectiveness of the advice to carry a bamboo cane at all times - to ensure the correct social distance. I could have used the cane to practice baton twirling but sadly only thought of that upon my return home, but it's banked as a mental health save if this goes on too long. 

The whole office is working from home, yet I think I communicated more with the team today than in a regular working day. Group video calls are the new normal. Though seeing colleagues in their own natural habitats left me feeling Attenborough-like. So yeah, these times they are a changing.

Tomorrow I plan to re-balance my 'snacks' to 'steps' ratio. Shouldn’t be too hard as I’ve eaten all the good snacks. 

Sweetcorn anyone?