Positives & Negatives of Lockdown & beyond

Apart from the odd occasion I have not been bored throughout this period of uncertainty. Like most people I have missed the social side but mainly lack of travel and being unable to see our children in the USA is the worst thing….sorry I do hark on about it. However on the positive side hearing my hubby Roger on his now weekly telephone calls to his siblings, something he never had time for before, and his cheerful catch up with his mates , just the few close ones which makes me realise how important these dear people are in our lives. The comradeship is really endearing. The jokes flow, the news caught up and golf matches booked ready for reopening, political views exchanged plans for future dinner parties & pub meet ups excitedly arranged.

Mothering Sunday was quiet, our daughter was working at Spire hospital so dropped off a beautiful card and flowers along with boozy chocolates in the week prior which were deliciously inhaled. A FaceTime in the evening with the Yankee Cawdrons was enjoyed, both having received their Moderna vaccines that day and looking forward to being able to visit nearby in laws.

Earlier that day a phone call from a neighbour having spied a lose chicken in a tree in her garden, wondered if it was ours, it wasn’t but belonged to the lovely Janet from up the “posh”road. Roger then spent a couple of hours chasing said chicken around the woods having lost it as it flew off just as he got half way up the very large tree. Not very elegant and certainly not advised for a chap of his years. Janet arrived with a net and some grub but the flighty thing was hiding and did not want to be found. So somewhere in our woods there should be some pretty blue eggs up for grabs. Watch out for Mr fox you daring young hen!

I guess like most people cooking supper each day is now no longer fun. When the nearby Oak bar opens in April I shall be first in the door. Not only because I can see real people but our granddaughter Logan works there so we will be able to sneak a hug when no one is looking. The Oak bar is at the Oakland’s hotel very near to us so we can drink and fall home. Marcus the owner has made a wonderful outside space complete with heaters and rain covers so out will come the big coats, gloves and hats , I shall not move from my table. I shall have verbal diarrhoea I am sure.

The other positive side is having time to walk & talk. Roger and I have walked, talked and laughed more in lockdown than in the previous 50 years. I now know more about him too, not sure it’s all good though!! The cars are clean, every draw in my house is tidy and I’m about to start selling unwanted household items and clothing that has “shrunk” during lockdown.

Another positive is WhatsAp groups, our neighbourhood one has been amazing. We have met people from all walks of life on the Avenue who we didn’t even know existed. My immediate neighbours, we have a once a week zoom which we hope will resume in our homes soon when we are allowed. My cake making has improved through practice. The garden is taking shape after almost 12 years in this house. I am able to make time to copy and record my children’s young lives which will enable me to dump so many albums. We have had our first dose of vaccines, we are heading towards summer and we can finally open our lovely pub on 17th May. Hooray. All in all so many positives.