Spring Lambs and a river walk.

CV 19 09 April 2020

A glorious sunny day is ahead of us. We need to make the most and get out for a walk as it is Easter weekend and even if people to stay at home, there will no doubt be more people out exercising.

I nip into Bourne end to the green grocers. It is a much better experience than supermarket shopping but it still stresses me.

We decide to walk to Temple lock as we have heard there are not many people along the towpath now. We walk through the town centre which is much quieter than normal but still a few people around not sure where they are all going. We cut through the old brewery complex and into the park. No many people here, some mothers with pushchairs and a couple of dog walkers. Along the tow path we see some couples out walking and at least 2 groups of people who you would really question if they all lived together.

The river is beautiful in the morning sunshine; a Coot rapidly swims by us with a beak full of nesting material. The swans are clammering for bread; there have been reports of them getting hungry, as people are not feeding them anymore. As we get further along 4 jays fly overhead, cawing loudly, they are part of the Corvidae family. Hope that is not an omen!

As we near Temple lock the path gets busier, walkers, lovers and people on bikes. We head up towards the farm and cut back along the more rural route back to Marlow.

New born Lambs spring and bounce along in a field by the path, they are really cute.

We pass a relatively newly created lake, it looks like a nature reserve but no one appears to know what it is, or who has created it. Some of the fields are still flooded from the immense rains and river bursting its banks earlier in the year.

We come out by the cricket ground, cut back through the Old Brewery and up the high street, which is even busier; cars parked either side of the road and more people. Most keep their distance but there are a few that do not. I need to speed up but am feeling a bit weary as it is hot, one last push up Oak tree road. I hate the last bit, it gets so steep. We fall into the kitchen and hastily drink some lovely cold water, have a sit and grab some lunch.

We spend a while in the sun reading, chatting to each other and making and receiving calls.

The daily briefing informs us that the lockdown will continue for at least another week. We expected it to be longer but perhaps there is method in their madness. As its bank holiday, if they had extended it for another 3 weeks people might have gone crazy and gone out. However by lessening the immediate duration makes it more acceptable in the short term. That’s our theory anyway.

Tonight is clap for the NHS and I am pleased to say more people were out in our street, making a good noise and waving to each other. Ian managed to control his urge to clatter something loud and restrained himself to very loud clapping instead. Phew.

I must mention the domestic travel news that Richie does it is hilarious.

I also let Ian trim the back of my hair. It was scary but he did a very good job. I had to keep an eye on him for fear he might get scissor happy. He did give a bit of hairdresser chat too, quite the professional. I will draw the line at him doing my highlights, but have caught him eyeing up the Domestos and tin foil. He also had the cheek to ask for a tip. Anyway my hair looks much neater.

Gammon steak, chips and beans for dinner.

The news.

The death rate continues to increase but is lower today than yesterday, infections are still increasing but they continue to say there is hope it is flattening out.

We also hear the news that Boris is out of ICU. There have been some terrible things in the news that people have said about him. I was never a Boris fan but have to say I have somewhat warmed to him. CV 19 is not political it is a killer disease. He has had a ridiculous amount of abuse. There have been reports of people hoping that he dies, people in the public eye. He is trying to save the NHS from collapse and people’s lives depend on that.

The US is in dire trouble, 18000 people have died and there is a report on the radio this morning about mass grave burials. I also read there are 3 strains of this and the US has the original strain.

Farmers are suffering as the knock on effect of the catering industry being shut down means gallons of milk is being thrown away. I am sure that other foodstuffs will also suffer because of this closure.

France is still on extra lockdown hours. Italy and Spain maybe reaching the peak but its still unknown yet.  We are said to be on the same trajectory as Italy, which is very scary news.