Lockdown Life - feeling blue

Tuesday 16^th February.

 

Yesterday’s joy was short lived as we awake to pouring rain again and a grey misty morn.

I decided that Ian’s hair needed another trim so that kept me amused for a while it had grown quite a bit, so I managed to crop a good lot off. Snipping hair is quite therapeutic, well for the snipper at least.

 

Last evenings Downing street briefing saw Boris overjoyed at the success of the vaccination programme so far, but still urged caution and would not be drawn on any hints or dates for lockdown easing. He did say that when the dates were announced it needed to be an irreversible decision and this needed to be the last lockdown. He also said in not so many words not to take heed of what was being written in the papers at the moment as only when we hear it directly from him would it be the truth.

 

I did manage to get out for a run between showers. Running the streets is boring and although I can alter the route a bit I find it hard avoiding hills and crossing roads, neither of which are any good for me.  Also Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday are bins days round here, so I have the added hazard of discarded wheelie and food bins to negotiate it makes for an interesting obstacle course run. Felt better for doing the run although did feel a bit lightheaded when I got home.

 

Ian heard on the news that Mother Ivey’s Bay holiday park in Cornwall is already fully booked for Easter.

I have also read many airlines are removing 1^st class cabins and they probably will not return as the space required is now not financially viable.

 

We have had some Redwings in the garden, they are feasting on next doors holly berries. Food supplies in the countryside must be getting diminished. Nice to see them here though.

 

Wednesday 17^th Feb

 

Another day and another day of rain. Not deterred by it we splosh into Marlow to get some fish for dinner. I saw Rachael my aqua teacher in the queue and have a quick chat. She tells me that before the gyms closed this last time, she was teaching aqua classes with 40 people in them. Indoors, large classes, was that really allowed? I have lost track of what was allowed and what not.

 

I was a tad disheartened last evening to read that Marlow Medical Group only were able to run clinics on the 10^th and 12^th Feb and a further clinic is being run on Feb 18^th. Depending on vaccine availability they hope to run a further 3 clinics the following week. I thought they were running clinics every day 7 days a week. We do have the pharmacy led clinic as well but as I reported the other day due to supply it is running at 50% reduced capacity. I am not complaining or moaning about it and will be grateful just to receive the jab as soon as I can I just was unaware that centres are not running as often as I thought they were, or we hear about on the news.

 

PM to focus on data not dates for lockdown easing. Newspapers still speculating every day.

Good news we are nearly 2 months past the shortest day and the Cuckoos have started their journey back to the UK from Africa. So Spring is nearly here even though looking out the window right now it’s hard to believe. Winter Hill is disappearing into a rainy mist as I type.

Lying in bed trying to drift off last night we were lulled to sleep by Tawny Owls calling to each other. 

 

Prince Phillip has been taken into hospital as a precaution, he has not been feeling well for a couple of days. It is said not to be Covid related.

 

 

Home-made veggie soup for lunch.

Grilled Sea Bass on Thai style Noodles for dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday Feb 18^th.

 

Another Groundhog day arrives, we had gusting wind and lashing rain throughout the night and it was still raining heavily when we got up this morning. Its brightened up a bit now at least its not cold.

In an effort to be positive and do something worthwhile whilst unable to go out, I got down on my hands and kness and scrubbed the kitchen floor, it was worth the effort and is shiny and gleaming now.

I then spent ages trying to gather and scan documentation for my impending pension. This was rather like being at work even if the end result will be a nice one, however I’d still rather be in the garden.

Spoke to Liz & Ray last night & they’re both climbing the walls and like us all desparate to be able to go out somewhere different. I hope Boris gives us a little more freedom on Monday just to be able to drive somewhere, I’d take a 50 mile limit right now but 100 would be better.

 

Pork Chops Dauphinoise potatoes and green beans for dinner.

 

Friday Feb 19^th.

 

Absolutely determined that whatever the weather I was going to do something meaningful and useful today. Undeterred by a gusty wind I went down to Age Concern and spent a good couple of hours weeding, pruning and replanting things. It all looked so much tidier when I left and again, I felt I had accomplished something worthwhile, even if there is no one to see it at the moment. Miniature daffs are just coming into flower but there has been a fair amount of damage to some plants from the hard frosts and snow we have had this month. Someone had filled my garden bin with old brochures and rubbish I nearly did myself a mischief trying to relocate them into the black bin, but soon had the green bin full of the correct type of recycling.

It is 10 degrees to days so not unpleasant to be out if you are suitability attired. I am just thinking about tackling our own garden but just watching a flock of Starlings swooping around in front of Winter Hill I notice it has started to rain. Better weather forecast for next week, hurrah.

 

Sausages, the rest of the Dauphinoise and Broccoli for dinner.

 

Saturday Feb 20^th.

 

Happy Birthday Joyce just wait until we start to catch up on all these missed celebrations. 

 

A glorious sunny warm morning. Washing on the line and dry in no time. It has clouded over a bit now and a tad windy. St Merryn and Weston are having a bad time of it 62 mile an hour winds and rain. Earlier on we did think that we might have been able to hold the Stay Inn in the Marlow Pub garden but alas that is going to have to wait for another day.

For some strange reason I am feeling quite low today, no idea why just sad.

 

Coriander Chicken and rice for dinner.

 

Sunday Feb 21^st.

 

I had great plans for today. Gardening, mowing of lawns, pruning things and have a good old weed out. Maybe even plant some sweet peas. Awoke to a wet a dark grey day, my mood plummeted with it. Both Ian and I are feeling low and we had a terrible sleep last night.

Participants of the Stay Inn yesterday were mainly feeling the same, we have all had enough but are reluctant to want things to open up too fast and in 3 months’ time we end back up here again.

Update on the Grenade it was removed by the MOD and safely detonated. No idea why it was there in the first place, note don’t send a man on a fact-finding mission.

Also, on the radio this morning 64-year olds are being invited for jabs. So that’s a bit of good news.

I need to do something to lift this mood from me but what I don’t know. Let’s hope the clouds lift from outside and in my head and I can get out into the garden after all.