My intention when I started this weekly diary was to summarise any impact the Social Distancing Rules had on our life, and those closest to us.
I have to say two things: first, I am very proud of the way my Parents, Sands and her Mum (thanks in no small part to the exceptional work of Carol her carer) have coped with the last eleven weeks, and secondly, that there really hasn’t been that much of a change or effect for us.
The weather has helped for sure, as has the fact that we were always able to get the dogs out for a walk, and to see my parents weekly as we delivered food and medicines and replaced their cleaner and gardener and did those jobs for them.
My parents have a good grasp of technology so we video called every day, and Carol ensured that Sandra got regular videos and video chats (well a couple) with her Mum.
Today they have relaxed the restrictions even more, so we can have 4 people in the garden for a drink, BBQ etc, and Sands can go and see her Mother (in the Garden), and if we wanted we could take the dogs to the Beach near her mother and all call in for a bite to eat (in the Garden).
To be honest that is pretty much all we need right now. I am pretty apathetic towards the idea of sport starting behind closed doors, but it makes no difference. I doubt I will watch much of it, but for many it will help so who am I etc etc. My hope is that they don’t restart the Football and Rugby until they can do so with fans in attendance, and if they can get some domestic cricket played with spectators allowed in August and September that would be good, but as I have not had access to it for 20 of the last 21 years another year wont make any difference.
Restaurants and Pubs I can do without for as long as it takes. I can get all my shopping online so not fussed about shops or markets opening. Coffee and Tea best consumed at home, I shave my head and trim my own beard, can live without the cinema and to the best of my knowledge have no desire to buy a new car or property ….
I have been busy than at anytime since we moved back helping with the backlog of animals needing transporting from Cyrus, Bosnia, Romania and Spain, as many I think are scared of a second wave closing everything down again so they trying to move as many as they can as quickly as they can. I will happily continue to help with this.
So for now the focus for the next three months is to keep it quiet and simple: bit more exercise, some time with friends and family, and see Sands mother on a regular basis.
So on that note I am going to call it a day with the weekly diary. We survived (so far). I achieved about 75% of what I wanted to get done, and didn’t have reason to revert to binge watching box sets (in fact we watch less TV now than before), drank less than usual, and (unfortunately) didn’t read anything like as much as I wanted.
Stay Safe, Be Nice!