Month: April 2020

Is This Real Life? Day 28.

I can’t help thinking that life is like a SciFi. movie. We’ve all seen them, empty streets, parks etc. people scuttling along, faces covered by a mask and only communicating by electronic device. They arrive home and talk to their family by video ‘no, mum, I’m fine really I am, I just popped out to buy coffee, yes, I’m being careful, of course I am’. Who would ever have imagined that we would all be taking part in a movie and I wonder who would have the starring role?  My money’s on Captain Tom. It’s a no brainer isn’t it?

In the news Prince Phillip came out of retirement to thank all the key workers for their vital and urgent efforts in keeping the country going in crisis. On the other hand Harry and Meghan came out of hiding to say they will have zero engagement with some UK newspapers and a couple of other publicity stunts. Not much change there.

Also in the news is the fact that US oil prices have turned negative. In other words the producers are paying the buyers to take their oil. They are worried that they will not have enough storage space if they don’t offload somehow. It would be good news for us drivers except we don’t have anywhere to go. Elsewhere at a press conference Trump told a female journalist ‘keep your voice down please’ when he didn’t like her question.

In the UK an RAF plane took off for Turkey to collect the essential PPE supplies that had failed to be delivered. Also a plane arrived in Scotland from Chine carrying new PPE equipment. As far as I can see it is for Scottish hospitals.  It’s also been reported that some people have extracted their own teeth as dental surgeries remain closed except for emergencies. I have to wonder what constitutes an emergency.

Today I was watching a video on YouTube it was the Zorba the Greek dance (or syrtaki) and I found that there are tutorials online as well. So I’m thinking that maybe here’s something that I can learn in lockdown. This could definitely be useful. One or two little problems such as the dancers at one point bend with one knee nearly touching the floor, not sure if I could get down and I know for sure I couldn’t get up again and as the dance goes on it gets faster and faster, oops that could get embarrassing. But, I think I should try, no pain no gain. Don’t try this in your sleep please. Good Night 😴💤😴

 

Much Ado About Nowt. Day 27.

I’ve noticed that my daily blogs are getting longer which is strange as they should be getting shorter taking into account that I’m doing less and less each day. I wonder if that is good or bad. Am I the only one who’s beginning to get bored? I think that the first thing I want to do when all this is over is meet a friend or friends for lunch. It would be great to be able to make a plan to do something, anything. Hey ho, not today. I’m sad to say there’s almost no news to comment on either. It does seem that couples are beginning to argue and fall out at home and our leaders have even said that one of them should be allowed to move out and stay with friends or family when it gets too bad. The web site Illicit Encounters is reporting a rise in the number of married people striking up affairs since the lockdown and other sites aimed at those wanting a bit of something naughty on the side also report a rise in the number of spouses using their sites. I’m not quite sure how these affairs take place in lockdown. Maybe I’m just old fashioned.

What’s happened to Bojo? There’s no news about him either other than he’s resting at home with his partner. It seems as if the journalists are just like the rest of us, fluffing around all day doing nothing. There’s either fake news or old news which really means no news. There is of course Coronavirus news but you don’t want to hear about that here.

There’s nothing much on the tele either, is there? (I’m definitely beginning to sound like a grumpy old woman) I don’t know what you’re all watching but I’m having a struggle to find anything. Dawn French said she is going to do a special episode of Vicar of Dibley. Again I wonder how that’s going to happen remotely. If we stop and think about it, there won’t be any new programmes for quite a while because producers can’t make them. We might start finding other things to do that doesn’t involve sitting on our backsides. People are taking up new hobbies aren’t they? I haven’t started any yet unless you include becoming a blogger. There is my singing but I seem to have forgotten about that recently, must have another go tomorrow. Perhaps I should just have a go at Illicit Encounters and turn myself into a modern woman, I’m sure there’s something I could learn. Might bump into one of you there….   Nighty night, sleep tight 😴💤😴

 

It’s All a Bit Arty Farty. Day 26.

Our very own Captain Tom Moore finished the 100 laps around his garden today and his fundraising reached 22 million pounds. He released a single along with Michael Ball singing their version of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and as he walked those last few laps he was accompanied by a guard of honour provided by The 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment. I don’t think this is the last we’ll hear of Capt. Tom

Yorkshire has been busy during lockdown. An artist has painted her town with murals paying tribute to the NHS. She sets out in the early hours in Pontefract and paints on the side of buildings as part of her daily exercise. Still in Yorkshire a mum does a daily 7 mile run around town dressed in a different costume each day. People cheer her as she passes and she says she likes to brighten up people’s day. Not in Yorkshire but at home in Bristol Banksy in lockdown has been painting his bathroom. No, not a new coat of white paint but his signature rats running all over the place. hanging from light pulls, squeezing toothpaste, unravelling toilet rolls and peeing on the toilet seat. His wife doesn’t like him working from home.

We have been told that parks and cemeteries can remain open. That’s good news and means I can visit Mary Shelley’s grave which is just along the road from me in the dead centre of Bournemouth.  I went past there today on my way to collect a prescription. Boots the chemist was open except when I arrived it was closed for lunch, I went for a stroll through the gardens and called in again on my way back. I also bought a brush to put the hair dye on so I can now look forward to getting properly spruced up.

In the US in Georgia police were called to a car crash where a pregnant woman has given birth at the moment of impact. As the officers arrived she told them she had given birth but they couldn’t find the baby.  After a frantic search the baby was found under the seat still attached to the umbilical cord. Mother and baby are doing well. Still in the US Harry and Meghan took their dogs for a walk today, they were wearing bandana masks and carrying sanitiser. Meghan’s dog got tired and she decided to carry it and where her hand was stuck between it’s legs I think she might be needing something stronger than plain old sanitiser when she gets home.

Back here alcohol sales in supermarkets and off licenses are on the rise and recycling bins are overflowing with empties. Now may I remind you that not only will alcohol compromise your immune system but it was not in the government list of essential products (even though off licenses were classified as essential business) it was classified as a ‘luxury item’.  Sleep well my friends 😴💤😴

 

 

 

To Do or Not To Do. Day 25

I have to say that in writing these blogs time passes rather quickly, is it really 25 days?   So what’s happening? Captain Tom’s sponsored walk has now raised over 20 million pounds for the NHS. The fund doesn’t stop growing and lovely old Tom doesn’t stop walking.  Other volunteers are getting together (virtually) all over the country to sew scrubs for NHS workers. Not sure where it started but groups are springing up everywhere, some in factories where they have had to stop their normal productions, others in small workshops and people sitting at home with their Singer or whatever and sewing. Patterns have been made available and I believe material too. The question of face masks has raised its head once again. should we are shouldn’t we wear one. From what I understand wearing one won’t necessarily stop us getting a virus but if we are infected we are less likely to pass it on. There are plenty of suggestions online for making your own using kitchen roll and hair bands, cutting and folding an old tshirt, the US Surgeon General has produced a video showing how and someone else has shown how to convert a bra into a face mask. The suggestions on youtube are endless and will while away an hour or two and make you smile.

It seems that in the US there have been 33,000 deaths and Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 43%. Could that be 43% of the population, surely not? He has suggested that the three democratic states protesting against lockdown should be liberated. Meanwhile and still over there, a man has become trapped alone in a ghost town in California. It seems he purchased the town a few years ago for 1.1 million dollars but had never spent time there. Just prior to lockdown he went to relieve the caretaker for a few days and woke up to find himself snowed in. He has confirmed that there are indeed ghosts in his town. I can’t help feeling that it’s all a publicity stunt.

Over here our leaders have extended lockdown by another three weeks and have specified in more detail what we can or can’t do? Please take note and don’t say later that you didn’t know. You can drive to a place for exercise as long as the exercise is longer than the drive. You can walk to a bench and rest on said bench as long as the walk is longer than the sit. and when you shop for those essential items, in my case salted caramel ice cream, and whilst searching for those items if you happen to wander along another aisle you may pick up some luxury items. So there you have it, essential reading. Sweet dreams, not about ghosts

Exercise is Good. Day 24.

Right from the beginning they said. Stay at home, don’t go out, you’re old, over 70 but then they said maybe you need some exercise, so go out for a walk. Only if you haven’t got any health issues of course. We’re not daft and we know it’s good advice so we stay at home and we go for a walk. There seem to be a few rules when it comes to walking. For example, we aren’t supposed to take the car and then walk. A friend was having a bit of a moan the other day because she lives on a housing estate and when she goes out she walks around the block. When I spoke to her she had walked around the block 20 times, she’s finding it boring. The other thing we are not supposed to do is sit down. Plenty of benches in Bournemouth but we are not to use them. Problem with our age group is that we need a little rest when we are walking and if we can’t use the benches, which by the way have often been donated by elderly widows or widowers in memory of their loved ones who might not have died if they’d had a bench to sit on, anyway if we can’t use them we end up walking round the block. Today I went for a walk in Southbourne which I had to drive to but as I needed fuel in my car was all the excuse I needed. I walked along the cliff top where there were few walkers and the view is glorious. I’m very lucky to live here on the coast.

I’ve been watching Quiz on tv. For some reason I never knew much about it when it happened. When I have heard a mention of it I’ve always found it quite strange that the person or people in the audience who supposedly ‘coughed’ the correct answer always happened to know the correct answer in spite of not knowing the questions until they were asked. The defendants’ barrister appeared to argue the case well but the jury found them guilty. The judge however gave them 18 months suspended so maybe he didn’t agree with the jury. As for Michael Sheen playing Chris Tarrant I felt he was more of a cartoon character and I couldn’t get out of my head that he was once Tony Blair. I guess they are all three more like cartoons than real people.

Tomorrow rain is predicted, on and off all day (at least my plants will get watered) so we really will have to find something to do at home. Don’t forget the rather dishy Joe Wicks streaming YouTube workout. His very popular session has made the guinness book of records. Ladies of a certain age please note, no need to do the actual workout, just watching Joe will increase your heart rate. Not recommended at bed time.

Goodnight all you walkers. 😴💤😴

Keep calm and carry on. Day 23.

Like Captain Tom Moore who yesterday I mentioned had raised £1,000,000. Todays Reuters published that it had reached $US8,000,000 and this evening the BBC states that it has reached £9,000,000. Well done Captain Tom he definitely deserves another medal.
Jeremy Vine meanwhile had a phone in from people isolating alone at home. Recommendations were to have a timetable – not sure how if most of us don’t even know what day it is let alone what time. Another idea was to get a bird feeder, very nice if you have a garden and no cats. However, I don’t fancy attracting the seagulls onto my minute balcony. I can’t remember what else was said but I’m sure we could make a concerted effort to learn a new skill like my singing. It’s not going too well but I’m having a go. I also always wanted as a child to know how to do cart wheels or hand stands. I think it might be a bit late for that and might involve a trip to hospital which the NHS can do without. It’s on my list of maybe ideas. I’ve been pottering around again on my balcony, trying hard not to bother the neighbours below. I’ve now potted the last few plants that I had purchased before lockdown. No sign of any shoots yet from the sunflowers but fuschias are doing ok. Honestly the truth is that as soon as lockdown is over I’ll forget to water them, the man downstairs will be happy and that will be the end of that for another summer.
As you know I finished my pedicure and am now planning a manicure. Also my daughter Sam bought me a hair dye so I can keep myself up to scratch. I already chopped a few bits off my fringe using a pair of nail scissors I keep in the bathroom. Do you remember that old saying ‘Jack of all trades, master of none”. Ha! I’ve been colouring my hair since I was 13 which is a bloody long time so I must have learnt something.
I absolutely can’t mention the news today. Nothing is happening but my iphone is full of stories about celebs that I’ve never heard of, stories about the royal family as if someone has an inside scoop or neighbours prattling about what they perceive to be someone breaking lockdown.
I’ve enjoyed my day, I’ve spoken to people and don’t think I upset anyone, I’ve made a mess and cleared up, I made a list of people I will definitely call or email tomorrow. Definitely no timetable which would confuse my locked down brain but I’m keeping calm and carrying on. Btw I nearly forgot to tell you that I texted the Jeremy Vine show today, I wonder how much that premium rate text will cost me. Whatever time your head hits the pillow sleep well and don’t snore you might disturb someone.

Surviving. Day 22

I’ve done some housework today and feeling very pleased with myself. I put Amazon music on and jigged around with the hoover (which is not a hoover but a Panasonic but it wouldn’t sound right to say I’ve been doing some Panasonicing and how would I spell it?) The house looks better for it and it gave me an excuse to dance onto the balcony but sadly, not a soul in sight. My plants are coming along nicely and when it’s finished I will put some photos up. I planted some sunflower seeds, not sure they’re the correct plant for a sixth floor, on a hill balcony. If they grow and it’s a big if because I’ve had them about five years, they will probably sail away on the first windy day.
Now for the newsworthy news items about survival. A man in France was given a surprise birthday present by his employees. A ride in a fighter jet. He wasn’t happy and in his panic he grabbed hold of the ejector button and 😱 was thrown from the plane. He fell 2,500 feet through the air but was unhurt. Btw, my birthday isn’t far off and I don’t fancy a ride in a fighter jet either. Just in case.
Then in Poland a man in a 4 wheel drive hit a roundabout at speed, he and his car flew over the roundabout completely landing in a graveyard 😱 whereupon it burst into flames. The driver was taken to hospital by ambulance but had escaped with only minor injuries.

On to the good news story. 99 years old veteran war hero Tom Moore has raised 1 million pounds for the NHS. He is walking 100 lengths of his garden which he hopes to finish before he reaches 100 at the end of the month.

I have to say he is a bit of a sweetheart and in the photo of him when he was young looks just like a penpal I was writing to when I was a teenager.
That’s all my darlings, it seems to get harder to find things to write about now we have entered the fourth week. But it’ll be ok. China, Italy and Spain are, to differing degrees, beginning to relax the isolation rules. Maybe we’ll be next. Sleep well my lovely loners, try not to have weird dreams. Nighty night 😴💤😴

Three Full Weeks. Day 21.

If anyone had ever told me that I would spend three weeks mostly holed up in my flat I don’t think I would have believed them. I’m sure this is true of everyone and just think, there are millions of us doing the same thing. It’s almost unbelievable. Yesterday I forgot to mention my walk however, I did post some photos on FB. I wandered off through The Gardens – lots of lovely, colourful tulip beds – and down to the pier, there were a few people wandering along and quite a few cyclists. On my way back to The Square there were hardly any and none in the photo I took. An empty and rather spooky town centre. By the way, I’ve heard that the Cafe Obscura is on the market. Halleluja, It’s the best location but the worst cafe in town. And, why does it close at 5 o’clock in the afternoon even in summer when the town is full of visitors? Still we won’t have much town left after all this. Beales has gone and Debenhams in administration and other shops have already gone. Just a few coffee shops around so in the evening the town centre belongs to the drunks and homeless people.
I’ve been reading Michelle Obama’s book which was lent to me several months ago. I’ve dipped into it a few times but am now having the time to sit down and enjoy it. I’m finding it very fascinating and I’m full of admiration not only for the protagonist but, as always, for the many black women who help to shape America.
It’s getting harder each day to find anything of interest or even note worthy in the news. One headline states that the government doesn’t expect to relax COVID-19 lockdown this week. Well I don’t think any of expected they would. BoJo is out of hospital and at Chequers with his partner. That’s good news and quicker than we expected. Dutch scientists believe that the answer to the number of people that have been infected with the virus actually lies in the U-bend and depending on their test results the Germans are hoping to test 17 million human samples!! I’m glad I’m retired, there’s a job I don’t want. It has also been announced that the World Bog Snorkelling Championship has had to be cancelled, it was due to be held in Powys, Wales. I should think those competitors could be lent to the Germans to help with their trials. Just an idea.
I’ve been doing some essential shopping this evening. Off for a quick shimmy around Aldi at 7 o’clock. Nice and empty of customers at that time but quite nicely stocked up. I bought everything I needed and quite a few things I didn’t but shhh
don’t tell anyone. The lady on the checkout was from Madeira. bright, chatty and cheerful. There was no need to put a coin in for the trolley so the homeless people have lost another way of making a few coins. I’ve almost run out of loose change now so I’ll have to get some from somewhere.
Easter weekend has officially finished, back to normality tomorrow or maybe it will be a bit more of the same. Hope you enjoyed the sunshine, eggs, hot cross buns, bbqs, garden games, exercise walks and whatever else you found yourselves filling the time with. Believe me, it can’t go on forever. Dream your dreams, goodnight

Easter Sunday or Dairy Day 20

What shall I start with? I could tell you that I got up late but having spoken to several people, so did they. Here’s the thing, it seems that the whole world is confused. We don’t know when to wake up, go to bed, is it lunch time or have I not had breakfast yet?  Mostly we don’t know what day of the week it is. Will we ever know again?  Let me remind you, today has been Easter Day, all day and also now known as dairy day (only in this blog) because of all the chocolate we hoarded along with the toilet paper. Lots of the white stuff in a bar of Dairy Milk. I remember that advert where a glass of milk was pouring down inside the purple wrapper. Very apt because today we’ve been reminded that we should still be supporting our farmers during the pandemic as they have been throwing away thousands of litres of unsold milk. {lease pick up and extra bottle when you next go shopping.

Also in the press, the family that went on a fishing trip from London to Devon but got turned back by the police and were given a fixed penalty. Maybe they just didn’t want to risk the supermarket and were off to catch their dinner. The Thames would have been nearer. Also the journalists wrote that isolation is causing us to suffer from an epidemic of weird dreams. Can someone point out that it’s probably more due to the quantity of alcohol most people are drinking. They call themselves journalists?

I had a nice visit today – from a safe distance – as Elena and Elizabeth called by and left me an easter gift and card. A really lovely surprise. I’ll post a photo later.

At 6 pm Andrea Bocelli was streamed live from Milan Cathedral. Very beautiful  and called Music for Hope. A special Easter present for the world and they showed some great views of completely empty cities. I was fortunate to see him perform live in the Festival Puccini in Torre de Lago a couple of years ago.

I’ve been watching The Nest on BBC. I wasn’t sure about it when it started but it is getting interesting. Might have something to do with too much spare time. Last episode tomorrow. Also tomorrow is the much talked about (in the popular press anyway) Quiz. Haha, did they cheat or didn’t they? I’m sure we will be left wondering, a bit like the spinster a hundred years ago.

Just to remind you all that tomorrow, or today if you’re just waking up is Monday, in fact Easter Monday. Sleep peacefully and try not to have any weird dreams, nighty night

 

Big Brother Watching. Day 19

Happy Easter everyone. I’m writing this, of course, Saturday night but you will be reading in the morning. The easter bunny has been and eggs are hidden where you probably won’t find them. I can’t imagine rabbits isolating, they’re always in groups. Who knew that a group of rabbits is known as a fluffle? I certainly didn’t and I’ve no idea how we managed before google.

Yesterday I informed you of the benches on Bournemouth seafront being taped to stop people sitting on them. Well, stop press news item today said that it was to discourage tourists from coming! A man has been stopped from playing ball with his son in his front garden and stories abound (not all true) of police patrolling the streets and fining or arresting people who are not abiding by the government guidelines. I also saw photos of a queue of cars that had come off the ferry at Studland. The police said that all registrations had been caught on camera so be warned.

I’ve been working on my Blog pages today and it will be linked to Facebook but so far there is nothing extra to see although I’m hoping there will be.

We had a virtual family get together or party this evening. Four locations, fifteen people and the games organised by my nineteen year old grandchildren Jack and Elizabeth. We started with Two Truths One Lie with each of us making three statements. This was followed by the online game Psyche and then of course the inevitable trivia quiz. It seems that all answers are acceptable and therefore most should be in the unacceptable category, especially taking into account the age range of players. I think the surveillance police would have been interested. I lost spectacularly or maybe even miserably. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the online forums everyone seems to be speaking at once and I have little idea of what is going on. Nothing new there I suspect. Sleep well my little easter bunnies, nighty night