Category: Isolation

Unlucky number. After I went to bed all the power went off on this side of Bournemouth. I went to the bathroom and there was no water, no idea what was going on. Then of course I couldn’t go to sleep. I eventually had a few hours and showered and dressed. All the services were working again but not me. I felt really dopey so went and laid on the bed and slept another couple of hours. There’s certainly something about hanging around the house with no plans for the day> Makes me lethargic. I had a phone call from a friend in Madrid who has been laid up with the COVID 19, caught it off her son. Neither of them were too bad, she said it felt like any regular winter flu. Worse news was the husband of another friend has it and he was already old and unwell so he is in ICU. Only time will tell.
I’ve prepared a canvas as I’m going to do an acrylic painting which I’m hoping to start tomorrow. I’m looking forward to having something to focus on.
I had to go for a walk and get some exercise just to clear my head. I’m getting used to almost empty streets, not feeing quite so spooky. I though the councils were supposed to be finding somewhere for the homeless people. Each time I go out I’m approached by people begging. They don’t ask for a lot, maybe a pound, one today just wanted 30p. I hadn’t taken my purse again so couldn’t help out and 3 people approached me. They don’t come too close but it must be scary. What scared me were the birds in the Gardens. There were so many seagulls and they are enormous. I wondered what they eat now as they used to scavenge from the bins around town and outside restaurants. I was worried about being attacked by them. Couldn’t help thinking about that old Hitchcock film Birds. I saw a strange sight as I walk back home. A small plane flying over. It seems some sort of life continues. The Queen came on the tele and encouraged us all to be brave and British. I think we’re lucky to have her, she never flaps. I hope you all enjoyed your day in the sunshine. Good night everyone. Sleep tight 😴💤😴

My first call today was from my sister in Australia. She had just received the birthday card I posted on March 16th for her birthday on 25th. I thought 9 days would be ok but apparently not. It took about 20 days. She’s postponed it anyway due to the lockdown so we could say it was early.
I did some balcony gardening (is that possible?). I decided to put my mother’s day hydrangea in the large tub on my bedroom balcony. I had to remove an old rose bush first and there were a whole load of weeds growing in the tubs back there. All looking great after a good tidy up. I hadn’t long finished and I was out there tidying up when the guy in the flat below called up. He asked me to be careful when watering my plants as the water was causing damage to the wood on his balcony. Now I don’t suppose the endless storms and rain of this winter could have had anything to do with the damage? I certainly hadn’t been out there with the watering can since last summer.
The garage door has been fixed so I’ve been shopping. Went late hoping for an empty shop but quite a few people there. I bought too much, again, Honestly I think I could almost last out foodwise no matter how long the lockdown is. I managed to break a tumbler as I was putting things away, bits of glass and water all over the floor.
I wonder if I’ll be able to carry on with my plants. I really don’t feel like a dispute with a neighbour and I’ve heard through the grapevine that he’s a difficult man. mind you, it has been said that I’m a difficult woman. Let the party begin. sweet dreams 😴💤😴

Yes, I found myself locked in when I wanted to go out. Needed some shopping so I left it till the end of the day when the shops are virtually empty. I was going to get something for dinner while I was there. Grabbed my mask and gloves (and clothes) and went to the underground garage for my car. All good so far, drove down the ramp to the exit gate and it was stuck. Neither open nor shut and not enough room in the gap to drive a car through. Oh S%@* I thought. I got out, wiggled the gate a bit. hit the remote a few times but nothing. Back upstairs and a search through the fridge for something to eat. Friday special it wasn’t. Good thing I still had ice cream. I had a nice walk earlier down to Bournemouth Square. I needed to post a letter and headed for the post box in WH Smiths. usually shuts at 5,30 but new closing time is 3 o/c. I missed it. I wandered through the gardens down to the pier and the sun was shining and everything felt great, almost normal, except it was quiet and downtown is never quiet. The beach and sea were beautiful. Has anyone noticed that there’s nothing on the tele. By the time I got back and found I was locked in etc. etc. I felt it was viewing time. I keep finding myself watching old episodes of Greys Anatomy because there’s nothing on regular tv. No wonder Zoom is so popular. Over 30 people read my post yesterday, this could be a sign of people getting desperate in lockdown or maybe just lousy tv. Either way I appreciate you making me feel it’s worthwhile. I hope someone fixed the garage gate, if not I might have to eat the plants instead of planting them on the balcony. Nothing wrong with a bit of vegan. Keep safe everyone and sweet dreams 😴💤😴

50 years ago today in Madrid I gave birth to my son, Happy 50th Birthday Peter. Hope you had a lovely day working in isolation with your gorgeous family. I couldn’t have predicted any of the events that were going to happen in the next few years. Our leaders announced today that it might be a good idea if we wore masks. Not to protect ourselves but to protect others if we were to sneeze or cough. Can you imagine sneezing with one of those things wrapped around your face? I made a paella, not a real one but a rice dish with stuff I had in my fridge/freezer. It wasn’t too bad and there’s enough for a couple more days. I also cleaned my shower head and as I write this I’m thinking “really and who cares?’. Honestly the only thing I’ve written that made you sit up and listen is when I said my zoom got hacked by porn. Did you notice that FaceBook has changed it’s look again. It’s all done to confuse. Yesterday I lost my post before I finished and now there are actually two versions of the April Fool’s Day post. Oh maybe that’s why, could it have been an April Fool’s Joke? I did practice my vocal chords today with the help of youtube but I think it sounds pretty bad (my voice not Youtube). I need to learn a lot more before I go public. Elena called me late afternoon and said she was outside my building and did I want to run down and see her and the girls (from a distance, of course). I grabbed some sweets for the girls and ran on down. Wonderful to see them all and they brought me some tulips. I did a little dance in the entrance and embarrassed them all. I might post a photo of that in a bit. We all had a group birthday chat for Peter using BlueJeans. And that was pretty much that. At 8 o/c I went onto my balcony to clap and I could hear a couple of people in the large block over the other side of the car park and my neighbour below me came out as well. Not many but better than last week. Hope you all had a good day and enjoyed the sunshine. Don’t forget to beg, borrow or make a mask, we could get creative and have a competition – the Great British Mask Making Challenge – Sleep well my lovelies 😴💤😴

I think that might be a bit of an oxymoron but I had to mention it so now it’s done. My body doesn’t know what time of day it is and I almost forgot to go to bed last night and then didn’t get up until 11 o/c. Coffee is my drug of choice and the only thing I hoarded. Foresight is so much more useful than hindsight. I don’t like pottering, not any more. Once upon a time if I had a day when I could potter I enjoyed it. I thought I might as well do some housework, that’s how bad it’s got. I did it to disco music and danced onto the balcony. There were two lads playing football in the car park, such a lovely sight. I spoke to both my daughters and Elena wanted to know whether, if I do learn to sing will it still pass to her through our genes? I suppose it might, I’m beginning to believe anything might happen. It’s funny how some days I can turn my pottering into something quite good like painting or planting or exercising and other days nothing happens. I made myself go for a walk and took a different route. Very nice and a few people said hello which felt sort of normal. A guy asked if I had any loose change which felt very normal except I hadn’t taken my purse as all the shops are closed. A message for all you parents stuck at home with bored kids. It’s ok to lie and tell them that a new law says they have to go for a walk every day😇 You could also tell them that the police are watching them through their tablets or whatever. They’ll never know, mothers don’t lie, do they? That’s all I’ve got you April Fools, good night and I’ll try to do better tomorrow 😴💤😴

Yes I know I’m writing this at night at the end of the eighth day but you’re reading it in the am. Now here’s the thing, you can stop worrying, yes really, I am delighted to inform you that I finished my toenails. Yes straight after my almost in the morning shower. I am looking spick and span and nowhere to go. It’s funny how everyone says the same about putting everything off till tomorrow, mañana, domani. Even going for a ‘good for you’ exercise walk, oh maybe I’ll go later. I’ve been thinking about learning something new. I’ve never been able to sing, no really, not a note in tune. So I’ve decided to log into YouTube and learn. There are many youtubers offering lessons and willing to teach me. I’m a little worried about the neighbours but I think it might make their lockdown more enjoyable, they won’t feel quite so isolated, will they? No housework today, no plants on the balcony and no painting. I did log into zoom, joined an online get together but it got hacked and suddenly there was porn in my living room 😱. Honestly we can learn something new every day even at my age. Night night campers 😴💤😴

My first phone call today was my dentist. ‘Just to let you know that your appointment is cancelled’. ‘Oh thank you, did I have one imminent?. ‘Yes, 15th May.’ ‘Oh’ I replied, ‘that’s quite a long way off’. ‘Well, it’s just two weeks away’ said the voice. Now, while I had eventually realised the clocks had jumped forward nobody mentioned a whole month 😫 best to ignore confusing people and make coffee. Next call my son, ‘are you ready to log onto BlueJeans?’ A new (to me) video chat line. I’m still not dressed and my pyjamas are not ready for a public performance. ‘Maybe later?’ Thank God for coffee. I also did some aerobics exercise in my pyjamas in the kitchen. You might not believe this but I did some housework. Not a lot but …. I also popped some more plants into pots. Petunias this week. I still have a tray of fuschias but we have to stretch the jobs out, don’t we? I pottered aimlessly for a while, chatting on the phone or to myself and then decided it was time to pick up my paintbrush. I did some watercolour tulips, just a practice but I hope to get serious tomorrow. And my toenails? Well, much like the unattractive bridesmaid, they’re still waiting. Bonne nuit you loners and others 😴💤😴

I jumped on the scales this morning after a lie in and breakfast. Spoilt my day before it started. Now I’m on a diet so if I run out of food I just might be grateful. I did a bit of exercise and had a few phone conversations. Walked around and exercised a bit more while talking. Found out that I’d forgotten about British summer time. It was already 3 o/c in the afternoon. What the hell had I been doing? Weather was quite windy here on the coast and forecast said it would be better later. They were lying. I went out later. It was cold and very windy. I was glad to get home and have a cup of tea. It’s very weird being in Bournemouth town centre and it’s completely empty. There were a couple of, I think, homeless guys on a bench in the square. ‘Hello darling’ one called out ‘you ok’. That’s not good, is it? Being homeless I mean. And I’ve forgotten to finish my toenails. Sweet dreams, if you can. This too shall pass. 😴💤😴

A little exercise session with Joe Wicks on YouTube. He’s rather cute and sounds like an Essex boy. Took a while to get started – you guessed it- phone calls. But don’t mind a bit of P.E. especially if I’ve had a coffee or two. Fortunately remembered I had to pay a bill and hadn’t managed to do it online a couple of days ago. Couldn’t do it today either. Kept getting locked out of my a/c as I got to the end. Phoned my bank, long wait there. Guy tried to talk me through it but no go. Made payment by phone and I’ll have to wait till next bill to see if it works. You’re all gonna be impressed because I cleared and tidied a wardrobe. Even put some things in the charity bag. As I needed some milk I drove to Lidl at 8.30 pm, wore my mask and latex gloves (and clothes). Usually ok that late but a few younger people around and not being careful with distancing. Still I growled loudly in their direction in a friendly sort of way and they soon moved away. Also bought ice cream and biscuits. Someone will have to roll me out when the time comes. Sleep tight don’t let the bug bite 💤😴💤

And I didn’t – go out that is. Neither did I start my day with wake up exercise. Result – low energy. Had a phone call before coffee, my brain finds this confusing. Then I pottered around in PJs drinking strong filter coffee. No idea what I did. Later I cut my toe nails but only on one foot. Tomorrow’s another day. I thought I might take an exercise walk but decided to make a start on my balcony instead. Good plan, I sorted my plants and got the primulas in pots, lovely and bright. I got rid of a whole lots of dead stuff from last year and felt a hell of a lot better for it. How do I feel now? To quote Scott & Bailey somewhere between fabulous and shit. Sleep well all you loners. 💤😘💤😴