Wednesday 13 January
The day started a little differently. I woke as normal at 6am to the news on Classic FM. The newsreader announcing the proposed gloomy predictions for the day ahead. Impeachment-this, Covid-that, economic doom-the other.
Dragging myself out of bed slightly later than normal to play out the usual routine. Shower, iron shirt, watch, glasses, phone. Downstairs in the kitchen it’s Radio 4; we can get a bit more real when I have my first coffee of the day in my hand. Lisa went to work and I stayed behind to take Adora for her orthodontics appointment.
I guess I like routines, but to take yourself off-piste every so often is a rare occurrence but one to embrace. A sense of guilt gnawes away at me and I have to constantly tell myself that this is just what normal people do in normal jobs and in normal times. But these aren’t normal times and every feeling just that bit more concentrated.
Into work by late morning and into the swing of it all, with that sense of guilt still there. Making me walk up the corridor faster, multi-task even more than usual, feeling like I must cram in a days worth of work into half a day at work. I don’t like feeling like that but fear it strikes most teachers particularly when they are in a senior role. Or maybe it’s just me, and my imposter syndrome kicking in, or I’m simply over thinking it?
The day was wet and grey all day, and cold too. My watch beeped late in the afternoon to alert me that Scotland were tightening restrictions further (England tends to follow suit shortly after). And also that a further 1500+ people died from Covid19 in the past twenty-four hours.
I needed cheering up and my mate Mark came to the rescue. He has put together a photo book recording the Gentlemen’s Film and Leisure Club’s journey along the Norfolk Coast Path. And he brought it round, staying on the doorstep only, unable to come in due to the lockdown. And it is a fabulous thing, every page putting a fresh smile on my face and making me feel warm grateful for the people I have around me and the adventures we are yet to have. Simple pleasures, good friends and great walks.
The Bald Birder 