Saturday 9 May

Fifty days since they closed the schools – that’s a long time.

We are all anticipating BJ’s speech to the nation tomorrow; we’ve only seen him once since he returned after recovering from the virus himself, but is a father again now of course.

Sir Keir Starmer, the recently elected Labour leader, is certainly going to be a formidable opponent for him at the dispatch box and in the media.

Woke this morning and really thought it was Sunday – it’s bad enough having the days mixed up with a lockdown but then a Bank Holiday is chucked in and things become even more confusing.

And it is another beautiful day today with wall-to-wall sunshine and we will be having a barbecue later; the kids love a BBQ.

Friday 8 May

It’s been 75 years since victory in Europe was announced which ultimately led to the end of the second world war.

Arguably we have never been so disconnected from mainland Europe as we are now since we left the EU and await the outcome of trade talks at the end of this year.

We are also awaiting the highly anticipated speech by BJ on Sunday where it is expected that he will announce our first steps to ease social restrictions.

My Dad came over to see us very briefly to drop his shopping list for me and left us with a copy of the poem ‘Hope’ by Emily Dickinson.

I hope we don’t lose sight of what has been positive about this strange time and would suggest the following; Stay connected – protect what’s precious – keep saving lives.

Thursday 7 May

I’ve really noticed Spring this year, I mean really noticed it, in real detail.

Every year I always love the lime-green freshness of the new leaves and the unique smell of things putting real effort into growing.

This year though I have noticed it even more; a mass of mosquitoes hanging in the evening sun with onlooking swallows perched on wires twitching their tales like they’re revving up ready to speed into action.

The incredible appearance of all of those flowers almost overnight nodding their heads in the breeze; I have never appreciated how many varieties there are in a single hedgerow.

Every time I step outside now, every magical trick of nature I am privileged to see or hear, I whisper a little “Thank you” and I feel better for it.

Wednesday 6 May

Started this morning with a video meeting (that’s a technology that has really found it’s feet through this lockdown) followed by another run with Adora.

I’m going to miss our morning runs when we get back to ‘normal’ and in a twisted way I am grateful for what this pandemic has given us.

We know the kids will be leaving for university in the next year or two and have been able to spend some very precious time walking, talking, laughing, playing, making and just being – together.

Spoke face-to-face online with my brother and sister-in-law in Italy this lunchtime (they are a few weeks ahead of us over there) where they are cautiously easing out of a proper, hardcore lockdown.

Meanwhile in the UK we are using the Isle of Wight as a test zone for a new NHS phone app that will monitor, track and trace people’s contact in relation to those around them who may be infected.

Tuesday 5 May

Another day working from home, kids learning or being crafty upstairs.

Don’t know how we are going to have kids and staff back in school but keep the 2m social distancing going.

Someone today asked how we would be able to keep everything clean and stop kids being kids.

Went for our daily family walk this evening and saw Swifts, heard Skylarks and could smell the Hawthorn blossom everywhere.

Discovered this evening at the daily government briefing that we have now become the European country with the most Covid19 deaths.

Monday 4 May

Fairly standard day working at home.

Deep into planning for a phased return to school but hard to know exactly how to manage it until we hear from PM on Sunday.

He is going to tell the nation what the next stages of life after lockdown will pan out.

What will be allowed, what will reopen first, whether we need to wear face masks etc.

Ran 3.5k with Adora this morning though and spied this amazing Hawthorn blossom, the smell was incredible.

Sunday 3 May

So happy to see that the live cameras are back on the Peregrine’s nesting box at Norwich cathedral again this year.

It was a really difficult year for me in 2019 and checking in on this box everyday throughout Spring added some real hope.

It also allowed me to share what I had seen with friends and get them interested too.

It led to me being introduced to what is now one of my favourite books, The Peregrine by J.A.Baker.

Only one bird in the box but her mate may be roosting elsewhere whilst she protects the chicks; I feel this is going to be another ‘must-watch’ this year too.

Saturday 2 May

Another weekend eases in without us really noticing and me and Adora did our C25K run for a solid 28 minutes!

Some have feared that all the days will feel the same and although there is an element of groundhog day about the whole thing today does feel a little different than yesterday.

There’s no sport of course, no ‘must do’ jobs that can only be done at the weekend, but there is still a Saturday morning feeling.

The morning radio schedule is a bit different, the alarm doesn’t go off at 6 and things do feel a little slower.

I spent much of the day completing an application for a new job which Lisa has been proof reading along the way.

Friday 1 May

I have really neglected the blog of late.

I guess, thirty odd days in, that things have become what is being referred to as the ‘new normal’ and very little has changed.

But the situation does move on albeit rather subtly and I will backtrack through the days and recap as best I can.

Went in to work today, a rare thing, then on to do the weekly food shop for us and others; many more cars on the road and no one policing the front of Aldi today.

Went for our family daily dog walk this evening and chatted and laughed and speculated about what the next normal might be like.

Thursday 30 April

Boris Johnson has been on the telly again to day doing the daily briefing from 10 Downing Street.

He announced that we have avoided the “tragedies other countries have suffered” and yet some project that fatalities in the UK might hit 40k or more.

That would make us one of the worst rates in the world and probably the worst in Europe.

Captain Tom celebrated his 100th birthday today and I heard of a 107-year-old man who beat COVID and the Spanish flu back in 1918.

Lisa’s ongoing attempts to get our money back from the travel agents for our aborted trip to New York City are a real struggle – they want to give vouchers rather than cash.