Monday 13 April

Tried to do nothing today as had been physically busy since the lockdown began what with running, walking and garden jobs etc.

Also, combining the mental pressures of work away from work, thinking about family vulnerabilities as well as your own safety has made this past three weeks draining.

That’s the problem with trying to stop for a day, you end up thinking of what is actually going on without distraction.

Reality hit me today – the human world is in the grips of a pandemic that is being played out daily on the TV, radio and through social media.

Another 700+ people died in UK hospitals in the past 24 hours and for each of them they are not even able to be with their loved ones when they die due to the risk of passing the virus on.

Sunday 12 April

So, this morning should have started with a walk over Brooklyn Bridge after breakfast at the Brooklyn Flea market but the Coronavirus pandemic put pay to our trip to NYC.

We saw on the news yesterday that they are having to build temporary mass graves for the dead on Hart Island off the Bronx.

Back at home (literally) I finished repairs to the shed and clearing it out with Stan whilst Lisa and Adora cleaned the house and made an Easter cake and a roast Turkey dinner (sounds very stereotypical, I know).

Adora and I started the day with a run in week three of the couch to 5k running programme – I am so impressed with her attitude to it, she’s a determined little bugger!

Sadly heard the news this evening that the UK had exceeded 10,000 recorded Covid-19 deaths in hospital and that this included the comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor.

Saturday 11 April

The sun was shining all day today, high temperatures and we were all in the garden for pretty much the whole day.

The veg patch is virtually finished now after a real team effort; the final touches of compost, top soil for the beds and bark chippings for the paths.

Lisa made bread pudding, Adora painted the shed, Stan worked the wheel barrow and shovel whilst I started my annual clear out of the shed but with significant repairs needed also.

Pritti Patel, the Home Secretary had some trouble with her numbers at the press briefing this evening where sadly another 900+ people died in hospital of Covid19 in the past 24 hours.

Daily announcements of these three figures death tolls is becoming very normal but three weeks into the lockdown and we should be starting to see a change for the better.

Friday 10 April

Good Friday started with a lovely run around our local lanes with Adora in the early morning sunshine.

It was another gorgeous day with wall to wall sun and warm spring temperatures which has been coaxing the blossom out on the cherry trees in the back garden.

Late morning we took delivery of a cubic metre of top soil, equal amount of bark chippings and 4 heavy duty sleepers; we spent the afternoon making the raised bed in the veggie patch.

Then a relaxing shower before doing the virtual pub quiz with 18 family and friends over the internet; us four, Lyndon & Erica, Joanne & Julian, Dad, Rosa & Luke (and Luca via the baby alarm), Bar, Karen & Harry, Ellie & Bella, Howard & Mary.

Two hours of top pub quiz entertainment was topped off when Lisa’s Dad and his partner lit a bong to have a smoke during the final round; Stan found this highly amusing.

Thursday 9 April

I’m laying in bed writing this podcast listening to (and recorded) two Tawny Owls singing (click the photo) to/at each other for the second night in a row.

Often regarded in mythology as an omen of bad luck or death a number of writers including Shakespeare in Julius Caesar have included Tawnies in their works.

The prominent Victorian philanthropist and art critic John Ruskin was quoted as saying “Whatever wise people may say of them, I at least have found the owl’s cry always prophetic of mischief to me”.

The PM is out of ICU, applause again tonight for NHS and care workers, 881 have died in hospital in the past 24 hours and it is likely that the lockdown will be set to continue for at least a further 3 weeks.

There was an argument outside Aldi whilst I was queuing this afternoon – one person from each household is allowed in but one couple felt this didn’t apply to them – gave the shop assistant on the door a really hard time.

Tewit-tewoo.

Wednesday 8 April

Another beautifully sunny and warm day; the birds, the trees, everything else is just getting on with life.

I read in an article about meditation that we need to shift our thinking away from worry because there is very little in life and death that is actually, really worth worrying about.

The cosmos is ok as it happens; we are simple specks within it and what happens in our own speck of a life is even smaller on a cosmic scale.

It doesn’t mean it’s not important to us but is it all really worth fretting about?

Went on a lovely run with Adora this morning, shared some jokes with Stan throughout the day, had a hug from Lisa whilst having a beer in the garden.

Tuesday 7 April

Changed the panels on the greenhouse and reused the old panels to put a roof over the Pergola.

This means we could possibly get grapes from the vine that had been left to roam uncontrolled for several years.

Boris Johnson is still in intensive care but is ‘stable’ and is in ‘high spirits’.

Went for a walk at the end of the day with Adora and Mabel and the hawthorn blossom is incredible; providing a curtain for blackbirds an robins to sing their often unappreciated songs.

The kids have been amazing again today; Stan helped me outside whilst Adora made lunch, dinner and baked Chelsea Buns. XX

Monday 6 April

It has been an intense evening after hearing the news that Boris Johnson has been admitted to the intensive care unit of St Thomas’ Hospital.

He was already in hospital after going in yesterday but things worsened this afternoon.

Lisa was in school today and one of my schools was open too, each to look after one pupil who’s parents work in hospital or another frontline service.

Me and Adora started the first day of what would have been the start of the Easter fortnight with a run as she continues with Couch to 5k training.

I had bloody frustrating hayfever all day but Lisa made an amazing Sri Lankan chicken curry this evening; life at the moment gets stranger each day.

Sunday 5 April

Having to stay at home gives you an opportunity to get stuck in to a project.

Me and Stan did the veggie beds yesterday and with Adora today we completed the fence and gate all out of pallets and reused timber etc.

Lisa is nurturing carrots, cucumber, onions and potatoes amongst other crops in her greenhouse.

Video messaged Becky, Pete and the girls this evening with a glass or two on the new patio.

The Queen addressed the nation at 8pm this evening and shortly after we heard that Boris Johnson had been admitted to hospital; he had had Covid 19 for over a week now.

Saturday 4 April

There is a day each year when you feel the season suddenly appears.

Today has been an absolutely beautiful day and Spring is 100% with us.

Been in the garden with Stan, Lisa and Mabel building a veg garden whilst Adora is inside reading and recovering from our early morning jog.

Burgers for tea and a nice cold beer with more beautiful weather forecast for tomorrow and into next week.

Keir Starmer announced as new Labour leader and sad news of a five year old boy dying of Covid19 (one of over 700 to have died in the UK in the past 24 hours.