shhDRink me

 Finally tested negative today (29/4/22). Still tired, bit of a cough (although this is alleviated by A's tea) and a daily sinus clear-out.  Went to Market for cheque and saw a friend who has just had her 5th jab - she is imuno-suppressed. Oh, and she has recently had covid. She is hopping her resistance is now sky high.

 Well, had the cough, sneezes and stuffy mucus gunk. Now I have the tiredness, can only do so much and the have to sit, doze, recover.  Felt better this morning, had a shower and washed my hair. Drying off, felt a bit light-headed, then realised I was on the floor. Only for a few seconds, but disconcerting. The weather is still sunny, not as warm but Spring is here.

 Thought we'd finished with all this but the virus keep changing in to a more virulent form (of course it does).P did the races las week and now has tested positive and is full of mucus and coughing painfully. I am still testing negative, but I don't think I believe them - if I am living with a positive, surely I must have/get it? It's Easter so no family for food - perhaps we can do eggs in the garden. It's a full moon, the weather looks warm and springlike. Typical.

 The media has stopped talking about 'a new normal' but is still filling the news with statistics about number of cases, people in hospital with COVID and sadly how many have died in the past 24hours and then the picture over the past week. Then, as though to lighten the future, the percentage of those who have had one, then two vaccines. There is a general fatigue around the pandemic and a growing realisation that we will all have to learn to live with it. Yes, keep up with the vaccinations, Yes, wear a mask in crowded places, on public transport and just if it makes you feel safer. Just be aware, consider others and don't behave selfishly and put others at risk. Life evolves but still goes on, even if our fingers are crossed! 

 We were comfortable with the continuing (but limited) restrictions in Scotland, but during our time away England has got used to deciding for itself, just how cautious it wants to be. We are still wearing our masks (there is plenty of wear left in them). We don't go clubbing, although we did go out for a (booked) Sunday lunch. Bravely, A+J+P have flown to Spain to see the relatives. It means testing before they travelled, before they come back, isolating for up to 10 days (unless they pay for another test for early release). Is it worth it? Well, I'm sure the Spanish grandparents are grateful they have decided it is. It has rain a little - I wonder if it is still frighteningly hot abroad?

 Another day, another country. We travelled up by train to Dunbar via Edinburgh. Sunshine all the way, connections worked, met at the station. Hugs all round, so good to see some family after nearly two years. Small things matter - a comfortable bed, a good read, happy food. But so do big things like family and a sense of place. It is going to be a good week.

 They are talking about the 19th July - well, it started as talking but now it is beginning to sound more like arguing. Should all restrictions go? or be more cautious and add another stage to 'normality'? I, for one, am not going to be leaving my face covering at home any time soon. Sanitiser will still be in my pocket, windows on trains etc will still be opened and if a lift looks crowded, I will get out and wait for the next one.  A matrix sign has the message -Be patient, be kind, be safe. Sounds like a plan for life.

 Travelling in a car, the driver passes a clothe to the passenger.  Do you a) pass it back              b) say 'What the...?              c) wipe it over the dashboard and put it in the door pocket. Today we went to Speke Hall for the first time since 2019. The sun came out and it was wonderful to walk around the Bund and the gardens. There was only a small queue so we also went round the House. A typical NT lunch and then we decided to go to Parkgate for an ice cream. Often, parking is dodgy but there was a place and quite near the shop. Licking a posh cornet, looking across to Wales. A good day.  Who knows what the future holds, but today we have been together 49 years. Not a bad score. (Oh, and the questions? It depends how long the passenger has known the driver......)

 So-called 'Freedom Day' has been delayed. Are we surprised?  I don't think so. Delta variant cases are on the rise, there have been deaths (mostly from unvaccinated people) and there is concern for another wave. Disappointment will abound but there is good news for those who have organised weddings and funerals - they can go ahead as if all restrictions had been lifted. (Not sure how that affects the funeral tea we are catering for next Tuesday, though.) Solstice will be a quiet affair again but Nature will carry on as usual, uncaring of the affairs of mankind.  Unless, of course, the virus was designed by Her to make us all stop and think holistically. Just a thought.  

 Things said in a car - 1. Music on, Grandpa. 2. Are we nearly there? 3. Get off the phone!

 The weather has been wet, wet, wet. Impossible to garden and plants are looking sad. Today has improved, the sun is out after drizzling all morning and making it a quiet Market. We all gathered at Jill's for cake and candles for David's 35th. José is getting really good at blowing out candles. Those who wanted to, hugged.  Coffee is planned for Wednesday - indoors! Plants from Helen are hardening off in the compound, ready for the plot. A. plans to go tomorrow to check on the weeds, brambles and other growth.  Stannie/Tony died 10th but only heard on the 13th. He was 91y.  Life moves on.

We have had a holiday!  We went with A and J to Laugharne (Wales) for a week's self-catering at the Dylan Resort. It was fab, an old-fashioned holiday of kite-flying, sand castles, paddling and shell collecting. There were cream teas, fish and chips and ice cream. Lots of walking, laughing and appreciation for the fabulous views.  Even a castle! The only downside was the 4 - 5 hour journey to get there (and back again!). Next Monday will be the next phase of the governments 'road map'. We can meet indoors (rule of six) and outdoors in groups of up to 30. Cinemas and museums, theatres and soft play centres will also be able to open. B and B's  and hotels and hospitality in general will give a resounding cheer as they will be allowed to serve food and drink inside.  There will be other guidelines to do with care homes and personal contact (ie hugging!) but details will come slowly over this week. Media people are still talking in cliches - back to normal, the new norma...

 We have passed Easter and the racing season is before us. Aintree starts today and P is there, on the door to the weighing room, the weather cold, windy, having taken his own food (soup and sandwiches), drink and umbrella.  He will be shattered tonight. Tomorrow will be worse. By Saturday he will be able to stand for longer, but then, that is the last day for awhile. He will have enjoyed it, the contact with other humans (and hopefully no contact with the horses) that has been missing for months. The banter, camaraderie. Humans reminding each other they are human. Tomorrow I am meeting Jill again for coffee, so we can remind each other we too, are human. 

 Yesterday the sky was blue, sun shone all day as I baked, wrapped and labeled all the new things I decided to produce this week (instead of the 'usual') so that what came home was 'different'. I could hear the films on television - first a nod to christianity (King of Kings) then the pagan (Harry Potter). A balance. But still the sky stayed clear, dark clouds failed to gather and 3o/clock came and went.  Today the Market was quite busy, all the sausage rolls went (and most of everything else) and the few things that came home were new. Better. Not a grumpy day at all.

 Met Jill for a take away coffee and chat. Sat in the warm sunshine, near the bowling green and caught up. Terrific!  When P comes back I will repair to the garden and have a go, as I haven't been to the plot today (Tuesday being the usual day for such things). I noticed some butterfly eggs have already been deposited on newly-emerging nettle leaves and some large bumble bees are about. What with the supermoon shining brightly last night, the seasons are on the turn. Perhaps spirits are too.

 It is raining, it is a s-i-l Sunday and I am fed up with baking things that, for reasons to do with colleagues, come home and have now re-filled the freezer we had managed to empty over the winter. P. has cut his hair and I have decided to do different things for next Saturday. Different large cake (with no reference to J), different savouries (cheese+pickled walnut scones, not b.o.+g.c.tarts) and some cherry rock cakes (even though M does scones - as i do s/rolls!). Sounds like I'm a bit grumpy. Good job no visitors today.

 Did we discuss disasters yesterday? Today Myanmar is fatally shooting children. A super (as in 'too large for safety') tanker ran aground and completely blocked the Suez canal. And it isn't 2pm yet. Oh, and apparently the Grand National meeting isn't Easter week-end, but the following one. So although I still wont be able to bake that week, it isn't the problem it was going to be to miss a big Market. At least the shopping has been done and the sun is not only shining but has some warmth in it.

 So, a year today the first lockdown (cliché) was announced and we all had to stay at home. A rollercoaster (cliché) of a year and we are again at home, albeit with more flexibility. Now, though, we have treatments and vaccines (well, if EU don't ban exports to UK). Our light at the end of the tunnel(cliché). A £5000 fine will be issued to anyone going abroad for frivolity. Our holiday in Wales is in doubt as apparently the doom man says he doesn't want any English travelling in to Wales for Easter. It was bigbruv's 3rd anniversary yesterday. What would he have thought of all this? There are floods around Sydney, not so long since the wild fires. There are shootings in America with no support for a change in the gun laws. The plates are moving in Iceland and lava is flowing. Riots in Myanmar and missing BBC employees. Protesters marching through Bristol objecting to a change in the law which makes protest marches more difficult (then hijacked by rent-a-lout who injured poli...

 And so the year turns. We were in Shrewsbury this time last year, planning a meal at Loch Fynne (and delicious it was), today it will be dim sum at home. Cards (decent ones difficult to find), presents (chocolate and promises) and phone calls ("Happy Birthday to.......). Later our bubble will come for cake and un-birthday gifts.  The news is that EU have taken against our vaccine for what ever, but it feels like cutting their nose off to spite their face (as we used to say). Magnolia buds are breaking, daffodils are open everywhere, along with the occasional primrose and the (totally confused) cherry trees down the road. Cool, but not as cold. Grey but not wet. Increasing hours of daylight. It's good to be positive. 

 Children are back at school and we are being warned there will be an upsurge in virus cases in late summer/early autumn.  Carrot and stick. Europe seems to be having another surge and the implication is that UK haven't given them enough vaccine. Holiday in France come October seems to be receding. Wales in April is still in doubt. It is raining and the isobars are narrowing. Wind (as well as rain) is due tonight and will stay awhile. Coal down to 2 bags, logs dwindling fast. A. is self-isolating as she is having a colonoscopy tomorrow. Where is Life's smile?