Day 28 - Wednesday 15th April
At last! A really good night's sleep. And it's another lovely sunny day. I decide to restrict my computer time to the morning and spend the afternoon gardening. Listening to the news over breakfast, I hear the new leader of the opposition arguing for consideration to be given in good time to the exit plan for the lockdown, ensuring that we have in place all the necessary steps to act promptly once the decision is taken to relax restrictions. This makes perfect sense to me - it will promote trust that the government has things under control, as well as creating a sense of optimism that the current difficult situation will eventually end.
On social media there is a growing backlash against a misguided plan to show support for the NHS by releasing sky lanterns. The idea is being promoted by a company that sells sky lanterns, so there is more than a sniff of commercial interest even though they are donating profits to NHS charities. These are dangerous to wildlife and, perhaps more importantly in the current context, capable of starting fires that would distract the emergency services when they are badly needed elsewhere. I really hope it doesn't take off (no pun intended). There is also a backlash against the shaming of people "caught" outdoors, reasoning that many don't have any private outdoor space or may have mental health or domestic abuse issues that we can't know about.
We have discovered a rat in the garden, living under the yew tree at the front of the house near our French windows, so there's a risk if we leave these open he might come inside. I'm not a fan of killing wildlife, but I realise that is we don't deal with it the problem could escalate. Hubby ordered some bait for a trap and I collect it from the doorstep when it arrives. A while later, sitting at my desk, I touch my mouth and realise with horror that I didn't wash my hands after handling the packaging. I feel foolish as I rub soap on my lips, although I'm not sure whether it's because I forgot to wash my hands or whether I'm overreacting. I don't want to take the risk, though.
After lunch I plant some more seeds, transplant some of my herbs to bigger pots and generally potter around the garden, then sit on a sun lounger for an hour. I listen to the government briefing and hear Matt Hancock announce that to support the social care sector they are being rebranded under a single, recognisable logo like the NHS - although I can see the benefit of making them more easily recognisable for shopping concessions, it seems like a token gesture. He rebuts all suggestions that it's time to start talking about how to release the lockdown, arguing that clarity about the instruction to stay home is more important.
We're having home-made pizza tonight and hubby makes the dough and tomato sauce so I get a night off from cooking. It gives me a chance to watch most of an online cabaret show hosted by comedian Jayde Adams. There is stand-up, sketches, songs and drag - an entertaining mix. After dinner I have a quick call with my friend who, despite still having horrendous episodes of coughing, is back to working from home. The we watch the final episode of Quiz, a drama about a contestant accused of cheating on Who Wants to be a Millionaire and the first part of the finals for MasterChef. Hubby tries to talk to me about coronavirus after, but is kinder this time when I remind him that I prefer to keep my mind free of the virus immediately before bed.
Today I am grateful for our garden - I realise that many are not so fortunate.
On social media there is a growing backlash against a misguided plan to show support for the NHS by releasing sky lanterns. The idea is being promoted by a company that sells sky lanterns, so there is more than a sniff of commercial interest even though they are donating profits to NHS charities. These are dangerous to wildlife and, perhaps more importantly in the current context, capable of starting fires that would distract the emergency services when they are badly needed elsewhere. I really hope it doesn't take off (no pun intended). There is also a backlash against the shaming of people "caught" outdoors, reasoning that many don't have any private outdoor space or may have mental health or domestic abuse issues that we can't know about.
We have discovered a rat in the garden, living under the yew tree at the front of the house near our French windows, so there's a risk if we leave these open he might come inside. I'm not a fan of killing wildlife, but I realise that is we don't deal with it the problem could escalate. Hubby ordered some bait for a trap and I collect it from the doorstep when it arrives. A while later, sitting at my desk, I touch my mouth and realise with horror that I didn't wash my hands after handling the packaging. I feel foolish as I rub soap on my lips, although I'm not sure whether it's because I forgot to wash my hands or whether I'm overreacting. I don't want to take the risk, though.
After lunch I plant some more seeds, transplant some of my herbs to bigger pots and generally potter around the garden, then sit on a sun lounger for an hour. I listen to the government briefing and hear Matt Hancock announce that to support the social care sector they are being rebranded under a single, recognisable logo like the NHS - although I can see the benefit of making them more easily recognisable for shopping concessions, it seems like a token gesture. He rebuts all suggestions that it's time to start talking about how to release the lockdown, arguing that clarity about the instruction to stay home is more important.
We're having home-made pizza tonight and hubby makes the dough and tomato sauce so I get a night off from cooking. It gives me a chance to watch most of an online cabaret show hosted by comedian Jayde Adams. There is stand-up, sketches, songs and drag - an entertaining mix. After dinner I have a quick call with my friend who, despite still having horrendous episodes of coughing, is back to working from home. The we watch the final episode of Quiz, a drama about a contestant accused of cheating on Who Wants to be a Millionaire and the first part of the finals for MasterChef. Hubby tries to talk to me about coronavirus after, but is kinder this time when I remind him that I prefer to keep my mind free of the virus immediately before bed.
Today I am grateful for our garden - I realise that many are not so fortunate.
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