Corona Diaries

Gabriella

“We watch the daily bulletin but find the questions at the end irritating as it seems journalist want only to score

points. Clearly mistakes have been made but the important thing is to get through this as safely as possible

with as few deaths.”

Background Information

Female, aged 65-74, Retired from ‘Education’, Married, husband called Simon, lives in Wales, two

grown up children, one lives in South Africa, some grandchildren.

April 2020

Felt very positive at first and decided to establish a routine.

Rise early and take dog for long walk. We have found walking by the riverbank close to our home a satisfying

start to our day. Noticed an increase in birdsong – probably due to reduced traffic noise and really enjoying

this. Realise how much we have been ignoring nature. Noticing also the wildflowers and enjoying identifying

them – there was a time when we knew these automatically.

We call at the local garage and collect a Telegraph – observing social distancing of course. I go in and using

a ‘no touch’ approach as far as possible pick up the paper, quickly scan to see if there is anything else we

need / want. Simon pays through the window via contactless. Get home and wash hands thoroughly.

Sit at breakfast bar and enjoy reading the paper end to end, particularly the puzzle pages. Similarly, for The

Times which we have had online for some time. Feed the dog.

We enjoy a leisurely breakfast, no longer guilty at our indolence.

Depending on the weather, we embark of some projects.

So far during this lock down we have:

Jet washed the deck

Re-stained the deck and sleepers

Decorated the back bedroom – never again!

Refurbished a Roman blind

Watched several TV programmes – NCIS a particular favourite – it is mentally unchallenging

Decluttered – still a way to go

We miss our family. Our daughter, husband and two grandsons ( 7 yrs and 3 years) live about 7 miles away.

We miss them terribly although Sally (daughter) brings us shopping and we watch the boys wreck our front

garden through the window. Sally has insisted we don’t go shopping.

We have managed to get one delivery and 2 click and collect grocery orders so far. Tesco Click and Collect

is excellent – very safe – stay in the car, open the boot and they fill it without us having any contact

whatsoever. Asda not so great. We have to enter the store and wait for our trolley which we take to our car

ourselves. Slots are very hard to get and we either have very little food or far too much.

Thinking of what to eat next is all consuming although I am trying to plan our meals.

We’ve also had 4 weeks of Pasta Evangelist deliveries, initiated by my daughter Emma, one of my 70th gifts.

My 70th birthday was in April – my daughters, Emma who lives in Cape Town with our granddaughter [Jayne]

who is 10, had planned a weekend away. I had no idea of the destination and it was very exciting. Emma

also bought us tickets to Hay Festival seeing Sandy Toksvig and Hilary Mantel. You can imagine my delight.

Obviously, Emma and Jayne were not able to visit – South Africa is in a stricter lockdown that we are but that

seems to be paying off.

Zoom has been a godsend. We had a family zoom meeting on my birthday so it turned out to be quite an

occasion despite the lockdown. We regularly get together via Zoom and so our isolation has not been too

severe. How lucky we are to have a family.

I have started to write down the significant events of my life. This situation has given me the time to do that

and I feel sad that both my parents have now gone, and with them the wonderful stories from their lives.

They had such an interesting time together and tales of their meeting and subsequent relationship are brilliant

but lost sadly. I am making sure that doesn’t happen with us although getting my husband to put pen to

paper is a real challenge. This is sad because he was born in Ireland to a Welsh mother and Irish father.

They had met in Coventry during the war and had a son not long afterwards. They went ‘home’ to Ireland

where Simon was born some 11 months after his brother. However, when Simon was 6 months old, his

father left Ireland for work; his mother, wanted to come home to Wales. There was uproar and they pressured

her into leaving the other child with them, citing that she would not be able to cope with a baby and an 18

month old child.

When Simon was 7, he was summoned back to Ireland; a strict Catholic family, he needed to do his first

communion. He was put on the train and travelled alone to the West Coast of Ireland where he was met by

his Aunt, a zealous catholic spinster. Saddest of all was that they sent him to a school where the only English

spoken was the English lesson. Whilst that is possibly not unique, being a seven-year-old without the comfort

of one’s mother certainly is.

We have great friends in XXXX and for the last 30 or so years we have met every Friday night. We started

with French bread and cheese provided by the host, taking turns of course, and bringing our own drinks.

Eventually, these became full blown gourmet meals, but I am hoping after the lockdown is lifted we get back

to a simpler regime. During the lockdown we have maintained these get togethers via Zoom, but adding a

quiz, each couple preparing 10 questions. It has been a godsend.

We have also been accessing the National Theatre Live events = One Man Two Guvernors with James

Corden, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jane Eyre and Twelfth Night so far and looking forward to Dominic

Cumberbatch in Frankenstein next week. A donation to the National Theatre is requested.

We’ve also done the National Theatre Quiz – Helen Mirren, Lenny Henry and Ian McKellen, synchronizing

with Louise and Harper in Cape Town.

I also suggested and set up a Zoom meeting with my ex colleagues – it was great to see them again. We

usually meet three times a year, so it was great to catch up.

So far, the lock down has not been too bad for us although some good news would be welcome. We watch

the daily bulletin but find the questions at the end irritating as it seems journalist want only to score points.

Clearly mistakes have been made but the important thing is to get through this as safely as possible with as

few deaths. The important thing it to learn lessons for any future catastrophes.

We were pleased to see Boris back!

30/04/2020

Heavy rain this morning so no walk – a break in routine but better news about C19 re treatment and vaccine

with Astro Zeneca gearing up for production. Still no sign of releasing lockdown just yet. Brightened up by

11:15 so set off for walk – different route this time; nice to see same scenery from a different perspective.

Looking forward to Zoom meeting at 4.30 for sister’s 74th birthday. Feeling frustrated at lack of progress and

sick of hearing that the target to 100000 tests will likely be missed. For me, the most important thing is that

testing is available as and when needed, especially when the lockdown lifts. Between that and the PPE

fiasco, I wish the press could find something positive to say. Negativity is not helpful.

May 2020

Beautiful morning so able to take our early morning walk. Heard the woodpecker again and lots of Blackbirds

and Thrushes around. Picked up Telegraph and arrived home by 08:10 to have breakfast and feed the dog.

Completed puzzles and made lunch as have the V choir and the Friday night gang quiz this evening. Feeling

frustrated at the lack of progress / strategy to get us back to normal. The stats show that the risk is minimal

for children and most healthy people so would like to see some suggestions about safeguarding the

vulnerable and letting the fit and well get back to business. We need a vaccine as it seems that is the only

think which will release us, but that may be much too late for many businesses. I am wondering how / if I

will ever get together with my daughter and granddaughter in Cape Town, or indeed if there will be a ny airlines

left! Joined the V Choir and say Emma and Jayne – good to see that they are fit and well; then quizzing

with the Friday night gang. All is well.

Saturday 2nd May 2020

Another lovely day, perfect for our early morning routine. I’d listened to Radio 4 before getting up and am

even more concerned about the economy, listening to effects of the lockdown on local authorities, transport

companies and the social care sector. It’s very worrying but out in the sunshine, listening to the birds, hearing

the woodpecker and seeing the blossom my spirits are lifted once more. Nature is so important, more so

now and I am coming to realise how little we have valued it before this lockdown. We notice how cars are

speeding along the roads – increasingly so in both speed and volume - and find it offensive. The peace and

quiet is so therapeutic.

Off to collect our shopping shortly and to deliver a few things to our daughter. Hopefully we will have sight

of our grandsons whom we miss terribly.

Dropped the goods off and watched the grandsons doing tricks on their bikes, albeit from a distance. I am

missing the hugs although I don’t think they are? Will this physical contact which is so important for well

being be lost to us after this? I forgot the treats I had bought for the boys – and the cake I baked. It was the

cake made for Churchill, provided by the National Trust – quite nice but very large so need to share it.

Sunday 3rd May 2020

Another early morning walk. Great weather, birds singing, trees in blossom. Met a fellow walker and chatted

– at a distance of course – about the state of the nation, in particular education. She is a teacher living at the

end of our lane. We have noticed how chatty people are and very keen to stop and pass the time of day.

We talked about our concerns for the future of children being home schooled and about the inequalities and

the likely implications. About the siblings with one device between them if they are lucky and the reliance on

technology to keep our education system going. How ironic when we have been persuading children to

have less screen time that currently we are encouraging them to access the internet for lessons. It also

seems to be inconsistent. Our granddaughter in Cape Town attends an independent school and has online

lessons daily. Our grandsons attend a state school here, have work set but not always marked. Feedback

is so important for progress. Our elder grandson is loving the lockdown and wants to be home schooled now

– he’s doing the bare minimum however, although loving his bike rides. One reassuring comment is that after

the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, schools were closed for a whole term with little disadvantage

to the pupils/ learners.

We have also been seeing a lady on the other side of the river who sits on a rock reading. She has been

missing for a few days but was back yesterday; it was good to see her. It is interesting how small things are

making us happy. The woodpecker is back also – we hear him most mornings but are yet to spot him although

we think we know the tree he is pecking.

Dropped the treats to XXXX although didn’t stay. Home and watched the review of Rae Across the World

and Killing Eve ( gruesome but gripping) before bed. Going to be at 10 every night and up early each day.

Monday 4th May 2020

Rose early and out for routine walk. Very quiet and few people out. Usual routine of paper at the shop then

home for breakfast. I was shocked by an email about my click and collect order tomorrow – I had completely

forgotten about it. We’ll have more that we can eat as have another collection on Saturday.

Trying to be motivated to sort out the shed and paint some outdoor furniture.

Didn’t do that but sorted out bedding sets and pictures reading for hanging at some point soon. Managed a

short 20 minute trip around the block = makes up our hour exercise even though we should only go out once

each day. Delayed our sundowner drinks till 8pm today – must try and do that more often. We seem to be

drinking more these days. Watched The One Show and Normal People. Bed at 10pm.

Tuesday 5th May

Cloudy but up early and out for walk. Had listened to the news and information about employer liability

when lock down ends. My son in law has his own building company so came home, had breakfast and

researched risk assessments for the construction industry. Have sent examples to him. Will we see a rise in

litigation as people get back into work. I hope not as I believe individuals must take responsibility for their

own health and well being.

Have a click and collect at Asda – I had completely forgotten about this – a result of having to grab slots when

they are available, sometimes way, way ahead. Excited to know what we’ll get. Hopefully I can persuade

my husband to sort out the shed with me later, ready to paint the furniture tomorrow.

Binged on The Afterlife – Ricky Gervais – very dark but very funny. Even my husband whose humour

preferences are very different from mine, enjoyed it. What next I wonder.

Wednesday 6th May 2020

Up early for our usual walk. Took an alternative route for a change. Feeling fed up – I’m bored now and

finding it hard to motivate myself to do anything of significance. I must paint the furniture today.

I’ve arranged a Zoom meeting with my ex colleagues – it’s great that we’ve kept in touch since retiring but

we are missing our catch ups in XXXX– an equidistant point for most of us. We all decided last time to think

of the one thing we would like to do when the lockdown ends. For me it is to go away for a short break

somewhere nice. I am bored now and missing out jaunts – the one thing I have really enjoyed since retiring.

Usual routine of post walk breakfast, puzzles and papers. Using left overs today so no major cooking.

Exceptionally today we competed a jigsaw, sent to us by a friend. We have always enjoyed these and set

about completing this one. He also sent a jigsaw to a relative – when we finished ours I asked if she had

done hers because perhaps we could swap. However, it is the same jigsaw – perhaps he had a job lot!

Very satisfies to have painted the furniture but a second coat is needed – task for tomorrow.

TV tonight – Normal People but got to Episode 10 and though enough is enough. Bed at 10pm

Thursday 7th May 2020

Beautiful day again. Up early and out at 6.50am. Woodpecker at work again – makes me feel so good. Very

quiet otherwise. Not so much traffic and lots of birdsong although still not sure which sound is from which

bird.

Collected papers and some treats for grandsons whom I hope to ‘see’ later today. I am concerned that I have

nothing for VE day tomorrow. I’m signed up to the special V choir session but we are supposed to dress up

and that is putting me off. If it wasn’t for my daughter and granddaughter being there I’d be tempted to make

a donation and give it a miss. Perhaps I’ll attend as a land girl.

Must finish painting today and then fizz tonight on Zoom, after the clapping, to celebrate out friend’s birthday.

This is a chap who has spent his life at sea so rarely were we able to celebrate his birthday – or any other

event in fact, face to face. This was to be the one year we could do that at last – how ironic that there should

be a pandemic to prevent that.

Feeling positive as it seems there might be some release of the lockdown soon. I’m fed up now and need

to see an end to it.

Friday 9th May

Woke later today – must have been the celebrations last night. Walk as usual – still few people about.

Home, breakfast, puzzles and papers. Rain might be coming in later so have given another coat to the

garden furniture – it’s looking really nice now and I’m so pleased I have done this. On impulse we bought

some Cuprinol paint yesterday – we had new grey windows installed last Autumn so we thought to paint the

front fence and gates in Urban Slate. It soon became obvious that there would not be enough paint so I set

off to look for more. I queued at Homebase – nothing. Then B&Q – nothing; all the while thinking that if this

is what shopping is going to be like we certainly will be minimising our visits.

I was looking for Union jack flags and bunting but alas too late. I am attending the VE choir tonight – my

daughter and granddaughter join from Cape Town so a good opportunity to see them. All I can do now is

dress like a land girl – and add red lipstick. No point putting black eye liner down the back of my legs as no

one can see them.

A bit disappointed to hear that Wales will not be following whatever Boris Johnson says on Sunday night

which is worrying as I think people have had enough and need to see some way out of this. Mark Drakeford

has spoken and there is to be a slight loosening of restrictions for garden centres, libraries etc. which is

better than nothing. I feel especially pleased for the garden centres because the DIY stores have taken all of

the business and their plants are going to waste. Perhaps now that will save something. I can’t help feeling

a catastrophe is looming despite all that the government has tried to put in place. The news is so depressing.

I listened to an American lady this morning who had lost her job and was now to be evicted from her

apartment. At least here that would be illegal. But for how long can this level of support be sustained? I

never thought I would be pleased to be old but I worry for my grandchildren and the effect this could have on

their futures.