Yesterday was just like spring here and I was out cracking on with the garden after breakfast. At the top of the yard, I cleared the area of membrane where we used to have a big plastic (temporary) polytunnel - until it blew away! - and now have the old plastic greenhouse put up there and it has SEEDS sown in there already! Tam has a couple of propogators with Chilli and Pink Russian Tomatoes in, and I have a couple of trays of runner beans and Hunter beans started. However, today is raining so no outside work being done - which is a shame as being busy yesterday kept anxiety at bay.
Today has been less enjoyable. We decided to do one final shop, bearing in mind that Keith and I are in the vulnerable group and will be holed up at home for the forseeable future. I didn't want to go in, but then we don't want to have to get shopping delivered or whatever, once the death toll and spread of the virus escalate. I am praying that we (Britain) haven't left it too late to take the precautions we are now taking.
Lidl was quiet. Tesco busier and I couldn't wait to get out. It was a strange experience - everyone looked so solemn and worried and I was scared to touch anything (not helpful when you need to buy it!!) Some empty shelving - loo rolls, porridge and potatoes in hot demand.
From a recent walk - part of some old farm machinery with a tree growing through it - nature always wins in the end . . .
Well, I am guessing you are all, wherever you live in the world, hoping that Coronavirus won't be holding a winning hand of cards - a repeat of the Spanish Flu from 1918-19 would be truly terrifying - 25 million people died from it in 25 weeks . . . Now we have a Pandemic, we have decided that for us, at our ages and with my chronic asthma, distancing ourselves from social gatherings is probably a good idea. It will mean a tightening of belts, because we won't be able to sell at any Fairs or even car boot sales, and of course, won't need - or want to - go to Malvern or Builth for the big fleamarkets there, though of course we will miss the outings and the social side of seeing our friends amongst the dealers. Auctions are out too.
We always keep a good store-cupboard because our nearest shopping centre is nearly 10 miles away and sometimes snow or storms prevent getting to the shops easily, but we have added to this recently. Brexit shennanigans had me bothered, so I added to the tins in the pantry and when Coronavirus first reared its ugly head in Britain, I added to them again, plus dry goods such as flour, bread flour, yeast and rice which I use a lot. I always make my own bread so wanted to carry on doing that. We were getting low on loo rolls, so bought packs two shops running before it became a major panic buying item! The cats haven't been forgotten either . . .
Thank heavens we live rurally, and have some beautiful walks to go on, and plenty to keep us busy at home - the garden will take a lot of our spare time I am sure. Now Tam is home, she will help with the digging and planting and we have a new polytunnel (the sort you take down in winter) to put up and fill.
I'm resting up after I have made a pan of soup, as a recent paint I used has had a bad effect on my asthma and I've been going downhill the past week and am now on a short course of steroids again. We have been watching the Cheltenham Festival since Tuesday - I've always loved jumps racing, and this is the best horses in the world taking place. Probably safer to watch it from the sofa though, as a huge melting pot for germs!
Keep safe everyone.
