Well, it's nine years ago today since Vladimir successfully extracted my two lower lung lobes and once again I salute his expertise. On such an auspicious day I thought it appropriate that I should once again write a post.
We three are effectively still in lockdown and likely to remain so. I experienced a slight psychological wobble after carrying out an online study - I seem to be doing a lot of these questionnaires at the moment - about my mental health. It was only when trying to answer honestly I realised that I wasn't really OK. But it seems to have been a mere wobble, lasting just a few days, and now the sun's out and everything seems so much happier.
We haven't touched our children or our children's children since the middle of March. The lack of cuddles and close proximity is hard; having a large family means that we can't bubble with one to the exclusion of others. When the children go back to school in September, the risk will increase so distancing will be the norm for a long time I fear.
I am about to toast Vladimir, and I think I must once again write to him to tell him I'm OK and so very very grateful. No amount of thanks ever seems enough. :)
Sunday, 19 July 2020
Friday, 3 April 2020
Life's settling down
It's very strange this new life. For me, it has changed very little. I was quite house-centric in the first place. I have never been one of those people who has to go out and about all the time. I like my firm and solid base.
Today is the first day that I've thought "what shall I do today?" because so far I've had a never-ending list of things that had various degrees of urgency attached to them. Those tasks have been interspersed with Zoom (it's a communication platform where you can talk to several people at once) meetings, song circles, virtual ceilidhs, chats with the children and grandchildren. I've put down the job I've been doing every time the sun has comes out; Vitamin D is so important to protect against bronchial viral and bacterial infections I gather. Here's an interesting video on the topic.
Those people who are super vulnerable have received letters from their GPs and I can only presume that I'm not, as I haven't had that letter. Despite that, I'm keeping clear of anyone and everyone who doesn't live with me.
For those who are reading this and not resident in the UK, we have a regime here which has basically locked-down all but essential workers. We're advised to take exercise once a day, but unnecessary journeys are discouraged. Put it this way, if you drive up to the Peak District to have a nice day out and a picnic, you're likely to be asked to account for your actions by the local police force. There is legislation available should the authorities need to take enforcement action, and it's being used in extreme cases. For instance, one chap decided to walk into and around a hospital for no good reason. Her Majesty has very generously made him her guest for a period. Very sensibly in my opinion.
A neighbour here has been shopping for us but I really don't want her to be taking risks so I stayed up late and managed to book a delivery slot with one of the online retailers last night. With deliveries of things beside milk from the milkman, we should soon be self-reliant, which I would prefer.
The worst thing for me about all this is the constant and unremitting media coverage and the biased stories and uninformed comment. I keep myself pretty well up-to-date with news direct from the news source and really resent re-hashed and inaccurate stories from the major players. You would think wouldn't you, that in the circumstances, they would be more responsible - but no.
One thing that has surprised me is that I'm sleeping so soundly. I had a few bad nights at the start, before we were locked down, but since the imposition of rules I've found sleep easy to come by. Strange but true.
Today is the first day that I've thought "what shall I do today?" because so far I've had a never-ending list of things that had various degrees of urgency attached to them. Those tasks have been interspersed with Zoom (it's a communication platform where you can talk to several people at once) meetings, song circles, virtual ceilidhs, chats with the children and grandchildren. I've put down the job I've been doing every time the sun has comes out; Vitamin D is so important to protect against bronchial viral and bacterial infections I gather. Here's an interesting video on the topic.
Those people who are super vulnerable have received letters from their GPs and I can only presume that I'm not, as I haven't had that letter. Despite that, I'm keeping clear of anyone and everyone who doesn't live with me.
For those who are reading this and not resident in the UK, we have a regime here which has basically locked-down all but essential workers. We're advised to take exercise once a day, but unnecessary journeys are discouraged. Put it this way, if you drive up to the Peak District to have a nice day out and a picnic, you're likely to be asked to account for your actions by the local police force. There is legislation available should the authorities need to take enforcement action, and it's being used in extreme cases. For instance, one chap decided to walk into and around a hospital for no good reason. Her Majesty has very generously made him her guest for a period. Very sensibly in my opinion.
A neighbour here has been shopping for us but I really don't want her to be taking risks so I stayed up late and managed to book a delivery slot with one of the online retailers last night. With deliveries of things beside milk from the milkman, we should soon be self-reliant, which I would prefer.
The worst thing for me about all this is the constant and unremitting media coverage and the biased stories and uninformed comment. I keep myself pretty well up-to-date with news direct from the news source and really resent re-hashed and inaccurate stories from the major players. You would think wouldn't you, that in the circumstances, they would be more responsible - but no.
One thing that has surprised me is that I'm sleeping so soundly. I had a few bad nights at the start, before we were locked down, but since the imposition of rules I've found sleep easy to come by. Strange but true.
Monday, 23 March 2020
The Virus - Day 7
It's been a while now hasn't it? Don't go looking for a post The Virus Day 1 because there isn't one. This is my first comment on the subject.
Well, here I am, day 7 of our self-imposed isolation. Actually cannot recall much about the past week, except that the news has become more and more gloomy and the choices more and more difficult.
Living, as I do, with 3/5 of my lungs, and two other vulnerable people, we've decided to batten down the hatches and live with the support of the younger folk who have mobilised marvellously in just a few days. It seems strange not to be at the centre of things, doing the organising.
There's part of me that think "just let's get this over with" and wanting to contract the virus so that I can either die or survive, at which point I guess I'd be immune. But that is clearly a daft thought, though I'd wager that tens of thousands have thought the same thing.
The daughter of a friend of ours had already had it and we've heard a description. She got very frightened, but then she's probably never been faced with something that she feared might kill her before. It is undoubtedly the fear that is the worst; the fear of the unknown I guess.
So what am I doing? Well actually I've been incredibly busy in the last week - not, before you ask, stocking up with toilet rolls. We already buy those in bulk, as I do hand wash. No, I've been setting up various accounts to enable me to take place in virtual meetings. There's also been work to do with organisations that I'm involved with making decisions on whether or not to hold various meetings or continue with plans for things in the summer.
This week will be a consolidation of actions that I need to take, much sitting in the sun as it looks as if it's going to shine in order boost my Vitamin D and perhaps some much needed excercise, again with a view to fending of The Virus.
So for those reading this in years to come, where are we now? Well the past seven days have seen various actions on the part of the government: closure of schools, closure of all leisure venues, arrangements for the care of key workers' children, guarantees of salarly payments and today, takeover of the railways which it is reported have had a 70% downturn in use. Unnecessary travel frowned upon. Lack of social distancing condemned, but so far no draconian measures. Pubs were full on the last night of their opening on Friday and that tells you something about the stupidity of some people.
The sun is out again today, it's warm. Yesterday two of us played some music in the garden to entertain the neighbours. So far so good.
Well, here I am, day 7 of our self-imposed isolation. Actually cannot recall much about the past week, except that the news has become more and more gloomy and the choices more and more difficult.
Living, as I do, with 3/5 of my lungs, and two other vulnerable people, we've decided to batten down the hatches and live with the support of the younger folk who have mobilised marvellously in just a few days. It seems strange not to be at the centre of things, doing the organising.
There's part of me that think "just let's get this over with" and wanting to contract the virus so that I can either die or survive, at which point I guess I'd be immune. But that is clearly a daft thought, though I'd wager that tens of thousands have thought the same thing.
The daughter of a friend of ours had already had it and we've heard a description. She got very frightened, but then she's probably never been faced with something that she feared might kill her before. It is undoubtedly the fear that is the worst; the fear of the unknown I guess.
So what am I doing? Well actually I've been incredibly busy in the last week - not, before you ask, stocking up with toilet rolls. We already buy those in bulk, as I do hand wash. No, I've been setting up various accounts to enable me to take place in virtual meetings. There's also been work to do with organisations that I'm involved with making decisions on whether or not to hold various meetings or continue with plans for things in the summer.
This week will be a consolidation of actions that I need to take, much sitting in the sun as it looks as if it's going to shine in order boost my Vitamin D and perhaps some much needed excercise, again with a view to fending of The Virus.
So for those reading this in years to come, where are we now? Well the past seven days have seen various actions on the part of the government: closure of schools, closure of all leisure venues, arrangements for the care of key workers' children, guarantees of salarly payments and today, takeover of the railways which it is reported have had a 70% downturn in use. Unnecessary travel frowned upon. Lack of social distancing condemned, but so far no draconian measures. Pubs were full on the last night of their opening on Friday and that tells you something about the stupidity of some people.
The sun is out again today, it's warm. Yesterday two of us played some music in the garden to entertain the neighbours. So far so good.
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