Tuesday 31 March:

Sunshine after an initial cloudy start to the day. Fairly typical routine… toast+coffee breakfast; read in bed for a while; then finished a drawing in my sketchbook (lightwell in pencil+watercolour); and then more coffee.

I’d also been asked by Alan for some information/insights (for Megan) about the possibility of her working in ‘anger management’, based on my limited experience of when I worked at Norton Hill. I found it quite difficult to collect my thoughts, but eventually managed to offer something (it’s strange how things come back to you!).

I walked to Leigh Woods (the lower section before the Suspension Bridge) after lunch which was rather lovely (see image).

Watched a DVD at the end of the afternoon (Studio Ghibli’s “The Wind Rises”)… and we’ve also discovered that we can some ‘highlights’ from the SkyArts Channel and have been watching “Portrait Artist of the Year” – which is excellent (and so MUCH better than the BBC equivalent painting programmes).

Monday 30 March:

Grey morning. Read first thing then decided to work on my ‘Stephen Quiller’ sketch(!)… featuring bits and pieces in the back yard and using watercolour (my first time for ages). End result was somewhat strange)(see image), but I quite enjoyed the process (and also listened to music at the same time – lots of Irving Berlin). I also started to get my head round a Paul Nash-related sketch (but am finding it tricky).

I spoke to my friend Steve (the one who sent me the Chiltern Line DVD!) – to thank him, but also to see how he was coping (he lives in a multi-occupancy house and not too many friends, as far as I can make out). He seemed fine and I’ve said I’d phone him again over the coming weeks. I also chatted to my Spanish friend Ana (also an Urban Sketcher); she and her partner have also been self-isolating over the past week (even stopping going out for their daily jogs) and simply limiting their time outside to food shopping (but doing so as little as possible). We discussed the possibility of us sketching together using Google streetview and, if possible, also Zoom… choosing a particular location. If we can make it work, we might try to encourage other sketchers to join us ‘elsewhere’.

Moira went out for a walk, but I was attempting to understand Zoom technology!

Chatted to Alice+Dave+Mikey+Dan+Jemima in the afternoon (yes, I DID manage a Zoom connection!), which was very good – they sound as though they’re all coping pretty well… “taking each day at a time” (in Dave’s words).

Later chatted to Ruth+Iris+Rosa via Zoom (Stu was working at the plot)… and, again, they all seemed in good form.

We’re very lucky people.

Sunday 29 March:

Bright but breezy. Morning coffee in the house this morning (a bit too nippy for basking outside!). Finished my Billy Bragg ‘extended essay’ and then tuned into the Saint Stephen’s/Holy Trinity church community live stream (interesting seeing the names of other participants appearing at the side of the screen). Lee Barnes is very good at this sort of thing.

Caught up on various emails (Tom Tippetts plus Steve/Age/John+John) and also took a catch-up phone call from Mike Levene (one of my ‘Tory friends!). Mike is a little older than me (a retired professor living in North Bristol), but he relies entirely on meeting up with people (difficult/impossible at present) and his landline telephone; he doesn’t have a mobile or access to the internet… so I think he must be rather struggling at present. I’ve agreed to phone him in due course to see how he’s faring.

Moira+I walked a circuit past Bathurst Basin, The Ostrich, St Mary Redcliffe and then back down Guinea Street before re-joining Gaol Ferry Bridge. Pleasant, but a biting wind. Some people (or maybe it’s just children?) are taking the idea of daily fitness pretty seriously (see image).

Sketched at the end of the afternoon (I’ve been set a challenge by Urban Sketching co-ordinators to produce stuff in the style of Stephen Quiller (never come across him!) and Paul Nash… so it should be interesting (and/or painful!).

Watched “I’ve Loved You So Long” DVD later.

Saturday 28 March:

The clocks ‘spring forward’ tonight! The weather’s grey today (and pretty cold and windy)… which makes a change. We both decided on a day indoors during daylight hours – me to finish a book and to sketch; Moira to continue reading plus working on her patchwork – on the basis that there would probably be more people out and about (it being the weekend).

We ended up going for a harbourside walk in the early evening (see image)… and felt entirely justified that we’d made the right choice (not many people about).

Moira made some excellent soda bread for lunch.

Made a new playlist of 40 songs.

I was sent a rather strange DVD by my friend Steve (from church) – as a bit of a joke(?) - entitled “Chiltern Take Two: a driver’s view” (a 1989 film about the Chiltern Line). Clearly, minority viewing! Lots of useful information about gradients, signal boxes and semaphore signals…

Friday 27 March:

Yet another lovely sunny day… I think that every single day has been sunny since I started this blog(!) and, given the difficulties of everyone having to adjust to a very different way of living, I think this has been an absolute Godsend – especially after the incredibly wet start to the month. It’ll be interesting to see how three days of rain (for instance) affects the nation’s mood… and options for daily exercise etc.

A day of simple routine. I sketched first thing (and again after lunch); Moira and I went for a harbourside walk before lunch (see image)(we’re SO lucky that we have the harbourside literally on our doorstep); read in the afternoon; and then watched a DVD (“The Winter Guest”). Moira did some of her patchwork.

It was announced that both the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary have tested positive for coronavirus (and that the Chief Medical Officer has also shown symptoms)… they’re apparently working in isolation.

We raised our glasses to Joan Baker in the evening (along with the rest of our church communities). A very special lady… in some ways, given her old age and all the virus implications, I think she’s died ‘at the right time’. RIP Joan.

Thursday 26 March:

Rose early, as usual, but decided to walk to the harbourside first thing (another beautiful, sunny morning). Walked to the water via Vauxhall Bridge just after 6am and then along the harbourside as far as Gaol Ferry Steps, then home. It was quite magical… hardly anyone about (just the occasional jogger), the sun shone, the water was mirror-like… just beautiful. So glad I decided to do it.

Moira and I had coffee in the garden again (pity that neighbour Tom’s bay tree masks all the morning sun!), then sketched briefly. Various domestic catch-up tasks (changing and washing bed linen, hoovering etc).

Rang my B.Friend friend, Zabiullah, to check to see how he’s coping… with some difficulty, I think (with the Mosque now closed due to the pandemic).

Read a little after lunch (re-reading “Three Men in a Boat” for the nth time – I’m over a quarter the way through the book and they’ve only just got to the river!).

Had a very good ‘Zoom’ chat with Ruth+Stu+Iris+Rosa at the end of the afternoon. They all seem in pretty good form – and the girls are producing some stunning art!

The Chancellor announced various financial measures to support the self-employed, which was good.

So sad to hear that the ‘Wonderful Joan Baker’ has died after an extended stay in hospital (I think she was 98?). She was a lovely lady from Holy Trinity Hotwells church community… and an occasional church pianist even in her latter years. She had an infectious smile and I loved her dearly. We’ll be raising our glasses to her tomorrow evening (sadly no funeral attendance is possible in the current times – but there’ll be a celebration service in due course, without question).

Tonight, there’d been a plea for people to take in “A Big Applause” for NHS workers… people were asked to come out of their houses/stand on balconies/open their windows and applaud the NHS/NHS workers at 8pm. Moira and I were keen to participate and I’d shared an ‘invitation’ via facebook (see image)… but we also ‘feared’ that we’d be the only people participating. How wrong could we be! The response was simply brilliant… LOTS of neighbours from our street (and adjoining streets) took part… and it really felt quite emotional. I love our community (and from the reactions on facebook, it seems that the response has been pretty amazing throughout the country).

Wednesday 25 March:

“Bloke’s Prayer” usually forms part of my early morning Wednesday routine (seven of us meet up a harbourside café). Obviously, in the present circumstances, this can no longer happen… so we ‘got together’ via Zoom this morning instead. And, despite it being a case of (mainly) old codgers struggling to come to terms with technology, we (Jeff, Ed, Dave, Robin, Nick, Dru and I) did succeed in our venture (see image)!

Walked along the Avon as far as the suspension bridge and back in the morning (another beautiful sunny day)… not many people out and about, apart from joggers and cyclists.

Walking past Aldi this morning, it felt that a) supermarkets had become more organised about dealing with queues of customers (‘distance’ queuing and restricting numbers of customers being allowed to enter and b) customers seemed to realise that there was food available (perhaps not exactly what people wanted) and so there was no need to panic-buy.

Sketched in the garden briefly after lunch and also read for a while… and then watched “An Education” on DVD (I’d forgotten how good it was).

Lovely Ruth managed to pick up my prescriptions.

Had an abortive attempt at trying to connect with Ruth+Stu and the girls via Zoom… looks like we’ll be trying via Whatsapp instead (maybe tomorrow?).

Tuesday 24 March:

Things felt somewhat surreal this morning after last night’s announcement… people throughout the land having to change the way they live… isolation becoming the ‘norm’ for the majority.

I finished my excellent bookgroup book (“Reading Lolita in Tehran”) first thing this morning, then wrote a brief review and sent it off to Dan+Emily to share with the others if they think it would be appropriate.

Another beautiful sunny day (which helps us all enormously to cope with everything). Coffee in the garden; chatted across the fence to next door neighbours, Tom+Louisa; and then sketched Mount Pleasant Terrace rear façades (ie. my only option for outdoor sketching now)… and listened to some of my newly-created playlist. 

It felt very strange to think that yesterday’s “Belle Bessie, Bathurst Basin” sketch would probably be my last 'outdoor sketch' for several months (see image).

I’ve started to re-read “Three Men In A Boat” – to provide some light amusement in these troubled times. After reading the first chapter, I think it was a good move… perhaps PG Wodehouse next?

Moira and I went for an afternoon walk – again around the harbourside… very eerie that no boats were moving about.

Saw Ruth briefly, as she came to clear out her studio… we speak great distances apart(!) and she’s very particular about cleaning door knobs etc (and I took the opportunity of passing on frozen lasagne, macaroni cheese and pizzas!).

Connected with Hannah, Felix+Ursa via Zoom at the end of the afternoon, which was lovely. They seem to be coping well... and are busy and happy.

Some confusion over government advice… last night Johnson told everyone “you must stay at home”; today Health Secretary says “go to work if you can’t work from home “to keep the country running”. Oh dear. 

Monday 23 March:

A beautiful sunny morning… and, in these difficult times, it feels like a bit of a gift. 

Spent time out in our tiny garden for some much-needed tidying, weeding and general sorting… with the bonus of being able to enjoy our coffee out in the open air. Although this was an incredibly small thing, somehow it seems quite important for our mindfulness. I can see the headlines now: “Elderly couple tackle their entire Estate single-handedly in a single day and without the assistance of any mechanical devices” (note: our garden is less than 5 metres square!).

Our lovely greengrocer/deli man, Hugo, made a delivery during the course of the morning… so good that so many of our local, independent, small businesses are going out of their way to help the community. Not sure how long he’ll be able to do this for… he’s clearly overstretched and doing his damndest to meet everybody’s (sensible) needs.

I went down to Bathurst basin again to sketch this afternoon (walked there via Vauxhall Bridge and the harbourside)… sun still shining!

Our new (old) door number was delivered today – so now people actually KNOW where we live again! (see photo).

Lots of pleas for people to stay at home if at all possible and/or for people to social-distance themselves from colleagues and others. I must say, while I was out sketching (in a very isolated spot, I hasten to add!), I observed lots people who were ignoring this advice; blasé builders (a group of whom noisily jumped in the back of a small van together and seemed hell bent on showing each other they weren’t scared of any ‘silly virus’); teenagers sitting close to each other fishing; and old blokes sitting and drinking takeaway teas etc at café tables on the harbourside… and all this nowhere any built-up area.  

After supper, we had our first coronavirus Skype chat! Moira and I chatted to Alice and Dan and it was really nice to feel ‘properly’ in touch with them. We’ll obviously repeat the experience with Ruth, Hannah and Co in due course. Good old technology!

Tonight, we received another reminder of how thoughtful and kind people are being at this difficult time – our neighbours, Matt and Sam (who we only know by sight) from no.32 pushed notes through everyone’s letterboxes offering to help any neighbours who are self-isolating. I managed to speak to them briefly and thank them. 

How brilliant some people can be!
During the course of the evening, Mr Johnson 'addressed the nation' and announced some far-reaching additional measures, including (taken from the BBC website):

1. From tonight, people in Britain will be allowed to leave their homes for only "very limited purposes" - shopping for basic necessities; for one form of exercise a day; for any medical need; and to travel to and from work when "absolutely necessary"
2. People are warned not to meet friends or family members who they do not live with
3. Shopping is only permitted for essentials like food and medicine, and people are advised to do it “as little as you can”
4. Police have powers to enforce the rules, including through fines and dispersing gatherings
5. All shops selling non-essential goods, such as clothing and electronic stores, are ordered to close
6. Libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and places of worship are to close
7. All gatherings of more than two people in public - excluding people you live with - are banned
8. All social events, including weddings and baptisms are banned
9. Funerals are not included in the new restrictions
10. Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed
11. Restrictions “under constant review” and will be checked again in three weeks. They will be relaxed “if the evidence shows we are able to”. 

Far-reaching indeed! These latest measures won't really affect us - because they more or less mirror the self-imposed restrictions we've been operating for the past 5-6 days... EXCEPT that I won't be able to go out sketching from now (beyond the back garden!).

Sunday 22 March:

No church services today (or anywhere in the CofE)… Saint Stephen’s did a streamed link (I only caught a bit of it, but Lee was good value, as always).

Wrote and sent a catch-up email to Ian, Ken+Steve… before writing it, I re-read my last email to them (29 February)… and the world has changed since then(!).
I also put together a Spotify playlist - cleverly entitled "steve's coronavirus playlist #1" - which includes such apt classics as "Don't Stand So Close To Me" (The Police) and "Inside Looking Out" (Mark Hollis)!

Beautiful sunny day, so Moira and I met up with Ruth+Iris+Rosa (as a distance!) at Ashton Court for a sit in the sunshine and a snack lunch (prepared separately)… SO lovely to see and talk to them ‘direct’ as it were (see photograph). They all seemed in good form (Stu was digging his Mum’s garden).

Somewhat hilariously, given our present circumstances, I later watched “Death in Venice” - and even had a very diluted whisky (I hadn’t had a glass of whisky for probably two years or more!).

Saturday 21 March:

Bizarrely, despite having much more ‘time on my hands’ over the past week, I seem to have read rather less than usual… and I’m really not sure why that should be? Perhaps I should compensate today? It’s certainly not as if I hadn’t got PLENTY of books on my bedside table (see image)! One thing I have become aware of in these troubled times is the need for some ‘light’ reading… I’ve got “Three Men In A Boat” lined up for re-reading next!

I’m really conscious of the need to draw outdoors whenever the weather allows. I feel sure that, say, within the next month or so, the government will be confining us to our homes and gardens (like they’ve introduced in France).

The Chancellor made another announcement yesterday about financial support for businesses… this is part of a note I wrote on my facebook page this morning:

“What gets me is that the Chancellor had an opportunity to make the necessary provisions in his Budget. Yes, he introduced some helpful measures, but when you recall that the budget made provisions (for example) of £7billion for businesses and families and £5billion for the NHS JUST 10 DAYS AGO… it makes the Chancellor’s current ‘fresh initiatives’ - in excess of £330billion – (but STILL very little for the self-employed and people in rented property) seem as if he had very little idea of the size of the problem the country is facing… and gave the distinct impression that he was ‘making things up as he goes along’.

IF he’d introduced appropriate measures in his actual Budget (rather than appearing almost to add them as an afterthought), huge numbers of businesses might have been able to make appropriate arrangements to save/minimize disruption to their businesses and the jobs of thousands of their staff”.

Somewhat ironically, saw Ruth (at a ‘distance’) after lunch today… she’s been told that both her part-time jobs (Southville Centre and FatFace) have had to cease (but, on a very slightly more positive note, there’s a chance of perhaps 4 hours/week cleaning work at the Southville Centre). Sad and difficult times.

But also saw Iris, Rosa and Stu at a ‘distance’… they’d been working at their plot all morning. So lovely to see them all.

Moira and I had morning coffee in the garden – despite the cold. Moira had on her fleece, bobble hat and gloves! Later, I went sketching in Hebron Cemetery (5 minutes walk from home)… which was lovely (and sunny).

Over lunch, I flicked through The Guardian’s “The Guide”, which provides listings and adverts for theatres, concerts, exhibitions, gigs, festivals and the like… and it underlines just how many people’s livelihoods are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic. So sad.

Had a ‘test text’ from Rosa (she’s just got her first phone)… she was a bit pleased.

I picked out a few more DVDs and Moira decided we should watch “Fried Green Tomatoes” again.

Friday 20 March:

The Prime Minister indicated in his daily bulletin yesterday that “we can turn the tide in 12 weeks” (that would take us to 4 June)… provided everyone acted responsibly. Only time will tell. Went sketching for an hour to Bathurst Basin first thing this morning… cold, but the sun actually broke through briefly. 

Family members seem to be making the most of a pretty awful situation, eg: Iris drew an absolutely stunning version of Hokusai’s “The Great Wave” on her pencil case (as you do)(sadly, it's only on Instagram, so I can't access it) and (this from Ruth’s FB page): “Rosa just instigated a game of Task Master, like the TV show, properly good fun, we might need to make this regular activity.
We each had to write a task for everyone to complete, tasks included:
- Make up the best word and explain its meaning, and for bonus point say who will win the task!
- Empty at laundry bag with one hand behind you back, fastest wins.
- Be the first to put on a onesie.
- Change the sheets on your bed, fastest wins,
There was also a tie break round to determine the winner:
- make the most realistic accident (!!??!!)”.

Don’t you just love grandchildren!

Afternoon walk around the ‘harbourside triangle’, followed by watching “Un Homme et Une Femme” on DVD (from 1966 – made me feel very old!).

Late this afternoon, the government announced that they want cinemas, theatres, bars, pubs, gyms, cafés and restaurants to close from tonight.

Photo: Image from #DFTE, Vauxhall Bridge, Bristol… (not quite sure if the sentiments quite work at the moment).

Thursday 19 March:

Yesterday evening, it was announced in parliament that all UK schools would be closing on Friday (tomorrow) for the foreseeable future (and all exams cancelled)… and that children shouldn’t be left with “older grandparents or older relatives”… so it seems that Rosa has now left primary school! Spent a little time in the morning drawing some ‘old tulips’ in the living room (before they finally gave up the ghost)… and also took the opportunity to listen to Nick Drake’s “Five Leaves Left” album. I hadn’t heard it for ages… and it was rather lovely.

Rang my pharmacy enquiring about getting my prescriptions delivered. It took absolutely ages to get through (which was entirely understandable) and they explained that, at the moment, they only had one driver to serve all their Bristol stores. For the time being at least, they’ve asked for neighbours or relatives to call in to collect.

Another walk after lunch… we’re so lucky to have the harbourside on our doorstep (and also Ashton Court and Leigh Woods – but they’re a little bit further out of town and Moira would probably struggle a bit, so they probably won’t be part of our regular ‘circuit’).

My friend Kathie Smart shared this post (see image) on facebook this morning and I just found it encouraging and hopeful.

Last week, I started to watch some of our old DVDs (‘Once’, ‘Amelie’, ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and ‘The Darjeeling Limited’); this afternoon I watched ‘The Railway Children’ (I know!)… I cried, of course – I always cry at the “Daddy, my Daddy” bit – these days probably because it brings to mind how Ruth, Hannah and Alice always used to watch ME instead of the film at that stage for full entertainment!

Wednesday 18 March:

Progress Report: This morning the BBC website indicated that, in the UK, there had been 1,950 confirmed cases of coronavirus; 407 new cases; and 60 deaths. For the first time in ages, I missed this morning’s “Bloke’s Prayer” café session with great mates (every Wednesday 7.30-8.30am) after deciding that my imminent ‘isolation’ made it inappropriate. Moira and I walked to the Riverside Garden Centre mid-morning to collect some flower and vegetable seeds… we don’t have huge expectations, but just thought it would be nice to be able watch stuff grow in our tiny garden. Earlier (just after 8am), I’d made my final trip to the shops (Aldi); lots of people – all very well behaved (and Aldi had put notices restricting customers to a maximum of 4 items per product). I later noticed online that Asda Bedminster had apparently closed during the course of the morning – due to staff shortages and, according to one customer posting on facebook, greedy, hoarding customers.

I made batches of macaroni cheese for passing on to Iris+Rosa (and Ruth+Stu!). Ruth decided that this would be her last day in the studio. That’s ‘it’ for us too: self-isolation/self-distancing starts now (but we’ll still try to get out for our daily walks).

I’ve had various conversations (eg. with Ruth and Hannah) about the awful, almost apocalyptic, sense of unreality the virus seems to have brought to people’s lives – a sense of “well, we might as well just give up now”… and yet, amid all the doom and gloom, some of us had been wondering if it might ultimately result in people thinking about the world in a different way. I came across this from an American blogger, Kitty O’Meara, who described similar feelings in this beautiful poem (although the words fail to highlight the pain, suffering and struggles so many individuals are experiencing at the present time, I think they offer a glimpse of hope in these dark times. Let’s hope so):

IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC

And the people stayed home. And they read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And they listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live, and they healed the earth fully, as they had been healed.

Kitty O’Meara

Tuesday 17 March:

I had my hair cut this morning (in anticipation!) and also called in to our local bookshop and greengrocers (their lovely proprietors promising they’d make home deliveries on our behalf.

After lunch, Moira and I went for a ‘triangular’ walk along the harbourside (we’re determined to walk every day – well, at least until the government decides to confine us to our house and garden).

We usually have Iris and Rosa round for tea/supper on Mondays and Tuesdays and so today represented quite a watershed. It was our final face-to-face mealtime together (always a time of much banter and laughter!). Today’s menu was Quorn Lasagne (plus two large family portions set aside in the freezer for Ruth to take home for their future family mealtimes. A sad realisation that it might be many months (or even years?) before we can repeat such old family rituals… and, to crown it all, no hugs allowed when we came to say goodbye.

A whole host of theatres, concert halls, pubs, cafés, restaurants, galleries, cinemas have announced that they’re closing their doors until further notice.

This afternoon, the government has announced a ‘cash boost’ to help families and businesses… alas, for many, it might prove too late. Also this evening, the Archbishop of Canterbury announced that all church services would be suspended until further notice… probably unprecedented (I’d suggested such a move to our vicar Lee over a week ago).

Monday 16 March:

Moira and I chatted things through with daughter Ruth and we came to a decision to self-isolate (or self-distance?) sooner rather than later… we saw little point in awaiting a government directive… things were moving very fast. There were a number of things we needed to try to get organised (food being a priority) and so decided we would ‘lockdown’ over the course of the next few days… and certainly by the weekend. I’m determined to sketch outdoors for as long as possible (until the government imposes additional restrictions?), so went and sketched for 45 minutes at Bathurst Basin (see image).

Meanwhile, the UK government was advising individuals not to gather in pubs, restaurants, theatres etc (but not going as far as demanding that such establishments actually close – which effectively meant owners couldn’t claim insurance money etc!). Businesses of all sizes were starting to panic; many decided to close their doors. Many individuals with zero-hour contracts or in part-time jobs were massively struggling. All major sporting events have been cancelled.

There were calls for the government to make provision to make special provision for small businesses and the self-employed (who had very little financial security or protection in the light of the current situation; elsewhere in Europe, governments were freezing mortgage repayments, loans etc). The UK government kept worryingly quiet.

Sunday 15 March 2020:

We’re currently living in unprecedented times. Over recent months, coronavirus has spread from China across the world and is now regarded as a pandemic. People have gradually woken up to the realisation that the disease is a threat to both lives and livelihoods… across the entire planet. 

I wrote this post on one of my other blogs after the UK government indicated that “People over 70 will be instructed by the government to stay in strict isolation at home or in care homes for four months, under a ‘wartime-style’ mobilisation effort by the government likely to be enforced within the next 20 days”. The prospect was alarming, as I’m sure you will appreciate… (I won’t bother repeating my thoughts, so please read the post link).

Moira and I discussed things at length, as you might imagine… we accepted that our lives would be drastically changed... but that we’d cope. Routines would change dramatically…not only would we be unable to continue our various weekly activities (ceramics, drawing group etc), but we would also be physically cut off from the rest of our family. Suddenly, meeting up with family and friends would be replaced by Skype/facetime (which I’m famously appalling at using!), telephone calls, text messages, emails (and even letters!).

Not only that, but it also seemed that the UK government had become somewhat overwhelmed by the reality of the disease and ‘timescales for action’ suddenly seemed to severely foreshortened.

General reflections… before we start (but they’re bound to evolve differently!):

I’m fine in my own company, but am also very aware how important meeting up with family and friends on a regular basis. I somewhat glibly say that I’ll be able to cope without too much difficulty, but the reality might prove very different. Despite my deteriorating left hip, Moira and I are determined to get out and walk every day (until the government decides otherwise?). Similarly, I want to try to sketch in the open air on a very regular basis (no doubt also sketching from within the house or gazing out of windows)(no Old Vics, Watersheds etc for the foreseeable future!). The pattern of our days will probably be established very early on: chatting over coffee and lunch… as well as walking together and, for me, sketching (no classes, groups or committees!). I suppose we could also book a car club slot and drink to the coast for a walk? There’ll be reading, of course, and perhaps opportunities to read some ‘faith’ books in an effort to get myself out of my current spiritual wilderness? Drawing projects? Preparing mounts for the next Arts Trail (whenever that will be)? Catch up/re-watch on our various DVDs (and maybe even consider a Netfix subscription?)? Box sets (I started watching ‘MadMen’ ages ago… perhaps now’s to time to try again?)? Compile lots of music playlists? More cooking perhaps? Going through all our books and having a bit of a cull?

The list goes on… and on.