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.