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.