Thursday 30 April:

Eight years ago today, I set off for Iona for two months’ volunteering with the Community.

Having checked the weather forecast last night, I decided to try to fit in a dawn walk up to the suspension bridge before the rain came. I left the house at 5.45am (which almost exactly coincided with sunrise) and walked along North Street/ Frayne Road and then beside the Cut and up through Leigh Woods/Burwalls Road to the bridge. The woods were quite magical – absolutely full of birdsong and the powerful aroma of wild garlic – with the early morning sunlight breaking through the trees. I was incredibly fortunate with my timing and arrived at the suspension bridge with the strong morning sunlight breaking through very threatening dark skies… I managed to take a few photographs (see image) before the rain started. I meandered back home down through the woods, alongside the Cut and then via Clift House Road/Walter Street/Upton Road (by which time, the rain had largely stopped falling). Back home by 7.15am for poached egg+coffee breakfast.

A lovely start to the day.

Read until lunchtime (apart from Moira and I stopping for coffee+catch-up chat).

Wondering about the possibility of producing another Blurb book (as a sort of ‘coronavirus’ project)… need to get my head around the idea, but something related to my dawn walks perhaps?

Also, thanks to Moira, rediscovered metal watercolour ‘box’ (at the bottom of the wardrobe). I’m pretty sure they used to belong to Don Williamson at Brox (I think I’ve had them for something like the past 30 years and not used them! I vow to make amends.

Finished my Bryson book (excellent)… some pretty sobering comments made in the penultimate chapter about the US spending far more on health than any other nation, but ranking well below countries such as Chile, Costa Rica and Algeria… and essentially saying that the American lifestyle (over-sized food portions, inactivity and stress) is to blame.

Applauded the NHS, Care Workers etc at 8pm as usual.

Early night (got up too early after a night of minimal sleep!).  

Wednesday 29 April:

We’ve now been self-isolating for six weeks!

Started the day with our Bloke’s Prayer 7am gathering (‘attended’ by Ed, Robin, Dave, Dru, Jeff and Nick). Everyone seems to be coping well.

After breakfast, then coffee, Moira and I went on one of our regular harbourside walks – this time in the rain/drizzle – but still very good (and important for both of us).

I read more Bryson… then some of my cricket book (“The Glad Season”) – the writing style of which is truly awful (certainly on its time, 1956)!

General chores in the afternoon followed by another one of my DVDs (the excellent “Three Colours: White”).

The daily government briefing reported that a total of 26,097 people have died with coronavirus in the UK from 2 March to 28 April (for the first time, the UK-wide figure includes deaths in care homes and the community as well as hospitals).
Received a Zero Green home delivery, which was good and included flour (and rice)!!

Hannah and I ‘met up’ in the evening via zoom, which was lovely… we chatted for some 75 minutes and, for a brief time, made some rapid sketches of each other (see image!).

Then Moira and I watched another episode of the “Sewing Bee” on tv.

Tuesday 28 April:

Went for my dawn walk in the rain (see image)! I’m pretty sure it was the first early morning rain we’ve had since the start of the ‘lockdown’ (and there’s hardly been any at other times either)… and it was actually quite lovely. I was well protected in my waterproofs and, somewhat predictably, there was hardly anyone about (just two joggers, a cyclist and a dog-walker – whose ‘companion’ seemed distinctly unimpressed by the experience!). Back for breakfast (toast+coffee).

I spent some of the morning reading (Bryson and ‘Virgin Suicides’) and also scribbling out a ‘reflection’ on my other ‘coronavirus blog’!

Bob and Christine (Fieldsend) rang and we ended up having a good WhatsApp ‘screen meeting’ (or whatever it’s called). They seemed in good form – but obviously concerned that Dan might have picked up the virus (he’s apparently on the mend and at home – but it’s clearly caused difficulties as he’s also had to self-isolate himself in their small house.

Ruth popped round briefly to collect some printing materials from her studio.

I wrote a blogpost (on my ‘normal’ bigdaddy blog) about the virus – essentially after seeing a couple of brilliant covid-19-related videos expressing people’s hopes and wishes for when we eventually emerge on the ‘other side’. My post attempted to balance such determined efforts (which I fully support) against the government’s poor performance (in its preparations and implementations). I later watched the BBC’s ‘Panorama’ programme making similar criticisms.

Second ‘Wolf Hall’ episode in the evening, followed by a rather lovely ‘zoom’ chat (actually ‘jitsi’) with six lovely friends (Damaris, Lee Ann, Ann, Noelia, Karen and Kate) from my time in 2012, volunteering with the Iona Community.

Monday 27 April:

Returned to my dawn walking routine this morning. A three mile walk around the harbourside (via Vauxhall Bridge/Pump House/Perro’s Bridge/Gaol Ferry Steps/home) before breakfast – back home by 6.45am. A rather grey+gloomy morning and no sun (and even a hint of rain)… but, somewhat ironically, the sun appeared as I approached our front door at the end of my walk! I later discovered that I had apparently missed the opportunity to see a seal at Cumberland Basin this morning (presumably on the Avon side of the lockgates as no river traffic has been moving over recent weeks).

Mr Johnson returned to work today (amid lots of ongoing criticism of the government about it failing to act at appropriate times/lives could have been saved etc); there’s much speculation about a possible phased easing of lockdown rules… although, to be fair to me, he seems to be emphasising ‘continuation’  and that we’re in ‘moment of maximum risk’.

Completed a quick sketch in the kitchen and also finished my Tom Sharpe book (and started ‘The Virgin Suicides’).

Watched “Annie Hall” before supper with the wonderful Diane Keaton.

During the evening, we tried to watch the first episode of “Wolf Hall” (Moira had watched the series, but I hadn’t)… but there was some sort of technology issue and we had to give up (for now)!

Image: Gaol Ferry Bridge at sunrise (not today).

Sunday 26 April:

Another sunny day (and, as yesterday, I didn’t go out walking)…

Slightly strange day – with lots of different bits and pieces. Read another Bryson chapter and also continued with my Tom Sharpe book.

Logged on to church – and tuned in to the recorded service (which was fine but somehow felt rather remote – probably just me though).

Also experimented by checking the Portrait of the Artist’s facebook page. Alice had emailed me with the link and suggested I might like to be involved (SkyArts are setting up a weekly model over the next four weeks – and inviting ‘viewers’ to produce and contribute their own drawings/paintings. Somewhat disappointing in the event because the facebook site simply consisted on half a dozen photographs for people to copy - today it was Mayor Gord MacLeod(?). I duly had a ‘bash’ (but not very successful – looked nothing like him - see image); took me approx. 90 minutes.

Moira and I had lunch in the garden.

Hannah had organised a ‘zoomcrafting’ family get together (I can’t actually remember what she’d called it, but nevermind). I endeavoured to join in – sketching some kitchen odds and ends – but I think our router found it a little too difficult to achieve a consistent link from that end of the house, so I ended up opting out (which was a shame).

Ken had emailed Steve, Ian and me… and so I spent some time during the course of the afternoon responding (we are all clearly missing our BABE’s meet-ups!); great to catch up.

Music has been very important during this time and I've (this far) compiled three playlists - which I seem to be playing an awful lot of the time (but which I'm finding very nourishing).

Finished watching ‘Twelfth Night’ in the evening.

Saturday 25 April:

Decided to avoid dawn walks at the weekends (probably still devoid of people, but I can cope with rising early two days per week!). Read Bryson and pottered.

I’d set up (in conjunction with Charlotte) a virtual urban sketching meet-up at Marshfield, Gloucestershire for 11am… and I’m always somewhat nervous about whether or not the technology will work! Anyway, everything was absolutely fine… and it was another enjoyable time (I think 10-12 of us?).

We received another Asda supermarket delivery at lunchtime – which was very good to get.

A little more Tom Sharpe reading in the afternoon (lunch in the garden – Moira had been busy potting stuff etc)… and, later, lovely Lal delivered some flour (finding supplies has been very difficult countrywide).

Had a lovely zoom chat with Ru+Stu+Iris+Rosa at the end of the afternoon – they all seem to be coping well and adapting to this strange new way of life we’re all having to lead.

Spent the evening watching the first half of ‘Twelfth Night’ via National Theatre live-stream (Tamsin Greig is an excellent Malvolio!).

In the daily government news briefing: now more than 20,000 deaths in hospitals (figure doesn't include deaths in Care Homes and homes) in the UK - the fifth country to pass that milestone.

Image: Coloured Facades, Redcliffe Parade (from a dawn walk of a few days ago).

Friday 24 April:

Another dawn walk (Vauxhall Bridge/harbourside/Gaol Ferry Bridge)(see image) - definitely part of my self-isolation daily routine – and I love the fact that I don’t get mixed up trying to avoid pedestrians, joggers and cyclists at that time of day! Back home by 7am and poached eggs on toast+coffee for breakfast in the garden.

Artist friend Amy had set up some virtual sketching opportunities at Ashton Court Manor (using her photographs), so I spent about an hour drawing some roof timbers.

Managed to speak to Zabiullah by phone (it’s Ramadan). He seemed ok… sounded sleepy(!) and his only issue related to his painkillers (he’d run out and the pharmacist hadn’t yet received the repeat prescription from his doctor. All a little frustrating.

Also chatted to Ana via zoom, which was good and they seem in pretty good form – and have actually started jogging again (early Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings).

Made some modifications to my family history notes – on the basis of the extra details (and a few more photographs) received from Alan… and forwarded the revised versions to R+H+A.

Read in the garden during the afternoon and then watched “Easy Rider” DVD (while Moira’s bookgroup were zooming).

Thursday 23 April:

Another (pre-)dawn walk on another beautiful morning. Walked to the Avon Lockgates via Vauxhall Bridge, then back via Clift House Road/Walter Street/Upton Road. Sun just rising as I approached Clift House Road from Ashton Avenue/Metrobus Bridge (see image).

Spent some of the rest of the morning reading Bryson and then looking at a possible urban sketching location at Marshfield (for Saturday).

In the afternoon, I did a virtual sketch from Marshfield High Street… before watching our “Three Colours: Blue” DVD (with the wonderful Juliette Bincoche). Once again (as with so many of these old DVDs I’ve been re-watching), I’d forgotten just what a brilliant film it is.

Also read for a while in the garden (Tom Sharpe’s “The Wilt Alternative”).

Received another Hugo goodies delivery, which was very good news.

Watched another “The Thick Of It” episode (from 2012) and then the first of a new series of "The Sewing Bee" before clapping for Care Workers etc (lots of people participating in our street).

Wednesday 22 April:

Now five weeks since we self-isolated.

Despite having Bloke’s Prayer at 7am via zoom, I decided to go for my dawn harbourside walk anyway. Another beautiful, still, sunny morning – caught the sunrise as I crossed Vauxhall Bridge and there were more stunning dawn reflections as I walked beside the harbour (see image).

Bloke’s Prayer was good (as always)(Robin, Dave, Ed, Dru and Nick ‘in attendance’) and it was helpful (and encouraging) to reflect on the positive things that are currently happening in the world, despite these strange and difficult times.

Also had a helpful email from Lee and also copy one from Alan, sent to cousins, asking for their thoughts on Ron and Mary (it’ll be interesting to see whether the replies reflect ‘romantic memories’ or honest appraisal).

Spent much of the day reading… one of my daily Bryson chapters, but also (and with some relief) I’m very pleased to have finally finished my bookgroup book (“Paul takes The Form Of A Mortal Girl”)!

Another episode from “The Repair Shop” before bedtime.

Tuesday 21 April:

Another dawn harbourside walk (image: Redcliffe Back). Another beautiful sunny day. I’d earlier read my daily Bryson chapter from “The Body”.

Steve Eyre rang after breakfast and we had a lovely chat… I SO miss our regular get-togethers. They seem in pretty good form.

Warm enough for Moira and I to have coffee in the garden, which was good. Finalised my ‘family social history’ stuff and sent it off to Ruth, Hannah and Alice (and to Alan)… I’ve probably omitted lots of important events and/or got things terribly wrong, but it was good to put something on paper (as it were).

Liaised with Karen about arrangements for Saturday’s ‘virtual’ urban sketching meet-up.

Sketched in the garden in the afternoon. The Drawing Group theme was ‘Childhood’ – which posed a few problems trying to come up with something; ended up quickly sketching Moira’s and my ‘Teds’ (the stuffing in her ‘Teddy’ is in desperate need of repair!).

Also read a fair amount from my “Paul” book (which I’ve really taken ages to read) and now feel as if I’m on the home straight.

Eye drop prescription medication was delivered, which was good (and something of a relief).

Received a THIRD identical letter from the NHS warning me that I’m on the ‘severe’ list and should remain home at all times for the next 12 weeks etc… which means I’m supposed to re-emerge sometime in the middle of July! Around 6pm I also had a phone call from one of our doctors seeing how I was coping!

I ‘attended’ a Resonate meeting in the evening – the first ‘zoom’ version. The theme related to the cinema: “Films that have shaped my faith”. I’d originally been approached about being one of the ‘speakers’ (or facilitators or whatever), but subsequently felt that perhaps I wasn’t quite a suitable person to lead (I don’t think ANY film has actually shaped my faith!). In the event, the meeting didn’t really work for me (all of us were watching with mikes muted and being asked to make comments on ‘chat’ which appeared on the right hand side of the screen), but I think there were some 16 or 17 participating so I suppose ‘open mike’ would have been difficult.

Monday 20 April:

Spent most of the day trying to complete the potted family ‘history’ (hardly an academic piece of work!) and also put together some accompanying images… almost there. Pleased that I eventually worked a part of the family tree that had been tested me over the past couple of days – it turned out that one of the individuals had taken the ‘Bridgens’ name after the widowed mother’s re-marriage (which is why I was confused)!

Moira and I did our regular harbourside walk after lunch… beautiful sunny afternoon, but too many people about for my liking (given the self-distancing needs).

Yesterday, the Sunday Times published a damning report on the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis (Johnson missing five emergency Cobra meetings at an early, but significant, stage of things… and the government generally ignoring pleas from the experts). I’ve read the report in full and it is utterly devastating. Ridiculously (and shamefully to me), the BBC has hardly made mention of the issue on its website (I don't know about the TV or radio). I actually think it should be a resigning issue but, of course, it’ll be brushed under the carpet and there’ll be an announcement about a future government inquiry when the dust has finally settled. Depressing.

Watched the final of University Challenge, as you do!

Image: you obviously can’t self-distance in a rowing eight!

Sunday 19 April:

I went for another one of my harbourside dawn walks – despite the somewhat gloomy grey weather (although it actually brightened up later in the day)(Moira walked just after lunch, in case you were worried she wasn’t getting exercise!). Woke up very early again(!), so read more of my Bryson book – he’s very good.

Moira+I tuned into this morning live-streamed church service this morning – and Lee was his usual excellent self.

Spent more time writing up ‘history’ stuff (essentially related to Mary)… and Alan sent me a few more old photographs – including this image showing Mary+Ron at Newquay in 1948 (I appear as her bump – probably my earliest photo!), with Mary wearing a jacket that Hannah now has amongst her vast wardrobe.

I’ve also been trying to update our family tree (ie. trying to follow up Walkers and Flavells, as well as the Broadways)… it’s an ongoing, tedious business!

I’ve also set up another ‘virtual’ urban sketching meet-up (for next Saturday) at the village of Marshfield… an English, Gloucestershire village makes a change from the likes of Madrid and Taipei!

Saturday 18 April:

It rained for much of the day… which must make it all the more difficult for families living in small homes. Neither of us actually ventured out of the house all day!

As part of my project to throw more light on our ‘family history’, I spent much of the day going round in circles trying to unravel all sorts of family secrets (it’s an utterly absorbing and frustrating process). Needless to say, I failed miserably – so a bit like Friday’s experiences!

My Urban Sketching group had a virtual ‘meet-up’ via various live-cams (all based within game reserves, hides or zoos)… not my subject matter of choice (understatement!), but I did manage to produce some quick felt-tip images as a rather half-hearted gesture.

Went to bed relatively early and, of course, woke up just after 1am and couldn’t get back to sleep (it happens an awful lot these days – and nothing to do with the virus!).

Ruth ‘delivered’ some tinned tomatoes, coffee and more of her special hearts (she’s given us one for every day of our self-isolation… so lovely to see her – even at a distance.

Image: Lockgate machinery, Bathurst Basin.

Friday 17 April:

A slightly strange day… it rained for a start (and was damp and grey all day).

I continued putting together some family history stuff (for emailing to the girls in due… for what it’s worth). I think I’ve scribbled about five pages on the Broadways thus far (none of it startling in any way) and I’ve put together a couple of pages of Broadway and Walker photographs from over the years. I’ve now made a tentative start on writing up the ‘Walker stuff’.

All this made me want to check out some family stuff for myself again (eg. I’m very unknowledgeable about Rose’s side of the family and there’s still lots that I don’t understand about the Walker side – specifically why Frank actually adopted his ‘Walker’ name (it continues to be a bit of a mystery, I’m afraid). Anyway, I’ve now signed up for a month’s Ancestry.co. membership… to concentrate the mind, as it were! I then spent three hours going round in circles trying to solve the Walker mystery… and completely failed to do so.

Watched Inspector Montalbano after supper…

No walking today.

Image: Family and Walker photographs.

Thursday 16 April:

Another dawn walk for me (Moira doesn’t do dawn!)… down to the Avon and home via Cumberland Road and Vauxhall Bridge. Another beautiful morning. We’ve been incredibly lucky, weather-wise, over the past month.

Moira and I had morning coffee in the sitting room and then I read some Bryson and scribbled a few more rough ‘family reminiscences’.

Last night, Alan sent me some photographs from my 21^st family birthday party… such a long time ago! (see image)(I know!).

Read more ‘Paul’ after lunch – it seems to be taking me ages to read (I’m still less than half way through).

We received a very welcome Hugo delivery during the afternoon (and Moira has also managed to secure another Asda home delivery slot for Saturday week).

Watched the “Sideways” DVD late afternoon.

Clapped the NHS and Service workers in the evening (lots of our lovely neighbours involved).

Wednesday 15 April:

Bloke’s Prayer at 7am via zoom (and joined by Jonny T for the first time in three years!). Felt slightly frustrated when someone asked what we were all doing to help (in the wake of the pandemic)… frankly, I’m just happy to do my bit by staying in self-isolation.

As usual, Moira and I enjoyed mid-morning coffee together (indoors, despite the sunny morning).

Spent much of the morning and afternoon reading (Bryson and our rather strange bookgroup book “Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl”… which I’m currently struggling with).

Hannah had mentioned that I might take the opportunity to write down some ‘family history’ (as she claimed to know very little)… so I tried to make a start (of sorts). It will be very brief – essentially concentrating on Ron and Mary – but even that is stretching my memory. But it’s strange how, when you start writing things down, you start recalling lots of random events that you’d almost forgotten about. I think I’ll need Alan’s help too (he’s much better at remembering family stuff).

Moira and I went a brief harbourside walk in the early evening. Passed a group of perhaps ten teenagers/20-somethings lolling on the pavement on Greville Street, completely ignoring the stay-at-home/self-distancing rules. So annoying.

Saw my friend Shaun on Gaol Ferry Steps (former rough sleeper). He’d got a job at Wild Beer washing up… but, sadly, that has finished due to the bar closures etc and he’s now back to rough sleeping (in the car park adjacent Cargo). The Council have actually housed all rough sleepers, but Shaun reckoned he found the behaviour of his fellow rough sleepers (in the Travelodge) intolerable.

Image: cranes, masts, spires+lamposts, harbourside from one of my dawn walks.

Tuesday 14 April:

Another sunshine day. Our lovely friend Cara (who as well as a Methodist minister is also a Care-Home Worker – with patients with dementia) posted an incredibly powerful piece on facebook about her work situation. I’m going to copy it here, because I think what she says highlights a massively important issue (which isn’t being addressed by the government):

“I write this as a care-home worker, knowing that I'm contravening very strict rules about social media posting (but what are my employers going to do, right? I have the confidence that comes with knowing that in the current climate, they probably need me more than I need them).
The commentators are right. Care homes are a 'perfect storm' when it comes to Covid-19 transmission. We have inadequate PPE to cope with an outbreak. We care for vulnerable people, all of whom have dementia, many of whom would be impossible to isolate in their rooms without physically locking them in (which of course we would/could never do).
The past few weeks have been tough. Most of our residents don't understand why their freedom is even more restricted than usual, why their families can't visit, why many of us are wearing masks, why we hesitate when they want to give us a hug. End-of-life care in particular is heart-breaking. Families can't keep vigil in the ways that they should and would wish to.
Most of our staff are low-paid workers. Many have no option but to journey to work on public transport. Still, they come to work every day knowing that in doing so they put themselves and their families at risk. They are heroes.
But worse than all of these things are our fears about what the future holds. A paramedic who attended the home this week told me that they were not supposed to be taking any care home residents into hospital. There is no testing available, for staff or residents. Our GPs are not visiting. It feels like we are all on our own, doing our best but beyond outside help, and that our residents are more forgotten than ever, sacrificed for some kind of greater good.
We will not desert them. We will do our best to be friends, family and carers for them for as long as we can.
God help us.”
UK coronavirus deaths currently total 12,107; this article from today’s Guardian gives an indication of the true figure if deaths in Care Homes and at home were included.

Back to my diary… Moira+I walked to the harbourside mid-morning and then, when we returned home, I produced a couple of sketches (my Drawing Group set a brief-for-the-day with a sketch theme of “Open” – I drew an open door… not particularly inspiring!).

Spent some time reading another section (“The Brain”) from Bill Bryson’s “Body” book – he writes so well and manages to cram the pages with countless facts and yet retains an ability to ‘entertain’ and be very readable!

Image: the ceanothus has begun to flower in our local neighbourhood!

Monday 13 April:

I seem to have got into a habit of waking incredibly early (3am-ish) recently, which is very frustrating. After the sunshine and stillness of recent days, this morning was very different – grey skies and a biting wind (although the sun had re-appeared by lunchtime). I went on another dawn walk – Coronation Road, Bedminster Bridge, Bathurst Basin, M-shed and Gaol Ferry Steps – and, as one might expect for dawn on a Bank Holiday Monday, hardly saw a soul.

Spent the rest of the morning reading and scribbling notes. Ruth had begun to set up a facebook group called “21 Days of Abundance”… a sort of self-nurturing challenge (“realising your blocks, fears, and limiting beliefs in the area of abundance. As we realise these blocks, we can then actively work to heal them by opening up an infinite source of abundance”). Today was intended to be Day One, but she had some reservations (she’s undertaking the challenge herself… and is currently on something like Day Six) and so decided to put things on hold as far as getting others to join in. From what I can recall, I think the first challenge involved making a list of 50 people who’ve had an influence on one’s life. Very weirdly, only a couple of days ago, I’d be reflecting on people who’ve been important for me over the years. So, I started making a list anyway… but abandoned the exercise (at least for now) when my first draft went WELL beyond 50 without me pausing for breath!

Chatted to Iris and Rosa by phone after lunch… they both seem fine and keeping themselves busy.

Watched “Julie+Julia” DVD in the afternoon (enjoyable, light)… and then “Wise Children” streamed on iPlayer (we saw the production at the Old Vic – which was pretty wonderful… the streamed version lost something of the intimacy).

Image: doorway from one of our recent local walks.

Easter Day, Sunday 12 April:

A day without chocolate… I know (not that we normally have any chocolate in the house, but…)! We decided to remain at home all day (with the fine weather, the government desperately trying to persuade/order people to “stay at home”… but, somewhat predictably, many don’t heed such advice eg. an 18-year-old man from Llanelli arrested after breaching coronavirus lockdown restrictions for the sixth time). The number of UK deaths has now topped 10,000 (10,612).

We joined the streamed church service (led by Lee) – it seemed very strange not to be in church on Easter Day (and take communion).

Spent much of the day reading (plus sketching briefly), but I also managed to speak (via telephone) to Ursa, Jemima and Mikey – which was lovely. They all seemed in very good form.

Oh, and we had an excellent roast dinner (chicken)!

Re-watched a documentary on artist John Minton and then another episode of Inspector Montalbano.

Image: Dawn window reflections, Lloyds Building.

Saturday 11 April:

A pretty full-on day (in these so-called ‘leisure’ times!)…

I went for a dawn walk (via North Street, Ashton Avenue Bridge, harbourside, Gaol Ferry Steps, home); beautiful, still morning and, as one would expect at 6.15am, hardly anyone about.

Returned home, had breakfast and caught up with various ‘admin’ tasks.

Moira and I had coffee in the garden and then I read until lunchtime.

I’d organised (in conjunction with Jennifer) a virtual urban sketching meet-up in Taipei (Jen’s home city) for early afternoon which, despite some initial technical issues, went really well (13 of us connected at the concluding zoom get-together – and there were others sketchers who didn’t ‘zoom’). Everyone seems keen to repeat such events on a regular basis (an ‘English village’ has been suggested for next time).

Image: my Taipei sketch.

At 5.30pm, Moira and I ‘got together’ with Merry Carol, Gerry, Gareth and Alan via zoom – it was really good to catch up. It would be good to repeat it at fairly regular intervals.

During supper, Moira and I watched the last episode of ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’ – where the winner was commissioned to paint the portrait of Nile Rogers (pop icon). We’ve really enjoyed the series and now feel somewhat ‘in mourning’ (and that it’s left a gap in our daily routines).

Good Friday 10 April:

Decided that this should be a ‘no-walk’ day – in accordance with the government’s advice ‘not to leave your home’ (although you just know that, with it being Bank Holiday and that the weather is set fair, there will be some who will ignore such ‘rules’).

Record number of UK deaths today (but this was in keeping with the various predictions as the virus continues to run its course). Mr Johnson was moved out of intensive care on Friday, but remains in hospital (and continues to improve).

The day ended up being a whole combination of stuff: reading, sketching (briefly), reflecting on today’s Iona Community reading and facebook posting, checking into Saint Stephen’s Good Friday link-up, watching my “The Passion of The Christ” DVD yet again and also watching the final of “Portrait Artist of the Year” and then an excellent documentary on Aubrey Beardsley.

Felt strange not to have spent some time in church (they’re closed).

This all sounds fairly mundane… but it was fine (although we did miss not having our hot cross buns!).

Image: Leighton Road in the evening.

Thursday 9 April:

Have decided to undertake more ‘dawn walks’ in future (to avoid people etc)… clearly, given Moira’s dislike of early mornings, she doesn’t want to join me! This morning’s dawn walk involved the harbourside (adjacent M-shed/cranes)(see image), across Prince Street Bridge, past Severnshed, then circling back past The Ostrich pub, Bathurst Basin and then home via Gaol Ferry Bridge. Beautiful, still morning (and, obviously, hardly anyone about). Saw what was left of the ‘Pink Moon’ as I left the house.

Spoke to Spanish friend Ana via zoom, which was good… but essentially just ‘bumbled around’ wasting time ‘catching up’ on stuff on the internet(!). Somewhat bewildered (not to say, staggered and annoyed) to discover that MPs are able to claim £10,000 for having work from home due to the coronavirus business… and that Greater Manchester Police had had to shut down 660 parties (166 street parties and 494 house parties) last weekend… don’t get me started!

Watched the National Theatre’s live-streaming of “Jane Eyre” in the evening (featuring, of course, ‘our’ Felix)… it really was a pretty amazing production.

Wednesday 8 April:

My Dad would have been 99 today!

Weekly Bloke’s Prayer via zoom… but this time starting at 7am – because Nick needs to start work at 8am and Dave now has a daily 8.15am meeting. Very good to be ‘together’.

Lazy coffee and chat – essentially talking about exercise-related matters in the light of recent government statements/NHS letter+texts - followed by some reading (I’ve just started Bryson’s “The Body” book).

Watched one of my favourite films after lunch (“Into The Wild”)… always absolutely love it.

Went for a local walk after supper in brilliant sunshine (image: walking down the middle of Allington Road).

Tuesday 7 April:

Mr Johnson was taken into intensive care last night with worsening coronavirus symptoms (I’m no lover of his politics, but I wish him well). Somewhat ironically, yesterday also saw receipt of Mr Johnson’s ‘letter to the nation’ telling us all that the government was doing and urging everyone to obey the rules. Frankly, I’m appalled at the expense of sending such a letter (to every household) – there can’t be a single adult in the country who didn’t already know this ‘information’. It was perhaps doubly ironic that I also received a letter (see extract image) from the North Bristol NHS Trust advising me (although I already knew) that the NHS had identified me “as someone at risk of severe illness if you catch coronavirus… This is because you have an underlying disease or health condition that means if you catch the virus, you are more likely to be admitted to hospital than others. The safest course of action is for you to stay at home at all times and avoid face-to-face contact for at least 12 weeks from today…”. I have been warned!

Internet ‘stopped’ at lunchtime for at least a couple of hours (but now appears to be ok again)… and, suddenly, you realise how difficult losing connection altogether would be in our current times.

Drawing Group ‘home task’ was draw a self-portrait. I tried to produce a quick line drawing – but had to add pencil shading to try to mask a poor sketch. Hey ho! Did another couple of sketches too… AND I managed to dip my paintbrush in my cup of tea. Doh!

Anti-clockwise evening walk around the harbourside… hardly anyone about.

Early to bed to read.

Monday 6 April:

According to the government website: as of 5pm on 5 April 2020, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 5,373 have died (an increase 439 since yesterday).

I’ve been waking up ridiculously early recently (not altogether an unusual thing for me!)… at around 3am. Sometimes I’m able to go back to sleep but, more often than not, I end up lying awake until 5am and then getting up.

Spent part of the morning sketching – using another streetview image from Madrid – and listening to music (I’ve really enjoyed re-discovering stuff and have ended up compiling another four Spotify playlists).

Received a lovely Hugo delivery this morning – both fruit and vegetables (we’ve been out of fruit for the last few days). It made us feel very happy (see image)!

On our daily walk this afternoon, we came across a depressing number of young lads (perhaps aged 14-16?)(and, yes, I do understand how frustrating it must be for them) congregating in groups/ambling around together – COMPLETLY disregarding the social distancing ‘rules’… and certainly not exercising! In fact a couple of the lads were actually walking with their arms round each others’ shoulders! Not exactly surprising, perhaps, but SO depressing nevertheless.

I’ve set up another ‘virtual’ Urban Sketchmeet event (for Easter Saturday)… again using google/streetview. This time, the location is Taipei (Jennifer’s home city). Fingers crossed that the technology works!

Sunday 5 April:

Palm Sunday… no donkeys spotted all day...

A number of somewhat worrying developments: first, my mouth plate has developed a hairline crack (which will clearly only get worse and eventually split) and second, I was convinced that we had TWO instances where water had started to gush from our water pipes. Fortunately, the second instance turned out to be only a ‘worrying’ dream!

I received a letter from North Bristol NHS Trust yesterday regarding coronavirus (dated 1 April, but not an April Fool’s ruse methinks): “The NHS has identified you as someone at risk of severe illness if you catch coronavirys… This is because you have an underlying disease or health condition that means if you catch the virus, you are more likely to be admitted to hospital than others. The safest course of action is for you to stay at home at all times and avoid face-to-face contact for at least 12 weeks from today…”.

I have been warned!

Tuned into the Saint Stephen’s streamed service this morning – it’s a good, if somewhat one-sided, way of keeping connected.

I rang Iris, then Rosa, then Dan for brief catch-ups… and they all seem in very good form. It was very lovely to chat to them. X

Watched “The Third Man” as part of my ‘watch-again’ DVD season!

Moira and I went for an anticlockwise(!) evening walk around the harbourside (and, from what I’d read on social media, it seems that there were LOTS of people out ‘exercising’ in the sunshine today)... in the event, we hardly saw a soul.
The Health Secretary had issued a message for those flouting the social distancing rules in the sunshine this weekend… and there was even a suggestion that exercise outside the home could be banned if people continued to ignore the rules. Would that mean we couldn’t continue our daily walks?? That would be pretty awful, so let’s hope not.

Image: back garden in sunshine.

Saturday 4 April:

I think it might be 50 years ago today that I passed my driving test (I know it was 4 April… but was it 1969 or 1970?). Still adjusting to not really having weekends any more… Finished my Jan Morris book in bed first thing and then followed up yesterday’s virtual sketch meet-up – with a view to trying to set up another one quite soon.

The government is asking us all to stay at home this weekend (the weather forecast is good and they fear everyone will be attracted to various leisure hotspots!)… we decided on an evening walk for our daily exercise – which we duly did (around the harbourside via Vauxhall Bridge and Gaol Ferry Walk).

Very aware of how dependent we are on the internet at present (our home connection has become somewhat inconsistent on occasions over recent days)… the thought of us losing the internet altogether would have massive implications – no family zoom times; no church streaming; no Bloke’s Prayer; no bookgroup zoom; no facebook; no access to blogs; no emails etc etc. So we just keep our fingers crossed!

Keir Starmer became the Labour leader today… in very strange and trying times (no parliament and a pandemic to deal with).

Juggled with my blog during the course of the afternoon and decided to separate the ‘diary’ from ‘reflections’… so now have two blogs (essentially just for me): this one for diary and ‘don’t stand so close to me’ – working title! – for reflections.

Watched another ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’ programme (they’re very good).

Image: tonight’s moon (it’s in its ‘waxing gibbous’ phase apparently).

Friday 3 April:

Dry and bright. Went for an early walk down to the Avon lockgates (see image: poster hoarding). On my way home, I saw an elderly couple (ok, they were probably younger than me!) doing their morning exercises. As I passed them, I noticed that they were following a video ‘gym routine’ on their iPad/tablet… and their iPad/tablet was set up on a traditional old music stand. It made me smile.

I went to Madrid to sketch today with a group (maybe 12 of us?) of urban sketching friends! In these difficult times – when we’re unable to get together to draw – we experimented by choosing a Madrid location (Ana’s home city) for accessing via google maps/streetview… combined with zoom (so we could talk and share our final sketches). It worked very well (despite the odd technical glitch!) and people have suggested we repeat it in a few days’ time.

Ruth+Stu managed to buy us some baked beans, tinned tomatoes and cheese to top our supplies (we’ve got another supermarket order in the pipeline, for Easter Saturday, and and also a Hugo delivery in the pipeline)… so we’re fine.

Moira and I recently discovered that we were able to watch ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’ on SkyArts catch-up (last year’s series?)… and we’ve been really enjoying the programmes – SO much better than the BBC near-equivalent.

Government’s updated coronanvirus figures (5pm 2 April): 3,605 UK deaths (30 March: 1,789 deaths; 18 March: 60 deaths).

Having appeared with some colleagues on 1 April (after serving just 5 days out of his SEVEN days in isolation!), Mr Johnson – according to this evening’s BBC website – “will carry on self-isolating after continuing to display mild symptoms of the coronavirus including having a temperature”. “Do as I say, not as I do” (don’t get me started)!

Thursday 2 April:

Spent the first part of the day reading, pottering (updating online stuff) and sketching some Purple Sprouting for my Drawing Group’s ‘vegetable challenge)… not brilliant, but quite quick.

Set up some links (and sent off invites) for tomorrow’s ‘Madrid’ urban sketching challenge.

I actually tried to write some poetry in the afternoon (well, maybe ‘prose’)… the results were pretty awful, but I later made various changes to it and was quite pleased with the end product (for me!)… sadly, I then clicked the wrong button when I tried to ‘save’ and lost the entire revised version (which I can no longer remember… and which, of course, was a literary masterpiece!!). Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow?

Moira did some gardening and planted seeds (using compost from our wormery).

Moira and I later walked around our local neighbourhood for 30 minutes (see image from the end of our street).

Watched the National Theatre’s ‘live streamed’ “One Man, Two Guvnors” on YouTube (via laptops)… but didn’t watch until the end (a bit disappointing… and not for me).

Wednesday, 1 April:

Got up pretty early… my mind had been on lots of coronavirus-related stuff and so I thought it would be useful (for me) to try and write down stuff (see today’s Reflection).

After breakfast, spent a very helpful hour talking to my “Bloke’s Prayer” buddies… lots to chat about and reflect on, as you can imagine. Robin made us laugh by dressing in a jacket, bowtie, yellow/cream trousers, white shirt and braces especially for the occasion!

While I was ‘zooming-with-my-mates’, we received our online supermarket delivery… which was good. Sadly, it excluded LOTS of stuff we’d ordered (eg. bread, cheese, chicken, tinned tomatoes, baked beans etc). Hey ho! Later, we also had a delivery of vegetables, bread and cheese (sadly, no fruit) from our lovely local greengrocer Hugo... which was good news. 

Moira and I went for our regular harbourside walk mid-morning… hardly saw a soul (and enjoyed walking in the middle of roads!)(image: always nice to see Banksy’s ‘Girl with the Pierced Eardrum’).

As an experiment, my urban sketching friend Ana and I ‘got together’ to do some virtual sketching. We chose Underfall Yard as our location, then each selected a ‘view’ from the google map links… and then ‘met up’ again via zoom for a show-and-tell chat after an hour’s sketching. Although it was hardly the same as our usual urban sketching ‘sketchmeets’ (and, of course, you were sketching from google ‘streetviews’), it was good fun… and we decided to invite other sketchers to a similar ‘virtual sketchmeet’… and ended up choosing a location in Madrid(!) – Ana’s home city – and setting up a drawing session for this coming Friday.

After supper, I took part in another ‘zoom’ group discussion. This time our lovely StorySmith bookgroup… and, again, it worked surprisingly well and it was lovely ‘seeing’ everyone again. We’re going to try to repeat it next month – provided that Dan is able to source purchasing a batch of one of our short-listed books (their two suppliers have had to shut down due to the virus) – but, even if this proves impossible, I think we’ll end up ‘meeting up’ anyway (perhaps just to discuss our favourite books or whatever).

PS: Feels very strange not to be using money (ie. notes and coins) or our bank card at the current time (since we self-isolated and don’t go ‘proper shopping’ anymore).