Sunday 31 January:

Fetched the newspaper first thing.
Moira and I walked around Bathurst Basin this morning (grey and overcast) before streamed church (which was very thought-provoking and impressive and presented by the Resonate Team).
Still feeling frustrated about the lack of feedback from facebook regarding my account and am coming to the conclusion that I’m going to have to use my ‘new’ account from now on (hugely time-consuming in terms of re-establishing ‘friends’ etc).
Snowed in the afternoon – but didn’t settle.
Spoke to Mikey on his 15^th birthday… and to Jemima and Alice (which was rather nice!)
Finished reading my excellent ‘Shuggie Bain’ book and writing a review… five books in January and at least two of them might qualify to be my ‘book of the year’!
Evening telly (excitingly): ‘Grayson’s Art Club’ and ‘Pottery Throw-Down’.
Image: another of my Rio sketches.

Saturday 30 January:

Something of a strange day… catch-up day on all sorts of things (diary, blog, emails, trying to reclaim my facebook page, sketches etc). As ever on things, for me, things that I think will take me three days to sort out end up being sorted in a day (except, of course, my facebook account!)! Moira was feeling somewhat ‘down’ after all the internet/vaccination adrenaline stuff of yesterday… and feeling that she hasn’t got any ‘projects’ to get her head into.
I ended up finishing my two Rio sketches during the course of the day.
No morning walk, just down the road to fetch the newspaper.
Bristol Bears beat Bath last night 48-3! Apparently, the first half performance was outstanding.
I read a bit more of my ‘Shuggie Bain’ book in the afternoon (my back was hurting after bending over my laptop/sketch board).
Emailed Alan and CharlotteN and also sorted out arrangements for another zoom chat with JennieH next Thursday.
Evening telly: yet another ‘Marple’.
Image: one of my Rio sketches.

Friday 29 January:

Something of a red letter day (vaccination and our internet technician!) – and yet, given the up-and-down week we’ve had, I began the day feeling somewhat apprehensive!
A pretty grey windy and wet start to the day. I went for my usual harbourside dawn walk – it was a high tide and even waves on the Cut!
In the event, the day went as well as it could have… Moira’s vaccination (at 12.20pm) went well and so did mine (at 5pm). We were quite fortunate to get our appointment within walking distance (half hour walk)(probably just at Moira’s limit, given her sciatica)… and the Virgin Media technician duly arrived on time (4.30pm) and sorted out our internet (although the cause of the problem was apparently something of a mystery – resolved by twiddling wires etc!!). Anyway, it was good to get to the evening having got everything ‘sorted out’!
I read more of my ‘Shuggie Bain’ book in the afternoon.
Evening telly: just another ‘Marple’.
Image: Vaccination confirmation. 

Thursday 28 January:

Woke up with toothache!
Began my day with a dawn walk around the harbour Gaol Ferry Steps/Prince Street Bridge/Thekla/Ostrich pub/Bathurst Basin/home. Very grey day… with drizzle in the air.
Decided to check out our vaccination surgery location (don’t want to leave anything to chance!)… so Moira and I undertook some reconnaissance (although, because of her sciatica, Moira only went half way) – half hour walk from home to surgery.
Bacon sandwiches for lunch.
Spoke to CharlotteP on mobile (think they’ve been struggling through lockdown – and, to make matters more difficult, their mother has anal cancer.
Read some of my Shuggie Bain book in the afternoon, together with a quick sketch of our studio steps.
Evening telly: ‘Portrait Artist’ and the second part of ‘Miss Marple’ episode.
Image: Old General Hospital converted apartments.

Wednesday 27 January:

Hugely frustrating day.
We had the Virgin Media technician due to come first thing (scheduled for 8am-12noon), so no dawn walks and no Bloke’s Prayer (obviously, due to no internet). Fingers firmly crossed etc. Predictably, although one is geared to someone arriving at 8am, the technician didn’t actually arrive... and I ended up phoning them (and that obviously meant going through a hugely tedious waiting process). Turns out they cancelled the visit (*no words*)… so it’s now been re-scheduled for Friday 4-7pm (we’ll be juggling between vaccines). Massively frustrating and very annoying.
I spent most of the morning sorting out images/pages in connection with my Blurb book (a process which I find both frustrating and satisfying!).
Phoned Alan to cancel our planned zoom chat with David (no internet!) and texted Ana asking her to get Jules to text me (need to sort out the next ‘virtual’ sketching trip to Italy!)… and, thankfully, Jules has agreed to sort out the Italy Event.
Had a phonecall from Lee in the afternoon… (which was somewhat therapeutic!).
Evening telly: ‘Repair Shop’ and early to bed.
Image: Scissors scribble (for Drawing Group). 

Tuesday 26 January:

Another rough night sleep-wise… woke up at 2.30am and eventually got up at 5.30am. Scribbled some notes regarding my hacked facebook account (I’m just desperately hoping that I’ll be able to submit some form of report to facebook and get them to investigate and restore my original profile. I don’t feel very optimistic!).
I went for my dawn walk around Bathurst Basin/The Ostrich/M-Shed (slightly shorter than usual – perhaps influenced by the murky greyness of the weather?).
Moira was still asleep when I returned home… and we eventually had our morning coffee at around 10.30am. Ru popped in to collect some stuff from her studio – somewhat frustrated by her homeschool responsibilities (and, in particular, Rosa not really doing her work properly – getting it done as quickly as possible, possibly understanding what she’s being asked and frequently not actually answering the question… poor thing)(meanwhile, Iris has had to ‘sit’ some exams… which seemed to go ok?).
The big news of the day is that Moira and I have now been offered our Covid jab dates (Friday afternoon)! I’ve also arranged an online appointment with the health care assistant for my annual heart review (4 February).
I sketched some boats (from a photograph I took this morning) before lunch and sorted out some more Blurb photographs. In the afternoon, I finished my ‘Pope book’ (encouraging and thought-provoking).
Total of UK Covid deaths since the start of the pandemic topped 100,000 today (pretty grim news, but not unexpected).
Evening telly: another ‘Marple’!
Image: ‘Spirit of Freedom’ boat sketch.

Monday 25 January:

A stunningly beautiful, sunny day (but still very cold, with overnight freezing) – a huge contrast with the snow of yesterday. My usual harbourside walk and very aware of bright colours and still water.
Morning coffee with Moira as usual and we compared notes on how we were coping with the lack of the internet etc (actually, of course, she can still get an internet connection via her phone)… essentially, I’m struggling! I’m very conscious of missing my regular early morning routines (Guardian/BBC/facebook/blog etc) – my dawn walks are the only things unaffected. I wrote a brief ‘Reflection’ note.
Sally Shorey’s burial today… and I’ve been thinking of David a lot over recent days. It must be really hard for him; I wonder what he will do in his hugely adjusted life?
Had a kind text from Ana enquiring how we were coping with out the internet and saying that I’d been missed at yesterday’s USk session (which was nice).
I drew (yet) another quick ‘house in lockdown’ sketch.
In the afternoon, I read more of my ‘Pope’ book and also did some more work on my Blurb book (it’s a lengthy process!).
Evening telly: usual Monday evening stuff (‘Only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’ – although I seem to be getting more and more despondent watching them and feel somewhat ‘intellectually challenged’!
Read more of my ‘Shuggie Bain’ book before bed.
Image: Harbourside tree (same view as my Blurb book’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’ cover, but on a bright sunny day).

Sunday 24 January:

Very surprised to open the curtains first thing to discover we’d had overnight snow (maybe 20mm)! Ventured outside under the streetlights at 6am – that lovely time when no one’s yet walked through the snow and the day seems rather magical.
Without the possibility of streamed church (due to our lack of internet), Moira and I had originally planned to venture outside, armed with a thermos flask, in search of a suitable bench… but, with Moira’s sciatica, just a brief glimpse out of the window convinced her that bed presented a better option! So I ended up going for a dawn walk by myself – usual harbourside route – and collected the Observer en route. Rather nice to see familiar locations in the snow. Quite a few people – even at 8am – families with small kids enjoying the snow… and even two fishermen!
Very pleased that I’d ventured out first thing because the snow had disappeared by lunchtime.
Spent much of the day reading the newspaper and finishing my ‘scissor drawing’ (pretty unimpressive, I’m afraid) and then read some more of my ‘Pope’ book.
Roast pork supper (excellent)!
Evening telly: ‘Pottery Throw Down’ (discovered that, apparently, our internet problem also means no catch-up).
Image: Snowy harbourside.

Saturday 23 January:

Another restless and disturbed night’s ‘sleep’. Admittedly, I’d gone to be quite early and had read until perhaps 9.15pm… but then woke up at 11.30pm (thinking I’d had a full night’s sleep!)… and then again at 1am and 3am. Eventually got up at 4.30am; put on some washing; had early breakfast… and then discovered that there was no internet (and, of course, my hacked facebook account still isn’t sorted)! The God’s are obviously against me!
I ended phoning Virgin Media and they’re sending a technician next Wednesday! Hey ho… life continues to be complicated.
Another very frosty start to the day and, as usual on a Saturday, no early morning walk – just the ‘newspaper run’… but it did end up a beautiful (if cold) sunny day.
Took the opportunity of saving a batch of photographs on the hard-drive (which I try to do every 2-3 months).
Texted Ana (apologising for having to miss Urban Sketching and asking her to pass on message to others); texted Ru, Han and Alan (just to let them know about broadband); texted Dave (apologising for non-attendance at Wednesday’s Bloke’s Prayer).
Collected my Pope Francis book from ‘Storysmith’.
In the afternoon, I started drafting out something for our current Drawing Group project and also started reading my Pope book.
Frankly, a VERY frustrating day… not having access to the internet for the next four days (at least) means not being able to do ALL sorts of things (including not being able to access google/streetview for mini-sketching projects, streamed church and being able to communicate with people via emails – especially without the use of facebook!). It all goes to reinforce the sense of one’s ‘isolation in lockdown’!
Evening telly: another ‘Marple’…
Image: Greville Smyth Park, on my way home from yesterday’s early walk.

 

Friday 22 January:

Stunningly beautiful, albeit very frosty, morning and went early morning walking around the harbourside/cut. Almost ran down (twice) by a cyclist (the same cyclist passing me in both directions during the course of my walk) – missed me by a couple of inches each time; no bell (obviously); headphones plugged; apparently completely unaware of how he’d very nearly caused two accidents (which could have resulted in quite serious injury, because he was travelling at some speed)! I shouted after him the second time – but, obviously, to no avail.
Quite treacherous in places due to the heavy frost, but lovely blue skies and sunshine – definitely lifts the spirits. Took quite a few photographs.
Still nothing more from facebook (I sent them another email, but have no idea if anyone ever reads them or is able to take action… they must have so many people with similar issues).
Went down to Hugo’s to pick up some much-needed fruit+veg.
I was very relieved to have had my drawing pens delivered through the letterbox this morning (they’ve taken their time)!  
Spent part of the afternoon sorting out some initial text for my Blurb book and then watched an old episode of Lucy Worsley’s ‘biggest fibs’.
Evening telly: watched the remainder of a ‘Miss Marple’ episode.
Image: Lockdown deliveries sorted (sketchbooks and pens now re-stocked!). 

Thursday 21 January:

Had a really restless night (again)… woke up at 12.30am thinking I’d had a full night’s sleep(!) and then was unable to get back to sleep. Ended up getting up at 4am.
Although I received a number of emails from facebook in connection with my hacked account, I’m still no nearer to getting things resolved…
Went for my usual harbour dawn walk – which ended up being a ‘walk of two halves’: the first half was dry but overcast and the remainder was heavy rain (with some sunshine occasionally creeping through).
Spent the remainder of the morning setting up a couple of Rio sketches in advance of Sunday’s USk trip, together with sending an email to Ana asking her if she could forward messages to Charlotte, Jules and Jane.
Did some vacuuming… and we received our regular fortnightly Asda delivery (which was very welcome – even if there were a number of ‘substitutes’.
Watched the remainder of ‘All The President’s Men’ in the afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘Landscape Artist’ and the second part of last night’s ‘Marple’.
Image: Dame Emily Park in heavy rain and bright sunshine! 

Wednesday 20 January:

The usual Bloke’s Prayer gathering (full house, including Johnny) and an interesting time – with Robin making some personal insights… followed by Moira and my morning coffee time (which, frankly, didn’t happen until after 10am, as Moira had given Slimming World a miss today).
I’d tried to phone Tom yesterday and ended up receiving a text message to confirm a ‘proper’ chat this morning… which we duly did. Lovely to chat to him (we both miss our chats) and it sounded as if our mutual Lockdown#3 experiences were very similar.
No proper resolution to my annoying facebook issue, so I ended up setting up another account – hopefully, just temporarily until I sort out the original problem. All very frustrating.
Jeanette had asked various church members to respond to various questions about church issues/pandemic/technology… and beyond. I did my best to produce some thoughts – but all rather garbled. Hey ho!
Had a zoom session with Ruth+Iris+Rosa in the afternoon (SO lovely to ‘see’ them – hadn’t spoken to Iris since the New Year) and they were in very good form. The girls are clearly pretty cheesed off with ‘homeschool’ (especially in this drab weather), but coping pretty well it seems.
Re-watched the first half of ‘All The President’s Men’ film via catch-up later in the afternoon (I’d forgotten how good it was)… somehow seemed appropriate on the day that Trump left the White House!
Villa lost 0-2 to ManCity away (but City were apparently pretty fortunate with both their goals).
Evening telly: Part One of another 'Miss Marple' (but slept through most of it!).
Image: Avon riverbank in bright morning sunlit (from Monday’s walk).

Tuesday 19 January:

Went for usual early morning walk around the harbour… on a very drab, wet day (constant drizzle during my walk). Good to be out, but glad I was properly dressed for it.
A pretty ordinary and somewhat frustrating day all in all.
Moira and I enjoyed our regular morning coffee chat and then I wrote a brief ‘reflection’ (the last one I’d done was last November).
I started to check some possible Rio locations – but frankly without much success.
I had a good facebook message exchange with Alan (updating him about Alice and checking on Megan) and also texted a brief note to Alice and to Tom.
I subsequently discovered that I was unable to log into facebook at the start of the afternoon – and it looks very likely that I’ve been hacked (which, obviously, is hugely annoying). I haven’t yet sorted matters (and just can’t see how I can communicate with facebook if I’m not allowed to log in!).
Evening telly: another ‘Miss Marple’ episode (if ONLY she knew about facebook log-ins!).
Image: raindrop from yesterday’s walk in Leigh Woods. 

Monday 18 January:

It looks as if we’re due to have a pretty awful, wet week weather-wise, but the forecast for the very start of the day was reasonable and so I decided that my dawn walk should be along the Avon and up through Leigh Woods. In the event, it proved to be really rather lovely – just a few runners along the Avon and absolutely no one in Leigh Woods (until I was making my exit and then came across a woman runner and three cyclists - a father of two young children). Silent and utterly magical. It had been pretty grey and cloudy when I set out but, happily, as I made my way home along the Avon, the sun came out and it turned into a beautiful morning (although it started raining as I entered Mount Pleasant).
Moira managed to ‘book’ a brief time to speak to Alice by phone just after lunch. She’s REALLY been struggling (although, thankfully, now ‘over’ her Covid symptoms). She’s been shutting herself away in her bedroom (although did manage a shower this morning) and, sadly, having lots of ‘suicidal thoughts’ – which is obviously very worrying for her AND for the rest of us. We feel somewhat helpless.
I finished my ‘Snow Country’ book after lunch. It’s only a short novel (120 pages), but I think I’ll need to read it again before our bookgroup meets to discuss it! In the meantime, I’m trying to work out what I thought of it!
Evening telly: usual ‘Only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’.
Image: Avon reflections (just one of several photographs I took on my walk). 

Sunday 17 January:

We took advantage of a beautiful bright morning (it clouded over before lunchtime) to take our walk before streamed church. Only quite short due to Moira’s sciatica, but managed Dame Emily Park, Dean Lane and Kingston Road.
Persevered with streamed church (Dru, Amy, Laura and Richard), but do find it somewhat difficult (the songs seem a bit of a waste of time)… but Laura’s prayers were thought-provoking.
The rest of the morning revolved around Sunday newspaper, lunch and a ‘virtual’ visit to Mevagissey to sketch (after yesterday, I was determined to ‘get out’ – albeit only virtually!).
Lazy afternoon… finishing sketch and reading more ‘Snow Country’.
Moira sent a WhatsApp message to BABEs about Alice.
Evening telly: ‘Perfect Planet’ episode and ‘Pottery Throw Down’.
Image: Mevagissey.

Saturday 16 January:

As usual, Saturday’s a no-walk day – apart from the trip to Tesco’s for the newspaper. Once again, another rainy start to the day… BUT it brightened up by 10am and the sun came out (makes SUCH a difference)!
Moira and I enjoyed morning coffee over the newspaper… and discussed Japanese novels!
Posted the ‘Rio’ event details on the USk facebook page.
Actually, this was something of a ‘nothing day’ for me – I don’t think I really achieved (or did) anything at all.
I read more of my ‘Snow Country’ book (I’ve now finished ‘Part One’)… but am still struggling somewhat with getting to grips with a) the lyrical quality of the language, b) the indifferent quality of the translation(?), c) Japanese customs, d) Japanese terminology, e) the different types of gheisha, and f) the story!
Evening telly: ‘Miss Marple’ (watched the remaining two parts of the first episode).
Image: staring on/up/at the stairs(!). 

Friday 15 January:

My usual harbourside dawn walk – except that I went via the Avon Lock (only to find that both gates were open, at high tide, which meant I couldn’t cross). Another grey morning… although it did brighten up a little by lunchtime and we even saw some sun!
Usual morning coffee – M+I reflecting on how bleak this time of year is for a lot of people and how Covid makes it so much worse.
Moira managed to speak to both Ru and Dave. Ru was working at the Southville Centre (but reckoned that the girls were in better form than of late, which is good)(they’ve apparently been very grumpy and bored by home school and not being able to see their friends). Dave reckoned he’d now recovered from Covid and that Jemima was more or less better (they’re pretty sure she’d tested positive, but STILL hadn’t received any formal confirmation – but she was obviously isolating anyway). J isn’t able to go to sleep without somebody being with her (this has been going on some time)… so she and Dave end up sleeping in the living room (poor old Dave!). Alice is still struggling (rapid heart rate – she’s being put on beata-blockers) and is very depressed. Dave wondered if Alice should come and stay in Bristol once she’s recovered from Covid (and once we’ve been vaccinated).
I spent a fair amount of the morning preparing for the forthcoming USk ‘Rio’ Event (will post something online tomorrow perhaps?) and also preparing some initial text for my Blurb book (difficult to know how much text should be included – but feel it needs more poltical context than last time perhaps?).
My new sketchbooks arrived in the post AND we received a John Lewis delivery (candles, salt+pepper grinders and tea-infuser)… which was good news.
I watched the 1949 version of ‘Whisky Galore’ in the afternoon – enjoyed it more than the more recent version (less ‘professional’ and black+white!).
Evening telly: another ‘Cornwall’ and our ‘Miss Marple’ boxset (again!).
Image: Rooms with a view: ‘Matthew’ was back at Underfall Yard (presumably for its annual maintenance checks). 

Thursday 14 January:

I went for my usual dawn harbourside walk (dawn is now 8.10am!)… but it was all pretty depressing weather-wise – steady drizzle and grey skies (which continued more or less for the rest of the day). As long as I’m suitably dressed, I certainly don’t mind the rain… but there was a sense of “Oh, not another dismal day!”. I think we all need a bit of sunshine to keep our spirits up.
Tried to ring Virgin Media about my emails (see yesterday’s post), but got a recorded message advising me that they were operating at a reduced level due to Covid and that I might have to ‘hang on’ for more than an hour! So I ended up going back to their website, tried various operations (unsuccessfully) and eventually decided to try to change my password… and hey presto, it worked!
Moira and I had morning coffee as usual… she expressed some frustration at her lack of ‘projects’.
Most of the rest of the morning was taken up with domestic/admin matters – some washing, some cleaning, checking out Rio de Janeira as a possible USk location, checking to see how Ana was (cricked neck), bins etc.
Afternoon comprised a quick stair sketch and some more ‘Snow Country’ reading (finding it difficult to get into the book).
Evening telly: more Stein’s ‘Cornwall’ and ‘Landscape Artist’.
Image: the last sprout! 

Wednesday 13 January:

No walking… due to Bloke’s Prayer. Full house (Robin, Dave, Ed, Dru, Jeff, Nick and Johnny). Interesting discussion on various aspects of BP (I feared that Jeff wanted to change the entire format, but that wasn’t quite the case)… actually useful to spend some time reflecting. I mentioned Anamcara and, brilliantly, Johnny produced a reflection from John O’Donuhue’s ‘Anamcara’ book.
Moira and I had our usual morning coffee… I had been thinking about going out for a walk, but the weather was so gloomy that I didn’t bother (in fact, it remained dark and cloudy the entire day).
I produced a fairly quick self-portrait and then tried to get ‘into’ my Japanese ‘Snow Country’ book during the course of the afternoon. It’s only 120 pages but, with a combination of rather indifferent translation; the fact that it was written in the 1950s; and my poor appreciation of Japanese culture made it somewhat difficult to settle into the book.
My Virgin Media emails stopped worked… spent 30 minutes on the phone (hanging on)… this will no doubt take up a lot of time tomorrow no doubt!

Managed to 
Evening telly: Stein's 'Cornwall'.
I set up a zoom meeting with David Shorey and Alan in the evening… and it was good to ‘get together’ again. Sally’s burial is 25 January… and we’ve agreed to zoom again some time after that.
Image: selfie!
  

Tuesday 12 January:

Went for my dawn walk via Metrobus bridge/marina/Vauxhall bridge on another rather bleak January morning. LOTS of traffic about… sadly, it seems as if we’re back to the ‘old normal’.
Moira and I had our usual morning coffee and chat… reflecting on not being allowed to meet up with more than one person (sad from our grandchildren’s perspective).
Drafted a brief book review on ‘The Crossway’ and then spent a fair amount of time going back through the book and noting down various points that had felt significant (as a means of trying to be able to recall things when Bloke’s Books eventually meets on 10 February!).
Popped down to Storysmith to collect the latest bookgroup book (‘Snow Country’).
Chatted to Rosa (by phone) at the end of the afternoon, which was lovely. She’s clearly pretty bored by ‘home school’, but seems to be coping. I also tried to chat to Iris but, as ever, just got her voicemail (I asked Rosa to tell her I’d phoned her). Hope Iris is ok… I think she’s been struggling (puberty, not meeting up with friends, having to stay at home etc).
Joined Adrian’s ‘Local Learning Group’ via zoom in the evening (as part of Adrian’s vicar-training course)… fortunately, it only lasted an hour.
Early evening telly: Rick Stein’s ‘Cornwall’.
Image: nothing to show really… so here’s another of my Morocco sketches from the weekend!

Monday 11 January:

Went for my regular harbourside walk (anti-clockwise version!) on a dry but pretty bleak day (but slightly warmer than the past couple of days?). Pretty uneventful, but still a fair amount of traffic on Coronation Road.
Enjoyed watching the sea gulls fly/feed under Vauxhall Bridge… I tried to take some quick photographs, but pretty poor quality. Maybe a subject for another time?
Usual morning coffee with Moira (albeit fairly late – she had her breakfast at 10.15am!).
I finished off my quick blue boat sketch from yesterday (but pretty basic).
In the afternoon, I finished my pilgrimage book (Bloke’s Bookgroup) – fascinating, but I’m still digesting it.
Watched the second episode of Attenborough’s ‘Perfect Planet’… pretty amazing photography.
Evening telly: usual Monday stuff – ‘Only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’.
Image: poor photograph of crash-landing gull in the Cut!

Sunday 10 January:

Moira and I went for a very brief walk before streamed church (her sciatica has really limited how far she’s able to cover – today maybe not more than 0.75miles?). Really feel for her. Very frustrating.
Having gone to bed last night feeling as if I might be ‘going down with something’, I was hugely relieved to discover that I felt fine as I emerged from bed today.
Sunday newspaper and morning coffee as usual…
Urban Sketchers had their first ‘virtual sketch-meet’ at lunchtime (Essaouira, Morocco)… and it was lovely to ‘see’ everyone (12-15?) again via zoom. We all agreed that USk had done much to help keep us ‘sane’ over the past several months. Some lovely, colourful stuff produced by everyone… and good fun too.
In the afternoon, Moira watched ‘Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy’ (which I’d fairly recently watched)… impressive, intricate storyline (Le Carré) – even if it ‘lost me’ several times!
Evening telly comprised the return of ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ (which was rather lovely).
Image: sketch of Essaouira ramparts.

Saturday 9 January:

No walking on Saturdays (especially after the introduction of lockdown#3) – just down to Tesco to fetch the newspaper. Interesting/depressing reading about US politics/UK Covid cases and deaths.
Villa lost 1-4 at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup last night – BUT they were forced to field a team of their Academy players as the first team squad had been hit by positive Covid tests.
Spent 45 minutes sketching (Kitchen Clutter).
Bacon bagels for lunch followed by a bit more reading of my pilgrimage book.
Watched a tiny bit of Cup football (Arsenal v Newcastle) – but gave up… too boring.
Bristol beat Exeter away 20-7 to go top of the league!
Highest number of UK weekly Covid-related deaths recorded (6,298) since the start of the pandemic.
Watched another Simon King wildlife documentary from Shetland.
Early to bed… feeling slightly fluey??
Image: kitchen clutter scribble.

Friday 8 January:

No early morning walk today because Rich was due to come and fit a new external door in our basement. Before he arrived, I realised that this also meant that I would need to ‘clean out’ (vaguely) the basement wc – clearing out plaster that had crumbled into the wash basin, wiping down surfaces, sweeping floor etc. Oh what fun!
Anyway, Rich duly arrived just before 10am and they worked very efficiently and managed to complete their work by about 1.30pm. Good to have got the job done!
I did also some more preparatory work in connection with the second Blurb book (pretty daunting!) and ordered two new sketchbooks. I also tried to order some pens but I don’t think the order went through in the end.
In the afternoon, I watched the ‘Dunkirk’ film (I’d previously seen it in the cinema)… not enormously impressed (as before).
Moira had her bookgroup in the evening, so I went to bed early and read.
Another record covid-related deaths day (1,325).
Evening telly: ‘Cornwall’ and ‘Winter Walks’ (again).
Image: the new basement door. 

Thursday 7 January:

A foggy, frosty morning… I walked my regular harbourside circuit (eerie half-views across the water in the fog, but interesting to get a different perspective on familiar landscapes).
Still quite a few people about (walking through Gaol Ferry Steps on their way into town and still lots of cars on Coronation Road).
Spent a fair amount of time catching up on the aftermath of the US Capitol fiasco. Trumps is understandably being blamed for inciting things and there’s talk of implementing Amendment 25 (if the President is unable to do his job, the Vice President becomes President)… but it’ll never happen (only 13 days before inauguration). Meanwhile Congress has confirmed Biden’s election win. At long last, Trump concedes defeat BUT is still maintaining he won (despite no one having been able to produce ANY evidence): “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th”.
Spent a little time finishing off some watercolouring (Morocco sketch).
We received our regular fortnightly Asda delivery (good news!) – even if there were a number of ‘unavailable’ items (including the pork roasting joint!).
Read more of my pilgrimage book in the afternoon.
Yesterday’s record number of daily Covid deaths has been exceeded today (1,162).
Evening telly: another ‘Winter Walks’ episode (only one left now) plus another Rick Stein ‘Cornwall’.
Image: from my harbourside walk this morning. 

Wednesday 6 January:

No walk today… with Bloke’s Prayer starting at 8am, I decided against it. Good to see the others again after a 2-week break – although it was a somewhat patchy get-together, with Ed having to leave at 8.30am and Jeff only joining us at 8.45am. Jeff had previously asked if we could ‘discuss’ the basis of Bloke’s Prayer (I don’t think he believes it achieves what it should), but had apparently forgotten that we’d agreed to do so today! Now re-scheduled for 8am next Wednesday!
Cleared boxes out of Ruth’s studio (in preparation for Rich – who’s due to fit a replacement external door on Friday).
Moira and I had morning coffee together (following her slimming world zoom meeting).
My medication was duly delivered – which was good news (only 4-5 days’ supplies left).
We also received a delivery of new pillows – so I took this as an opportunity to change the bed linen.
Did a little sketching in the afternoon in preparation for Sunday’s ‘trip’ to Morocco!
Storysmith book group in the evening (so spent some of the afternoon preparing/re-reading bits of ‘Rebecca’ as a bit of a ‘refresher’). Another good discussion.
Evening telly: watched another ‘Winter Walks’.

Today saw the highest number of daily Covid-related UK deaths (1,041) since the pandemic began. 
White Supremist rioters stormed the US Capitol Building in Washington. Horrendous, shocking scenes (having been egged on by the US President!).
Image: another dining room sketch.

Tuesday 5 January:

Today I took a PRE-dawn harbourside walk (with a view to trying to avoid people!) and set out at 7.30am (sunrise 8.15am)… but, strangely, there actually seemed to be MORE people about than usual. It was also interesting (following last night’s lockdown#3 announcement) to note that there seemed to be absolutely no difference to the number of cars thundering down Coronation Road – a sharp contrast to last March. Fairly sombre walk weatherwise – but it brightened up by mid-morning.
Moira and I chatted about the new lockdown over morning coffee.
With Alice still feeling really pretty grim (and having a number of other people trying to contact her vis phone/WhatsApp or whatever), I decided to drop a FB message to Dave to check on how HE was doing. He said he was improving but couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so poorly (and that Jemima is ill “but not really ill” – but they STILL haven’t received her test results, so Dave’s chasing)… and that Alice “had taken a big hit”. A number of pupils and teachers had got Covid immediately before Christmas and Dave feels certain that Mickey passed on the virus to the Buckley household… BUT that, happily, M seems unaffected and quite happy (Dan has been isolating from everyone else in his room on his PlayStation and face-timing his mates).
I had a lovely zoom/coffee chat with Ana (as an alternative to meeting up) – they seem to be coping well (and she talks to her parents at least twice a day!!).
Checked out some Urban Sketching locations in advance of this coming Sunday (in Morocco) and read more of my pilgrim book.
The house feels very different following me taking down ‘all’ the Christmas decorations… something I always find a little sad – although, with the Christmas tree lights packing up a few days ago, not a huge issue this year (but I do think we need to order some more candles!).
I managed to book a delivery for my repeat prescriptions – which is a great relief (even if I had to pay £5).
Evening telly: another ‘Winter Walk’ (very good, gentle stuff – perfect for these difficult times); Rick Stein’s ‘Cornwall’ and a couple of ‘Staged’ episodes.
Image: pre-dawn at the marina. 

Monday 4 January:

Went for my first ‘proper’ harbourside dawn walk of the New Year… on a very cold morning.
From the amount of traffic on Coronation Road, I sensed that the rest of the world was returning to work today!
Watched two ‘elderly’ rowers return to the marina after their early morning outing on the water (I’ve seen them several times before - we now greet each other – and they clearly are pretty fit for their ages.
Morning coffee with Moira. Chatted about Alice, Dave+Jemima (D+J seem to be ‘on the mend’, but A is still struggling). Alice is clearly concerned about affect on J’s mental health (but this may be reflection of A’s current emotional state?).
Organised ongoing Drawing Group rota.
Enjoyed a socially-distanced Cornish pasty+coffee lunch in Dame Emily park with Hannah+Ursa+Fee – which was lovely. Very, very cold, but lovely.
Did another dining room sketch in the afternoon, plus some more ‘pilgrimage’ reading.
Evening telly: usual Monday routine(!) of ‘Only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’... but also 'Winter Walks' (rather lovely).

Mr Johnson appeared on telly to announce new 'lockdown' (probably lasting until mid-February?)(SO pleased we managed to see H+U+F earlier!)... once again, a little late in the day. 'Clinically extremely vulnerable' people to 'shield' once again.
Image: 'pasties in the park' with Felix+Ursa+Hannah.

Sunday 3 January:

Very grey morning and Moira and I decided to try a pre-streamed church morning walk (despite Moira’s painful sciatica). In the end, we only managed perhaps 0.75mile – to Dame Emily Park and round the block, but at least we ‘got out’.
I’d fetched the newspaper earlier to ensure we didn’t over-reach ourselves distance-wise.
Tuned into streamed church (at HTH)… good prayers from Rachel, but overall pretty bland (Frances preaching)… Kate has a lovely singing voice, but I really question needing songs in these kind of services?
Read newspaper over morning coffee afterwards.
Johnson appeared on Andrew Marr tv programme and indicated there was likely to be a review of tier measures "in the next few weeks" (after the UK saw record-high new case numbers amid a fast-spreading new virus variant)… so, like every other pandemic-related decision taken by the government, Johnson will end up acting when it’s far too late!?
Scribbled some draft ‘Taking Stock Reflections’… but didn’t finish them (maybe I’ll add/amend at a later date?).
Read more of my pilgrimage book in the afternoon.
Evening telly: usual Sunday night ‘Countryfile’ and ‘Antiques Roadshow’, plus a new Attenborough documentary.
Image: Capricorn Place in the early morning (from 30 December).

Saturday 2 January:

Beautiful, sunny morning… we’re still trying to avoid people when we walk so, as usual, we don’t walk on Saturdays (which was a shame, today).
Fetched the newspaper and bought milk and bread (and Lemsip+paracetamol!)… and pored over the paper while drinking our coffees.
Sketched the dining room fireplace (another of my ‘staring at’ sketches!!) before lunch and then read more of my ‘Crossway’ book (about a young man’s pilgrimage from Canterbury to Jerusalem) – which, so far, seems pretty impressive.
Spent part of the afternoon preparing an invite for another of our ‘virtual sketchmeets’ – this time at Essaouira, Morocco – for next weekend. Shame there doesn’t seem to be any ‘streetview’.
Evening telly: ‘Imagine’ (Tracey Emin) and ‘Michael Palin’ (Sahara).
Image: Dining room fireplace.

Friday 1 January 2021:

Awoke to a very misty/foggy morning.
Read in bed first thing, then Moira and I had champagne and bacon sandwiches (traditional New Year’s Day fare!) for breakfast.
We walked around Bathurst Basin in slight drizzle and then back for morning coffee.
Lazy (somewhat disappointing/uneventful) day… no car to jump into; Moira’s sciatica limiting our walks; and no family or friends making anything but phone contact). Hey ho!
Ended up finishing my ‘Shepherd’ book (really excellent)… I strongly suspect it will end up being my book of 2021!
Evening telly: ‘Dr Who’, ‘Only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’
Bristol Bears beat Newcastle at home (despite having a number of forwards missing due to positive Covid tests) and Villa lost to ManU as usual at Old Trafford 2-1.
Image: Gone Fishing (some people just try to avoid ‘family’ on New Year’s Day!).