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).