Week Five

Friday, April 17, 2020

Another week of lockdown, and this week I decided to make a note of some of the little things that made me smile each day.

What made me smile on Saturday



Garden pottering with Andy

Finding bluebells growing in the hedgerow

The glorious sunshine

Hot cross buns

What made me smile on Sunday

Clearing brambles around the pond with Andy, followed by tea and hot cross bun mini-picnic in the sunshine


Chocolate Ferrero Rocher squirrels for Easter

Discovering Sarah Millican IGTV How to be Champion Storytime and catching up on all the episodes I'd missed. She mentions biscuits a lot and encourages viewers to partake, which prompted me to rummage in the pantry and find a long forgotten packet of Bourbon Creams.

What made me smile on Monday

Mended the zip on my green skirt

My amaranthus seeds sprouted

Seeing an advert for another series of The Great British Sewing Bee (starts Wednesday 22nd BBC1 9pm)

What made me smile on Tuesday


We discovered 17 ducklings on the pond!

The dishwasher salt I'd ordered ages ago finally arrived, normally this wouldn't make the list of things to make me smile, but not being able to get my hands on some was really frustrating - I know, first world problems.

My cucumber seeds sprouted

Hearing Andy learning to play something new on his guitar (I can't remember what, he did tell me). I love hearing people I know play instruments. It's something I simply can't do and hearing someone I know play anything fascinates and delights me.

I sat reading in the sunshine for a while late afternoon ...



... sitting with Socks. He was being very affectionate, leaning against me, purring and wanting attention.

Later, when I went for a walk, Socks came with me, just trotting along by my side.

I ran out of my favourite tea, so I had to plunder my neglected tea collection and tried two new teas, Whittards Chelsea Garden, and Mango & Bergamot green tea, both of which are delicious!

(This was a really good day)

What made me smile on Wednesday

Wore my green skirt for the first time in months

Saw an advert for a TV adaptation of the book Normal People by Sarah Rooney

Video chat with Mum

What made me smile on Thursday

An early morning chat with my Dad



Drawing Eugene the Owl with my nephew and nieces (#DrawwithRob)



Captain Tommy Moore smashing his £1,000 target, raising £15M for the NHS. A further £2,000 was raised in the time it took me to watch the news story. This morning the total is £17M and still rising.

What made me smile on Friday

The news that Michael Ball has recorded and released You'll Never Walk Alone with Tommy Moore. I'll smile even more if it gets to no.1 for Tommy's 100th birthday.

A good chunk of time spent in my greenhouse watering, tidying, thinning seedlings, planning, and complete immersion in it.

An invite to a Zoom based family quiz night, it's bring-a-bottle and wear something on your head.

-----

We're in lockdown for another three weeks. I was pleased to get confirmation of this yesterday. I know it might be extended again but having confirmation means I know what I'm dealing with for the next few weeks, and a little bit of certainty - about something, anything - is really helpful.

I hope you've had a nice week, what's made you smile?

Hope you're staying safe and sane.
xx

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14 comments

  1. Because my life is not affected by illness or job loss or family being ill, I'm quite enjoying our life of isolation. (But I do feel the pain and trauma for those individuals and family who find their lives are horribly upside down.)

    There are so many things I smile about, but I have to think a moment about them as I don't often keep track. Let's see: listening to the lovely Classic FM from the UK anytime of day or night; eating a layer birthday cake and savouring each bite; enjoying the bouquet of spring flowers that were curb-delivered yesterday; gluing pretty pictures into my journal and then finding them later when I flip through; watching Bertie Lakeland (terrier) on Twitter doing his daily bimble and zoom when he's out for his exercise with his dad; learning about Tommy Moore; visiting your blog and reading this post.

    Happy weekend...
    Brenda xox

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I think isolation has given rise to being in the moment and being grateful for what we have right in front of us.
      I think you can always find something to smile about, and it's often the simple things that bring the most joy.
      Birthday cake? Happy Birthday :)
      I'm glad reading my post made you smile, that makes me smile in return, thank you
      xx

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  2. PS. I loved seeing the bluebells, giggled to think of Socks joining you for a walk (sweet kitty), and seeing your pond filled with 17 ducklings.

    B xox

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I was so pleased to find the bluebells. Socks often follows me in the garden, he's so sweet, he meows at me if I get too far away.
      I spent ages sitting quietly, watching the ducklings on the pond, it was so peaceful, and the sun was shining - perfection.
      xx

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  3. I think it's the little things which are keeping us going at the moment, though there is some sense of normality here with Eleanor still going to work each day and Mick still working, albeit from home. I'm usually at home anyway. I look forward to Thursday evenings when we're clapping for key workers, I get a sense of 'we're all in this together' at that time when we come together (metaphorically) with our neighbours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is the little things, yes.
      We're too far from anyone to hear the clapping, but it is nice to see it on the news (it's nice for the news to show something positive).
      xx

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  4. Love that photo of yopu and Socks! How sweet that you're chaperoned on your walk, i think ours are embarrased to be seen with us in public!
    'm delighted that you've fixed the green skirt and those ducklings and bluebells give me a fuzzy glow, Spring is here even if it doesn't feel much like it today.
    How wonderful is Captain Tom? He makes me proud to be a human being. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We didn't go far on our walk, I wandered about the garden and the yard, I don't like either cat to wander too far from home. I dread to think how far they go when I can't see them! But it was lovely to have him keep me company.
      I think I'd go mad if the sun wasn't shining and I couldn't get out into the garden. Watching those ducklings was so peaceful, I sat there for ages.
      Captain Tom, what a legend.
      xx

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  5. I wish we had someone like your Captain Tom! And I think it's a lovely idea to take note of the things that made you smile every day. I'm currently keeping a journal, not just to record the times we are living in, but so that by the end of the week I still remember what I've done. I've never been so distracted before. I think it's the little things we'll remember. That photo of you and Socks is delightful, and I'm happy to read you've mended your green skirt! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're all very proud of Captain Tom.
      It's understandable to be distracted, none of us have experienced anything like this before. I keep wondering if I'm doing what I should be doing. It's a great idea to keep a journal.
      I hope good and positive things come out of this situation.
      The green skirt is back in action! It's so nice to have it hanging in my wardrobe instead of languishing in the to mend pile.
      Take care
      xx

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  6. There are Chocolate Ferrero Rocher squirrels?!??!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!!
    I love this list! So many beautiful and happy things!!!
    Socks is a darling. Your pond is beautiful and how great to have ducks!!! I'm grateful for every new bit of food, grocery item or anything that I get or can buy- I can imagine your glee at dishwasher salts.
    I am glad to hear that we know that lockdown is that long so far. I was panicking a bit at all the news saying primary schools will go back soon. I've got to go in on Tuesday to take the kids for Keyworkers and I'm anxious about going on 2 trains either way and being with germy kids- it was SO hard with the younger children (esp the autistic ones)- they couldn't maintain space and kept licking fingers, picking noses, touching faces all the time and it was a bit anxiety-inducing. I just worry about the germ spreading going on with all the little ones!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed they do exist (but not for long on our house!)
      I'm so glad you understand the dishwasher salts, I felt a bit weird writing that one down.
      I hope you get on OK on Tuesday, all you can do is your best. Keep yourself safe and do what you can. You're a star for going in to look after them, I'll be clapping for you on Thursday as one of the unsung heroes.
      Take care
      xx

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  7. I hate the uncertainty too... I'm quite happy to be in lockdown but I don't like now knowing how long I've got left to enjoy it, haha! I'm very happy at the moment, knowing there's definitely two more weeks remaining but I'll get a bit antsy awaiting the next announcement, wondering if it will be extended or changed. I actually fear changes at the moment in case it means I have to go back to work, haha!!

    You've had lots of happy moments, I love the idea of keeping a list for each day. I think even during this time, many of us still have so much more to smile about - there's so many good things if you look for them! I've started a list of things I've achieved during lockdown. None of them are huge or exciting - it's just things I've been meaning to do for months/years that I'm finally having time to do, like a scanning a big bag of photos I ended up with after my gran died back in 2008 (!), a job I always put off but it's done now, plus some of the little things as simple as 'baked a cake' as I rarely bake in normal life!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I like to know where I am, so I share your feelings. I'm still working as I'm freelance, but it is quieter than usual.

      It's all about those little things now. With so much to worry about on a global level, it's nice to focus on the little things. We'd all go mad if we didn't.

      Andy is enjoying having a cherry cake baked each week :)

      xx

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