Week Ten
Friday, May 22, 2020
We should've been traveling to France today for a week in Provence with Andy's family.
Andy is at work, I'm at my desk.
The holiday was to celebrate my Mother-in-laws birthday. Instead we'll all be getting together via FaceTime, having a picnic in our respective homes, probably following an unhealthy amount of brie with a few croissants. It's not what we planned, or hoped for, but it'll be fun nonetheless, we've planned a few surprises, and no matter what it'll be a birthday that's remembered.
It's the sixth family birthday we've had during lockdown, with three more coming up in June, and Father's Day too. I wonder what life will look like when it's my birthday in late August? Have you had a birthday in lockdown, how did you celebrate?
I didn't write a Week Nine post as lockdown life mirrored that of the week before. The first round of changes to lockdown didn't affect me much but I was able to see my Dad for the first time in weeks. He came over and we sat in the garden, which we figured was probably safer than a public park as we'd most certainly encounter fewer people. It's bending the rules but it makes sense to me. He brought his own flask of tea and didn't come into the house, and we kept our distance. It was so hard to see him and not give him a huge hug!
A few days later I repeated the exercise with my Mum, there were tears and giggling but, again, no hugging.
My local garden centre is now open in a fashion (you queue and order at the door and collect at a designated point) but I've resisted the urge to go for now. I would like to pick up some spinach and lettuce leaf seeds at some point soon but I'll wait until I need to plant them before going. I think that the longer I can stay at home the better.
Now that we're allowed to drive to a local beauty spot I've been thinking about going to the beach for a walk, I do worry that it'll be a draw for a lot of people, so haven't made any firm plan to go, but it will be one of the first places I visit, maybe sometime in June...?
How has your week been? What impact have the new rules had on life for you?
14 comments
How disappointing that you've had to cancel the holiday. Daniel and Jasmine were supposed to be going to see her family in Colorado in April, she hasn't been home since Christmas 2018 and has a nephew who was born at Easter last year who she hasn't yet met, so it was disappointing for them. The only thing we've really done different since the restrictions have eased is go to a couple of local places for a walk. Temple Newsam was packed and many people weren't observing any social distancing practices and there were groups of people, definitely from different households, out together. Lotherton on the other hand was quiet and everyone we passed stepped to the side so we could pass without coming into contact. Needless to say, we won't be visiting Temple Newsam again for a while.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame but it's something to look forward to for when it feels safe to do so.
DeleteWhat a shame Daniel and Jasmine couldn't go on their trip, two years is a long time to have not seen family, and with a new addition to the family, that must make it even harder. I know technology makes this situation easier, but it's not the same as seeing people in person.
This situation will see two types of people, those that are sensible and those that aren't, sadly though this means those who are sensible will have to stay away from places that, if everyone where sensible, we could all visit.
Lotherton looks lovely, so you're lucky to be able to go there, and Archie likes it too!
xx
How lovely that you were able to see both your Mum and your Dad. It must have been hard not to be able to hug them, though. Your "bending" of the rules does indeed makes sense. I'd rather meet someone in my own back garden than in a public place where there's chance of being too many people about. We can now drive to a local beauty spot as well, but we haven't done it either. But perhaps, now that the shops have opened here, fewer people will be out walking in nature. We just haven't been able to bring ourselves to go anywhere, except for the garden centre. xxx
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice to see them! But strange not to hug them as I am a hugger by nature.
DeleteI'm happy to stay at home for a while longer, what's a few more weeks?
xx
Jan's birthday was on 1st May. We celebrated by going out for a meal - one of the last normal things we did before lockdown! Mine is in August like yours, but the restrictions in Switzerland are starting to be relaxed a bit now so as long as there isn't a massive increase in cases again I should be able to do something for my birthday! We're thinking of trying to have a holiday within Switzerland, obviously distancing from other people as necessary.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that a family gathering will be possible in late August, but we'll see. I hope you get to do something nice for your birthday!
Deletexx
I'm so sorry about your holiday, Hazel. As you say, you'll still have a lovely time celebrating Andy's Mum's birthday creatively and hopefully the family can have a wonderful time in France next Summer instead.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to see both your Mum & Dad. I thought about going to our local garden centre, too but decided not to. It's not that I'm worried about catching anything, it's just that it's become an enjoyable challenge to make do with what we've already got for as long as we possibly can!
xxx
It is kinda fun to see what you can do with what you have, I totally get it.
Deletexx
Apparently garden centre queues are chaotic at the moment and you can understand why. Even though we're permitted to do more I've really done very little different except going out for more walks, runs and trips to the allotment. I did have a day in the office at a distance which was very odd and I felt the urge to get out of there asap, it's just not good to linger anywhere with others too long.
ReplyDeleteSO great you got to see both your Mum and your Dad. Exercising a very sensible approach. Take care xx
It's the probability of chaos that has kept me at home for so long. Seeing family in my garden has been the only change for me really. It must be nice to have the allotment to go to, even that must feel like you're getting out and away from home for a bit.
DeleteI'm not sure I'd want to go back to an office, even with social distancing, it feels too soon. I can't imagine what parents must be feeling having to send kids back to school.
It was lovely to see Mum and Dad even if I couldn't give them a hug!
xx
What a shame about the cancelled holiday but at least you can enjoy it another time I guess. The new rules didn't change anything for me, though I have driven for a couple of walks I couldn't do from home since I had permission to do so. Both places where I know I wouldn't meet people and were quieter than some of the paths I have walked from home!
ReplyDeleteI hope the holiday will be possible next year, but who knows.
DeleteIt seems sensible to me to drive to somewhere quiet rather than add to the throng of people. Luckily we have plenty of space on our doorstep.
xx
What a shame about Provence! It would be good for you and Andy to be able to go away- a rarity I should think! I hope you get to go somewhere when it is safer.
ReplyDeleteI have also done the same with my Mum twice now and once with my sister- it does indeed feel much more sensible to do a meet up in a garden rather than a park! We all have sidegates so it is possible to do it without any house-going into. I went over to my Mum's yesterday and we sat in her garden and then went for a walk down to the seafront. It was absolutely fine in terms of the distancing- the beach was mostly clear as where she lives isn't really a proper well-known beach, it's estuary and so they don't really get daytrippers. Our way of avoiding people was just going down onto the beach from the pavement if we couldn't get past- it was fine. The only annoying thing I had was I was posing for that IG photo you might have seen and some kid just walked past me- he had a WHOLE wide section of beach to go onto to get past but no... he just decided to go close to me. His parents didn't say anything Bizarre!
I have two local garden centres and the bigger one has done the social distancing and set up brilliantly!!! The other is not so good...
In all honesty Andy is thrilled that we're not going away, it's a busy time on the farm, and he's not keen on travel. I was a little disappointed though.
DeleteI envy you your beach visit, and how lovely you've been able to see your Mum and Sister.
I think people just slip into auto pilot, and revert back to old ways, when they're out and about, which I guess is understandable, but it's so important to stay vigilant. I was constantly checking my distance and waiting for people to move when I was in the supermarket, it was a very odd feeling but that was in an enclosed space, on the beach it should be easy to stay apart. Parents should be extra vigilant when it comes to their children too.
I'm running out of compost so I might be forced to the garden centre soon....
xx
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