For the past five months, an app on my mobile has been counting down the days until Phil’s birthday. Each morning, before I check Whatsapp and skim the BBC news, I quickly glance the number. And although I’d like to claim it’s because I’m a wonderful wife, preparing an elaborate celebration (I’m not; I might … More Counting Down The Days
For the past five months, a handmade poster has been blue-tacked to my front door. Throughout March and April and May and June and July, it has stood like a sentry on the threshold of my castle. Greeting visitors, thanking visitors, advising visitors we won’t be answering the door. We. Are. Shielding. The colours are … More The End Of Shielding
It was the last place on earth I wanted to be during a pandemic. The last place. After four months of shielding, of staying home, of seeing no one. After 16 weeks of washing my shopping, quarantining my mail, not answering the door. After 113 days of doing everything I could do to keep myself … More Going Into The Lion’s Den
I was in bed last night when my sister sent me a text. A rather exciting one. The basket limit for Tesco home deliveries, the maximum number of items purchasable per trip… had been increased to 95! Wahoo! With a delivery due on Wednesday, I went to bed dreaming about the extra tins I could … More The 80 Item Basket Limit
I’ve not seen my Mum since Christmas. Since December the 27th to be exact. The last time we were together; we were stuffed full of turkey, wearing Santa jumpers, playing one last game of ‘Catan’. But last week, after 187 long long long days apart… we finally met up again. 🙂 And although it was … More I Saw My Mum!
The side gate was left open so she wouldn’t need to touch anything. A chair had been strategically placed mid-lawn, which would be immediately quarantined afterwards. The washing machine and shower were ready for their upcoming decontamination duties. And the welcoming committee (Lottie 😉 ) had been locked inside, for fear of over-enthusiastic sniffing. Hair … More A Lockdown Confession
When I lived in the world of the well, I rarely saw a doctor. I needed sat nav to find my local GP’s surgery, and I had no clue how many hospitals were dotted around Oxford. I didn’t know what a phlebotomist did, what echocardiograms were, and biology was just a school memory. I’d feel … More A Break From The Treadmill
Back at the start of 2020, before any of us had heard of the coronavirus, and when the year ahead felt like a wonderful blank canvas waiting to be painted… Phil penciled a summer solstice adventure into our calendar. He’d long wanted us to get up before the dawn chorus, to witness the dark turning … More Celebrating The Summer Solstice
It was early. The sun hadn’t yet broken through the hazy clouds. The grass was still damp from the overnight dew. The birds were in full chorus welcoming in the new day. And that is when we spotted them. Two little deer, just ahead of us in the field. Their ears pricked up and their … More An Illicit Adventure
The fridge is looking a little empty, the wine has run out and I’ve been craving ice cream all week. But even though Mr Tesco is delivering us some indulgent chocolate Haagan-Dazs later this afternoon… we’ll have to resist it for another couple of days. And it will have to be thoroughly washed in soapy … More Trying To Keep Safe
