Friends

Really glad I have a variety of different friends. Some came round in the garden under the gazebo before it collapsed in the torrential rain - we drank quite a bit of Prosecco and solved the worlds problems - pastor of church and his wife, ex helicopter pilot, professor of epidemiology, head of radiology and little old me - loved their diverse company. Managed a three mile walk with only a quick stop for a sandwich at Sainsbury’s - really grateful that back significantly better compared with three months ago. Started one of five Thomas Kinkade jigsaws lent to me by my nine chickens friend - all of them are quite difficult because of the shading - no particular solid lines. So pleased o could help out a friend in Ireland by sending her one of her coats - the Irish have a tough time with rain. Also sent her some small bubble wrap and a 20p plastic M&S bag - these come free with every coat sent out of England

Garden pond

The pond daughter and friend had started last year is now being completed - filling in round the edges with sand and soil. Three frogs or toads in it already making a home for themselves - I wonder if pond skaters and damselflies just turn up out of the blue - bought some plants form Dobbies which make it look more like a pond and one of the frogs has already hopped on to the lily. Talking of water - went for a cool swim in a river with friend from past work - very refreshing, loved being in the outdoors. Middle daughter bought me the new Lee Child book “Blue Moon” which I’m chuffed about  - looking forward to reading it.

BBQ

Pleased to have had first social distancing BBQ at friends cottage with nine chickens - beef burgers and sausages and avacado salad and prawns in garlic never tasted so good - all sloshed down with a couple of bottles of Prosecco (shared of course). Went to friends allotment as well which has got loads in but rosebay willowherb weeds are threatening to take over. Really pleased and thankful that I’ve completed a few lists that I normally have up to date but not during lockdown (household handy contact numbers, passwords, church address list, current finances). Glad to see my daughter and friend of mine getting on really well together and both doing painting by numbers (wolf and Japanese bird scene) - think I’ll order one so as not to feel left out. Glad to be part of a Zoom church coffee morning - 28 panels turned up and split into groups of four for chat and a coffee of course. Daughter finished off jigsaw in record time but another one arriving from a friend - Thomas Kinkade “Garden of Prayer”. Been to the new Marks and Spencer’s twice now - what a pleasurable experience doubly so with social distancing as all one way and plenty of time.

Gardening

Now that I’m back home am really pleased a gardener has been gardening (which of course he would do) so that I can sit and enjoy the garden but also doing little bits here and there. Daughter also says she likes now doing a little gardening - progress. Have also taken out houseplants into the garden to dead head and revive which has been very therapeutic. Grateful to live quite near the sea and went on short one mile walk on two almost deserted beaches with the sun still shining at 5pm. On way back home had my first ice cream since lockdown - amazed but pleased that the shop was open!!

Still being grateful

Been locked down with brother and his wife for over three months on other side of country - great time together. Very grateful to be with family for such a long time and especially with Mum who died while I was there very peacefully. Today really enjoyed talking to friend in Southern Ireland. Also that usually non-talkative Daughter getting on with one of my friends from Northumberland. So pleased that another Friend has provided me with at least 10 hardback crime books - that should keep me going for a while. I also cleared a space on table that had been cluttered for over a year for a new jigsaw -it’ll be great

Still isolating

Still here despite the nasty virus. Grateful for village I’m in as there are many small food shops and all that we need during isolation. Fantastic that I can contact friends in North East and Northern Ireland. Had first FaceTime coffee and cake with new friend in Northern Ireland - first virtual cake I’ve had - actually I made the mini Victorian sponges - proud of myself.

Thankful that I have time to plan an interesting meal for me and my brother and his wife - had Persian dish called Fesenjan made from chicken (should have been pheasant), toasted walnuts, pomegranate and cardamom, cloves, cinnamon. Tonight I attempt my first South Korean chicken dish made with a Korean chilli and fermented rice paste with a tangle of noodles - local small Sainsbury sells the paste - begins with a G but is totally unpronounceable.

Love the butterflies that are in the garden at the moment - taken pictures of a comma and a peacock- I’m sure there’ll be other species during this coming week which is meant to be warm and sunny as we head towards Easter time - I hope more folk in the world contemplate the real Easter - Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection so that we might know for real our Creator. The ponds frog spawn has now turned into a heaving mass of tadpoles - I wonder how many new frogs will survive.

Just heard from a Master Chef contest who originates from Somalia that she is willing to cook the Hinds family a selection of her dishes in celebration of getting through the virus - this will be fun - hopefully I can muster up 12-15 of us to go.

Grats during a crisis

Wow - what weird times we’re living in. We could all give in and not be grateful for anything but actually there are so many things to be thankful for - social media, friends are still there, sunshine today absolutely incredible, healthy enough to walk around garden spotting butterflies and water boatmen and centipedes and woodlice and spiders and ants and ladybirds - makes you think there must be a Creator. I can still contact my music groups via Zoom (nobody had really heard of Zoom a month ago). Doing yoga exercises for the first time in my life. Thankful for a lovely friend who has sent me some ebook links - I have never read an ebook in my life.

Incredibly thankful for all the frontline doctors and nurses and carers who go to work each day not really knowing what to expect. Grateful that I can get my pain medication from any pharmacy in the country just by one phone call. We have electricity and water and flushing water and gas and food and a roof over our heads and access to medicines and healthcare. We have books and ebooks and online games and crafts and advice from all sorts of people about new activities and how to keep yourself unworried and occupied.

We still have our countryside and wildlife and sunshine and laughter and birds singing day and night and connections to old friends and new.

We have coffee even if no cafes to go to with friends. We have food and wine even if at the moment we can’t get out to restaurants and bars. We have scissors if we want to cut our own hair or someone else’s. We have shampoo and soap. We have clothes and washing machines to wash them. We have the seasons which come to pass whatever else is happening - spring is here with signs of new life again.