Day 9 – Fri-yay!

I find that I have been donning a dollop of dippy egg spillage on my chest (not on my t-shirt, but on my actual skin) for about three hours. This is what happens when I am not in the office. I am clearly not responsible enough to be on my own.

Today I meet with my lovely team via video conference. 10 smiley faces greet me, a little fuzzy at times due to the connection, but it is so nice to hear their voices. We have had many upheavals these past few months: firstly, our office was flooded, which resulted in us having to work very flexibly ie. plotted around a shared space with lunch tables and sofas; then our Director left the Trust and thus a hole in the department; then, upon returning to a drier (albeit dishevelled and concrete) office, we then discovered we would be relocating ten miles from our current base, which left an air of uncertainty. So this is yet another change, which instead of pulling us further apart, has actually brought us close together again – in spite of the physical distance.

We catch up on how everyone is feeling, as some of my colleagues live alone or have to home-school their children whilst working or find somewhere to walk their dogs. Others have their own health issues or are caring for elderly relatives. One starts maternity leave in 2 weeks and we will not be able to give her the send-off she deserves. In addition, she is facing a very different pregnancy and birth than she had planned.

I realise how lucky I am to be living in the countryside, having wide open spaces available to me. I do worry about my own health, about my family and friends and how long we may be in this situation for. There are also anxieties over money, as Darren is self-employed. But all in all, I am feeling fairly upbeat and pretty healthy. Working from home gives me an extra 1.5 hours every day and I find that I am not super-exhausted every day, and am actually enjoying taking care of myself and exercising. When we get back to “normality” I will have to figure out how I can incorporate this into my life, as I love having all this energy.

Mind you, it is easy to enjoy brisk walks when it is sunny and bright outside. Ask me again when it is pouring with rain and I am scoffing down the last Twix in the house.

In addition to my daily walks, I have been doing stretches and sit-ups. I have started with 10 per day and am building up. Good grief, my tummy muscles (who knew?!) are aching after 2 days. I did my “workout” in the courtyard at lunchtime, whilst reclining on the sunbed Darren managed to rescue before the lockdown (love him) and I probably looked a little odd, but this is “the new normal”. Thankfully, I have I have very few neighbours to observe my behaviour.

Anyway… the rest of the day is non-eventful.

I finish work and we FaceTime my step-daughter, 5 year old Charlotte. Again, I am grateful for technology, as we will not be able to see her in the near future. Although children are “allowed” to see both parents, I am pretty sure it would be frowned upon if we chose to drive the 133 miles to go and see her. Seeing her gorgeous face – long eyelashes framing her warm, brown and bright eyes – and her gap-toothed smile, makes my day. We are already missing her and it has only been two weeks. She shows off her princess dress and gives us an update on her hamster, favourite colour (she actually has 4 – red, blue, purple and pink – pink is her favourite of all) and new wobbly teeth. Charlotte understands that we cannot visit and that she is unable to go to school because of “the cough”. We are pleased to hear that she was able to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine at the beach today and she giggles as she tells us “I went into the sea and rolled up my leggings – I got so wet” and when we hang up, we both feel a little lighter having spoken to her.

*****

As it is Friday night, we decide to have a drink (gin for me and beer for Darren) and Darren cooks up his famous Stur Fry (named after the village in which he lived with his parents). It tastes different every time, but always delicious. Whilst I was working this afternoon, Darren and Steve created a fire pit out of a breeze blocks and an old radiator. I was sat outside in the sunshine whilst they built said fire pit, listening to their ideas and chuckling away as they disagreed about certain elements of the build. Before we know it, the fire is lit and we huddle (at a safe distance) around it, our faces aglow and cheeks warming near the flames. I put on some eighties music and we talk about how things have changed over the past few days. There is no other sound, just the music and the crackling of the fire. I look up at the clear sky, navy blue and pitted with perfect twinkling stars.

If it wasn’t for the terrible circumstances surrounding this situation, it would be a pretty perfect night.

Oh, and if there were marshmallows.