Day 42 – Enjoy the Little Things

It turns out that I have an addiction to dippy eggs.

My egg-timing is on point: the orangey yolk is thick and creamy and the white is formed but not tough. The toast (white is preferable over wholemeal) is just cooked enough so that it is firm enough to dip without folding in on itself. It is buttered within an inch of its life. Cheap old table salt from a 1960’s salt cellar, is sprinkled into the centre of the egg every few bites.

Oh my, it is delicious.  And to top it off? Darren has bought Twirl chocolate bars. Life is good.

This is a definite plus to working from home!

It may be obvious that I am in a “good place” today. I slept fairly well and have eaten nutritious meals. I am cosy beneath my blanket and I have received messages from friends and my Mum. My coat zips up easier these days and my grey roots don’t look so grey in this light.

Days like today make everything seem OK. My basic needs are being met, offering security and calm to my world. The reality of what is really going on around me feels incredibly surreal. Am I on a movie set? The news…headlines…posts on social media….surely this is just what you see in films?:

A family crowded around their TV set, eating dinner from their laps. They are midway through their meat and potatoes, the father’s fork held in limbo between his plate and his mouth, a morsel of mince dropping from the prongs as they all gape at the screen. The newsreader – face serious and mouth set grimly – ordering them not to leave their home, as a ribbon runs across the bottom of the screen flashing “Prime Minister in critical condition”. White smoke, a cacophony of flashing sirens and people rushing about in deserted town centres, wearing white hospital masks or thick scarves pulled up over their mouth.

Is this really happening? It must be, because it’s all people talk about. Yes, there is still the British habit of discussing the weather, but there is a little addition to this: “good job it’s sunny, at least we can sit in the garden” or “I’m glad this wasn’t happening in January, we’d be stuck indoors”.

We are truly in unprecedented times.

It’s a bloody good job I have seen every apocalyptic and zombie film going. To name but a few:

• 28 Days Later (Basically, you need to run like f@ck because these things are crazy fast)
• Side note: don’t bother with the rubbish sequel
• Zombeavers (actually, not much to take from this one) (Although we DO have local otters?!)
• I Am Legend (I bow to Will Smith’s skills and daily routine. And his dog)
• The Walking Dead (I know it’s technically a TV show – but I still managed to pick up a few good tips over the years eg. don’t stray from your group , learn to use a gun etc etc)

And of course there is Zombieland.   If you haven’t seen this, then it’s your chance to learn the rules of surviving. Here is a list of the ones I find most helpful during these troubled times:

#1 Cardio

#2 The Double Tap (just in case – always check the zombies are dead)

#8 Get a kick ass partner

#12 Paper Towels

#14 Always carry a change of underwear (it’s just good sense)

#20 It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Unless it’s a sprint, then sprint

#21 Avoid strip clubs (just a normal, daily rule I have for myself)

#26 A little sunscreen never hurt anybody

#28 Double knot your shoes

#31 Check the back seat (on the rare occasion you are using your car)

#32 Enjoy the little things

This last one is very important at the moment.

I spoke to a friend this week, as she is having some trouble with her kid’s behaviour. We had a long talk and one of the things I suggested is to just have some time out from trying to be “normal” – things are so weird at the moment and children can suffer from anxiety and low mood just as much as adults – put aside the schoolwork for today and do something nice together. Talk about your feelings, your fears, and what makes you happy.

This is currently our reality.

So, today’s words of wisdom are: be kind to yourselves, have compassion for each other and pick your battles.