The Final Furlong

Seasidegal58

Hi @Dottles1  I'm a WFH person too now!  I must say I'm glad I have work to fill my day and help the hours go by. Tech wise things have been panning out well with few glitches, but we do have an excellent IT team that have coped extremely well with over 300 of us WFH! 

My flat is small with no balcony so I look forward to my hourly exercise per day. Luckily the weather here has been glorious the past week and I have a nice seaside route to walk so I'm still luckier than some. Not many people about too. 

Enjoy your walk with Tilly. 

P.S. @beanielou - when we had a work Zoom conference the other day, I just dialled in via the audio version on my phone - it was much less palaver!😁

savingholmes

Not tried zoom yet. Had my first go at skype for a medical appointment though - it went okay.
I think this crisis is driving home the difference between 'richer' and 'poorer' in terms of ensuring the minimum disruption to our lives. In a day when you get all sorts delivered to your home if you have money -  but might otherwise go to a store and face empty / emptier shelves the difference appears quite stark. Despite having debt, I am one of the luckier ones... especially as me and DH can now work from home. 
I hope that from this  experience might come better compensation for those we've relied on through this crisis - the seen and the unseen. People applaud frontline workers - but forget those behind the scenes managing things, supplying, distributing, making things, growing things. 
I think that people will reevaluate their lives - and potentially change careers when they are in a financial position to do so or maybe before - because they will finally realise they/we only have one life to live - and it is time to do it on purpose instead of drifting.... I think people will realise they are more creative and ingenious than they even dreamed - that boredom has a purpose - and that from it we can tap our real potential rather than just shoving any rebellious feelings down.
I'm glad you get to retire this summer - the  income side of things will sort. There is hope for a brighter tomorrow. Our day will come again but just for a little while - we need to follow government advice and flatten the curve - and then one day emerge blinking into the sunshine of what was normal life and see if we still want it...

Seasidegal58

@savingholmes - I do hope what you say about reevaluating our lives comes true after this crisis is over and not just go on as things as always been. 

Dottles1

Oh Beanie, I'm sure you are great at many other things though, especially cheering everyone on.  Savingholmes and Seasidegal, I'm sure that some people will quickly go back to how things were but for most of us, I expect the shock of how quickly things can change will stay with us for some time.  I was overwhelmed by the number of people volunteering to help the NHS and there is no way that the government can go back to treating the workers the way they did before.  I for one will be backing a huge pay rise for all concerned.
I've been feeling flat for the last 2 days, a combination of adjusting to thoughts of the long haul and spending so much time with my own thoughts so I really must get on with making a list of jobs to get through during the Easter holidays. I'm trying to count my blessings and adjust to the new normal, as is everyone else.
Tomorrow is pay day so I'll set this month'sbudgets and have decided to order some plants from the internet so I can cheer up the garden.  On that note, the daffs are out and the apple tree continues to bud.  I've also noticed blue tits in the garden and had a couple of huge bees fly into the house last week, spring is really trying it's best to get going.
Tilly continues to just get on with things though she barked her way around the village today.  Maybe I need to take a leaf out of her book. (the getting on with it not the barking).
Sorry to b so glum, I'm sure I'll perk up tomorrow
Keep your chin up all
Dottles x

savingholmes

It's uncertain times - it's natural to wobble. I have lots of plants flowering: Grape hyacinth, narcissi, skimmia rubella, flame of forest, primroses, pansies, violas They bring a smile to my face. Not noticed apple blossom yet where I am or cherry or plum. Hopefully it will come.

Dottles1

I've been off the radar for a couple of days, mostly because I have been working really hard to keep on top of things.  I have opened my laptop a couple of times to write in my diary but had nothing to say.  It's strange and I guess most people are going through similar emotions, at times anxious, sometimes a feeling of being in a bubble, sometimes scared and then at times feeling a real sense of belonging as we all go through this together.   Overall I'm ok and trying to do what I can when I can.  I spend a lot of my working days supporting students with practical or emotional issues which are caused by or heightened by the current situation.  I  have discovered a renewed determination to do all I can to get my students through their qualification in what are difficult circumstances.  On the whole I feel positive, it's hard to hear the terrible figures of deaths everyday and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones.  In the midst of this confusion life is going on, my friend P's daughter gave birth to a gorgeous little boy yesterday and I'm seeing strangers smile, wave and speak to each other when I'm out for their daily exercise.  People are very resilient and make connections where they can.
Has anyone else noticed more birds around?  I know it's breeding season and I now have bird feeders in the garden but I also wonder if it's because they are not being disturbed as much as usual.
I've finish for Easter break today but have decided to put a couple of days in to work just to keep on top of things and provide some online tutorials.  Other than that I'm going to walk a bit further with Tilly, spend some time with Tilly and have booked into an online workshop on Saturday that has been provided free by a well known theorist.  Looking forwards to that and to reconnecting with me (if that doesn't sound too hippyish ).  Now that I am settling into a routine of sorts I'm reading more, watching films and talking to friends and family on a regular basis.  And .....I'm definitely going to have some chocolate at Easter without any guilt!!
I hope that you all have a good day and find something positive today
Dottles x

Dottles1

I attended an amazing online workshop yesterday provided free by a well known theorist, along with over 700 others.  I learned so much, ideas for my private work, my teaching and about myself.  For the first time in ages I feel excited and motivated.  Not a bad outcome for a Saturday in isolation.  At times I'm overwhelmed by how so many people are giving their time to provide something for others while we are in this awful situation.  I've donated some of my academic teaching books to one of my colleagues who is in training as I no longer need them and she, in return has left me a home made loaf and some dog food.  I quite like this bartering system.
I have woken up to sunshine which is great as I plan to spend the day in the garden.  This is my kind of therapy, I always feel good when I'm out side getting fresh air and hands in the soil.
Yesterday Tilly and I walked up the nearby woodland path, the first time it's been dry enough.  Loving seeing the birds busy making nests.
Well I'm off for a coffee and then into the garden with Tilly who will potter around near me sniffing out all the delightful smells.
Lots to be grateful for here.
Enjoy your Sunday all
Dottles x

Sunshine_girl2

Hi, always read your diary but rarely comment. It sounds like you are keeping yourself busy in these strange times . Being in your garden today sounds like the best plan, though it is very windy here at the moment so not as warm . There are so many things online available at the moment , I intend to seek out some of them when I am on leave next week. 

Enjoy your day with your with Tilly. 

savingholmes

I watched blue tits flit around on old sedum stalks a couple of days ago. Also watched magpies and other baby birds. I think we may see their population do better this year - as long as by tidying up our gardens we don't make them too hostile to nature!

Dottles1

I doubt that thereis much chance of that in my garden Savingholmes.  Though I like a tidy garden I also like to leave a bit of it to nature.  I have only just started cutting back dead plants and am happy to leave a few bits around for the birds.  I watched a blackbird taking bits of dead grass out of the newly cut lawn this afternoon.  He was oblivious to me watching and performing a little dance (or maybe a shuffle) whilst doing so.
I've had a great couple of days, lazy on Sunday apart from cutting the back lawn.  It was very windy here too Sunshine Girl but still quite mild. I read, talked to friends and caught up with some TV in the evening.  Yesterday I tackled the grocery shopping and managed to get everything I needed.  Firstly going to Al*i but the queue was huge so went up t the large Mr T which I usually avoid like the plague.  However, because it is so big, the queue tends to go down more quickly.  Most people were observing the rules though I must say I got annoyed when waiting for the person in front to move on and some idiot just by passed me and her without any regard for distance.  Are people really that selfish or just stupid?
Anyway that is now done for a few weeks so hopefully  I won't have to face it again for a while.  I also signed up for a fruit and veg box from a local company who have started to deliver because they their business was delivery to local shops.  I ordered on Sunday and it was on my doorstep by 9.30 this morning.  I am very happy with the quality and quantity of it so will definitely use them again.
Today I marked student work until 2.3 and then signed off, made lunch and pottered about in the garden.  I am way being usual, just sorting out my pots, emptying old compost out etc.  I have misplaced all the seeds I have kept so plan to sit down and work out what I need this evening.  In a small garden everything has to earn it's space.  I'm deciding whether to change the small flower bed near the house into a salad bed as it's the perfect size.  I'm also thinking about where I can put a courgette plant, perhaps in a large pot as that has been successful before. I have tidied the herb bed in the Belfast sink, really pleased that they have all survived the winter and only needed clipping back a bit.
One thing I am learning to do in the current situation is to slow down and take my time rather than to rush to get it all done at once.  I have (hopefully) many years to do things that I want to do so I'm going to enjoy doing them rather than putting myself under pressure.
I'm at work tomorrow but will sign off again at 2.30 as we are forecast sunshine and warmth.  I'm going to sit in the sun with a cup of tea and my book.
Wishing you all well
Dottles x