LOCKDOWN LIFE
I've spent my time through our 3 lockdowns making masks, repairing broken items, (ongoing) watching nature, growing plants & making sketches/collages of appealing things.
Last year's weather was quite different compared to 2020. The weather was exceptionally warm, so much time was spent in the garden or on our allotment.
Other exercise was via Zoom classes x 2 per week, aching joints followed. We watched our hair grow, exchanged notes about jabs! I even bought skipping rope to try & get breathless to avoid mixing with countless out-door joggers - hard to avoid. The garden felt safer. This activity has waned due to poor weather & lack of enthusiasm. I was hoping to dance whilst doing it which proved less easy!! Got tangled in the rope.
It's been difficult & frustrating, in bad weather during 2021, to meet friends outdoors. Missing the regular visits to museums with friends. Online tours of museum galleries have been good.
I had my 1st hug with my brother in April - not seen him in person for 1year.
We had our 1st outing to the BM for Middle Eastern Art, which was impressive after 6 months of online-only events. A snack in the Members' room. 1st meal out inside a restaurant with two local friends @ 'The Flying Frenchman' on Newington Green.
Also went to Tate Mod for Zanele Muholi - just before it closed!! Impressive & exhausting amount to take in. Had a lunch @ Etsi near St Pauls. Another novelty!! All this in the space of one week!!! Felt culturally hammered!!
Home meals tend to get repeated - spanakopita, pasta & broccoli, cauliflower & potato curry, then 2 meat & one fish dish. Chicken is getting swerved & we're going for rabbit, lamb or pork.
Jams have been made with our fruit from the lotty - I've enjoyed designing the labels.
Finally we got away for 4 days in Blythburgh with 4 jabbed friends of similar age. An uplifting time was had by all. Swimming in the pool & sea. A long walk from the Isokon house to Walberswick, via forest & field, was quite exhausting but I made it. 4miles - in the heat.
Other outings have been driving to Yorkshire to visit my brother. Partly to test-run his car (we needed to get a better one to qualify for LEZ) which included a trip in his wide berth narrowboat to see several bridges, a lock & then camp overnight after a barbecue.
In November we drove to Kent to celebrate Richard's 70th birthday - stayed in room over a garage in Chislet. Faversham was a good meet-point to see couples 1 & 2. Then a visit to Birchington to meet couple 3, & Herne Bay couple 4. Then home - home exhausted from so much talking.
