Thursday was bright and sunny, but still with a cool edge masking what would have felt like a summer’s day. The same, yesterday. Today, the sky is “North of England Grey,” with occasional lashings of rain creating an incentive not to go out. Two days ago, my laundry was collected from my front door, and my grocery order delivered, along with a bag of newly washed clothing and bed linen. Thanks to numerous other people, I am getting by rather well, I think.
Yesterday marked three weeks since arriving home from my 77 night holiday. (It should have been 78 nights!) Self isolation might be irksome, but it does open up some opportunities. There is always plenty to do around the house, but more often than not, the inclination isn’t always there. Most evenings are taken up preparing something acceptable to eat, clearing up, and watching T.V. A biscuit and a decaffeinated milky coffee insures that I don’t wake up feeling hungry during the night.
Fairly late on Thursday evening, a phone call prompted me to search through the family archive for a photograph of the back garden of the home of my paternal grandparents. This home is still “in the family” and the people living there now wish to attempt to restore the garden in a similar way to how it was landscaped by its first owners in 1927. Trawling through previously unexplored files, I did come across a snapshot taken of part of the garden in 1929. It does help a little bit. However, I have come across all sorts of other important memorabilia chronicling much of our family history. That in itself should keep me occupied for months. That big photograph remains elusive.
There seems to be no end in sight of the Coronavirus situation, and I remain undecided what to do about the travel I have booked between August and October. I suspect that I shall transfer monies already paid in deposits, to future voyages and train journeys. I just cannot see the present situation being resolved completely in August.
Captain Tom Moore from Keighley in Yorkshire celebrates his 100th birthday on 30th April. What prompted him, I am not sure. However, he decided to raise £1,000 for the N.H.S. by walking 100 laps of his garden before reaching his 100th birthday. This was an on-line fundraiser which “went viral.” (That’s unfortunate terminology right now!) The last I heard, funds raised were in excess of 18 million pounds! He has vowed to keep walking as long as the money keeps coming in. What an astonishing, phenomenal, and unsurpassable achievement. Quite rightly, he has achieved global admiration, and should be awarded the highest available honour(s).
On that joyous note, I thank you all for reading and wish you the best for the rest of the weekend, and the days to come. David 25.42 hrs. Saturday 18/4/20
David's Cruise 