Monday 11th May to Saturday 16th May 2020
I missed Boris Johnson’s address to the nation last Sunday. News bulletins later in the evening detailed what had been contained in the “epistle of our prime minister.” By Monday morning, I was little the wiser. On one hand, those not vulnerable were granted leave to exercise as much as they wished to, as far away as they wanted but not straying out of England. Schools would open from June 1st, and garden centres could resume business from Wednesday this week. There are provisos however. Social distancing has to be maintained. And Roger, my neighour in his early seventies, as I myself am, confirmed that there were no restrictions lifted as far as us “coffin dodgers” are concerned. Daily casualties of Covid 19 are tantamount to two major air crashes….every day. Yet, we are assured things will be far better sometime soon. I feel any real improvement may well be when far more people can be tested, and medication, once tested satisfactorily, is available to everyone. There is a “road-map” for our coming out of lock-down and a very slight hope that I will be able to get my hair cut at the beginning of July….if social distancing can be revised.
My week has been much of a muchness, but I have enjoyed the solitude and the freedom to relax quietly at home. The sun shone for most of the week, but a biting north wind didn’t encourage going out for lengthy periods. And not quite so many turned out on our Lane last Thursday to applaud the N.H.S. and Key Workers.
I have had fun discovering ancestral artefacts I didn’t know were in my possession. Among the thirty or so items, are four school reports of Grannie’s father, Walter Curtis, dated 1868. This portfolio contains numerous glimpses of Victorian life. Who would have thought that seemingly mundane documents and ephemera relating to my Grannie’s parents and beyond, in London, would survive in North Derbyshire!
I seem to have got hooked on watching YouTube videos. I am not a big fan of modern technology, but I am hugely impressed with the phenomenal amount of material on YouTube.
This weekend came seemingly more suddenly than usual. It’s still cold and windy outside, but next week, a return of warm weather is assured. Thank you for reading. Best wishes, David 00 28 hrs. 17th May ’20.
David's Cruise 