Page 25 - Through a glass brightly

enough to the edge of Guildford to reach ‘proper’ country on foot. It’s green belt (at present, though sadly threatened), so at three miles from the town centre you don’t see anyone, even before the lockdown.
Of course Surrey is tame compared to where some of you live, but it does have its own beauties and I certainly find Nature both an inspiration and a comfort.
My other great consolation is reading. Most of you know I have what my husband calls a ‘library’ at home. Not true, but I do have a lot of books. Last year I decided not to buy any so I could catch up with the backlog. This idea was from Susan Hill: see ‘Howard’s End is on the Landing’. It did work up to a point, but I’m afraid once the ban was lifted, I soon began to acquire others. I volunteer (or used to - of course it’s closed for the duration) at the local Oxfam bookshop and this is fatal from the point of view of limiting your book buying.
What I mind most about the situation is not seeing my grandchildren; and my children of course but there’s such a charm in these younger members of the family... mine are young, one of 7 and 3 of 5. This is because our daughter had twins, just before our d-in-law produced a second son. I am used to seeing them all on a regular basis so it’s a real deprivation. FaceTime is great but not the same.
Talking of ‘virtual’ contact, these Zoom groups seem to be multiplying. A friend here joins in church services carried out by her vicar at home and several I know have set up family ones. A member of one of my book groups suggested setting up one, but it didn’t seem a popular idea, so we left it. I hope we don’t regret this!
My kids are all working from home, except our feisty d-in-law who is CEO of Cambs LMC and is out and about. She also does one day a fortnight as a locum GP, to keep her hand in but fortunately these are nearly all phone consultations now.
My history group from Girton hit on the same idea of group emails. We usually meet annually in the home of the one who settled in Cambridge and has a large and attractive garden. Fortunately, she likes entertaining six of us plus various partners... or she says she does! Like our own Commemoration, the meeting will sadly not take place this year.
So good to ‘meet’ you all here though. Keep cheerful. Keep safe.
From Mag P. at 18.33
It has been lovely reading all your emails. I have kept my head down for the last month because my youngest daughter has been very unwell. Yesterday after having had a raft of tests we heard that her blood condition is not cancer and although quite complex can be treated. You can imagine the relief.
Richard and I are doing well. We walk, garden and do numerous crosswords and puzzles. I am studying the Book of Job which is surprisingly relevant for today. Our ageing congregation are remarkably resilient and I am heartened by the kindness of neighbours. I think as is often the case that life will be changed when we get through this. People are being so friendly whereas sometimes it was even difficult to make eye contact with them. I suppose it was like this in the war.
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