Page 32 - Through a glass brightly

beginning to develop a suntan!! The birds and plants in my garden know nothing of Corona virus – nest building is going full pelt; the bulbs have been glorious – and the clematis is now in bloom
The computer has delivered a range of entertainments from, at one extreme the National Theatre at Home to at the other, a range of witty or in some cases just plain silly attachments to emails. As I have always believed that 'laughter is the best medicine', they have certainly livened my days. I have also had emails from friends far and wide, giving me their news – which in normal circumstances they might have kept just for their annual Christmas catch up!
In addition, just last week I had – delivered to my doorstep by well-meaning friends etc – 3 separate lots of shopping, 2 lots of flowers, a slice of a friend's very rich birthday cake and an Easter Egg (this last from my friendly builder/handyman).
My granddaughters (similarly incarcerated due to their father's cancer treatment) have created some very amusing videos of their activities with suitable commentaries – they are very imaginative. This weekend we are all on a challenge to create an Easter bonnet – to be judged collectively on Easter Sunday on FaceTime. My own effort has been sadly hampered by the fact that last year I was on a de-cluttering blitz and donated all my wedding hats and lots of other decorative bits to the local Charity shop so I am having to be very inventive!
The Thursday night ritual of Clapping for Carers has given me the opportunity to see the faces of my neighbours (including some I never normally see) and give a friendly wave and exchange a few words of good cheer, which is very reassuring – and this invariably elicits a few more offers of 'if there is anything you want...' People are all very kind – let's hope we don't revert to anonymity when the self-isolation is over and instead just have 'isolation'.
At this time of year usually, I am getting busily involved in tickets for the Old Girls Lunch – and my thoughts then turn to my garden. I normally plan to have the summer bedding plants in place before that weekend, so that any visitors will be impressed with the 'state of my estate'!! Sadly my gardener has stopped coming just as the bulbs are dying back and I feared that I should be forced (a) to dig them up myself and then (b) have to look at bare earth for the rest of the year in the absence of any Garden Centres. Miraculously an email from the Gardening company last weekend announced that they had access to a nursery supplier with loads of plants and that they could deliver if I placed an order ... so I am now waiting for a delivery and then with a bit of hard work on my part I will have summer bedding plants in bloom by mid-May, even if only I can appreciate them this year.
From Ruth at 15.33
Thank you, Jenny! You’re quite right concentrating on as many good things as we can find about our present situation. We’ve all got to keep sane somehow! The sunshine is a definite help, isn’t it? And you’re so lucky to have access to a source of plants. Growing things is definitely a hopeful thing to do as we can look forward to seeing them bloom. I think going slow helps us all better appreciate the simpler things in life – like trees and birds and a blue sky...
I’m now up to page 803 of ‘The Mirror and The Light’, determined to complete it, though even supporting the weight of the book makes my hand ache somewhat. Living with Cromwell and Henry VIII in the 16th century is rather depressing in some ways what with the constant beheadings and hangings. Makes me appreciate time spent peacefully in the garden even more.
From Val M. at 20.53
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