The Lockdown Gang - not setting foot outside!

Carillion, we have been to Rome 35 times, but it looks like our trip for September, probably won't go ahead.
I'm really sad, as I thought this may have been my last one anyway, as my health is deteriorating and my travel insurance is already astronomical.
I was really meant to be an Italian.
The thought of never seeing my Roman friends again, eating my favourite food and shopping in the markets for bargains, is upsetting.
However, this is minor in the light of the suffering of so many.

Callistemon, I've just added being detained in a pub lock-in to my bucket list.
Having said that, other notable inclusions Marydoll is to get to the Vatican City, see Mount Rushmore, return to living on the Isle of Skye near Macleod's Tables, take lessons in water-colour painting and speak fluent French..at the moment I'm only proficient in franglais. It's fun though. Have a good weekend Lockdown Gang, especially you dear Doodle xxx

Such desperately sad news from various people, sadly people still die of other things as well as the dreaded virus. So upsetting than we can't go and hug bereaved friends or even go to their funeral. Puts lockdown into perspective.

Good morning. I have been out in the garden. There’s nobody out there from any of the houses around me.Either they’re all still in bed, glued to a screen or, I hope not, have gone out for the day!

Now it’s coffee time and Gransnet. Three pieces of jigsaw and the opening of a parcel?

Our calendar looks very sad. It’s one of those divided into columns of his, her, us. At the moment the only thing on there is which bin to put out.....

What dreadful news to hear CherryCezzy

DH got his letter this morning though we have been self isolating for a couple of weeks now, 12 weeks seems a very long time. This is only the start!!
Yes there are things we can do from lockdown which others can't so easily.

DD, who has just moved to a rural area rang in tears today saying BT can't connect them to house phone or internet until June. Everyone she has spoken to has been unhelpful. She made her first visit to the nearest shop in a town 12 miles away fearing her car was breaking down. She couldn't find the supermarket etc
a proper tale of woe but I think by letting off steam at me she was able to see it all in context and to count her blessings and I may have saved a total breakdown...

They have amazing scenery - curlews and oyster catchers - and the 2 children can play together and Summer's coming (sorry BradfordLass)

It's great for me to come on here to let off my own steam!!!

BradfordLass it's getting rather cold
DH remembered to turn over one of our calendars this morning and was disconcerted to see a lovely autumn scene rather than spring blossom!

I understand how you feel, CherryCezzy, ? my friend buried her son, two weeks ago and as I was already in lockdown, I could only speak to her on the phone.

Her DD and SIL now have Coronavirus and I fear for her health, as she is 76.
I feel so helpless.

Not sure whether to love the fact that your DH has provided a hole Mamissimo ? . Do you know what it is for?
I agree with Marydoll sounds like you might have been left off the list by mistake newnanny, you should check with your GP.
I had some bad news yesterday that upset me yesterday and it 'put paid' to my day. My friend's daughter rang to tell me that my friend had lost her fight with cancer. I knew she didn't have long left but it was still a shock. Her daughter was truly amazing on the phone, really composed. She has truly inherited the inner strength from her mother to make the calls she has made in the way she did.
I feel really resentful of this lockdown today as I can't go to the house to see her daughter who is nipping in there to gather paperwork etc. I know I shouldn't resent it as it's the right thing at the moment. I'll shake it off though as I usually manage to do.
Sorry to moan, you lovely people have enough on your own plates. Stay indoors, stay safe everyone.

newnanny, I wonder if you may have slipped through the net.
My shielding letter states that anyone witha severe lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma and has needed steroids or a nebuliser in the past year is vulnerable.
It may be worth checking with your GP, as you would be entitled to additional support.

I am not on government list but both dh and I noth get severe asthma. I had to hafe nebulizer twice last year and steroids too. We have decided to stay at home for the 12 weeks. We too have started sitting in garden for our mornimg coffee each day with our coats on. We have got 2 cherry trees in bloom and a pink shrub that has grown far too tall also in bloom. We take deep breathes of fresh air. My son who still lives at home has done a large shop to keep us going until online shop arrives on 8th April. Glad we collected prescriptions before lockdown. I am making a jigsaw and have been making more elaborate meals since in all day. In the evenings we watch dvd. We usually love to watch the sport but that is all cancelled now.

A local K-Mart mailed me to say they would now be sending out "Essentials" and postage would be free over $45.

My 10 year old grandson has just told me all last years' PJs are too small so he needs new ones as it's turned quite cold at nights.

K-Mart thinks men's electric razors and women's make up is "essential" but PJs are not. So I am not best pleased.

Getting anything delivered is a mission, so the K-Mart mail was a welcome bright spot until I followed it up.

Apart from that, all is well at BL Castle. Sunny and bright outside, still enough food, a bit of laundry to do and some mails to follow up.

All good.

Glad you can get out for a bit Hazbeen we haven’t gone out since the start of the lockdown and we miss our walks.

Although I am not on the shielding list because of various health problems as well as an ongoing investigation of a new condition I am staying in. OH who is 5 years younger than me with no health concerns is doing the shop runs for us and neighbours but sooo careful when he comes back!
We live in a very small one bedroom flat with a communal garden so I am not getting much fresh air. Tonight I waited until there was no one about and had 10 minutes walk around the garden bliss!
By the way I had an email from ubereats to say they are now delivering from local convenience stores as well as loads of pub/restaurants. Many include alcohol!

mamissimo that fantastic. You’ve got a hole, wonderful. ?

grammaretto of course you may join us. That was a good idea with the parcel. Waking up with any kind of health problem is difficult at the moment. Hope the antibiotics work and it doesn’t bother you too much tonight.

Evening all. Nearly another day done. So far I’m keeping myself amused. If DH continues to tidy the spare room by the end of our lockdown we might be able to see the carpet again ?

I am a very happy inmate today!

Many many years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, my DH bought me a water pump for my birthday.........after 25 years had passed the dear man bought me a more up to date and sophisticated pump.......4 years ago he gave me a beautiful and very simple steel column for a water feature......today I got a hole! ?

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.....

I definitely qualify for the Lock-down gang. May I join please?
Today was a bit tough because I woke up with a swollen jaw and gum abscess. After advice from GNet, - where else? I phoned the Dentist which would have been fine except that we couldn't contact the pharmacy who were to deliver the antiBs. In the end a friend, who was delivering/collecting something at my door, left me some of his AntiBs.

A phonecall with my very sensible son left me contrite about complaining that our food delivery was all wrong! (brown pasta instead of white, the wrong kind of oats etc)
He said he'd been listening to Terry Waite who reminded us that our problems were First World ones....

We have many family birthdays this weekend including a significant one. I discovered a new trick:
I managed to pay for my small parcel online, print off a label and post it in the letter box without having to visit the post office.
parcel.royalmail.com/

It is frustrating though being in isolation. I am very glad we have a large house and a big garden. I have decided to leave the grass uncut this year too and see what happens.

callistemon that had me feeling very sorry for the poor man till I read the punch line
eglantine nice to have a garden to sit in. Weather is supposed to be good Sunday so hope you get a chance to sit out then. Can you remember what each box contains? It’s quite exciting really just like having presents ?
lemongrove, welcome to our gang. You can stay if you promise to behave yourself
MamaCaz I don’t think the list has got through here yet either.
Keep safe all

nanaK54
Have been able to access online delivery slots with Sainsburys which has made so much difference

You have been lucky, it seems.
My DiL is on the shielded list but is still being told by Sainsburys (today) that they haven't received the Government list yet!
It must depend where you live, I guess.

I know it’s alright really. Though I did come in the other day when the wind was blowing from their direction.

Belt and braces, that’s me ?

Eglantine ....30 feet away in their garden is more than enough, no coughs or sneezes could travel even half as far.

DH isn’t on the shielded list ( government letter) but is vulnerable due to medical conditions, so we are more or less isolating ourselves ( and very boring it is too)☹️
Shopping delivered so far, but slots increasingly hard to find.
Also trying to shop for a family member who does have a government letter, but he can’t seem to access any delivery slots at all.
We wave at neighbours or have a slightly shouted chat ?from a safe distance.
Callistemon haha. Love it!

We have parcels from Amazon lined up in the hallway in order of quarantine. I can open the nearest one tomorrow ??

These are not stuff but any food that we could order because we still can’t get a supermarket delivery slot, the local farm shop just st does a limited range of stuff and supplies were running low.

Not that there was much on Amazon but pat least there’s some calories in two boxes of chocolates and a jar of korma sauce!!!

The children from opposite are playing on our drive. I just went out and had a chat with them, they were at least 15 ft away so I wasn't worried, Eglantine. However, I was very careful with some magazines and books that a friend delivered for DH and left outside. I put on gloves and they are self-isolating in the garage.

What I’m anxious about is when people start going out again - will we not get the virus then? If this is a daft question, sorry
The curve will have flattened out and the NHS more able to cope with us old ones or there may be a vaccine - or there will be no more cases.
That's the theory anyway, I think.

It’s a beautiful afternoon and I have taken my cup of tea into the garden. The family at the back are having a kickabout in their garden. I think they’re about 30ft away as the crow flies and that makes me nervous.

I’d be an absolute wreck if I had to go to a shop!

The man in the house has had his medication delivered today by one of the lovely receptionists at the surgery. I am so grateful to them.

We won’t mention that I had to leap up and bar his way because he was going to the door to say thank you and take them in!

It's years since I had a lock-in Doodle!
The last one was when I was about 19 and finished about 2 am, but perhaps we could keep this one going all night.
For those who are finding it hard, some helpful advice was sent to me by a friend:

We are almost two weeks into self-isolation and it's very upsetting for me to witness my wife standing at the living room window staring aimlessly into space with tears running down her cheeks. It breaks my heart to see her like this. I've thought very hard of how I can cheer her up. I've even considered letting her in. But rules are rules.
Stay safe, stay well.