Easter in Incarceration

OK. So, maybe this whole social distancing thing is getting to me. I spent all of yesterday in a pretty foul mood that boiled down to the fact that it was a lovely day and what I actually wanted to do was go out with my husband and Missy and explore a castle or something.

I'll rewind a bit. If this lock down can be compared to the seven stages of greif, this week was anger. We've had shock. We've all seen the footage of Italy and heard the numbers in Spain. Then we had denial. It's all fine really, we just gotta sit tight and really, it's just flu. We're fine.

This week is anger. People have been so aggressive. Media is blowing up and scapegoating anyone who is outside when it happens the sun is shining, and the mobs are baying for blood. I feel judged every time I'm in my car driving out my estate to go to work - working in a critical role to provide safe drinking water. At work people were cross, no one can agree on anything except that the higher ups are clearly doing things wrong. I don't know if it's fatigue from the longer days we are now doing (skeleton crew, 4 on 4 off shifts) or what, but no one had anything nice to say this week in the labs.

So I was in a foul mood yesterday from having to just smile and deal with everything. Hubby suggested we walk to Bellsquarry, which he cycles past on his commute, and seemed like a nice woodland area, so I conceded defeat and went along. 

Instantly we were treated with a delightful mother duck and her babies. All my frustration melted away as the tiny fluffy bundles squeaked after thier mother and I was reminded by nature that not all was bad. Its Spring. Ordinarily a favourite season of mine (truth be told, they're all my favourite for one reason or another!) but I do love watching everything come back to life and the warmer days with the promise of lazy summer afternoons int he near future.

Spring also brings Easter. Its a highlight on my social calander as this is usually the first big outdoor outing we do as a family. For obvious reasons, I had cast that thought and hope from my mind and focused on the day for what it meant. 

Rebirth or New Birth, Christian or Pagan, however you look at it, this is a time of year for accepting the past and moving forward. A time for the world to shake off its winter slumber and step forth and grow into something beautiful. I hope that, however difficult these past few weeks have been, and certainly for many more yet, that we will continue to embrace and grow the good we are finding in it and shake off bad habits of old. 

Ironically, I think my family are getting closer (perhaps not always getting along any better, but more prepared to lay aside thier hatchets, which is a marked improvement). My mother is volunteering to deliver food out to the kids from her school, an altruistic side I had rarely seen from her and hope to encourage. My neice is reaching out for help on her school work and we're stepping in to do what we can. PE with Joe every morning. The weekly clap for our carers. Good things. Let's not get carried away shaming those who do wrong, let's focus and praise on those who are doing the right thing.

Right. Apologies. Time to get off my high horse. For Easter we decided on a virtual picnic. As you can see Missy approved!

We also had our time honoured egg decorating contest. I made an Elvis inspired egg and won the "most entertaining" category. Fortunately I am not judging next year, so I have plenty of time to come up with something else!

I'll leave it there for now, the evening is drawing in and it's time for some Easter eggs, a cup of good hot tea and a stupid movie. A perfect way to finish the day. 

A Very Odd Week

I think I am not alone when I say this has been a very strange week.

I will tell it from Missys perspective. 

Monday: Mother was doing that strange thing she sometimes does where she stares and talks at the laptop. She's a bit stressed out but that's OK, Father is home early! And he's getting to stay home all week too, or maybe all month, they don't know, but that's great. I don't know why Mother is upset about that. 

Tuesday: Father was keeping busy in the garden, he doesn't want to distract Mother from the laptop. It's got nice now so I can sleep in the garden. 

Mother should have a longer break from her laptop, so I lay on her feet to try and stop her. It didn't work, 

Wednesday: now mother is on the laptop at night too. First to Grandpa and Ruby, then next with Granny and the cat Elvis. She's doing lessons, she says we all need to keep in touch, but that's silly. Why can't we just visit them? I haven't seen the cat in ages. 

Thursday: I'm not sure I like this routine. Father avoids mother so as not to distract her, and mother clearly needs someone to cheer her up. I tried bringing her a squeaky toy as she was talking at the laptop. She laughed and took it off me so my work is done. 

Friday: Father is much happier today. He says he's going to get paid until the end of the month, and from there the company will see what the government is planning. Mother was happy, but then spoke lots and lots at the laptop and now isn't happy. She's not staying at home like father anymore and says she has to go back to her old job. I don't much like this all. Everyone is being very upset and strange.

Long story short, hubbys work has closed due to Covid19 and I've been redeployed back to the labs - making me a front line worker. After a week complaining that I missed my colleagues and wanted things back to normal, karma bit me hard. Be careful what you wish for. Can't say I terribly want to go in, but the better part of my nature tells me that it's for the greater good.

We decided on Saturday to practice our social distancing and visit Penicuik House. It's a nice little gem of a walk - the old Manor suffered a fire that completely destroyed the internals but left the exterior building intact. It was too expensive to repair so was basically abandoned. 

We had planned on going to Flotterstone, but I think the rest of Edinburgh had that idea so we took one look at the car park and declined. Still, we had a lovely walk and a picnic by the river and my spirits were improved. It was nice just to get out and go somewhere a little different. Missy certainly appreciated it and is in better spirits herself. Whilst I'm sure she appreciates the company, she's always been very sensitive to our moods and knows something isn't quite right. 

I don't have a big project update, but I'm keeping myself very busy with a lot of hand sewing. Here's an in progress shot, any guesses on what it's for? 

I imagine next week's post will be a bit of a ramble too, and for that I apologise in advance. I think it's important for history, and ourselves, to make note of the current situation and record how we feel and what's happening. 

Keep safe everyone.