Saturday 2 May 2020

Markers.

In the old days (pre Covid) I had plenty of markers to keep me up to date.   Mondays my cleaner came, cleaned through, made us both a coffee and brought me up to date with all local news (gossip).
Tuesdays into town for coffee with E,L and sometimes C and then money for the week from the bank and bits of food I needed.   Wednesdays nothing much but lunch once a month with D.   Thursdays has been hair day for years (I wish) and usually followed by a wander round the shops, especially Milners (our local 'store' with lovely clothes, handbags etc), Friday market day and coffee with 'the girls' in The Post Horn - often as many as ten of us, Saturday a free day but sometimes into Richmond with son and wife to their favourite cafe, Sundays I would collect W (98) and take her up to friend W's where we would transfer to W's four-door car for the short journey to the Golf Club for a leisurely Sunday lunch.  There was never any chance of not remembering what day it was.

Now there are no such markers.   But it is odd how many things happen at the same time each day.  I suppose it signifies that folk are trying to keep to some kind of routine.   Regular as clockwork a runner in black running gear and a black baseball cap runs past my bungalow at about half past eight in the morning, passes me three times so I assume he is 'doing a circuit'.   Smarty, the Labradoodle, passes me every morning at nine with his 'Mum' and every afternoon at five with his 'Dad'.  And how very well trained he is - always on a lead and always trotting behind , never in front.    L and M, who live just round the corner, go for their bike ride in their yellow anoraks, every afternoon after lunch.   They always wave even if they can't see me and if I happen to be in the doorway they shout a greeting.   J with her Schidzu (sorry about spelling) walks past every morning at half past seven - a gentle, slow walk but the same route each morning.   Certain cars go past at certain times - certain dogs go past with their owners at certain times.   There is still a routine and now that lockdown has gone on so long I can almost map my day out by it.

Cloud is beginning to build up here so I must keep an eye on my washing which is blowing merrily on the line.   Also, after reading my Times this morning (gardening page) I am going to go out and cut the flower stems off my hellebore.   I have around twenty good healthy seedlings around the mother plant waiting to be potted on and the gardening page tells me that the plant is seriously weakened by letting it go to seed each year.   As it was so generous last year I shall give it a year's break.   My spirit is so willing in the garden but my flesh is weak - very frustrating but just one of the problems with getting old.   At least I have got D - a sympathetic gardener - who does everything I ask him to do without question.

Our virtual (Zoom) coffee morning went well this morning - six of us and a nice forty minute chat - so thank you W for setting it up each time.
 

20 comments:

Jules said...

It's good you were able to enjoy your virtual coffee morning. I have a similar meet up this evening, although this will be accompanied by a glass of wine :)
I think we are all generally creatures of habit.

Sue said...

I remember shopping in Milners when I was a young teenager, it was the only place in Leyburn to buy any clothes in those days. I hope it survives the lockdown.

JayCee said...

My group of friends now get together every Saturday evening for drinks via FaceTime. I usually send them a text message to wish them all a Happy Saturday!

pam nash said...

I'm always pretty sure of the date but tend to have not idea what the actual name of the day is. Ugh. No markers here either.

Librarian said...

I always enjoyed reading about your weeks in pre-covid days and still enjoy your blog very much now. This sticking to routines you observe in your neighbourhood is comforting, isn't it? Routine has always given me comfort and a sense of security, and all the more do I enjoy the occasional breaking away from it, such as on holidyas or special events.

Heather said...

How nice that you have the Zoom coffee morning link up to help compensate for the lack of all those lovely weekly meetings with friends.
The weather here is very changeable - one day it's tee shirt and windows open, the next it is back into jumpers and the fire on. Never mind, it is May and suppose to warm up again next week.

Bonnie said...

What an enjoyable post. I well remember your busy schedule and when reading it all at once it makes me think that maybe you were ready for a rest! I have noticed a similar schedule of walkers and such where I live. We have certain walkers at certain times of the day both with and without dogs. The one I enjoy most started only a few weeks ago and comes by at about the same time each day. It is a gentleman driving a golf cart with a huge man sized dog sitting in the seat next to him. That dog is sitting up in the seat so properly and seems to be enjoying the scenery as they drive by!

Sheila said...

The days pass by as quickly as ever for me. I am truly indebted to you, Pat, for the introduction to Carol Drinkwater's books about The Olive Farm. I'm well into the first book and find I have to ration myself to just one or two chapters at a time. Yesterday I ordered books 2 and 3 so I'll be 'living' in the south of France for some time to come.














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Tom Stephenson said...

Definition of a Shitzu: A zoo with no animals.

Joanne Noragon said...

I lost all my markers, too, and haven't picked up any new. So glad you did.

Cro Magnon said...

When I over-wintered back in Brighton, I knew exactly what time it was when the milkman came past in his electric milk float. The sound of the motor, the rattle of the bottles, and the eventual clink of our two pints on the doorstep told me daily that it was 5.30 am; and time to get up!

potty said...

Just to add to my confusion I forgot '30 days hath Sept , April ...' and that the Bank Holiday is on Friday. My watch has now been adjusted and I'll be at home of course for May the 4th be with you. It has been a bad year so far.

Rachel Phillips said...

The walkers/runners use your dressing gown as an indicator of time, give or take 4 hours.

wherethejourneytakesme said...

I remember browsing around Milners when we had a visit to Leyburn - really nice store. You really don't need a clock do you - just look outside to see who is going past your window!

Mary said...

The battery in my wrist watch died at the the very beginning of lockdown! I can't replace it now so have put it away for the future when life regains normality of some kind - though it will never be the same! I really don't worry about the time now - I hear the grandfather clock chime the hour when in the house, while gardening it doesn't matter anymore what time it is because I've no appointments to keep. . . . . . . . and if I really wonder about the hour and can't tell it from the sun, there's always the phone of course!
In all honesty Pat, I'm enjoying this different time at home and not missing anything at all from pre-virus days, yet!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Very funny Rachel!!!

Some really lovely comments - thank you for a few laughs.

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