35 days since self isolation and 4 weeks of lockdown. When will it end? We are all muddling on regardless and latching on to events that make us feel better.

The weekly applause continues on each Thursday and it is a joy to see every neighbour on their doorsteps and in their front gardens, clapping enthusiastically for a minute or two and then engaging in conversation, asking everyone how they are coping. Long may this cameraderie continue after the crisis has finished.

Captain Tom Moore is and continues to be an inspiration. Not necessarily his walking efforts but his humility and modesty for what he has achieved. What he has done has, by chance, tapped into an underlying need by the British population, to do something concrete for our beleagured NHS other than praise them. It is almost pointless stating his total fundraising effort as it keeps on going up but as this blog is published the amount raised is over £26, 000,000. Not bad for walking a thousand yards over 10 days with the aid of his walking frame. I salute you captain.

The weather continues to be sunny and warmish allowing us to walk some daily steps to keep fit. Jenny misses going to the gym for her fitness classes and swimming. We now want to in put some bedding plants. Winter has gone and the wild life is beginning to emerge from it’s winter slumbers. We have had two squirrels (grey) at the bottpm of our garden and the bird song at dawn is amazing. We have been doing some small jobs around the house including sealing gaps in skirting boards and putting up a new spice rack. Today we are going to try and bake some bread. We have bread in the freezer but you can’t beat a fresh loaf while it is still warm. We have plenty of ingredients but lack rye flower. Nobody has any of that so it is going on our “long term list”. Jenny spring cleans the whole house evey few days and all surfaces are lovely and clean and hygenic.

The progress of the virus is a little confusing at the moment is a little confusing. The number of daily deaths has apparently levelled out a bit but as not all deaths are included, I will reserve judgement. Or at least save any euphoria until another day. Plus the interview with Michael Gove today was both evasive and very patronising. I neither like nor trust that man and am amazed he is allowed on tv as a spokesperson. He never answers a question fully and Andrew Marr on BBC 1 seemed to be very frust rated with his vague, tactical non-answers. Considering the length of time he spoke, I learned nothing!

UK deaths  Wednesday 15th April  761

Thursday 16th April     861

Friday 17th April          847

Saturday 18th April      888

Sunday 19th April         596