Dearest readers, thank you for joining me again today.
Like the majority of the UK population I was furloughed this week. Up until the announcement on the TV, I'd never heard the word, but it shall remain one that will forever remind us of this historical time. I do hope that you are well, staying at home and coping with this new life of confines and restrictions. Never has there been such a drive to help us all do the right thing and by so doing we are supporting our NHS staff. I put a video up on my instagram feed the other day about how important it is for us to keep well, giving a wee tip on how to boost your immune system - please take a look if you haven't already.
Suddenly we've all been given the gift of free time. Surely this has to be the most wonderful silver lining of all times? I expect many of you would rather have the freedom to come and go as you please, visit family as normal and go about your working lives, but I'm all for silver linings. My to-do list at home is as long as my arm, a fact which overwhelms me most of the time given that I am a workaholic and am often at my work computer by 5am so that I can do a couple of hours before my morning swim. And now my world has shrunk into this place where my daily work is my home. I'm now pulling a schedule together of my short, medium and long-term plans for all of my projects, ranging from spring cleaning, dejunking the loft, finishing a long awaited sewing task on to starting a vegetable plot. Thank you Boris for giving me home time, and for paying me for it too.
I acknowledge the fact that I'm so incredibly lucky to live in this tiny island paradise, one where my daily exercise can be out in the fresh air on a beach that I have completely to myself. I always count my blessings, in fact, every morning as I emerge from my swim I stop and look out to sea, sending my thanks out to God or Mother Nature or the Universe, whichever you please. I never take my life here for granted. I'm humbled by the beauty I see in my daily swim and know how easily and quickly that could all change - this was always my thinking, even before the Coronavirus came along.
Another joyful discovery for me is that I no longer have to rush to the beach on my bike, thrash along the bay and back at breakneck speed and dash home again so that I can get into work on time. No! I can take my daily exercise at any time, which now means I can have a walk on my way to the beach at my leisure. At My Leisure. That's my silver lining for sure!
Much as I'm giddy with excitement at this new departure in my life, I'm still feeling waves of anxiety about the global situation. As I strolled along the shoreline of Pentle Bay yesterday afternoon in the sunshine, I was suddenly gripped by the thought of those struck down by this disease. Last week I visited the pharmacy on St Mary's and was shocked to be served by someone wearing a full gas mask, the likes of which I've only seen on war movies. The enormity of the situation struck home then. This wasn't hysteria or scaremongering. Our tiny island health practice is very vulnerable (see another intsta-rant of mine here). I dread to think how we will cope if the virus infiltrates our island life.
So, it's coming up to time for today's walk. I'll finish now with this shot of a rather large jellyfish I came across yesterday. Needless to say, I didn't stop to swim on that beach!
Take care and thanks for swinging by!
Anna x
