Total Guide to Self Isolating for the Elderly: Life Under Lockdown Week 8

Well, another week has been spent in lockdown and hopefully things are on the turn with optimistic news of vaccinations and drugs to beat this enemy.

My inspirational quote of the week, from Jon Kabat Zinn, which I think we can all put our personal interpretation on:

'You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf'.

My song for the week: Bon Jovi 'Livin On a Prayer'.

Also, what about this wonderful poem from National Treasure, Pam Ayres:

At last we have a cure for all!
Ailments large and ailments small
Good health is not beyond my reach
If I inject myself with bleach

Radiant I'll prance along
Every trace of limescale one
With disinfectant as my friend
Like him, I'm clean around the bend

Dear Captain Tom lifted all of our spirits last Thursday, when he celebrated his 100th Birthday. What a legend he is and it was wonderful that the BBC produced a clip of him appearing on Blankety Blank with Terry Wogan all those years ago and he still has his Blankety Blank cheque book but not the pen! The flypast by the Hurricane and Spitfire over his garden was brilliant and to see him punch the air with joy brought a tear to my eye. Congratulations Captain Tom. We salute you.

I had my first online Sainsbury's delivery this week and we had a bit of a laugh about it. I thought I had ordered one bunch of bananas but it turned out, I had ordered one banana! I should have wondered why the price was only 14 pence! Well, I guess I will get the hang of online ordering and I can't wait to see what turns up next week.

I had a lovely day on Sunday. Firstly in the morning I got to see my darling grandaughter Florence albeit through the car window. Liz and Ross delivered a rainbow poster which Florence and Ross had made for us. Florence insisted I perform 'here is the church and here is the steeple, open the doors and here are the people'. She made me repeat this about half a dozen times, and I must admit to being a bit tearful chatting away to her but unable to have physical contact. On Sunday night, the family arranged a quiz via Zoom. What a fantastic app this is. Participants were: my son Duncan and daughter in law Fatima, my daughter Liz and son in law Ross, Ross's parents James and Veryan and Ross's sister, Sarah and her husband, James. Each couple had prepared a round of questions and what an hilarious time we all had, especially the winners, Liz and Ross. We have now all scheduled in Sunday nights as Quiz Night. Who would have thought it, but I love modern technology.

Stay safe and well everyone! 

Love,

Patricia Ledger