Saturday 23rd May
My morning dog walk is curtailed by a heavy shower. I briefly shelter under a tree, sharing the space, suitably distanced, with a lady from Blaby, while our dogs play in the rain. During lockdown she has exhausted her local walks, and since relaxation of lockdown, has been walking around Croft Hill. Today was the first time that she has discovered the network of field paths around us. I suspect that limited travel has encouraged local people to explore closer to home, and the increased number of people using the routes around us may continue beyond the Covid Crisis.
I continue to consider the practicalities of opening our church for worship, once we can. There is guidance available from “Head Office”, including a Covid Risk Assessment form, identifying where people could potentially come within 2m, so that arrangements to avoid this can be planned in advance. Advice on cleaning is limited on both Government and Methodist Church websites – plenty of instructions for a deep clean if a premise has been used by someone who has or develops Covid 19 symptoms, but little on general cleaning of community buildings before and after use by the public. The USA Centre for Disease Control is helpful, but refers to products available in the States. Hopefully more UK guidance will become available as further social isolation relaxation takes place.
A particular treat today – our first visit to a garden centre for over two months. Chantal needs compost, and none is available at local supermarkets. We visit Sapcote Garden Centre, which has the one-in-one-out policy that we have become familiar with for supermarkets, but in this case applies to cars. No pedestrian customers are allowed access. We queue on the site access road for only a few minutes before accessing the car
park, where only alternate parking spaces are available. In both outdoor and indoor areas of the centre the arrows, signs, and 2m markings are as we are used to in supermarkets, but it is easier to avoid other customers. As you would expect, a trip to buy compost must involve browsing plants, shrubs, and other products, and we return with two lavender plants, various garden care products as well as two compost bags. As we leave the queue of cars has lengthened to beyond the “15 minute waiting time” sign.
Chantal’s friend Trish visits at lunchtime, and I leave them to gossip in the garden, allowing compliance with social distancing, other than requiring that they meet on the grass verge in front of the house. My socially responsible approach means that, sadly, I am unable to take part in a detailed conversation about cameras, lenses, tripods, accessories, and the best place to photograph a peregrine falcon. One must make sacrifices in the interests of Public Health.
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
