Monday 21 September:

Somewhat ridiculously, since Moira and I went into lockdown on 18 March, I’ve been keeping track of the daily coronavirus deaths. It obviously makes pretty depressing reading, but it’s also a reminder that at the start of April there were several days when the daily death toll exceeded 900. By the beginning of August, thankfully, these numbers had reduced hugely – often just to single figures. But, over the past few weeks, the number of daily coronavirus cases started to rise rapidly… and so, inevitably, have the number of deaths.
Depressingly, fears of a second-wave, as we approach the winter months, has been exacerbated by shortcomings in the government’s testing system.
Clearly, for the government (whose focus, perhaps, seems to have been more on protecting the economy than people?), with the prospect of a potential second-wave comes the increasing possibility of a national ‘lockdown’.
I think Moira and I dealt with the first lockdown well (and we’re clearly aware that, for us, compared with so many others, things have been relatively straightforward), but all the speculation about a possible second-wave or a series of ‘local lockdowns’ has made me focus on coming up with strategies for dealing with any winter lockdown.
I started making a random list (which was quite an amusing process!) and here are some of items I scribbled down:
CONCERNS:
a) Won’t be able to meet outside for picnics etc; need to come up with alternatives.
b) Health (being able to get out for walks etc).
c) Money for Ruth+co?
d) Organise stuff/visits/trips before lockdown?
ROUTINES:
a) Daily walks (individual and shared).
b) Plugging in daily routines.
c) Regular ‘contacts’ (zoom if necessary) with family.
d) Moira treats? (gin?).
e) Thinking up NEW routines.
PROJECTS:
a) Christmas cake or pudding?
b) Window poster (keep smiling etc).
c) Christmas ‘card’/letter.
d) Christmas presents (relevant for lockdown?).
e) Drawing projects (‘virtual’?).
f) Meals for R+S+I+R?
g) Another Blurb lockdown book?
h) Window Wanderland?
i) Books to read?
j) Books on particular artists or art styles?
k) 2020 Year Review.
l) Photography project?
ACTIONS:
a) Organise haircut.
b) Buy lots of candles.
c) New white shirt?
d) Sufficient TV/boxsets/Netflix?
BUT will I be organised and actually get things 'prepared'?