Staying Home: Day 12

For all of us the days are beginning to take on a pattern of their own with work, exercise and relaxation. Some of us socialise (virtually) more than others - M in particular spends a lot of time messaging and has regular video calls with groups of friends. I am largely happy in my own little bubble though have a couple of ongoing group chats - one with four close friends where we check in with (and on) each other off and on every day. The girls I think mostly WhatsApp their friends.

I woke up still fatigued and fuzzy brained. This morning I worked on the new freelance job, but only getting things set up on an online system as my brain didn't want to think. I went for a gentle 15 minute stroll this afternoon and walked past this magnolia. The flowers were getting past their best, but still strikingly lovely. The cold breeze blew my cobwebs away a bit and since then I have been feeling less tired so hoping I'm on the up again.

I haven't been reading much this year, I think because my concentration has been so erratic, but I don't want to waste the time I now have so I am now trying to make sure I spend at least some time reading every day. I'm nearly at the end of my current book, Surfacing by Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie. I hadn't come across her before, but am loving this beautifully written collection of essays. Some are short, others much longer, including two about archaeological digs in Alaska and the Orkney Islands. I think I stumbled across it on Amazon's Kindle recommendations. I also have a couple of Audible books on the go. When I wake up in the morning I like to listen to a book or podcast and do jigsaw puzzles on my iPad to ease into the day (I'm not a morning person). I have just started Bill Bryson's Neither Here or There as I wanted something that M might enjoy too.

Disney Movie tonight is going to be Avatar, which none of us have seen before. Dinner is going to be pizza, and I'm looking forward to a large gin and tonic!