No more craziness this week since Tuesday's earthquake, I'm glad to say. Life is getting increasingly busy as we settle into the new normal. M and I have quite a bit of freelance work on and I am back to my archives work after my two weeks off. We are still managing to fit in our walk most days, though. H had a quiet start to her job, but had some online learning to do and various online meetings and social events in the second half of the week. She also collected her car on Wednesday, which she has been looking forward to for months. It is leased through her BF's work scheme (he works for a large car manufacturer) at a heavily discounted rate, and although she could express preferences the exact choice of car was down to the company - which allocated her a top of the range version of the her preferred model, which comes with lots of extras and a very up market feel. She is a very happy bunny!
TG went back to school on Thursday. They are all expected to stay in their year bubbles, but as her "bubble" includes about 320 students, I'm not sure how useful this is. Each year group has been allocated its own zone within the school to avoid mixing, although they have to visit other areas for some specialist subjects so they can use equipment (in TG's case, photography and catering). Although the school has done its best to put safety measures in place, with the numbers involved it can't be perfect; unfortunately, just at the time when it is most needed the testing system seems to be breaking down, with people sometimes being sent long distances to get a test because none are available locally. This issue seems to be down to a shortage of lab capacity to process tests, rather than to lack of the actual tests or capacity to administer them. Without being able to easily test any children or teachers with system, it will be harder to keep any minor outbreaks under control, or to release anyone with symptoms from quarantine. Goodness knows how this is all going to pan out, but I have decided there is no point in worrying about it.
On Saturday H, TG and I went on a shopping expedition to an outlet mall. We wanted to get H a graduation present, especially as she missed her actual graduation due to Covid, and she decided she would like a nice bag. She intends to use it for work, so wanted to wait until she got her work laptop so that she would know what size to get. As I have been alternating between a folding nylon rucksack and an old bag that H didn't want any more which has a dodgy zip, I decided I would also like a new bag for my birthday next month, so it became a major and successful bag-shopping expedition. H found one in a store that we expected to be massively beyond our price range, but it was substantially discounted from the already much reduced outlet price and she fell in love so we splurged. It is a plain shopper style bag in a beautiful soft leather and the sort of quality that will last a lifetime. I'm pleased we managed to find something special to celebrate her graduation, as she had worked so hard through her four years at university. I found a bag I liked too (from a rather less extravagant store!) which has been put away for my birthday, and I also bought a small crossbody bag which I will get a lot of use out of. TG bought herself a t-shirt and a card wallet, and I bought her a pair of earrings, so we all came home very happy with our purchases. This sort of shopping trip is a rare extravagance - the last time we went was four years ago, to buy H a coat for her 18th birthday.
Yesterday (Sunday) was also busy, with a live brass band rehearsal - outdoors, but with nearly a full band - and an evening with some band friends which was enlivened by a very riotous game of croquet, partly by torchlight as it got dark half way through. There may also have been quite a bit of prosecco drunk! Unfortunately M couldn't join us as he was working. Today I met a former work colleague and dear friend for a long and leisurely brunch. We hadn't seen each other since before lockdown, so it was lovely to catch up in person. This evening there was even more catching up, when our former neighbours came over for a visit. We are having some lovely late summer / early autumn weather, so we were able to have Chinese food delivered and then sit outside in the garden to eat it. Again, it was lovely to see them and catch up. Much as I have enjoyed this busy and social few days, I'm quite glad the next couple of weeks look much quieter. I am definitely not used to having so much going on in such a short space of time!
No comments:
Post a Comment