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Wednesday 6 January 2021

Lockdown Life in Lincolnshire

I am not quite sure how this is going to work out but, I am going to attempt to keep an occasional diary of my life during 'Lockdown III'.    Lockdown life is not too terribly different from my old quiet life, but it is different.   I am different.    Are these changes reversible?  Time will tell.

Here goes.

I walked Toby down the old railway line and out to the back of the village, skirting around the old gravel pit fishing lake then along the farm track to the next village.  Home through the fields.   It was cold but dry.  Underfoot was squelchy and slippery.   I had to 'jump' in several puddles to clean about half a pound of mud off each boot.   The day I don't enjoy washing my wellies in this way will probably be the day I hang them up for good.

Toby was so muddy that it was a two-towel job to get him clean and dry.   His reward was a handful of dog biscuits, my own,  a large mug of tea and a bowl of creamy porridge, perfect for a chilly morning.

The supermarket delivery was booked for 10am and he arrived exactly on time.   The virus has changed things, made this simple process so much more complicated. Masks, social distancing, disinfectant.  Nothing too arduous, just time consuming and tedious.

Having trouble with the internet connection again.  This kind of thing often happens here.   BT are sending someone out but s/he won't be here for almost two weeks... Great service.


My next small task is to write a postcard to my granddaughter.  Since Lockdown 1 we have been exchanging notes, letters and postcards.   The pace is entirely set by her needs.   These little notes of hers have filled me with delight.   Messages from her heart.   All the shades of emotion, light through to dark have been covered.   I often think they have run their course but then she lets me know that she is missing our exchanges.

The ones I have received have been tied with ribbon and are placed in boxes, along with old letter from my mother, father, aunt, great grandmother, to be kept safe until the day comes when she will come across them and remember the fun we had.

24 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about Lockdown III but needed I'm sure. We are in our own cocoon of sorts here. Masks whenever we meet unknowns or go out to stores. We are only maskless around daughter and her family who we live very close to now.

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    1. Hello Marcia, Your new home looks beautiful, and how lovely to be so close to some of your family - wonderful all round.

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  2. What a lovely idea to correspond with your granddaughter. I'm sure she'll treasure your letters always. Liz

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    1. Hello Liz, She is just coming up to 9 years of age and lives just across the garden, she has always been used to coming in and out of Parsonage Cottage, but because of the virus she has found writing a very useful outlet and a direct line to Gran!

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  3. How brilliant to write to your granddaughter. Treasures for the future

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    1. It is fascinating to be able see how her writing has progressed, Sue. She is developing her own style and always expresses herself with much wit, even when she is grumpy about something. I have a bundle of letters which I wrote to my aunt about 60 years ago. I rarely read them, but when I do I am transported back in time. I hope her letters will hold the same kind of delight for her.
      Best of luck with your move - exciting times!

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  4. The letters/notes are a wonderful idea - your grand-daughter will cherish them, you will too.

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    1. Hello Susan, She is a funny little thing, as flighty as a bird but with deep emotions which often come out through the notes. They are very special.

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  5. Yep lockdown is tedious and gets me down, not sure I'm into keeping a diary like you but I do like the idea of the letters you send to each other, think my lad would wonder what they were but then they live in the house with us. Take care

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    1. Hello Billy, Lockdown One meant that she was cut off from school, her schoolfriends, dancing classes, swimming, kick boxing, etc. Horrible for such an active girl, but she needed an outlet for all the emotions and questions; writing her notes to me allowed her to deal with a few things. She only lives across the garden, our cards are posted into the communal postbox between the gardens, no stamps required.

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  6. These are strange times indeed. What a lovely thing, to exchange letters with your granddaughter - every word will be cherished I am sure.

    We are about to move! I still have to pinch myself to believe it. Not ideal, in the middle of a Raging Pandemic, but too late to back out now . . . Can't wait to be in our new home at Builth Wells (50 miles N-E of here).

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    1. Hello BB,
      Strange times indeed which certainly does not make the hard work of moving house any easier for you but, how exciting! Fingers crossed that all goes well and that you are soon installed in your new house which I am so looking forward to hearing about! I always love that first night in a new home; as long as you have your beds made up and have the kettle, tea and cups to hand, of course.

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  7. Corresponding with your granddaughter is such a perfect job for a grandmother, to engage a young child at such a difficult time in our lives. Of course you would keep them in a special place, to be discovered at a perfect time.

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    1. Hello Joanne, I will pass them on to my daughter with strict instructions that she should keep them safe for her for I think it will be quite a while before she realises the beauty of her little letters and cards. I hope all is well with you.

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  8. I should write to my granddaughter who is away at college. My cousin Pat and I keep in touch by writing. Do people even think of writting letters any more. EI think it is beautiful. I also appreciate handwriting the address and return address on the envelope insteal of slapping on a sticker. Enjoyed your and Toby's walk.

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    1. Hello Henny Penny, I think you would enjoy the walks which Toby and I take and I know that I would enjoy your company. I tend to write quite a lot of email but not many letters to friends which is a shame. An email dropping into the mailbox of your computer is nice but doesn't hold quite as much enjoyment as that of a real letter, does it?

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  9. Interesting that you said you were not the same person, it is something that I made a comment to my husband about this week. I think we have all changed in some way. Lovely idea to write to your Grandaughter I send a weekly postcard or card to my Grandchildren each week and have done since we moved here to the Isle of Lewis.

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    1. Hello Mamasmercantile,
      Today has been one of those very rare winter days, below freezing all day but with still air and brilliant sunshine - very mood enhancing! How lovely that your grandchildren have something to look forward to each week, snail mail is so much more fun than electronic messaging, no matter that it is so much more speedy. I have just had a quick peek at your 'new' sewing machine, what a beauty!

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  10. Like yourself I didn't find Lockdown so tedious. It made me feel safe,in my home with Sr P and all what makes my home surrounding me. The worst was not being able to go out and walk (here in Spain even walking was restricted during the first lockdown.) that was the worst part. I think it is a brilliant idea that you have kept your letters and those from other members of the family so your grandchildren will be able to read them in the future. Something like a Time capsule! I am lucky to have my grand-daughter nearby but we do keep in contact weekly. Stay safe Amanda x

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    1. Hello Amanda, I think walking with Toby is what has kept me going through this last year. He doesn't say much but he rarely leaves my side and is even willing to cross muddy fields with me, all for the price of a good rub down and a handful of dog biscuits! Lovely that you have your granddaughter nearby. Stay safe and well.

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  11. Being a very strong introvert I too haven’t been very stressed, my extrovert husband however, is going quite batty! I do miss visiting certain things and people, but it’s not stressful. What is stressful is the not knowing what’s in store for us this year, not being in control of my future.

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    1. Hello Kim
      How lovely to hear from you. It has certainly been a strange old time, quite a test of our resilience and character. I have found myself delving into books dating from the time of the 'Spanish Flu' and WWII. It has helped to put things into perspective for me. Like your husband, mine has missed being able to chat with people, which is quite funny because in 'real' life he would define himself as a recluse. I suppose it comes down to whether a thing is done voluntarily, or whether it is imposed upon one by circumstance. We will all get through this!

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  12. I missed that you had come back to blogging. Happy New Year! I like exchanging letters and nice that you have that collection of yours of 60 years ago. Lockdown is like a way of life now, I dont take a lot of notice of it really, just keep within rules but go to the supermarket and out everyday for a paper and don't watch any news bulletins - the best way for contentment in my view.

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  13. Happy New Year, Rachel! Lovely to hear from you.
    It sounds as though you have a very healthy attitude to our current circumstances. Some of those old letters were written when I was about my granddaughter's age; when I hold them I can clearly remember how I felt at the time of writing. I hope that young Frankie will experience something similar and be whisked back in time and place to remember that life continued, we still laughed, danced and had fun. As from time immemorial, we just got on with life and dealt with things.

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Lovely to hear from you.
I will try to answer comments in the next post.