Thursday and I am up eating a muesli breakfast early. I watch the TV report on the COVID figures and the decisions being made. I am increasingly curious about the changing basis for decision making when it is being freely admitted that we are in a third wave. We are in a crazy situation where people are junking the tracking system and placing their faith in the vaccination process despite the fact that large urban areas have rates as low as 30%. Masks are being dumped and with it the idea of protecting others. It feels like large numbers of people are just about to take what they want regardless of the consequences to them or anyone else, with the travel industry heading the charge of people from a relatively safer environment into areas that are less safe. Could money be involved I ask myself.

A friend calls on her way to her second jab and we talk COVID and agree that there will be lock down in winter. I get to my meeting and spend time discussing with colleagues where we are going and how things are at the moment. There are some practical things to sort out and the its time to say farewell before lunch time arrives. I sit with my eldest daughter and we decide on what she wants delivered for the week at home on her own. The family then stroll down to the village shop to grab eggs and a paper for lunch. The sun is out and we eat scrambled eggs on the patio and read the paper. I linger over the crosswords before returning to the village and collect my drugs from the chemist. Back home I get my washing in and then sort them away before get into my training kit. I row for half an hour. Its hard, I’ve not trained for four days. I am rapidly discovering that I loose my fitness very quickly if I do not train everyday, except Sundays of course. So I grind out a session vowing that I will keep making the effort, although going away for a week will be a challenge.

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I clamber off the rower and then head for the luxury of a bath bomb bath. It is a delicious soak, I eat a peach and listen to the radio. Time for the usual Thursday tuna pasta and then some Wimbledon. My youngest daughter messages me to say that the sellers of the house they are in the process of buying have withdrawn. She is angry and I am afraid I was not much help. One of those times when the right words fail me. Parenting can be tricky. I watch more tennis and then return to the laptop to write the blog.

Tomorrow it is preparation day to travel on Saturday for a weeks break. The car needs to be prepared and the packing finished. Of course the food shop has to be done and the things that keep me safe like checking the first aid kit. Of course my office back pack goes with me and my newly acquired sketching kit to start the talentless artist uses art materials collection.