By Subject

I have never kept a diary, in fact, I'm not a really a book person either... back in the day I blagged my Senior School English exams by reading only the Exam Revision Guide. The family joke is that I have only ever read one book; it's not true, but nearly. By the way that book was "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett about 20 years ago, a gripping read. Now I think about it, I read the follow up too "World Without End", so that has crushed the family joke straight away.

As a chronic asthmatic, I've found over the years that regular exercise has helped my lung function. In my youth, I was a keen county swimmer, 100m sprinter and singles tennis player. As the years have progressed, I've taken to exercising a few times a week in the form of running on a treadmill and playing doubles tennis. Although, those who have witnessed my tennis performance of recent times would probably argue that there is not much exercise taking place, and that my game is more reminiscent of a musical statues....but without the music interlude.

If you are a government registered extremely vulnerable person you are sent a box of emergency supplies. This box contains:

I need an antibiotic for something. No problem, called Mortimer surgery and they're sending me the prescription over to my house later today. I feel like a Queen, waited on. Our local NHS service is excellent. Mortimer is lucky.

Time Changes

Lots of people are struggling to find time to work from home, keep children amused and educated and care for elderly relatives at a distance. I’m in my mid-sixties and no longer have a job, children at home or elderly relatives. My time is usually dominated by looking after grandchildren and various local activities. None of that is now happening. Which leaves me with perhaps too much time to think!

I'm currently sat at home, about to enter into week 3 of lockdown. I'm in my 40's (which is not middle-aged for those who think it is). I'm in the "vulnerable" category due to my chronic asthma, which means I have not left the house properly since shortly before lockdown. I am an eternal singleton (not through lack of trying but Mr Darcy just hasn't knocked on my door yet) and am locked up on my own.

I'm the primary, family, carer for my mother. She's 91 with COPD and mild dementia but still manages to live independently about 20 miles away in Farnborough. This is only possible with the excellent support we get from Hampshire Social Services ( both direct and indirectly via third-party providers) and a heap of technology including 2 voice assistants (Echo), 1 video assistant (Echo Show), multiple cameras (Blink), heating control, entry system, automatic drug dispenser and a 24-hour emergency call service (Argento).

Chosen by committee (or desperation?) to begin logging the daily goings on of regular Mortonians during global death pandemic, the regular people decided not to do it so I was asked instead.

I’m a new recipient of a transplanted organ, I’m immunosuppressed and I’m in my early 40s. Female. Black or blonde hair, depending on how long I’m going to be incarcerated. Full time employed, working from home easily, by the power of the electric interweb, living with my (first) husband and my pussy cats. No kids, never liked them.

There are many ways to meet people in a village. Owning a dog and taking it for local walks is one of the oldest and best. We are lucky in Mortimer to have so many woodland and open areas that we can take a dog for a long walk. Since the lock-down, however, there has been a distinct change to the way dog walkers behave whilst out with their dogs.

Just before all of this kicked off, Lynn and I started a Wednesday evening Yoga class at St. John's School.