Lazy Sunday

It's Sunday and I'm having a lazy one this week. I had a lie in reading my current book this morning, before getting up and out with the dog. We dropped into the allotment on the walk to do a bit of watering.  I forgot to take any photos I'm afraid. I had a good chat to another plot holder who was there though, which was interesting. I've since done some laundry, hung it out and caught up with some online reading. I was thinking of heading up to Mile End Vintage again, but to be honest I've decided not to. I don't really need any more clothes at the moment and aren't really wearing what I already have that much. I tend to wear knee length shorts or jeans and t-shirts most days. Vintage clothing just isn't practical for bike riding or dog walking particularly.

Work this week has been okay, busy as usual, although not with customers particularly. I had another slight mishap with my pannier bag on my cycle home last night. Despite it being cable tied to the bike rack, it somehow managed to jump off the rack and was swinging around from the cable tie.  It didn't help that I had packed it too full of stuff I'd just bought from the shop. I tend to put things aside when I see them over a period of a few weeks and then when I get paid I buy them, but this is probably not a good practice, especially when I'm travelling to work on a bike.  I might have to purchase things differently in future.

Anyway, no harm was done to me, anyone else or anything in the bag, but it wasn't an ideal situation.  I ended up riding very slowly most of the way home and then getting OH to come and meet me part way home with the car, into which we put the bike, as I was afraid of it jumping off again and causing an accident. We need to make more adjustments to the pannier to stop it moving and jumping off or I will just have to carry a rucksack, which I don't really want to do as it makes your back feel sweaty. This cycle commute is still very much a learning curve.

I'm really loving the freedom that riding my bike to work gives me though, despite the small hiccups. I'm hoping that I will be able to iron out the wrinkles soon enough.  I do get a bit nervous cycling in, as I can't control the stupid things other people sometimes do on the roads, but that is probably a good thing, as it keeps me on my toes and looking around me, anticipating what others might do. I thought I might get bored using the same route, but every day is different as I am confronted with new road works that constantly pop up or other obstacles such as police cordons or blocked roads that I have to negotiate.  Our Shop Manager is currently thinking of buying a bike too, as he walks to work and it can take him over an hour some days. We might be fighting over bike storage space in the cupboard before long.

It's a little worrying to see that the virus is increasing again, just as I'm getting used to being back out in the world.  I'm hoping we won't be in lockdown again anytime soon, but I did read today that the PM may be thinking of locking down everyone aged 50+, based on a points system. I guess we'll just have to see if that actually happens.  I hope not, although I can see the sense in it, as older people do seem to be worse affected. I also heard that France is now requiring people to have undergone a test before entering the country.  This will make life more difficult for many and may put paid to any ideas we might have had, to go over by car for a week's holiday at some point. Crazy confusing times we are living in, made worse by not knowing when they will end. I feel pretty safe at work though, as we all try to take appropriate precautions and keep our distance from one another.

I have heard stories on the grapevine of people travelling by air knowing they had the virus and potentially spreading it. It just serves to reinforce my lack of interest in flying anywhere anytime soon. I don't think it will harm us to stay put this year.

Talking of travelling, LB was supposed to be going to Brussels with some friends next week on Eurostar for a few nights. I was getting a bit concerned when I heard that the virus was increasing in Belgium, but they have had to cancel anyway, because one of her friends was due to go on holiday with her family on returning and they didn't want the family holiday to be spoilt by her potentially having to quarantine when she got back. I was quite relieved to be honest, although LB was a bit disappointed. She's got over it quick enough though. Things are changing constantly and so fast that it is hard to keep up with everything.

I broke my vow not to use Amazon last week, when I purchased more disposable masks on the site. It really was the most economical option. One pack of 50 black masks cost £5 or £6 and has arrived already and a second pack of 50 blue masks cost £3 or £4 and I'm still waiting for it to arrive.  They are coming from China, which again, I'm not ecstatic about, but it was the best option I could find. I'm still wearing the ones I made, but they are much harder to wear for any length of time, such as the time it takes to do the bi-monthly grocery shopping and at work, where I tend to wear disposable ones supplied by the charity, at least for part of the day. I like to have the option of both and was fast running out of the ones I originally bought on eBay, as LB has been using them too. I know it's not the most eco-friendly option, but sometimes it makes life and breathing a little more comfortable.

How are you coping with and feeling about the constantly changing virus situation?