Sunny.

A lovely sunny day today. It's Mothers' Day and for many people concerns about coronavirus have drastically altered their plans for the day. All restaurants closed and the advice  to self isolate for the older generation has stopped many people from visiting their mothers. I had a chat with Romas on the phone this morning and he explained that his fear that the virus can be transmitted on any surface halted the sending of a card. I hadn't really thought about that. For me, as usual it's a day like any other.

Today was the perfect day to continue staining the decking. I had a bit of a surprise as I got down to the last quarter of the tin as the colour suddenly became very orange. I thought I'd been stirring the stain sufficiently but obviously not. A swish around with the cane revealed that the orange pigment had sunk down to the bottom. So I ended up painting the wood with a much more orange colour. It doesn't look like the decking colour will be that uneven but I'll have to wait until it's all dry.

Two of the neighbouring families are enjoying the good weather playing or sitting out in their front gardens. Close enough to chat but a safe distance apart. They've also been letting the older children out to play on the main grass supervised by an adult. In the news today were calls for the better off people who have second homes in rural areas not to move out to them. Firstly because they'll be spreading the virus into unaffected areas which secondly have limited medical facilities. Doubt if they'll take much notice. From what I could see the shops aren't running out of food though we may have to change some of our choices. Today a company that usually supplies restaurants and hotels posted on FB that their refrigerated lorry would be in the cattle market car park selling a variety of basics as well as frozen food. They showed their prices which seem comparable to the supermarkets. After stories circulated of health workers finding nothing to buy at least one supermarket is offering separate slots for heath workers and then the elderly, disabled, carers etc. The National Trust have now closed all their outdoor spaces as well as their properties which they closed a few days ago. I wonder if we'll get a refund of our year's membership.