For this update, I have been keeping a daily diary for the last week or so. I thought it would be a nice way to do things differently.
Sat Apr 11th
I took Hannah shopping to Safeway this morning - and shopping is a lot more stressful than it was before!
Queuing up outside me and Hannah kept amused by me running around the shopping cart while she watched and laughed. Some other customers watched from behind their homemade masks, while others grumpily stared - probably wondering why anyone is still attempting to have any fun when the world we knew has ended.
(They probably never had any fun anyway, apart from moaning about someone smiling on the bus, miserable bastards)
Anyway, the staff at Safeway were great - explaining the new rules about the disinfected cart we swapped into and the handwashing station and then the one way around the store.
However, old people shopping are the worst. I'm not getting ageist. It's just a fact that a lot of the old people in the supermarket were, in my opinion, being dicks. And everyone I saw being a dick, had more grey hair than me, so they were really old!
At one point I turned into an aisle and was greeted with old lady 1, stood, right in the middle of the aisle, staring at the bags of chips. I politely waited a minute or more before asking if it would be possible to move to the side so I could pass her, at a distance, to peruse the rest of the empty shopping aisle that I could see lay ahead. Her reply 'No. We cant do that.' I turned and without getting in anyone's way, went two aisles up so that I was travelling in the correct direction up a different aisle, wit a plan to return later to continue shopping in the blocked one.
Old lady number 2 was just being crazy - She was actually wearing a mask - under her fucking chin. Unless she is a fish, I do believe her breathing holes, all 3 of them, are on her face and not in her neck. If you can be bothered to wear a mask, which remember, is more about protecting other people and not yourself, at least attempt to place it somewhere where it will perform its task. I wondered if she was actually a very old mermaid - Maybe I should have asked! I bet she hated seeing the frozen fish in boxes in the freezer aisle. She also refused to adhere to any kind of distancing as she pushed right past me to grab some milk. Thanks, crazy fish woman.
Old man number 1 - well he was just as bad, as I walked up an aisle, following the arrows, he just careened down the same aisle towards me, expecting me to get out of his way. Which I did - as I murmured to Hannah - 'We are trying to protect these idiots and it's their own fault if they get ill' Hannah stared at me sternly as if to show her disappointment at someone else grandparents being stupid.
Finally, remember Old lady number 1? Maybe you think I was being unfair with her before - Well as I reached the bread aisle she had totally given up any plans to live beyond 80 as she now wandered around, in between other customers, past shop staff and without a care in the world or more than a few inches from certain doom, she seemed to be a completely new and different person, just like in the old days when we could touch each other (with permission of course) Maybe she thinks freshly baked bread is the cure for Covid19? Who knows, but it certainly pissed me off after she had been such a strict rule follower just a few minutes earlier.
I understand the reasoning behind the one-way aisles and I am happy to follow the rules. But we CAN still talk to each other, make our excuses and move past one another, back to back if necessary and leaving a viable gap. We could even close our eyes, hold our breath and move quickly a few feet apart if people want. But there is no need to be rude about it and there is especially no need to be rude about it and then just give up on eth distancing rule entirely when you reach the bread aisle.
Just a thought - Remember Bruce Willis in 'Unbreakable'? He would be fucked now! His superpower enabled him to see into peoples minds, but he had to touch them, as they passed by. If he was real now, he would be arrested about 10000 times a day! Poor bugar, he was only trying to help!
Sunday, April something...
Today was difficult until about 3pm.
Hannah and I got up to let buffy have a lie-in. We spent time in the basement reading breakfast and don't a little yoga, Berge Hannah wanted to dance. So I put on some nursery rhyme videos for her. It was so good until ' there were 10 in the bed' she started to cry every time someone fell out of the bed and didn't really feel better for about an hour. I was supposed to go for a run about 10am, but didn't want to leave her if she was upset, so played until she was happy and then got fist bumps and a big smile off her when I left.
The run was great. I have had a reoccurrence of my long term (about 15 years) shoulder injury and it's been painful since the end of January. I haven't been able to run for ages and was worried it would make it worse. But it appears that working from home and running makes it much better. Thanks, coronavirus, you have made me feel much better! Yay.
In the afternoon we all went out to take a walk and grab some fresh air. Whilst wandering, one of my dreams came true. I always thought I would introduce my kids to running, as I've been a runner since 1986. But I didn't expect it to happen so soon. Hannah started to run along the path. She shouted 'mum' 'dad' and made us join her! It was awesome and we must have run a few hundred meters together!
Then when we got home she started to throw balls to us in the hallway. Not like a kids throw, but a proper astonishing adult-type throw. It was ace! She kicks footballs, climbs everything, throws balls and runs! What a little sports person!
Also - I now have a great new Ab's workout...
Monday - another day
Even though I am able to work in the office still, I am trying to work from home as much as I can. Partly for the virus thing and partly so I can assist Buff when she has a work meeting online or needs a 5-minute break from Hannah. I actually love having the chance to spend more time looking after Hannah, but with me still working 40 hours a week, and Buffy contracted to between 20 and 25, without any childcare at the moment, it's difficult for us both.
Buffy tries to get as much done when Hannah naps as possible and I will take Hannah for an hour before or after work so Buffy can do a bit more. Then with one evening a week when we both work a few hours, and working a couple of hours over the weekend, it means I can take another couple of short breaks during the day when I am home to play with the crazy one and give Buffy a rest.
It's not easy though - The days for both of us consist of 7am starts when Hannah wakes up, one of us takes Hannah with the other working, then swapping out throughout the day, sometimes for a short stint and a little longer at lunch. Buffy has Hannah more than me during the day as I have 40 hours to do as well as often having to respond live to customers issues. Then after work, we spend time with Hannah together and have dinner, before she goes to bed and we finally relax around 8 after tidying up. An hours worth of telly before bed and then we start again the next day - 7 days a week. I wouldn't change a thing though.
When the childcare was open, Hannah would go there two days a week, meaning Buffy had about 15 hours work in those two days and a quiet week otherwise.
We are loving the fact that we are lucky enough to still be working, but sometimes we do feel a little jealous of those who have a few weeks and are just bored at home with nothing to do. As long as they are able to go back to their jobs afterwards of course.
Buffy tries to get as much done when Hannah naps as possible and I will take Hannah for an hour before or after work so Buffy can do a bit more. Then with one evening a week when we both work a few hours, and working a couple of hours over the weekend, it means I can take another couple of short breaks during the day when I am home to play with the crazy one and give Buffy a rest.
It's not easy though - The days for both of us consist of 7am starts when Hannah wakes up, one of us takes Hannah with the other working, then swapping out throughout the day, sometimes for a short stint and a little longer at lunch. Buffy has Hannah more than me during the day as I have 40 hours to do as well as often having to respond live to customers issues. Then after work, we spend time with Hannah together and have dinner, before she goes to bed and we finally relax around 8 after tidying up. An hours worth of telly before bed and then we start again the next day - 7 days a week. I wouldn't change a thing though.
When the childcare was open, Hannah would go there two days a week, meaning Buffy had about 15 hours work in those two days and a quiet week otherwise.
We are loving the fact that we are lucky enough to still be working, but sometimes we do feel a little jealous of those who have a few weeks and are just bored at home with nothing to do. As long as they are able to go back to their jobs afterwards of course.
This morning was a good one, as I washed my cup of tea Hannah watched me and wanted to join in. Within a few minutes, she was up on a stool and talking to herself 'Wash, wash, wash' as she scrubbed her own plate and some cups clean in the sink! Awesome. Now I just have to teach her how to get a beer from the fridge!
Day 3 and 4 (or 4 and 5)
Another day and another milestone for Hanny!
Yesterday whilst playing with the alphabet jigsaw that was sent to her for Xmas, we were singing the Alphabet song... She listened and on her own started to repeat the letters - from A through to F. Then as I pointed to the letters on the jigsaw, she said them in order! Cool.
So when I got up with her this morning, after a little breakfast, I drew the letters on a blackboard and pointed to them. Lo and behold, after a little coaxing for 'A' she read B, C and D as I pointed to them. Now I know its just because she has learnt the first few words of the song, but it's really exciting to see her learn so quickly!
Later in the day, Buffy started showing her the finger - or at least - one finger for 1, two for 2 and 3 for three and she seemed to be getting that quite quickly too. Now, I am not saying she's a genius, but it's amazing to see how quickly kids take things in and its really good fun.
Remember the running from a couple of days ago - Now every time we go outside all we hear is - Run, Run, Run - we have a crazy in our midst!
This afternoon she also had her first real full-blown phone conversation -It was Grandma calling to read her a story, but for 40 minutes she ran around (Hannah, nor Grandma) holding the phone, replying to questions and generally being a good little girl chatting to Grandma and Grandpa on a video call. It was a lot of fun to watch, especially as she lay down on a pillow - all self-importantly chatting away!
Ok. Ill admit, that after 6 days everything went tits up. I no longer kept a daily diary to entertain the masses with my verbal trivialege (Not a real word)
You see it was all spoilt by the generosity of Hannahs Grandpa and Grandma.
After starting the updates earlier in the week, myself and Hannah were enjoying a few minutes of playtime in the backyard when Grandma and Grandpa showed up. They had brought with them a bed.
A few weeks ago, before the world, as we knew it ended, we had discussed moving Hannah into the big bedroom to facilitate returning the small room to a nursery for the upcoming blob. Part of this plan was to build Hannah a Teepee bed. But without good tools and with a 'Hannah' round the house it wasn't something myself or Buffy had the time, space or the carpentry skills to complete to a high enough standard.
We knew John and Susan have all of this and would be willing and even joyful to know they could help us out and give Hannah a big treat by building it for her. So we bought the wood and gave it over a few weeks ago, expecting to get a bed back sometime in summer - there really was no rush. Then the virulent virus arrived and everyone had nowt to do but stay at home So John and Susan built the greatest Teepee bed since ever and dropped it off on a Friday evening about 10 days ago.
This gave me and Buffy a quandary -What to do with it?
So we dropped our plans for the weekend (we had none) and started to clean, paint, and papier-mache the roof in Hannahs new room. Holes were filled. Beers were drunk. The paint was spilt. Brushes were cleaned and after almost a weekend of work, we were nearly done.
Then over the next few nights, we built the bed, put some shelving in the cupboard, added a couple of cameras, to watch Hannah sleeping and finally moved her drawers from the old nursery into what we now call 'Hannahs Room' - original or what!
She slipped on the unused floor on the first night a few times, so we then added some colourful rubber-type mats. We made the old trunk safe and turned it into a toolbox and added a radio alarm clock as she loves to her music in the mornings and ching ching it was finished - about 8 days from bed drop off to completion. That's why I ain't done any updates in the last week or so!
Heres a few pics of the progress and completed room...
The last thing to report from this week is the weather - Its lovely outside and with restrictions beginning to be lofted on Monday, we may well be able to get a pint at an outdoor patio soon! But how to get there?
We took bikes last summer and Hannah travelled in the little bike trailer we had. But to be honest she never really liked it and it was a bit cumbersome to attach and ride with.
Luckily, we have superb neighbours who have just given us a lovely little bike seat for Hannah. We fitted it today and she absolutely loves it! Off to the pub? Grab the bikes!!
Ok. Ill admit, that after 6 days everything went tits up. I no longer kept a daily diary to entertain the masses with my verbal trivialege (Not a real word)
You see it was all spoilt by the generosity of Hannahs Grandpa and Grandma.
After starting the updates earlier in the week, myself and Hannah were enjoying a few minutes of playtime in the backyard when Grandma and Grandpa showed up. They had brought with them a bed.
A few weeks ago, before the world, as we knew it ended, we had discussed moving Hannah into the big bedroom to facilitate returning the small room to a nursery for the upcoming blob. Part of this plan was to build Hannah a Teepee bed. But without good tools and with a 'Hannah' round the house it wasn't something myself or Buffy had the time, space or the carpentry skills to complete to a high enough standard.
We knew John and Susan have all of this and would be willing and even joyful to know they could help us out and give Hannah a big treat by building it for her. So we bought the wood and gave it over a few weeks ago, expecting to get a bed back sometime in summer - there really was no rush. Then the virulent virus arrived and everyone had nowt to do but stay at home So John and Susan built the greatest Teepee bed since ever and dropped it off on a Friday evening about 10 days ago.
This gave me and Buffy a quandary -What to do with it?
So we dropped our plans for the weekend (we had none) and started to clean, paint, and papier-mache the roof in Hannahs new room. Holes were filled. Beers were drunk. The paint was spilt. Brushes were cleaned and after almost a weekend of work, we were nearly done.
Then over the next few nights, we built the bed, put some shelving in the cupboard, added a couple of cameras, to watch Hannah sleeping and finally moved her drawers from the old nursery into what we now call 'Hannahs Room' - original or what!
She slipped on the unused floor on the first night a few times, so we then added some colourful rubber-type mats. We made the old trunk safe and turned it into a toolbox and added a radio alarm clock as she loves to her music in the mornings and ching ching it was finished - about 8 days from bed drop off to completion. That's why I ain't done any updates in the last week or so!
Heres a few pics of the progress and completed room...
The last thing to report from this week is the weather - Its lovely outside and with restrictions beginning to be lofted on Monday, we may well be able to get a pint at an outdoor patio soon! But how to get there?
We took bikes last summer and Hannah travelled in the little bike trailer we had. But to be honest she never really liked it and it was a bit cumbersome to attach and ride with.
Luckily, we have superb neighbours who have just given us a lovely little bike seat for Hannah. We fitted it today and she absolutely loves it! Off to the pub? Grab the bikes!!
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