Tuesday 31st March

Tuesday 31st

David's 80th! I cannot believe that. 
We are all getting older!

This morning dawned prettily again but I crept out on to the road for a different view - I love the chimneys and wires!

 It was clear in the east

But shapely clouds to the north.

I decided to have a walk first thing but there were so many dog walkers I decided not to risk going down Cot Valley and cut it short, returning home for breakfast! 

Coffeed and fed I decided it was time to tackle this wall...


step one was to brush off all the loose and flaking paint; step two was to treat the mould with a mould killer. 


I managed to get water in the light switch (which it clearly didn't like) but I'm hoping it will be ok.


I decided there was no point rushing this job so I'll put the dehumidifier on overnight and tomorrow I'll bleach the whole wall!

I have a really good paint to use later and will then top off with a kitchen paint.

Hopefully it will eventually be an improvement on what is there at the moment!


The rest of the day was a mix of phone conversations, tv, jigsaw and reading.
The jigsaw is coming along! Just the sky to do and that will be for tomorrow.

Bridgie rang as the sun set, she's very busy at work (from home) which she is enjoying, she called while she was out on her daily walk.

 I was too late for the sun actually slipping below the horizon but the sky was still pretty after!

Monday 30th March

Monday 30th

This morning dawned prettily again. 

The day followed the same pattern as each day with the addition of a wonderful bath first thing in the morning in Elizabeth's house! Of such little things are our days made. 

I had a phone call late morning from Brian Lalor who used to teach at Lincroft and who was the person responsible for getting me into golf. We hadn't spoken for several years but it was really good to catch up and we laughed a lot. His wife is one of those on the at risk list so must not go out at all for 12 weeks so they are having to be very careful. 

The rest of the day was jigsaws, watching news, cooking, eating and drinking coffee!! 

Sunday

Sunday

  Sunday dawned with a beautiful sunrise like every day the past week. 

But today was very windy, a cold easterly... brrrrrr! 

As I enjoyed my cup of tea in bed the sky looked blue with a bank of cloud over the sea... 

 Within about 10 minutes the blue sky had disappeared! The little houses reflected the sun on their faces but dark clouds loomed. 

 Fortunately they didn't develop into anything and we had another day of unbroken sunshine. 

Following the 'stay at home' message, that is exactly what I did, until about 6pm when I just jogged the circuit around the terrace. 
The remainder of the day was spent tidying my kitchen table which had become a dumping ground for all sorts of stuff ; lots of phone conversations and word games today and some yoga type stretches. 
I am glad of the clocks changing today, hopefully it will do away with the 5am mornings! 
In Korea, the guy that had Covid 19 and caused Phil and many others to have to be tested and quarantined may well be deported for not following a self isolation rule... It is a big story over there... https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=286975 
And once again there was a beautiful sunset. 

Saturday

Saturday?

Each day has lost its definition. Each day is largely the same as yesterday.
Each day follows the same course. 

This morning there was another lovely sunrise 

 I ran up on to the Carn after a lovely early morning chat with Bridgie. 

 It was beautiful and lifted my spirits. 
The day was spent with planting seeds I discovered left over from last year and reading etc. 
In the evening Keith rang to say he'd started his blog... as we chatted I realised there was a beautiful sunset and dashed out to see it. 
The sun was huge and right at the end of the path. 
Here is Keith's blog link. 
globalwindow.co.uk 

Friday Day 4

Friday 4th Day

In the evening after I had posted yesterday's blog we had a 'Clap' to support the NHS. It was at 8pm and on the dot I opened my front door to stand and clap in the dark. 

There was the sound of applause and bells and drums drifting up from the town and along the terrace. I found it very moving and by the time I sat back down on my settee I was in a flood of tears. I know I wasn't alone in feeling like that. It was almost as if we'd all been holding our breath and had collectively heaved a huge sigh. 

What courageous people our NHS workers are, all power to them. I keep waiting for our over-paid 'stars' to start evening up the imbalance.

So to today... 

I woke up really early, about 5am! It meant I saw the beautiful sunrise :-)

I made a mug of tea and had a chocolate biscuit... picked up my phone and read a lovely email from Phil explaining the S Korean approach to the crisis. 

I thin skipped through some twitter comments to find another lady who shared my early morning and was also admitting to tea and chocolate biscuit!

It made me smile. 

I had decided to stay in for the next few days so didn't have a coast walk today, although it was tempting at 6am.

So I spent my day chatting on the phone, reading and more soduko! 

Oh... And eating! 

It is great to have contact with folk via WhatsApp or email, it is cheering especially after a day like today when 181 have died in the UK today and dear Italy have lost over 900 souls, it is heartbreaking. 

Slight moon visible top left. 

Day 3

26th March

Day 3 of the lock-down dawned like the previous two but a little clearer!

We were in for another beautiful day.

I decided to go early for my daily exercise... a walk down Cot Valley and set off about 8am. 

The air was beautifully clear and the birds were chirruping happily.

Steep path I walked the other day

 I saw one lady walking down the path on the other side of the valley but she was the only one until I got back into St Just about 9am when I came across several dog walkers.

The big cliff fall

It was glorious and very peaceful.

I had ordered some vegetables from Claire in Stones and went down to collect it mid morning. 

Claire is doing an amazing job keeping us all supplied but I don't know if they will be able to keep going for long. It's difficult.

 We had a lovely family chat on Zoom... although Phil has had to have a Covid 19 test cos he'd spent time on Sunday with a friend who (unbeknown to both of them) had it. He was contacted through the S Korean monitoring system and had a test on Tuesday - the result came today and he was very relieved that he was clear. He still has to remain isolated and has constant checks as part of the follow up. Korea certainly are committed to remaining on top of the problem.

Bridgie is feeling exhausted so is watching to see if anything develops ...we have fingers crossed.

Ben from the Dog and Rabbit is concerned that he might have it as he's been very unwell for several days. No tests available for us here though!

I saw and spoke to Ben for a while on Tuesday so I shall keep an eye on myself too!

I started a new jigsaw this afternoon...

and that was evening of the third day.

Day 2

Day 2

Today dawned like yesterday with a gentle sunrise through a misty sky. 

My days seem to be falling into a routine. Waking early and having a cup of tea in bed while I look at any overnight messages. 

A second cuppa often follows and a quick sudoku and then getting up about 9am!

Seems very indolent. 

The day was spent reading, talking over the wall to my neighbour plus a WhatsApp video call with my other. That led to a couple of jobs to do in next door. 

A gently made risotto followed next and a read. 

The sunset was another lovely one... 

 We are in strange times but I have lovely neighbours and am hoping we can get on top of this awfulness.

A Strange Day

A New Day

Last night the government announced a national emergency as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.

I didn't ever expect to see this country grind to a halt... but it has... and it has needed to. 

The threat to health is very real.

So, today is the first day of the official lock-down although a lot of us have curtailed our social interactions massively already, this is a final step.

Sunrise this morning.

With compulsory home time I decided to jot down stuff from time to time. It was lovely this morning to have the sun rising on the north side of the terrace - it is a sign of warmer and longer days.

The night temperatures have been cold so there was a thickish fog this morning and it took a while for the sun to burn it off... but burn it off it did. Since then it has been total sun blue skies and sunshine. 

For months and months we have awful weather and been unable to play golf,  then this week we have several beautiful days together  and we still can't play!

However, I am not complaining - it is so heartwarming to see the sunshine.

We are allowed to go out for provisions and some exercise, so I walked down to Stones this morning to pick up an order I put in yesterday for my usual bottle of milk and eggs with a few veg.

Claire has had to close the shop itself so I picked it up from the door, she is hoping to keep supplying her usual customers but we shall have to see. It is very hard for them and was especially so yesterday as a lot of visitors were around.

Buds

The last two days have been beautiful and I took early walks both days to make the most of it while we could as we could see a tighter shutdown coming.

On Sunday I walked down the Tregeseal Valley where there were encouraging signs of spring.

Looking down the valley

 The sun shone for most of the time although it clouded over for the return journey.

Cape was so clearly defined in the early morning light.

Add caption

Blue pool

 Locals swim in the Blue Pool which is visible at low tide... I've not been in there yet... but maybe this summer?

I love the old mine workings.

Cloud bank above the Carn on the way home.

It was a really lovely walk.

 Yesterday I was able to go down the Cot Valley for a similar moment of peace.

The sky was cloudless and it was beautifully quiet. 

 The low tide laid bare the rocks and even sand in places.

Longships framed by the rocks

 I sat for a while by the far headland and enjoyed the quiet. I saw two people while I was out on the path.

I walked home on a different path going almost straight up the other side of the valley and then to walk up the road to St Just.

The path is very steep and at one point there are steps going up the side of a wall... they are rather far apart and I only just made it up!

A flat bit of the path

 It is lovely to keep in touch with everyone - what a blessing whatsapp and the internet is in these circumstances!

And tonight's sunset.