How is it mid Summer already? July, when schools close and kids should have those six weeks lying ahead of them – even though it’ll go far quicker than they realise and it’ll be the season of back to school deals and new stationery.
Or will it? I mean, I know lockdown is easing, but I think most of us are approaching it warily. Like some sleeping bear, tiptoeing around it, slowly increasing speed and volume, but waiting for it to open an eye and snap us back into hiding with a second wave.
I mean, I’m approaching normality cautiously, whatever normality will look like. I’ve got a nail appointment in a couple of weeks (somewhat delayed due to a small incident involving a knife and my finger). On Friday we’re planning a trip to Buxton (masked, laden with hand sanitiser, and as it’s a Friday, we’re hoping it will be relatively quiet). And I’m tentatively looking to meet a (tiny) group of friends for drinks and nibbles.
We’ve also taken a relatively unusual step to book nights in a hotel to give us a break from each other. I mean, we love each other, and for four months we’ve coped really well. We’re having conversations before issues erupt into a row. If something is annoying us, we talk about it. But, and it’s a biggie, we’re in a one bedroom flat, both working from home and have been for four months.
It’s intense. There’s no break from each other and much as we love each other, we both need space. We do what we can. We go for walks, my training on the stairwell allows for a break, but as a couple we normally spend a fair amount of time apart. We’re pretty independent. We’re both finding working from home a challenge too. There’s no time away from each other, and more, there’s no time away from work.
So this weekend, he’s booked into a hotel for the night. Just one night for him to sit in his pants, watch crap on Netflix, eat whatever he wants. And in a couple of weeks (slight delay because of my period, as I’ll probably just want to stay at home and be scruffy) I’ll do the same. We’ll be careful – masks, santiser, limit contact with people – but it will give us quiet, and space. If it works, it’s something we’ll probably repeat it again.
Away from that, what’s going on? I’ve got a chat tonight on Instagram with Stina from Mcr Marshmallows to talk being made redundant when you’re about to head off of maternity leave, the pandemic’s impact on her career, and all things soft and fluffy.
I picked up a pair of secondhand trainers (worn maybe twice as they didn’t suit the previous owner) for the princely sum of £10. Thank you Ebay. My old faithfuls from Asics have had a design change, so they no longer suit me after nearly ten years of running. Sigh. So after a recommendation, I’m switching to Nike. These pretties are normally £100 a pop, so I didn’t fancy the potential hassle of ordering, finding out the size wasn’t right, sending them back etc etc. The person selling this pair did me a massive favour by saving me a ton of pennies, and then it turns out they’re a perfect fit. Win. Now I can finally think about getting out for a run.
I do love a bargain
Oh and on Friday we had dinner delivered with Elite Bistros at Home – keep an eye out this week for that review. You can critique my rubbish plating skills.
Other than that, it was a same old, same old week. So, I’ll see you next Monday for more?