The Distancing Diairies - 16th & 17th March, 2021

On Tuesday morning, after my Wii Fit workout, I hand-washed the Hmong/Thai dress that I'd bought from eBay. As the forecast was for a warm, dry day I hung it on the line to dry only for the heavens to open after breakfast. I dashed outside & hung it up inside. It was MOT time for Gilbert and Jon needed to drop him off at the mechanic. He'd intended to cycle back but Tony called to say that he'd had his jab, felt fine and, as he is in our bubble, he would drive over and collect him. 

Wearing Monday's polo neck as part of my Wear:Sleep: Repeat challenge, I also wore my beloved Pakistani block printed kaftan as the sleeves offered easy access to my arm later (I took the polo neck off before I left home). I topped it off with the hat I'd crocheted over the weekend.

 

The details: Frye Campus boots & 1970s tooled leather Mexican souvenir bag (both eBay), vintage leather belt (charity shop), mirrored chandelier earrings (roadside stall, India)

With our jabs booked for later, I had trouble settling down so decided on stitching another craftivism banner after a friendly passer-by had told me how much he loved them (I'm not sure how he knew I was behind them, maybe he reads my blog). I spent the rest of the morning at the kitchen table sewing, with a break for noodles in between. After I'd finished I ran down to the school on the corner and attached it to the fencing outside, after litter-picking up masks, wet wipes and disposable gloves the previous day I figured the parents could do with a gentle nudge.

By the time I'd finished reading my current John le Carré novel, it was time to walk down to the vaccination centre which had opened the previous day within the old Argos in Walsall's indoor shopping centre, The Saddlers. Liz was also booked in at the same time (Al isn't 50 yet so he'll have to wait a couple of weeks) and we all went in together. David, the nurse who administered my jab, told me that they had 950 patients booked in that day, 3000 on Wednesday and had the capacity for 5000 (Walsall has a population of around 285,000).

Jon and I were out in less than 10 minutes. Liz has had an allergic reaction in the past and had to be observed for 15 minutes but we all left feeling optimistic and in awe of our amazing NHS. In normal times we'd have gone to 'Spoons & celebrated with a beer but hopefully, on 1st June, when we get our second jab the pubs should have reopened.

Once we'd walked up the Hill of Doom and got back into the house we cracked open a celebratory bottle of beer and had pizza and salad for tea.

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We'd started watching the wonderful Mary Beard investigating the Romans the previous evening and, after Interior Design Masters watched another episode or rather, I watched another episode, Jon was fast asleep by 9.15pm. We had an early night although my latest read, The Machine, was so gripping I'd demolished four chapters before I'd turned off the light.

On Wednesday I did my Wii Fit workout, swept the lounge rug and ironed my new-to-me eBay dress which I'd hand-washed the previous day. Jon was a bit achy and, having spoken to Tony, discovered that he'd gone to bed early after feeling the same but had woken up with no symptoms whatsoever. My brother had his jab on Monday and spent Tuesday feeling rough but was now okay. Both Liz & I were fine. It must be a man thing!

Jon spent the morning recuperating on the settee with Hercule Poirot for company whilst I photographed some stock and uploaded my listings to eBay. After a shower, Jon was starting to feel human again and we had noodles for lunch. Richard the postman arrived with the &Keep parcel I'd ordered on Sunday as well as a replacement Heroine Superstay Matte Ink I'd bought from eBay as mine was running low. At £4.02 with free postage (and factory sealed), I paid less than half the retail price. 

I was prompted to have a bit of a sort-out of my make-up drawer and ousted a handful of products I'd never used that had come in a Barry M bargain bundle last year. They'll go to the charity shop when it reopens, glitter, stick-on stars and blue lipstick just aren't me these days! 

I love make-up but don't own a lot, just two eyeshadow palettes (Barry M's Shipwrecked & Revolution's Carnival), three Maybelline lip inks (Heroine, Romantic & Ruler) which I discovered in 2018 and never looked back, Barry M's Waterproof Eyeliner, their On Point eye pen & Feature Length mascara, Sleek's creme blush in Crimson, a Revolution concealer, an eyeliner brush, some sponge applicators, an Indian peacock pencil sharpener, a pot of Mac green eyeshadow and my tweezers. 

Wear:Sleep: Repeat meant another outing for my Pakistani block printed kaftan, this time worn with the 1970s Anokhi jacket I'd bought as a project a few weeks ago.

The details: Indian Jhumka earrings (formerly my friend Cheryl's), Mjus leather boots & lion head belt (both charity shopped).

I love the subtle shifts in my outfit photos as we head from Winter into Spring. Today I had to move out of the bushes & stand next to the pond as the sun was blinding us!

Tea was a quiche with some homemade cauliflower & broccoli cheese. While I was stirring the bechamel sauce my left arm started to feel really heavy but after a soak in the bath, it's back to normal. 

Stay safe, happy and healthy!

PS If you're a UK resident and aged 50 or over you can book your NHS Covid vaccine HERE.