March 1st was a Sunday. A day of rest really, but I was up promptly, walked Reggie, and mopped the floors before 9. Tricia went off to church, whilst I cooked the Sunday roast. Lamb in red wine, one of our favourites. Nikki and Charlie joined Tricia and me for lunch. In the afternoon Tricia did the Lent walk. I was tired and watched a bit of football half snoozing. Nikki made some scones for tea, including some decent GF ones.

On the Monday Tricia was off to Berkhamsted to meet her old art colleagues, and did some sketching. Tuesday Nikki was starting a new Pilates class at the Wesley Ctr. Friday came along and I turned 59. Not sure I want to admit to that. I had the day off work. In the morning I went over to Buckingham and bought Carlos some old 45’s for his jukebox as his birthday present. In the afternoon I went into Aylesbury, and got two tickets to see ‘Frankenstein’ at the theatre. I also bought the latest Hilary Mantel book, ‘The Mirror and the Light’, the final part of the Wolf Hall trilogy. Tricia and me met up with Amy and Robbie for a meal at 6pm, so it was good to see them on my birthday. Then around 7:20 we went down to the theatre. It was a good production, I really enjoyed the play.

Saturday Tricia and me were off to Great Bowden for Carlos’ 60th birthday. We arrived late afternoon and met up with Wendy and Rob, before everyone else arrived. There was around 12 of us sat down to a meal, all telling stories about the ‘old feller’…. Then other friends arrived. A lovely evening. Sunday was a slow start, and then over to Deb and Carlos’ for breakfast. We left around 11, and wound our way back home.

The following week was a quiet one. Tricia went to the theatre with some of the ladies from the village to see ‘Menopause the Musical’ which she really enjoyed, saying it was really funny. But the news now was that the Coronovirus was starting to spread, and with it all sorts of things were being cancelled or postponed. All football was suspended, so my football on the Sunday was off. Ellie came home Thursday evening. She had a fund raiser for her charity she is doing the London marathon for. It went ok, but she didn’t raise what she wanted. People were starting to lock themselves down. I took her back on the Sunday evening. Then Monday 16th, the Uni said that they were moving to ‘online lectures’, effectively closing down. So, on the Tuesday I went back to Lincoln and pick her up, and most of her stuff up. Tricia should have been on a retreat for the Mon and Tues… But that was cancelled. Instead on the Monday she went for a long walk close to the Cotswold Way with Reggie. Picture here is of Tricia with her Dig Deep charity for the Kilimanjaro climb. She was fundraiser of the month. The climb is now postponed to next year. Then a picture of Reggie on a walk in a field that is more like a lake. Then a couple from Ellie’s ‘charity bake off’ fundraiser. The London Marathon is now postponed.

BP told staff to work from home till April 15th unless their job needed them to be somewhere. Like an oil rig I suppose…I had to send my Dad a birthday card, not being able to go and see him for fear of passing something on. Same for Mothers day, I sent my Mum a card. We were due to have a family lunch at home…. But we cancelled that. Then Boris put us into Lockdown. And so the last week it has just been Tricia, myself, Nikki and Ellie at home.  Tricia has used the good weather to get out in the garden, so feels she has been productive. She has also been helping the local village support network to help people in the lockdown… organising prescription collection, and shopping and delivery.

We were supposed to have been celebrating my Mum and Dad’s 60th wedding anniversary this last Sunday. A big lunch with all the family at the Cricketers’ near Bracknell had been planned, but was cancelled a few weeks back as it was felt that it may be a risk, but that was before lockdown was announced. And so Mum and Dad had to spend that day on their own. A big achievement, 60 years, and we couldn’t give them a hug. Here is Mum, thru the kitchen window… with her Diamond wedding anniversary card from the Queen, Mum and Dad on their wedding day, at Peter’s wedding and from the Eightlem News.

Some pics from the lockdown… games in the evenings.

And Tricia’s progress with the garden, and clearing the patio, the Mothers Day cake Ellie made, and the Girls messing about before doing some weights.

There have been over a thousand deaths in the UK. It looks like the lockdown will be with us for some time yet…