We passed closed down malls, lots of businesses which did not survive. I was going to take photos of the empty parking lots and closed stores but I thought about it again and said to Daughter - it feels too dystopian, it's like those novels of the end of days we used to read.
Disposable abbreviated menus to peruse but today was especially great. I wasn't as nervous as I was on Sunday. The place was so utterly Covid as were we. The new normal.
I rested up well after our last excursion, so was able to walk quite far today without distress. I was delighted. These days are so precious when I'm feeling so close to normal.
Library now has curb side pickup (I don't enjoy Kindle and gave mine away) so I ordered a pile. I was running low on books.
The Big Knitting Project is coming to an end and I will photograph it soon. I am quite delighted with it. But I will miss it.
The new creative non-fiction work is at 51,000 words. I'm doing the hard core formatting and chapterizing at the moment.
Daughter bought some cute clobber for my sister's twin newborn grandchildren, we oohed and aahed over the wee delights which scream Canada and maple leafs.
Next door neighbour delivered me some spell binding carrot cake.
I delivered her vegetarian lasagna.
Very pleased you went out for a couple of meals. It is nice to do such a normal thing that we never thought about. We can't again, and we don't really want to.
ReplyDeleteIt does feel strange Andrew, my lock-down has been since early March. One can't be too safe out there as I am quite aware of droplets, I'm watching a few on our front porch right now laughing and joking mouths open, none wearing masks. And they each have many visitors including kids. Can't count the bubbles. Very concerning.
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Did you find it difficult to eat through the mask? Ha Ha. I'm imagining bowls of broth being sipped through a straw through a tiny slit in the mask. I rarely eat out anymore, even when there is no virus to worry about, I simply prefer to eat at home.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing the knitting project.
Ha ha. I do enjoy socializing over a meal no one has to cook or clean up after River. Not too often but good times. I haven't been in a cafe yet.
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I am glad that you were able to eat out. We have not. My partner doesn't like it at the best of times and I am not tempted.
ReplyDeleteI am really, really looking forward to seeing your knitting and a big, big hooray for nearly normal days.
Take care.
PS: The Daphne du Maurier quote speaks to and for me. Thank you.
DeleteYes I do love that DDM quote, EC. I've never been a one for luxury. Content with little.
DeleteThey were terribly simple meals and our delight was mainly in being "Out", no matter how limited the experience!
A taste of normal in other words.
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I love good carrot cake! I ate out for the first time yesterday, it was fun. Every place has its own protocols in place, it's all so interesting! Our shops are mostly still open but without tourism I don't know how long that will last. Glad you had a mobile day, mobility is precious.
ReplyDeleteThank you Annie, I was so surprised to walk the long halls and down the stairs rather than take the elevator. What an enormous bonus in a day when a few days before I was looking at wheelchairs and scooters and accepting the inevitable.
DeleteGood for you and getting out also!
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You appear to have had a grand time all in all. My best wishes that you continue to.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ramana, can't take any days for granted can we, surprises can be good and not so good.
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We did our first patio meal last week. We are not big on eating out, I prefer my cooking and John is celiac so it can be an issue.
ReplyDeleteI love reading on a tablet, I find it hard on the eyes now to read the small print in books and magazines.
I have a knitting project that only needs a little time to finish off before I start anything else.
Well having looked at your cooking Jackie, I don't blame you. My cooking days are over. Daughter brings me in cooked stuff as does Niece when she cooks a Jiggs. And local shops have prepared so I am all set. It was basically the experience of just being out and maybe pretending.
DeleteI look forward to seeing you knitting piece.
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A lot of people around here are going to restaurants, eating outside. We're not at that stage yet, so we do curbside pickup. I download books from the library onto my laptop (not my kindle), but my wife is doing curbside at the library. We all cope the best way we know how.
ReplyDeleteSo true Tom. I may do some kind of tablet reading again. I do note the print is getting smaller on my books, LOL.
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Lord have mercy WWW. Print is like clothes sizes, it is always getting smaller.
DeleteOf all the things that were closed it was the library that I missed the most. I order almost all my books and movies from them. I joke with my husband that we get all of our property tax money back for the year with the amount of money I save! Right now we are doing curbside pickup which is fine. I am stocking up just in case! Glad you are feeling a bit better...easy does it!
ReplyDeleteAFCG - I would miss books the most too. I keep the library busy also.
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Sounds normal,almost.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it GP, apart from those empty malls and the masks on the servers at the restaurant.
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Now spell-binding carrot cake is right up my alley.
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ReplyDeleteGreat to eat out during the pandemic. You are braver than I am.
ReplyDeleteWe did think about Gigi but the staff are well protected as were we, though an underlying nerves did play a part. We've had no new cases for over 50 days now but that doesn't make me complacent though it does a lot of others.
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Indeed, a fine report on socializing. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI feel better at home Joanne, safer, there are so few mask being worn here it is very worrisome.
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Dear Wisewebwoman and Friends, neither have I been in a restaurant or cafeteria since mid march. What i have noticed is, i don't need to carry around tums or rolaids anymore. Food from home is much healthier, evidently.
ReplyDeleteI would believe that Sue, unfortunately I am no longer able to cook/bake though I may adapt the kitchen to accommodate my disabilities. I usually purchase pre-cooked.
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It's very surreal going into coffee shops awash with sanitiser, face masks, face visors, distancing instructions etc. We plan to venture into a restaurant during the week. I guess about 10 per cent wearing masks here also, but the infection rate in NI is very low at the moment.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on reaching 51,000 words of your book. That's a lot more than I managed on my one and only attempt at literary stardom!
Thanks Nick. Yes, it is a surreal experience indeed. The so-called new normal. They have also made one of the major streets here pedestrian only with outside distanced cafes, etc. It reminds me of Cork and Dublin.
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Now that I've begun querying the latest novel, I'm thinking about the next. Remembering the Excel chart I made on the last one to keep up with what day and where each scene took place, I downloaded Scrivener and am going through its user guide while still on the free trial to determine if it would be useful writing tool for me. It allows writers to keep notes, research, comments, footnotes, and manuscript available all in one place. I haven't made up my mind yet.
ReplyDeleteI wish things were more shut-down here. It's mostly business as usual without even consistent mask wearing or distancing. Very frightening.
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