Happy Monday. I hope everyone is well as we head into week eight of Coronavirus lockdown. Hot topic today is yesterday’s address by Boris Johnson. In it, he set out a conditional “roadmap” for the steps to easing lockdown. There are some welcome changes: from Wednesday we’re allowed to go outside to exercise as often as we’d like. We can stop and sit down with members of the same household, and we can drive to get to somewhere to walk or exercise. Those who cannot work from home, and he mentioned the construction industry, are encouraged to return to work but should avoid public transport. I think we will need/get more clarity about exactly which professions can return.
For me personally, I obviously can’t carry out eye examinations at home, but it feels too soon to return to work safely. I get so close to my patients and even with PPE I could contract and more importantly, pass on the virus. Many of our patients fall into the “at risk” category by virtue of their age too. At the time of writing, I haven’t seen any guidance from our professional and regulatory bodies, but I expect some within the next day or two.
Friday
Friday 8th May was of course the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The weather was glorious and it was lovely to see so much bunting around. A lot of neighbourhoods managed to hold a street party, albeit with social distancing in place. We sat out in the garden before dinner and raised a glass to those who served.
Saturday
Saturday was even warmer than Friday. It got up to 21°C, although it was cloudy at times. We finished painting the living room. I’m so pleased with the end result. (I’m waiting for a few accessories to arrive and when they do, I’ll do a before and after post). Once again, we managed to sit out for a while in the afternoon. Those blissful few hours made all the difference.
Sunday
In complete contrast, yesterday was cold and windy- just 8°C. Ian and I had a walk around Skipton woods and we had to get our winter attire out. It’s hard to believe just what difference a day can make.
We did some small errands in the afternoon then watched Boris’s address during which he unveiled the new slogan, for England at least. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have kept the “stay at home” in their mantras.
Today
Today feels like a catch-up day. I did the ironing, submitted my Optometry Today columns for the August issue and wrote this blog post!
Stay safe x
