Keep Safe

I'm a rather skittish unhappy puppy.  For sure this coronavirus thingy has put the wind up me.  Yet again the legacy that is my exit from BT has re-introduced the mild trembling.  That bastard last manager of mine - Julian - has left me a broken puppy, especially whenever I'm feeling stressed.

Today I dropped some workwear masks off at my brothers house at about 0630am as irrespective of what I or anyone else says to him he will not say no when someone asks him to do a shop delivery or house move.  He continues to have a 'no consequence' attitude to life - something that has become a strong feature in him after his brain aneurysm in 2000.  He knows we all need to socially distance ourselves from others so I don't quite understand why he continues to be in and out of other folks properties delivering and moving stuff for them.  I fear for him, for his son who works with him and for his partner Elaine, a long time smoker.  None of us are safe.

I've also called off the trades and my cousins for the building work here at my house.  They're all now stood down until the situation improves.  My house is secure so all else can now wait.  I'm used to living in a sh1t hole anyway.  Although I will now have the time to clean the inch of brick dust of everything in the house and because the weather is good I'll get on with stuff in the wrecked garden.

This might make you laugh though.  Whilst in the car and rushing between tasks I almost dipped in to the wrong pack for a snack the other day.  Lemon flavoured malt loaf issit?  Uuurgh!

I'm also fretting a little about my ex's (Kathryn's) daughter.  Thank God she's now back home in York from Huddersfield university and holed up.  Today I dropped a few eggs, some bread and milk off for her and Matt to help keep them stocked up.  Jules has a reduced immune system cos of all the drugs she's taking for another problem.  She's 20.  Today the news included a report of the death of an 18 year old.  Horrendous.

Anyway I've stopped watching the news and looking at 'on-line' stats about the virus.  Simply it's all scary.  I'm being extremely sensible.  I live at home alone so am very used to this self isolation thingy.  But I'm helping some older folk too, especially the over 70's with collection of tablets from the chemist / delivery of some food from the butcher which starts tomorrow.  I will be exceptionally clean and will only deliver to a closed door.  Howard will for sure tell me of anything significant in the news (he just did as I'm typing - e.g. that Air BnB are still letting properties!  Bastards!).  Going by the number of calls he's making to me each day I know that he is also a little bit apprehensive.  It's good though that both he (80 this year) and his ahem 80 something wife are now in full lock down and isolation in Pickering.

I find myself now chatting more to folk to pass on best wishes and to check that all is well for them.  It's been a long time since I've heard network busy tone when calling folk.  I remember my days as a young telephone engineer working on Strowger when network busy was quite common.  For sure the number of folk off work and kids now at home post the school closures is testing out the mobile, fixed and internet networks to their max.

Anyway I'll sign off now.  I'm a little calmer today.  Hacking a great tree root out of the garden this afternoon has for sure given me something else to fret about.  And as I'm now saying on the back of all conversations and emails - keep safe, stay safe!

Ciao for now..