I had a busy day on Thursday; the sun was out on the hottest day of the year so far and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! With 34 degree heat on the cards, I decided to go on my daily walk, even earlier than usual, arriving in Southsea at about 8.30am. There were still a few people about grabbing their spot on the beach for the day, but by and large it was a quiet scene, ideal for taking in the coastal scenery for a brief moment or two, before the crowds descended.

Watching the news later in the day, I was horrified to see hundreds of thousands of people heading to popular tourist destinations like Bournemouth, ignoring social distancing measures and acting like Coronavirus had gone away. People, come on, what bloody planet are you on. This virus is still well and truly about and isn't going anywhere, yet you all continue to defy the regulations. I don't mind telling you all, that people are really getting me down. I am fed up with their ignorance and general lack of empathy for anyone but themselves.

Having just got back from town myself this morning, walking to the city centre at 10am, just to pick up some supplies from Holland and Barrett, I was astounded by the number of people queuing just to get into Primark and other such stores. The line of people stretched around the block and no one was social distancing at all. This is awful and a disgusting indictment on the British public. Why the hell can't we just do as we are told?

News headlines across the World were equally scathing about the scenes witnessed in Bournemouth and other beaches up and down the country. It felt like we were once again the laughingstock of the World, especially as our daily death rate was on the rise. On Thursday the fatality figure was 182, a ten-day high as the  figures from the previous two weeks began to filter down. This was of course no surprise for me, who already knew what was coming. The idiots on beaches, queuing to get into shops and not socially distancing are now causing real problems for our recovery from COVID-19 and with further relaxation measures coming into force on July 4th, it is likely these statistics will become even worse.

I am really at a loss for words at how this Country, Government and population have dealt with this crisis. We have failed at so many levels and it is shocking to see. Nobody seems to care any more, most think the virus has gone away and there is a lack of understanding of its impact on people and communities up and down the land. I am not sure how bad things have to get, before people take notice!

All of us are facing our own problems during this pandemic, so it was also nice to relax for a few hours in the company of family; following Government guidelines of course. The only people I see these days are close relatives and even then I keep my distance. It is difficult to really know just what we are allowed to do and what we aren't. There have been so many conflicting messages coming out of Downing Street, that many of us, don't know just what is acceptable and what isn't. This is part of the problem, there has been no cohesive messaging or comprehensive guidelines; the rules and regulations are complex and the public are rightly confused. Most people are now doing what they want and have just dismissed any involvement from the powers that be, due to their lack of leadership, misleading statements and failure to take responsibility for their actions!

I am lucky to have family around me; all of us are doing our best to get through the challenges we now face. It is disheartening to see others flouting the rules, but what can we realistically do? It is now up to us as individuals to do the right thing for our own families. Our representatives have failed us as a nation, we have to take charge of our own destinies, even if it does go against what we are being told. When measures are relaxed, if I feel they are wrong, I will do what I can to keep myself safe. I will continue to stay two meters from others, will avoid large shopping malls and will always do all I can to protect others..... Can you really say the same?

I was back out walking yesterday, for the first time in a week. Since going back to work and with the rain in constant flow, I haven't had as much time to do the things I would like. Nevertheless, I walked a healthy seven miles, down to the coast and back again, even though the sun barely peeped through the clouds.

I haven't been in the best frame of mind recently as you all know, having come to the end of an awful two weeks holiday, when I should have been away in the far east. I have probably had too much time on my hands and spent rather a lot of time thinking. Like everyone else I just want this terrible time to be over. This week was the first time in a while, that I really felt depressed; that hasn't happened for a long time. I have had down periods, but this has been a struggle to conquer and I have done my best to block it out and just carry on as normal.

I am finding people a strain; they are out in droves once again and ignoring Government guidelines, whilst the rest of us try to do the right thing. With lockdown measures eased dramatically, the country is getting back to some kind of normality. The trouble is, it isn't normal, and we are still in the middle of a pandemic, with deaths recorded in the hundreds and I fear things are going to get gradually worse again, unless people start taking notice of social distancing rules.

Last night I needed cheering up, so watched a film, I haven't seen since I lived in Spain, 'Beautiful Thing.' This amazing 'coming out' movie has great poignancy for Darrell and I, released just a year after we got together and always takes me back to our first few carefree years as a couple, before we began fighting for our right to remain in the UK as partners. Unless you are gay, you will really never understand the importance of 'coming out' to family and friends. Back in the early 1990s it was the biggest issue on my mind and really became the first thing I thought about when I woke up and the last thing I contemplated before I went to sleep.

As I'm sure you are aware by now, I didn't have an easy time of declaring my homosexuality and as such found 'Beautiful Thing' comforting at a very difficult time. Of course all of us are experiencing anguish and anxiety today, for very different reasons and once again I watched a film that has got me through some dark days in the past; by the end of it, I felt suitably relaxed and content. It has always been important for me to feel secure and well-adjusted in my environment, wherever I am; I certainly haven't had a lot of security in recent years, so anything that gives me a lift is welcome; I have even spent the afternoon today, watching Jane McDonald, cruising around the World; a reminder of happier times!

From watching retro television programmes, sorting through photographs, speaking to old friends on the telephone and writing about better moments in my life, I have done everything I can to feel comfortable during the last three months. For the most part, I did well, even surprising myself at times. I think all of us have to do what we can to get through the worst of the virus, all the while, remembering there are others worse off than us. With the easing of lockdown restrictions, it won't be too long before the most serious phase of this pandemic becomes a distant memory, and we all look forward to a new, untested future. We should however, never forget just what transpired in all our lives, after all we will all remember this period for generations to come, recalling events that made us the people we are today and hoping to god it never happens again!

With lockdown restrictions eased and groups of six adults allowed to meet in open spaces, I have finally been able to see some of my relations again. On Saturday we travelled to see my Cousin Emmy in Hayling Island, suitably distancing when we had to but always following Government guidelines. Sadly it will be awhile before I can see my Father and other members of my family, but at least all of us have started the process of reconnecting with loved ones!

Stay safe everyone!

Some more photographs from in and around Portsmouth, whilst out walking during this lockdown period. To be honest I have been feeling a little down recently and walking is the only thing that takes my mind off my troubles. I am finding life pretty difficult at the moment, probably like all of us. Without the support of my partner and a constant feeling of isolation, I am starting to wonder why I am still in Britain.

Having two weeks holiday and doing absolutely nothing, spending every day on my own predominantly has brought out the worst in me, as I try to work my way through the loneliness. The stress and anxiety that plays such a large role in my life has now become the focus of my thoughts, every day. When I wake up in the morning, I am constantly reminded of the things I hate about myself the most - my consternation, uneasiness, worries, apprehension and ailments; the niggling pains that give me even more reason to dwell on the negative aspects of life and the dreams I have failed to fulfil in life.

The last few months have been difficult because I have had more time than I can cope with. This week I should have been in Japan, visiting Osaka and Mount Fuji, instead I have been at home, alone with my thoughts and memories of better times. I am well aware, that over thinking is a fault of mine and I remain empty and wanting at the end of it. I am always left with more questions than answers, and I am often filled with regrets, 'what ifs' and frustrations that I just can't shake.

Usually I am in a much better  frame of mind than I am today, but I am not in the habit of lying about how I feel, so this blog is the perfect forum for telling the truth. I have always tried to be as honest as I can, when I talk about myself, it is the best way to offload any pressing worries. The anxieties I suffer today are a direct result of the circumstances I find myself in. The only time I am truly happy, is when I am with my husband; when you spend twenty-five years with someone, it makes it hard when you have to live apart. There are people far worse off than I, especially during this pandemic, but I do wish I could travel back a few years, when we lived in Spain together, finally living the life we both had dreamed of for so long.

If I had the choice, I would leave on a plane tomorrow to be with Darrell, not because I don't want to be here with family, far from it, this has been my saving grace. I love being with my Aunt and Cousins, but because I need to be with the person I love and without him, life has become meaningless, without purpose.

Reassessing one's life and making plans for the future, whilst walking around this great city, has become as much a part of life as going to work has and whether I like it or not, it is the foundation of my time now in Portsmouth. As the months roll on and both of us spend more and more time apart, I fear the negativity will continue to resurface from time to time. I do not thrive in such situations and try to wrestle with my own demons in order to move forwards with hope and a determination to do what is right. If I had to leave tomorrow, I would; I do whatever I can to remain sanguine during tempestuous times!

Some great weather again yesterday, perfect for a few hours walking, visiting yet more places I haven't seen before and others I have only visited briefly. Many of the crowds I had witnessed over the weekend were gone, as children went back to school, so reassuringly, there were very few people around first thing in the morning when I went out for a stroll. I felt a lot more relaxed than I have done for a while and for once, didn't have to dodge people walking up and down the promenade.

It was good to see the Hovercraft and Isle of Wight Ferry still running, even during this pandemic. Sadly however It is likely I won't be able to use this service myself to get away for the day, since it is mostly reserved for essential staff and there would be nowhere to stay or visit when I am on the island. With two weeks off, after just three days I am climbing the walls already. I am of course walking as much as I can, but being able to do a few more things would be a bonus.

I have visited most areas of Portsmouth now, so may venture elsewhere over the next ten days and do a bit of walking, if I am able. Looking at various travel websites, I can use public transport at my own risk, but with this being a 'lifeline' service only, working on a reduced timetable, I am mindful of the restrictions in place. Something to think about, while I consider what to do, if anything at all!

Discussing the pandemic, looking at this graph above, Britain still has more deaths than the whole of the rest of Europe put together. That is shocking to me, especially from a Government who constantly keeps on saying how well they have done during this pandemic. They haven't done well, we have the second highest death toll in the World and I really am getting sick and tired of the lies they keep spouting during their daily press conferences. Sometimes I think those in charge believe we are stupid. You really don't have to be that intelligent to see through the selective figures that are published each day.

Why would any other country want British tourists holidaying within their borders, when we don't have this virus under control? I am literally finding the propaganda issued by the Government rather tiresome and a complete insult to those of us who have been following guidelines, to protect others for the last two months. The failure of Boris Johnson to stem the tide of Coronavirus, because of his unwillingness to do the right thing, is etched on the lives lost and all of us should be up in arms about these terrible figures.

In Parliament today, during Prime Ministers Questions,  the new Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer, began the process of scrutinizing the PM and his ministers for their handling of this crisis, and about time to. Anyone can see just how bad things are and with Mr Johnson's failure to sack his discredited advisor Dominic Cummings, for flouting the lockdown laws, their inept, incompetent handling of this pandemic is exposed for all to see!

I was a supporter of the Conservative Party, especially over Brexit but today I no longer consider them competent and trustworthy and have withdrawn my support. I am disappointed at the lack of action and risks taken with peoples lives as circumstances overwhelmed this inexperienced, self-serving bunch of hypocrites. The best all of us can hope for, is we don't have a second larger spike in deaths and opening up the country too soon, doesn't risk the lives of even more vulnerable people!

Walking does give me the time to think and with the pandemic at the forefront of my mind, politics is always top of my list of things to write about. Luckily I can offload my thoughts and feelings on here. The one positive aspect of my life, that has got me through these last few months is blogging. Documenting this difficult period is important for me, and as restrictions are gradually eased, I hope I will once again begin to write about the more positive and pragmatic aspects of life!

Stay Safe Y'all!

Some photographs from Sunday and today, walking in and around Portsmouth. I've been to these places before, but have done a bit more exploring than usual. I had never realised Portsmouth has so many open, green spaces. The city itself is one of the more concentrated urban areas in Britain, so to find so many parks, wooded areas, gardens and playing fields has been a bonus.

I am off for two weeks from work now and intend to do a lot more walking. Sadly I am unable to travel to any of the surrounding areas, but I am hoping there is more than enough to see in Portsmouth itself. Obviously I am still very disappointed I am not in Japan at the moment, but luckily the weather is unseasonably hot here, allowing for some much-needed sun. In truth, I haven't actually had two weeks off from work and done absolutely nothing for years, so in many respects this will be a welcome change

I am also nursing a serious bout of IBS, so having two weeks off isn't ideal. My IBS tends to flare up when I have little to do, and my mind goes into overdrive. The disappointment I am feeling today has rapidly turned into stress and anxiety, which of course exacerbates IBS symptoms. I have every pill, potion, lotion and technique possible to deal with these occasions, but presently nothing seems to be working. The worst part about dealing with it, is the fear it is something more sinister; the extra worry that gives is immeasurable.

Once again I have changed my diet, which is helping somewhat. I have had to cut out all spicy food and dairy products, which does seem to  inflame my IBS symptoms. On top of this I have diverticulitis and a hiatus hernia, all of which require very different diets. So trying to find the right balance between all these conditions can be hard, and I am just trying to play safe at all levels, just, so I don't suffer any more pain. As yet I haven't found the perfect medicine if you will and try all alternative - from prescription meds, off the shelf remedies and turmeric tea to multivitamins, lots of fibre and of course the biggie, plenty of walking and exercise.

Since I have started a more healthy regime, I have begun to feel a lot better; when I am walking I don't suffer with any pain at all. This is great for motivation and just makes me walk even more, which is what I have to do. I have always had a rather addictive personality, and I am finding all this walking quite compulsive, pushing me ever forwards in a quest for good health. This isn't something I have done before, so I am finding the weight loss rather hard to sustain, which is probably due to my age, but in time, the harder I continue, the more results I will see.

This has been a difficult time for all, as COVID-19  ravages our nation, but it has taught me the value of the simple things in life and reminded me of just how precious our time on Earth is. Coronavirus attacks the vulnerable, ill and unfit and I don't want to be its next victim, so it's more of the same for me, more walking, eating healthy and staying well. Using this period positively is something all of us should do, building strength for the future and memories that will last a lifetime!

It was absolutely glorious in Portsmouth today; the weather was perfect for a stroll down to the historic dock yard, which is sadly closed at the moment, due to Coronavirus. Nevertheless, you could still see HMS Warrior and take in the sea air, just the tonic for making you feel alive. It felt good to be out and about once again, as I walked around the streets of Portsmouth and Southsea; the coast really does suit my sensibility. I have always lived close to or near to the sea and find myself drawn to coastal regions, wherever I am in the World.

I still have friends living in and around Gran Alacant and Alicante in Spain and it has been good to keep in touch with many of them, during these testing times. Of course Spain has started to move out of lockdown and it has been amazing to see happy faces and laughter once again throughout the Costa Blanca on facebook.

People eating in restaurants and drinking in the bars, I used to frequent when I lived in Gran Alacant, is hopefully a vision of the future for us in the UK. After what Spain suffered during this first wave of the pandemic, normality is greatly needed and appreciated. It wasn't that long ago, that I was sending messages of condolences to my friends in Spain, expressing my horror at what was unfolding. Today I am the one receiving emails and telephone calls asking me to stay safe and take care, as Britain's death toll soars ever higher, day after day!

The death toll in the rest of Europe is falling dramatically; in the UK, we still have over four hundred deaths a day, which emphasises our Governments failure to get to grips with this terrible virus. We have more deaths per million than every other country in the World and with our abject failure as a nation to get COVID under control, I seriously fear for the future. On my walk today, the Country seemed to be back to normal and when non-essential shops open again on 1 June, it is likely we will see a huge spike in fatalities once again and that is frightening.

Speaking to Darrell on the phone earlier, he expressed concern about Western Australia reporting four new cases of COVID-19 and how they were not out of the danger zone yet. My reaction was, a wish we were dealing with similarly low numbers and told him not to worry too much. The scale of the problem in Australia is so small compared to here, I am thankful he is safe in his home state. Looking back now, I wish I had travelled to Australia when I had the chance, then at least we would be living our life together, rather than apart, which is the hardest part of this pandemic.

I am still considering plans to go to Australia in the future when we are allowed to travel, but that is dependent on a number of factors. I can not afford to fly to Perth and have to self-isolate for two weeks, as well as doing the same on my return to the UK, that will be a whole month before I even spend time with Darrell. These restrictions will need to be lifted before I even think about making the journey, but the reality is, our death toll will need to fall significantly, before any changes are implemented and I can't see that happening presently.

On Saturday I was due to fly to Japan to meet Darrell during a two-week stay. This holiday has now been cancelled and after a lot of wrangling with the airlines and travel operators involved, we are now just awaiting a full refund. This isn't the ideal situation for Darrell or me, we were both looking forward to seeing one another this Saturday, but like many millions of other people, we just have to live with this scenario. To be honest I am not even sure I want to get on a plane at the moment, but I know Darrell and I have time constraints and my husband has to return sooner rather than later, in order to comply with the terms of his visa, that allows him to remain with me here in the UK.

As yet we have no plans to rebook any holiday to Asia, until this situation is over, probably when there is a vaccine in place. Both of us are hoping the timing of events are now favourable, and we can finally pick up where we left off in November, when Darrell left the UK for Australia. Until that time, we will just have to continue living as we do now and hope it isn't too many months before everything returns to normal.

In a couple of days I have two weeks off and like the rest of the population I will be spending it in my home city of Portsmouth. I have discovered much about this city, that I never knew before and it is good for the soul finding out more about the place you live in. When I moved to Spain, I also spent time exploring this beautiful urbanisation. I researched its history and also looked closely at the demographic of the population. By the time I left I knew more about my adopted home, than most people who lived there.

Despite my fondness for Portsmouth, I am missing travelling, something I really enjoy and was a huge part of my life up until recently. It will be awhile before things change for the better and it is likely the travel industry will be decimated and the cost of flying could well be prohibited for most. For me however, my life will continue to involve a lot of toing and froing, because of the nature of my relationship. For that reason I am making the most of my time here in the UK and continue to enjoy experiences, I wouldn't otherwise of had.  I want to be able to look back at this time and say I achieved something and began the process of connecting, with the place where I was born!

It was a stunning day today, the hottest of the long Bank Holiday weekend and since I enjoyed a day off from walking yesterday, I decided to go for a long walk along the coast today. In total, I walked approximately nine miles, probably the longest I have ever walked in my life, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I enjoy walking more now than ever and I genuinely feel energized and accomplished by the end of my experience. Of course walking is great for physical health, but it is doing wonders for me sense of well-being and mental health also.

I started my daily constitutional at about 8.30am this morning, so I avoided most of the people that were expected to travel to the coast; for that I am thankful! There were still many people walking along the esplanade today and not many of them were social distancing if I am honest. I was frequently nudged by a jogger and had to jump out of the way of an inconsiderate walker and that scares me. I even walk on my own, for fear of being too close to someone else and I do wish others would follow my example. On pavements, I will always walk in the road if I have to, to avoid others, who are quite literally walking arm in arm, taking up the whole width of the path, without a care for any other pedestrian. People really do need to start being more respectful to others needs, especially now, during this crisis!

Safely at home, I have just finished watching Dominic Cummings give a statement on his trip to the other side of the country, whilst his wife was suffering from COVID symptoms, during this pandemic. I have never seen someone squirm so much. Watching this man try to justify his actions was embarrassing and like nothing I had seen on television before. These are unprecedented times indeed and watching an unelected Government advisor, give a statement in the garden of 10 Downing Street was just unbelievable. In the end it is up to the public to decide if his explanation holds water; my view, unsurprisingly, is that it doesn't, and he should resign; just don't hold your breath!

Stay safe everyone!

Once again my daily walk today took me to places in Portsmouth I haven't visited before. Southsea Castle, built at the time of Henry VIII and Southsea Rock Garden, were both beautiful places to walk around, take in the sea air and contemplate for a short while. The weather was particularly blustery, with sea spray lapping over the promenade, so I avoided the beach for the most part, preferring to explore other hidden gems.

I have discovered much about Portsmouth during this lockdown period, as well as doing more walking than I have ever done in my life. This city is a fantastic place to live and has many venues of interest to visit, but most of all it is compact enough to explore on foot, from one end to the other. This is the positive side of life at the moment. It is however quite lonely walking on ones own, but this period has given me time to think about just what is happening in the World and today; Coronavirus and the spiralling number of deaths in care homes was top of my thoughts.

Yesterday I had commented on a friends assessment of these fatalities. He had used a picture to illustrate that the number of people dying, isn't as high as in other countries. I did a little bit of digging at this point, and it was clear that the figures used were not telling the complete story, which just goes to show how we can manipulate data to suit our own agenda.

We do have the second highest death toll for COVID-19 in the World and a large proportion of those deaths were older people living in retirement facilities. I have become increasingly angry at the Governments lies and spin surrounding this travesty, claiming they had thrown a protective ring around homes early on and the older generation were always at the heart of their Coronavirus policy - what a load of rubbish! The Government has completely failed our old people, and they know it. It sickens me, that they would even try to hide the truth and make us believe they were doing all they could to look out for their best interests.

There was no protective shield in place to keep care homes isolated at the beginning of this crisis. In fact occupants who were being treated for COVID in Hospital, were being sent back to their residential homes, to self-isolate, putting the lives of all other residents at risk. As we know now, this is the main reason why so many have died in care and it is a shocking indictment of the Governments handling of this pandemic.

It wasn't that long ago, that I went to visit a dear old lady, Mrs Fisher, who lives in a care home, not too far from me. I had become very fond of her and did what I could to make sure she was safe and well, and we had a good friendship. I have tried to call the facility on a number of occasions, but haven't been able to get a reply. The building is closed to public access in any case, so I will not be able to visit her anytime soon. People like Mrs Fisher are important to the local community, and we need to look after them in their old age, not leave them to their fate without the safeguards they need, especially at this time. 

There are so many failings from this Government, that I remain aghast at the publics unwillingness to even question their management of this public health emergency. I understand we are still suffering from its ramifications, but there will come a time when people wake up to the appalling way this was handled. Like America, we failed to recognise the seriousness of the situation at the beginning, and are paying the consequences today. I just hope there will be no cover-ups, lies and evasion from the facts; the country deserves better.

So despite enjoying my walk today, surrounded by flora and fauna, amazing history and exhilarating sea air, I did find myself getting quietly wound up about issues I have no control over. Luckily I can express my views in this blog, which is the only thing keeping me sane. Writing down thoughts and expressing deeply held views and emotions is my way of coming to terms with the terrible events that continue to unfold in front of us all. When I can finally look back at this awful time in my life, I can use this experience to remember the way things were, the difficulties we faced, the lives that were lost and the loneliness we all faced!

Stay Safe!

The weather wasn't too great today, but I decided to go for my daily walk nevertheless. Once again I explored a part of Portsmouth I haven't been to, walking to Milton Lock  on the coast. There were very few people about  and it was nice to just take a leisurely stroll, without having to walk in the middle of the road, to avoid hoards of people.

Since stopping my medication I have been feeling a lot more energized and motivated. The blood pressure meds did make me feel rather sluggish at times, and I was tired a lot of the time. Today my general sense of well-being has improved dramatically. Of course, it isn't safe for everyone to stop taking, what are essentially life saving drugs, but with advice and encouragement I am pleased I have been able to curtail their use for me. My long term aim is to stop all the medication I currently take and lead a drug free existence. This is easier said than done, and I am still experiencing some chronic flank pain, which just seems to linger and linger and eventually I need to get to the bottom of what is going on. With COVID still taking centre stage, it will be awhile before I can book the tests I need, until then I just have to keep living a healthy and active lifestyle.

On Wednesday I had an appointment at the Doctors surgery in Lake Road. This was the first time I had attended since this pandemic began, and I was literally in for a shock. The building looks and feels like it is in lockdown. When one approaches the entrance, one is greeted by warning signs, telling people not to enter unless they have an appointment. I banged sharply on the door and someone eventually came and let me in. If my first impression was rather off-putting, then my apprehension on walking inside got progressively worse. The interior was unrecognizable, there were barricades up stopping the public getting too close to staff and all the fixtures and fittings have been removed, leaving two crosses on the floor, for two patients to stand on and wait before they are called. It was quite an eerie experience, made even more disturbing by the nurse I saw, wearing full PPE and face shield.

I understand the need for such measures, and if I hadn't had to go for a blood test, there is no way I would be in there. My GP insisted I needed the assessments in order to find out why my infection markers were so high when I was taken to Hospital a few weeks ago. He told me not to worry too much, since they weren't sufficiently elevated to cause major concern for serious illness, like cancer, but raised enough to promote investigation. Of course as a sufferer of health anxiety, I just panicked even more, as soon as the dreaded C word was mentioned. I should get my test results back within a week, then my stress levels should come down with a bit of luck.

After returning from my walk, I managed to speak to my husband in Western Australia. I do envy him at the moment; Western Australia has had no deaths from Coronavirus and remains closed to the rest of Australia let alone the rest of the World.  We have both realised we probably won't see each other for another year, while this Pandemic continues to disrupt all our lives. It is particularly unsafe for Darrell to travel to the UK presently, especially with his Mother being so ill. If he did pick up COVID whilst in Britain, it would be devastating. I am however allowed to travel to the Australia, as Darrell's immediate family, but with a two-week quarantine period in operation, it is not practical. We can at least still talk to one another as often as we like and with the rest of the World also in lockdown there are many more people in the same position as us, which is a bit of comfort at least.

Life continues very much as it has before and as all of us try to get used to the 'new normal,' we are able to spend quality time with our own thoughts. I am enjoying this period writing, walking and taking time out from the rather hectic life I had before. When the World eventually returns to normal, I may, just may have a little nostalgia for the way things are today, an age none of us will ever forget!