Wanderings Lately :: April & May 2020

Life in lockdown. April and May two months in lockdown. I've never spent so much time at home, not seeing friends or exercising. What a strange time this is. I'm fully working from home, which I am very luck to be able to do. I'm also extremely glad we decided to go for a flat with a spare room which has become my office and means I can leave work in there and not have it permeate into our kitchen or living room. Although we did so at the expense of any outside space so we've had to use other opportunities to go to the local park for a walk, or wander across the road to the churchyard. I've also started running again, and have tried to keep up a few bike rides here and there.

We've barely left Wandsworth, venturing only to Putney for a long walk or slightly further afield on bike rides. Just as we were beginning to take bike rides together Victor's bike got stolen so that was a bit of a downer. Hopefully we will be replacing it soon and then be able to cycle out together again.

This period of life is full of much uncertainty, the unknown of when we will be able to return to work again, when we will be able to visit friends and family again and when things are eased, which businesses will have survived?

As we go into June, some of the rules are being relaxed. For the first time in two months I have made plans. On Tuesday I have organised to meet my friend in a local park to sit two meters apart and chat in person. It's only something small, but at least it's something!

Here are some photos from our lockdown life.

Puzzles; I started doing puzzles again before the lockdown but since we got shut inside I have definitely completed more than I would have otherwise. Currently more than half way through the Tube map one.

I finished a 30 day yoga course online between March and April. I haven't managed to keep it up, but I am pleased I completed the first 30 days. Since then I have started couch to 5k once more and have been getting out some mornings to enjoy some exercise in the fresh, cool morning air.

Cooking over the Easter weekend - Victor made Beetroot Soup and when we finally got a new oven (our other one caught fire!) we had roast lamb.

A very quiet Covent Garden and Oxford Street on a bike ride in early April.

Still baking, although less than before because there is no one to eat the things I make!

A very empty Tower of London on a recent bike ride to town.

My window boxes have started to bloom, and again, due to my lack of other plans I have been able to dedicate more time to tending to them so I'm pleased to say they are still doing well!

The story of no flour in the supermarket! Although other items are now pretty much back to normal in the supermarket, flour has remained in scare supply. So when I went in and there was bread flour I bought a packet. 

And swiftly made some Chelsea buns. I remember learning how to make these at school. One of the things we made in H.E. that was actually interesting and nice to eat. I enjoyed making them so much that I made a second, third and probably fourth batch by myself at home. Since other things we made at school were the likes of coleslaw and sandwiches the day we learnt Chelsea buns was a particular highlight!

Been such a lack of other plans that I was able to finish Tomb Raider, which Victor bought me to play at the beginning of lockdown in March. Time well spent?

On our semi-regular walk to Putney, we decided to stop at a local small business that re-opened in May to help support a local business and also experience another small step to normality.

Early on, when we had just moved into our flat, I took a photo of Victor which is still one of my favourites. I've been attempting to recreate it with our new look furniture now that we're nearly a year in. I haven't got there quite yet but this was a recent attempt.

We don't have a garden but have wandered over to the churchyard across the road some evenings to sit in the sun and enjoy some time outside.

Another lockdown purchase was a sewing machine. It hasn't arrived yet - due to be dispatched in June but the sewing kit arrived quickly and I've now also received my first fabric orders. Soon to have all the gear, and still no idea.

This was Boris' infamous announcement - 'go out, don't go out, go to work, work from home, don't travel on public transport, travel to work.' Clear as mud.

Before the bike theft we had gone to Battersea Park with a flask of coffee to enjoy some time outside. Hopefully we'll be back on two wheels again soon.