Start of working from home.
I began the day with some exercise in the lounge. In the absence of a gym, this is going to be the only way I can keep the pounds off. It's something I've been considering doing for a while, as the lure of the gym is starting to wear off. Even when paying £17.99 a month for it.
So, in place of watching girls taking selfies while using the treadmill, I'm face-planting our dusty carpet, gasping for air and hoping I don't wake the rest of the house. At least it's free!
Had the benefit of being able to sit and eat breakfast with Mum before starting work. Also read my Bible. This is a slower, calmer pace of life that we would never have been able to adjust to without an enforced lock-down. I am grateful for more time with the family - especially Mum and Dad. More on that later.
In the name of comfort, I moved my wooden desk chair to the bunk bed room and dragged the old swivel chair from the study up to my room. This is going to be my office for the next goodness-knows-how-many weeks.
I cannot, however, escape my colleagues asking for help. Sergio messaged our CIU group chat on Whatsapp. I was the first to reply to him, so he promptly continued to message me privately with more requests. I struggled with irritation. It must be tough for him - he's pretty much all alone (except for Tom? And the apprentice? Geez, I can't even remember that guy's name.)
Along with Sergio, I had Oliver emailing me with questions. I felt a bit like IT support.
The rest of the family carried on with normal life - Mim and Martha went to the gym and Mum went to the shops.
At lunch, I went to the Coop and brought snacks (my essentials before the storm) and a gift card for Mother's Day.
In the afternoon, everything went a bit nuts.
We put an offer in for Westerleigh Road and, to our astonishment, had our offer accepted. This is hardly the situation we envisioned getting a house in - a pandemic and potential lockdown.
Mum was upset because she was starting to realise we may not see family for a while and felt like us 3 were rushing out the door too. Mim was upset because she needed more reassurance that we'd made the right choice in putting in an offer for the house. I was left to scurry between the two of them, doing my best to comfort and reassure. Reminding Mum that it was still going to take a while. That even though it felt like everything was falling apart, God was still our rock. Reminding Mim that she did not carry the world on her shoulders - we'd made this choice together and God was sovereign over us getting this house.I am grateful God gave me the words, for it flowed from a desperate desire for peace and everyone to be happy.
We contacted ol' Bristolian Mark to get the ball rolling with the house process.
Mim and Martha were both working night shifts. I tried to keep Mim happy by excitedly envisioning plans for our house. (If it all goes ahead.)
Mum, Dad and I joined a test Zoom vision with a lot of church members. Quite hilarious and chaotic. Funny - and good - to see everyone again.
I set up my laptop so we could see the last of the Mike Reeves videos. (As Vital Life has to take place electronically tomorrow.) He was as excellent a speaker as always. .
Martha got sent home from work early because she has a cough. She now has to isolate for 7 days, and the rest of us must isolate for 14 days. Churchers and others in our church have already began the same situation.
We started watching Return of the King - extended as I don't know where the shorter DVDs are kept.
The story never fails to get to me - memories of Dan and his love for the series.
Self-isolation begins...
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