Lockdown Diary - Saturday 19th June 2021

It's my birthday today (is that worthy of a 'yay'? Not sure, as I'm a year older, well, OK, a day older strictly speaking, and acutely aware that 18 months of my life has been lost to the pandemic, when I should have been out there making big changes) but it is also Saturday, so the usual chores still have to be done, starting with shopping accompanied by son #1.

[Note to self: next year, maybe I should plan in advance to have no shitty chores to do, though it will be on a Sunday and presumably coincide with Father's Day.  Mind you, next year 'Ulysses' will be 100, and the place will be Dublin for Bloomsday week. Can I arrange that?]

Shopping all stowed away, son #1 and I sat and ate breakfast together, briefly visited by son #3, though son #2 is still in his pit and, no doubt, son #1 will be returning to bed, once his breakfast has settled.

Around 1:30 p.m., whilst son #3 and I were making lunch, my elder sister called to wish me a happy birthday and have a general catch-up.  Apart from the cards that had arrived in the post, at this point my birthday had not properly begun.

Lunch eaten, I started reading the papers, only to be interrupted by the phone again, this time by my mother-in-law, who thought it was my birthday yesterday, so initially asked how it had been, which confused me a little and so my initial response was that it hadn't really got started yet, which made her realise her mistake.  Usual chit-chat, but shorter than normal as she didn't have much news and I didn't either, not that she's that interested.

Call with their grandma over, the boys assembled for the card and present ceremony, which was fun. They had written some thoughtful words in their cards to me.  Cards and presents unwrapped we then moved to my wife's bedroom where son #2 gave me a card and presents to open from my wife, though of course that he'd arranged.  Despite the circumstances we do try and include my wife in things though we don't really know how much she takes in. I kissed her and thanked her for the presents and card any way.

The boys informed me that a taxi would arrive at 7 p.m., to take us to the restaurant they had booked, though the details are still a secret from me.

A little later I had a call from a friend from book club. I was expecting to hear something this weekend as I knew plans for his wedding to another book club member had been affected by the latest lockdown plans.  It transpires that the current restrictions mean that the venues can only take less than half the planned number, with the result that sadly I could no longer come.  I had been expecting it and when I heard the news about the restrictions I had messaged the bride to say I'd not be offended if they had to rescind my invite, after all the most important thing is that they get married. I think it had been postponed three times already over the past 18 months.

Early evening the phone rang again and it was my younger sister wishing me happy birthday.  The usual catch up and suggestion of meeting soon.

Around 7 p.m. the taxi duly arrived and we all piled in and headed to town.  Even when we arrived in town, I was still none the wiser. We past several restaurants and I'm thinking, which one are we going to? We crossed the river and found ourselves at a Lebanese restaurant, which I'd never eaten at.

We were taken to out table and seated.  Drinks and food ordered we settled back to enjoy the evening.  We shared a mezze platter to start with each of us ordering different main courses.  It being my birthday I had to drink wine with the meal, after all it would be a waste of a taxi not to drink!

Whilst inside the restaurant the rain returned after what had been a mostly dry but grey day, but after a fun and enjoyable meal, we were pleased to see the taxi was waiting for us outside the casino ready for the return journey home.

My sons have done a wonderful job organising my birthday celebrations and I'm really grateful for it.  I am a very lucky man.

Once indoors we chilled and watched some TV before boys dispersed to do their own things.  Father's day tomorrow!

The usual things leading to sleep.

girl in red / 'You Stupid Bitch' / 'if I could make it go quiet'



[[]]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Love, Poetry and Revolution - Monday 13th May 2024

Image
The last time I wrote here, April was disappearing into the sunset. Given the amount of cloud and rain during the month, that was more metaphorical than literal. Ho, hum, pig's bum! It may or not be the case.  Scrub that: it May be, is. What's the craic, I 'hear' you ask? It's a game of two halves, to be 'honest'. Allegedly, I am a 'parrot', sleep-wise, though not as sick as one. Over to you, Barry. It's alright, I'm just messin'. I am toying with the idea of attempting to write entirely in clichés, but mixing them up and playing with them for the linguistic fun of it. I could try to do that, but it would take a while and I have other things I want to say today.  So, it's time to get down to business.  Nose to the grindstone. Shoulder to the wheel. Pull my socks up. This post is not going to write itself. Sadly, for all concerned, E's health seems to have plateaued again. I'm not sure who this benefits, not her nor our sons wh
Read more

Lockdown Diary - Friday 28th August 2020

Image
I had a lie-in until about 7 a.m. as it's the last day of my leave, but I was up for the first carer call just after 7, then after she'd left I got on with showering, exercising, getting dressed and having breakfast. I have various things to organise, not least to make sure son #3 has actually thought about what he needs for university, which potentially he starts 3 weeks from today (I say potentially because things are not yet finalised, but it's looking like he'll be starting on our wedding anniversary) Apart from that I'm going to revise the next module of the Mulesoft training course, which I hope will take no longer than an hour. Cripes! The morning has gone and I have no idea how I've used it all up.  Sons 2 and 3 are making lunch - bacon and eggs today - and son #1 and his gf are up and about. We watched an episode of 'Peep Show' over lunch then split up to do whatever we had to do. Fully recharged by lunch, I'm going to tackle Mulesoft now. 
Read more

Lockdown Diary - Wednesday 8th July 2020

Image
I shall start this post, my first since Sunday, with a warning - actually, make that two: It's going to be a long post, as I have a lot to say; It's also going to have load of hospital / surgery / whatever stuff in it too, about which you may well have zero interest. I'll mark the beginning and end of that section clearly so you can skip it and move to the rest of the blog without getting bored senseless. I have to write it though, because it needs to be recorded for posterity and for one reason or another everything that surrounds this operation has been a major part of my life, with a load of impacts on almost every aspect of it, for a few years now. I cannot ignore it for that reason. I came out of hospital yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon being discharged at around 1:30 p.m. and collected by a good friend. During my time in the hospital - from 7:20 a.m. on Monday, when I was greeted by the admin person at the door of the ward - I was looked after incredibly well. I'd
Read more

Lockdown Diary - Thursday 11th March 2021

Image
Work until early evening, when I joined the Idler Drinks with this week's guest, Chris Difford, of Squeeze and solo song writing fame. Interesting and temporarily diverting chat which roamed far and wide across his career and what he's doing under lockdown.  More of that, including monthly (I think) online socials with guests in aid of charities (see here for more info on all Chris's activities) and much more.   Early on in the chat he talked of the early days of writing with Squeeze co-conspirator Glenn Tillbrook, when they were much taken and influenced by the songs of Todd Rundgren, which I enjoyed hearing about. The interview ended with an impromptu acoustic rendition of 'Cool For Cats' from Chris's shed/den. After that son #2 and I started making chicken and black bean enchiladas from a recipe off the BBC Good Food website. Prep time is always longer than their estimates - and that was with two of us doing parallel tasks. Usual series of events, accompanie
Read more

Lockdown Diary - Tuesday 29th September 2020

Image
Although I have today off, it pales into insignificance compared to the action of yesterday. This is often my challenge. I decided last night that I'd get up later, but I have to admit, though technically I had more sleep, I don't feel any better for it. I still struggled to get up and I know that there is an undercurrent of tiredness which cannot be cured by sleep alone. Less or more, makes no difference. Ennui. I've only got one specific thing in the diary today, which is a call with an ex work colleague who I've not spoken to in a while.  Not sure how long. At the appointed hour WA kicked into life and I began a longish video call with an old friend. He has retired (who hasn't?) - in fact he's been retired for two years and seems to be enjoying life, subject to the same restrictions we are all living under.  It turns out he didn't even know my wife was ill, never mind bedbound, which means we may not have spoken for 11 or more years.  Despite the interven
Read more