Over the past few days my inability to write anything has been bothering me a great deal. Having committed myself to writing something every day I did so enthusiastically at the beginning of this period of what some are calling Lockdown. I'm not sure why I stopped other than the days began to be sunnier, then busier, then sadder... The thoughts of what to write are always there along with the feeling that I am missing out and missing something by not recording them. But these long and lazy days pass by so quickly, there barely seems to be time to get anything done between the essentials such as getting dressed, touching base with the family, cooking a meal and of course at some point during the day participating in a quiz of some sort.
And then there are the messages of course. Group chats are busier than ever as so few people are "at work". They may well be working of course but perhaps it is easier to pick up a phone and send a funny video or quick message when you're not actually in the office or working on site somewhere. Emails also take up a seemingly disproportionate amount of time, but when it's impossible to have a conversation in person they do provide a pretty good way to keep in touch - especially when the post office is struggling to keep up with deliveries.
I've been updating the blog over on The Kitchen website today. Although we are closed it feels important to stay in touch with customers. I've been receiving probably 8-10 emails a day myself with help and suggestions on how to remain in touch with everyone and can see the importance. It's been disappointing therefore to see a few folk subscribe from our newsletter this afternoon, having sent it out with link to the blog. It's left me wondering if the advice to keep a relentlessly positive and upbeat presence is in fact correct.
It's not that we are being negative, we are trying to remain realistic. It's not worth reiterating here all the reasons why we aren't open - they are here for all to see.
When it comes to feelings I find myself with something of a dilemma. Social media is swamped with images of sourdough, banana bread, gin-0-clock and many more of the things which have become associated with middle class "lockdown". I continue to question the idea of lockdown however as what we are experiencing here really is nothing compared to what some European countries have been through. Being unable to leave your home without the paperwork to prove you are on essential business is quite different to the way in which restrictions have been set out here. We can go out to shop, for exercise, to care for the vulnerable. There have been many cases of people taking advantage of this, with examples online and on the news of people giving ridiculous reasons to the police as to why they are on the roads. Politicians have resigned or at the very least come under criticism for visiting second homes and there has been something of a sense of vigilante-ism with people outing their neighbours to 111 for having friends over or sunbathing in a communal space. But there have been no hefty fines, with the police instead engaging and encouraging before enforcing the guidelines. This really is not a lockdown.
It's so hard to think back to how this snuck up on us. Probably two months ago we were laughing and joking about how if alcohol killed the coronavirus we just needed to consume plenty of cocktails and we would be okay. No one is laughing about it now, though there has perhaps been a rise in virus-related humour with the circulation of clever re-writes of Abba classics, expressing the frustrations of quarantine. And of course there have been the many re-writes of songs from Les Mis. And re-writes of The Specials and The Stones... historians will have so much fun analysing how we spent our time when not quite locked down.
Today there will be another news conference. The return of the Prime Minister who himself has been unwell with Covid-19 and just yesterday became a father again. The expectation is that this period of "stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives" is far from over.
Thursday, 30 April 2020
The Time is Write
By way of explanation - this post was inadvertently saved in the drafts folder having been written a week or so before it is being published. It feels important to say this in order to make sense of the next post...
So at the beginning of this pandemic - or should I say at the beginning of the time when this pandemic began to directly affect those of us in the UK - I suggested everyone keep a daily diary.
And I did!
For a few weeks maybe, when I felt a constant compulsion to write and rewrite and spew and dump and in some kind of vaguely cathartic way make sense of what was going on by trying to write about it. But then something strange seemed to happen, in that there "wasn't time" to write. So what was happening in the 24 hours of the day that still seemed to exist, to make it so difficult to find half an hour at the laptop?
Well first of all of course there are the things that do still require me to be at a laptop. Running a small business is busy and stressful at the best of times and even though it may seem to some as though we are on "holiday" many aspects of that continue, and there are other, newer, factors to consider.
There may be fewer emails requesting cakes or wanting to book Afternoon Tea - of course. But there are lots asking about their wedding cakes, or private bookings later in the year. For many of these lovely folk there is so much uncertainty and concern around what should be the happiest celebration, we do not want to add to their stress as we have personal experience of this. So we have tried to be reassuring, to rearrange, and to accommodate whatever the customer requires from us. Yes we may have twenty cakes to make one week in October but if that's what is needed then we will call in the troops and make it happen!
There have been suppliers to pay and refunds to issue, discounts to negotiate and a whole heap of forms to fill in as we have applied for some of the help the government has been offering. At this stage a huge shout out and thanks to Three Rivers District Council for their amazing support and swift processing of a grant which means we do have enough money in the bank - for now.
Looking ahead however who knows? To reopen with limited covers would be unsustainable. The losses are already piling up as stock goes out of date and we continue to pay bills that cannot be deferred. It's a very worrying time but above all else of course the priority is the safety of our customers and our staff.
There have of course been lighter times too and we also want to give a huge shout out to Peter Taylor the Mayor of Watford - and to Luther Blissett - former Watford and England striker - for the wonderful work they have been doing to support #watfordtogether.
So at the beginning of this pandemic - or should I say at the beginning of the time when this pandemic began to directly affect those of us in the UK - I suggested everyone keep a daily diary.
And I did!
For a few weeks maybe, when I felt a constant compulsion to write and rewrite and spew and dump and in some kind of vaguely cathartic way make sense of what was going on by trying to write about it. But then something strange seemed to happen, in that there "wasn't time" to write. So what was happening in the 24 hours of the day that still seemed to exist, to make it so difficult to find half an hour at the laptop?
Well first of all of course there are the things that do still require me to be at a laptop. Running a small business is busy and stressful at the best of times and even though it may seem to some as though we are on "holiday" many aspects of that continue, and there are other, newer, factors to consider.
There may be fewer emails requesting cakes or wanting to book Afternoon Tea - of course. But there are lots asking about their wedding cakes, or private bookings later in the year. For many of these lovely folk there is so much uncertainty and concern around what should be the happiest celebration, we do not want to add to their stress as we have personal experience of this. So we have tried to be reassuring, to rearrange, and to accommodate whatever the customer requires from us. Yes we may have twenty cakes to make one week in October but if that's what is needed then we will call in the troops and make it happen!
There have been suppliers to pay and refunds to issue, discounts to negotiate and a whole heap of forms to fill in as we have applied for some of the help the government has been offering. At this stage a huge shout out and thanks to Three Rivers District Council for their amazing support and swift processing of a grant which means we do have enough money in the bank - for now.
Looking ahead however who knows? To reopen with limited covers would be unsustainable. The losses are already piling up as stock goes out of date and we continue to pay bills that cannot be deferred. It's a very worrying time but above all else of course the priority is the safety of our customers and our staff.
There have of course been lighter times too and we also want to give a huge shout out to Peter Taylor the Mayor of Watford - and to Luther Blissett - former Watford and England striker - for the wonderful work they have been doing to support #watfordtogether.
Wednesday, 22 April 2020
Virtual Hens
When you are getting married in June and a pandemic breaks out in March and you don't really know what is going to happen as you are juggling a venue and suppliers and invitations and a myriad of other factors it's possible that the hen do(s) could slip through the net - especially if as is usual they are being organised by your Maid of Honour.
Indeed it was only on Friday that my daughter mentioned in our family WhatsApp group that Saturday should have been her family hen do. And because of this she had persuaded her fiancé to do girlie things all day. We added in a few suggestions ourselves - a manicure, facial, massage, cocktails and watching Dirty Dancing all featured in our list of course!
What Rachel didn't know of course was that the Family Hen Do WhatsApp Group had been busily buzzing ever since the days when we were looking forward to a do that would be anything but virtual! I won't mention here what had been planned since the hope is for that to go ahead on a future date. But suffice it to say we were looking forward to it very much indeed and did not want the date - April 18th - to go unmarked by us (even if Rachel and Rory were going to have the time of their lives...)
Plans were made to deliver Afternoon Tea to Rachel and Rory's flat in Croxley Green on the morning of April 18th. At this point she was added to the WhatsApp group and told to make a bit of an effort at 3pm!
Originally the plan had been for a small group video call, with other friends sending photos of themselves with a glass of fizz and piece of cake to the group. It's hard to work out at what point we opted for a full blown Zoom call but that's how it ended up. Several participants did indeed have their own full Afternoon Tea and of course I had a carbon copy of Rachel's - in the same way that she had "shared" my birthday cake a couple of weeks ago.
Bunting and photo props were included in the surprise delivery along with a bridal veil and sash. At 3pm the call commenced and three hours later the last few slurry speeched ladies were still standing!
The highlight of the afternoon surely had to be the introduction of Deborah to the group. Divine in a blue dress with her blonde locks she made the event truly special.
We ate, we drank - a lot - we played games, we did quizzes. People came and went. Some had limited technology and needed flash cards for the questions. The bridesmaids and the flower girls (but we missed Hannah...) were there along with the Maid of Honour, Mother and Grandmother of the Bride, the Mother of the Groom and many more besides. It was an absolutely memorable event - aside from the fact that the amount of Prosecco consumed "may" make it difficult to remember every detail!
Indeed it was only on Friday that my daughter mentioned in our family WhatsApp group that Saturday should have been her family hen do. And because of this she had persuaded her fiancé to do girlie things all day. We added in a few suggestions ourselves - a manicure, facial, massage, cocktails and watching Dirty Dancing all featured in our list of course!
What Rachel didn't know of course was that the Family Hen Do WhatsApp Group had been busily buzzing ever since the days when we were looking forward to a do that would be anything but virtual! I won't mention here what had been planned since the hope is for that to go ahead on a future date. But suffice it to say we were looking forward to it very much indeed and did not want the date - April 18th - to go unmarked by us (even if Rachel and Rory were going to have the time of their lives...)
Plans were made to deliver Afternoon Tea to Rachel and Rory's flat in Croxley Green on the morning of April 18th. At this point she was added to the WhatsApp group and told to make a bit of an effort at 3pm!
Originally the plan had been for a small group video call, with other friends sending photos of themselves with a glass of fizz and piece of cake to the group. It's hard to work out at what point we opted for a full blown Zoom call but that's how it ended up. Several participants did indeed have their own full Afternoon Tea and of course I had a carbon copy of Rachel's - in the same way that she had "shared" my birthday cake a couple of weeks ago.
Bunting and photo props were included in the surprise delivery along with a bridal veil and sash. At 3pm the call commenced and three hours later the last few slurry speeched ladies were still standing!
The highlight of the afternoon surely had to be the introduction of Deborah to the group. Divine in a blue dress with her blonde locks she made the event truly special.
We ate, we drank - a lot - we played games, we did quizzes. People came and went. Some had limited technology and needed flash cards for the questions. The bridesmaids and the flower girls (but we missed Hannah...) were there along with the Maid of Honour, Mother and Grandmother of the Bride, the Mother of the Groom and many more besides. It was an absolutely memorable event - aside from the fact that the amount of Prosecco consumed "may" make it difficult to remember every detail!
Sunday, 19 April 2020
We were on a break
Hello there,
I have been absent for a few days and to be honest that was a pretty calculated decision. After all it's not as if my social life has suddenly taken an upturn, keeping me away from home or even just the laptop for hours on end.
Rather, it felt as thought these entries were becoming rather repetitive, slightly samey and dare I say it a tad depressing. With little to do other than write, bake and create meals from the depths of the freezer I wasn't the only person comparing these days to Groundhog Day.
Aside from this there was great sadness on Friday with a wonderful local lady who was a dear friend to many being laid to rest. In these difficult days funeral services are restricted to close family only with others unable to attend and pay their respects. For this lovely lady the church or chapel would have been full to overflowing but instead of attending we lit a candle, raised a glass and sat with our thoughts and prayers.
Sadness is a strange thing, and can be quite overwhelming at times. We are so fortunate here in having a large house with a garden that has a beautiful deck, comfortable furniture and the perfect suntrap. In any other circumstances it would be a joy to sit and enjoy the sunshine with a good book, a cuppa or a cocktail, and the sound of the waterfall.
Of course all of that is still possible but underneath the enjoyment there is the nagging fear of this deadly invisible virus. The doorbell may go with a parcel/delivery and rather than being filled with jo it is so easy to worry about unpacking it and disposing of the cardboard safely before washing our hands for the zillionth time. The radio is on as background entertainment throughout the day but every hour the reality that is the news update breaks back into whatever we are doing and unfortunately no news seems to be good news at the moment.
Yesterday should have been our younger daughter's Hen Do. I won't say what we were going to do as that may yet happen and we don't want to be spoiling any surprises.
Rachel herself had reminded our family WhatsApp group that it was supposed to have been her Family Hen, and also announced that she would therefore be doing "Girlie Stuff" with her fiancé Rory. We had dived in with our suggestions such as a manicure, drinking cocktails and of course watching Dirty Dancing. But what actually happened? The next post will reveal all!
I have been absent for a few days and to be honest that was a pretty calculated decision. After all it's not as if my social life has suddenly taken an upturn, keeping me away from home or even just the laptop for hours on end.
Rather, it felt as thought these entries were becoming rather repetitive, slightly samey and dare I say it a tad depressing. With little to do other than write, bake and create meals from the depths of the freezer I wasn't the only person comparing these days to Groundhog Day.
Aside from this there was great sadness on Friday with a wonderful local lady who was a dear friend to many being laid to rest. In these difficult days funeral services are restricted to close family only with others unable to attend and pay their respects. For this lovely lady the church or chapel would have been full to overflowing but instead of attending we lit a candle, raised a glass and sat with our thoughts and prayers.
Sadness is a strange thing, and can be quite overwhelming at times. We are so fortunate here in having a large house with a garden that has a beautiful deck, comfortable furniture and the perfect suntrap. In any other circumstances it would be a joy to sit and enjoy the sunshine with a good book, a cuppa or a cocktail, and the sound of the waterfall.
Of course all of that is still possible but underneath the enjoyment there is the nagging fear of this deadly invisible virus. The doorbell may go with a parcel/delivery and rather than being filled with jo it is so easy to worry about unpacking it and disposing of the cardboard safely before washing our hands for the zillionth time. The radio is on as background entertainment throughout the day but every hour the reality that is the news update breaks back into whatever we are doing and unfortunately no news seems to be good news at the moment.
Yesterday should have been our younger daughter's Hen Do. I won't say what we were going to do as that may yet happen and we don't want to be spoiling any surprises.
Rachel herself had reminded our family WhatsApp group that it was supposed to have been her Family Hen, and also announced that she would therefore be doing "Girlie Stuff" with her fiancé Rory. We had dived in with our suggestions such as a manicure, drinking cocktails and of course watching Dirty Dancing. But what actually happened? The next post will reveal all!
Wednesday, 15 April 2020
Past the Peak?
Social distancing does seem to have been taking effect and some of the signs appear to be encouraging. But the big question has to be what next? When the lockdown is lifted will new cases occur? Can we really feel "safe" before a vaccine has been discovered and rolled out?
Aside from this "news" social media continues to be full of another type, perhaps even more worrying. This is the proliferation of "fake news" and the conspiracy theories being circulated.
To be honest I initially found some of this so disturbing that I had to turn away, but found that almost impossible at times. Going onto Twitter to see the latest news from a favourite baker or sports personality it became all too easy to click onto something seemingly of interest, and from there to be sucked down a rabbit hole of questions and answers and links to other sites and David Icke and 5g and there isn't a virus at all and Boris Johnson's illness was faked and all the staff at the Nightingale Hospital had to sign NDAs....
I'm not saying any of these are true, and some of the details there are no doubt fuzzy from late night reading, coloured further by the crazy dreams that so many of us seem to be having just now. What is clear however (to me at any rate!) is that there are people using the current situation to further their own beliefs. I can only think that these people actually believe what they are saying and writing, or why say and write it?
These issues have been causing me a great deal of anxiety so I have done my best to look at good scientific research to refute these theories. I am certain the roll out of the 5G phone network is not responsible for what is happening. I don't believe Bill Gates is behind it all, or that mass compulsory vaccination is a way for "them" to take control of and track us all. (And who are "them" anyway, and why would they even be interested in tracking us?)
There are days, and times in the day, when the anxiety resurfaces. However I consider myself hugely fortunate in that we have here a lovely garden. Even when the overall temperature is not particularly high, or with a chilly breeze blowing, there's a glorious sun trap which you can see in the photo above. In a few months time there will be natural shade here too as the grapevine snakes its way over the frame and bunches of fruit form ready to enjoy come September.
It has crossed my mind that this year it would be wonderful to make some of these grapes into winr and create a lockdown vintage! I have no idea how to do this or if it is possible, or what it may taste like but the idea amuses me as I see the buds breaking out of the branches in the warm spring sunshine.
No Quiz this evening - other than "Quiz" which is keeping the nation entertained at this time. The story of the couple who "cheated" the TV programme "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" - or did they? TV continues to be a huge draw at this time, with many new channels appearing on our basic Freeview box. We are also trying to get to grips with YouTube as on there we can view many West End shows and this Friday the Phantom of the Opera.
So life trundles on. Bread is baked, cupboards are decluttered, books are read and gin is consumed. This will pass. But when?
Monday, 13 April 2020
Slow Down
Writing a blog has in the past been a time for reflection. To sit back and thoughtfully consider what has been happening, and enjoy the process of putting the words together in a way that is the equivalent of aesthetically pleasing. Or perhaps it is in fact aesthetically pleasing? I'll have to give that some more thought.
The last few posts on here however have felt like a rush to make sure nothing about these days is forgotten. I almost instinctively went to type difficult days but now more than ever it feels impossible to find the right adjective to describe what these days really are. To some of us they are lazy lockdown days, sitting in the sunshine with a good book and even enjoying gin at 5pm. Apparently this, along with making a sourdough starter and baking banana bread, are typically middle class reactions to a period of pandemic quarantine.
Yesterday's sermon-eque entry concluded with a few rather random thoughts taken from the "notes" app on my iphone. This is where I deposit the random thoughts that may or may not make it into a post here. At the moment the list reads Life as it was, Pandemic life, How did they catch it, Enjoying life? Try Zoon, Hard to get up and Every sniffle - which makes me wonder if gin at 5pm is such a good idea after all?
To take the first one first - Life as it was. Today I read something about FOGO. As opposed to FOMO or Fear of Missing Out, FOGO is what we can expect to experience later this year when the lockdown restrictions are lifted. Fear of Going Out, when we will wonder and worry if it is safe to go out, see and speak to people outside of our cosy household bubbles. This has been very much on my own mind recently and to be honest I don't think there is much to say as none of us know how that is going to feel. We pray for those developing a vaccine as surely this - and effective treatments - is going to be the answer.
Life as it was feels so long ago now. Many have said that seeing images of concerts, sports events, cafes and restaurants filled with people is already giving them a strange feeling and concern. Social distancing has become the norm, though many are now calling it physical distancing which is perhaps a much nicer turn of phrase. To think how readily we took for granted popping on the tube and spending an evening in town - at the theatre or eating out. The streets of London are now deserted and it is almost impossible to imagine them otherwise.
So Pandemic Life is something else altogether and as I'm sure I have alluded to elsewhere on more than one occasion it really does feel like the luck of a pretty unfair draw as to what it's like for you. Within the UK there are those such as ourselves living in a nice house with a garden. Not that far away there are families in flats with no outdoor space. In the developing world there are people living in refugee camps, in squalor, with little or no sanitation and food. We have heard little on the news about these places, the focus being very much on the hospitalisation and recovery of our Prime Minister.
But for now Pandemic Life continues with an Easter Monday Family Quiz!
The last few posts on here however have felt like a rush to make sure nothing about these days is forgotten. I almost instinctively went to type difficult days but now more than ever it feels impossible to find the right adjective to describe what these days really are. To some of us they are lazy lockdown days, sitting in the sunshine with a good book and even enjoying gin at 5pm. Apparently this, along with making a sourdough starter and baking banana bread, are typically middle class reactions to a period of pandemic quarantine.
Yesterday's sermon-eque entry concluded with a few rather random thoughts taken from the "notes" app on my iphone. This is where I deposit the random thoughts that may or may not make it into a post here. At the moment the list reads Life as it was, Pandemic life, How did they catch it, Enjoying life? Try Zoon, Hard to get up and Every sniffle - which makes me wonder if gin at 5pm is such a good idea after all?
To take the first one first - Life as it was. Today I read something about FOGO. As opposed to FOMO or Fear of Missing Out, FOGO is what we can expect to experience later this year when the lockdown restrictions are lifted. Fear of Going Out, when we will wonder and worry if it is safe to go out, see and speak to people outside of our cosy household bubbles. This has been very much on my own mind recently and to be honest I don't think there is much to say as none of us know how that is going to feel. We pray for those developing a vaccine as surely this - and effective treatments - is going to be the answer.
Life as it was feels so long ago now. Many have said that seeing images of concerts, sports events, cafes and restaurants filled with people is already giving them a strange feeling and concern. Social distancing has become the norm, though many are now calling it physical distancing which is perhaps a much nicer turn of phrase. To think how readily we took for granted popping on the tube and spending an evening in town - at the theatre or eating out. The streets of London are now deserted and it is almost impossible to imagine them otherwise.
So Pandemic Life is something else altogether and as I'm sure I have alluded to elsewhere on more than one occasion it really does feel like the luck of a pretty unfair draw as to what it's like for you. Within the UK there are those such as ourselves living in a nice house with a garden. Not that far away there are families in flats with no outdoor space. In the developing world there are people living in refugee camps, in squalor, with little or no sanitation and food. We have heard little on the news about these places, the focus being very much on the hospitalisation and recovery of our Prime Minister.
But for now Pandemic Life continues with an Easter Monday Family Quiz!
Sunday, 12 April 2020
Christ is Risen
Easter Sunday.
After the darkness of Good Friday and the in-between waiting of Easter Saturday we find ourselves celebrating Easter Sunday. And celebrate we do, even if Easter Egg hunts are on hold or there's a distinct lack of "non essential" chocolate eggs to enjoy.
Church services are also cancelled, though BBC today did broadcast a service that was recorded prior to lockdown. I caught the last five minutes of what looked to have been a church in Somerset with a Gospel choir, followed by the Pope's address from a deserted Vatican, then the aforementioned pre-recording. The afternoon's viewing included a fabulous production of Jesus Christ Superstar, part of the "The Shows Must Go On" series. So many theatres, producers, bands, films online and available to view for free just now. We only have the most basic TV package but suddenly we have several Sky channels, along with links to decoded movies and a wealth of content on YouTube. All designed to make us #StayHome #ProtectTheNHS #SaveLives
The message of Easter, whether you are a Christian, follow another faith, or are not a believer, is one of hope. A thirty three year old man went about preaching peace, love and kindness. He performed a series of miracles - though to be fair some may say they were not so much supernatural as ways of encouraging humankind to be kinder. He was betrayed by a friend, disliked by the authorities and executed in a hideous fashion. You'd have thought the rest of his friends would have run a mile but look what happened - Christianity became a worldwide religion with a following of billions. Even the way we record the date changed such was the significance of this man's life.
So at this time of year I always figure that miracles can happen, where there is life there is hope and - ultimately - Love Wins.
That may sound something like a sermon, which wasn't the intention. In actual fact I have here a whole list of things that I intended to write about today. Some of them are quite brief and can be covered here, others may need to wait.
TV watching has become very significant. All over social media people are discussing and debating what to watch. As mentioned above there are many extra channels on offer. We've chosen to watch The Split which has been a fascinating insight into the lives and loves at a family law firm.
We also watched the film Yesterday. Imagine a world where The Beatles never existed. Then imagine being the only person in the world who knew all their songs. Sound implausible? Well of course it is but Richard Curtis and Danny Boyle have created a very amusing and almost credible movie out or this idea - well worth a watch.
Can you ever imagine being able to give someone a hug again? As in, not someone who lives in your household, but someone you meet casually - a friend of a friend say. Or shaking hands - could you/would you?
That may be enough for now. More in the morning as it's another Bank Holiday. Did someone say Groundhog Day?
After the darkness of Good Friday and the in-between waiting of Easter Saturday we find ourselves celebrating Easter Sunday. And celebrate we do, even if Easter Egg hunts are on hold or there's a distinct lack of "non essential" chocolate eggs to enjoy.
Church services are also cancelled, though BBC today did broadcast a service that was recorded prior to lockdown. I caught the last five minutes of what looked to have been a church in Somerset with a Gospel choir, followed by the Pope's address from a deserted Vatican, then the aforementioned pre-recording. The afternoon's viewing included a fabulous production of Jesus Christ Superstar, part of the "The Shows Must Go On" series. So many theatres, producers, bands, films online and available to view for free just now. We only have the most basic TV package but suddenly we have several Sky channels, along with links to decoded movies and a wealth of content on YouTube. All designed to make us #StayHome #ProtectTheNHS #SaveLives
The message of Easter, whether you are a Christian, follow another faith, or are not a believer, is one of hope. A thirty three year old man went about preaching peace, love and kindness. He performed a series of miracles - though to be fair some may say they were not so much supernatural as ways of encouraging humankind to be kinder. He was betrayed by a friend, disliked by the authorities and executed in a hideous fashion. You'd have thought the rest of his friends would have run a mile but look what happened - Christianity became a worldwide religion with a following of billions. Even the way we record the date changed such was the significance of this man's life.
So at this time of year I always figure that miracles can happen, where there is life there is hope and - ultimately - Love Wins.
That may sound something like a sermon, which wasn't the intention. In actual fact I have here a whole list of things that I intended to write about today. Some of them are quite brief and can be covered here, others may need to wait.
TV watching has become very significant. All over social media people are discussing and debating what to watch. As mentioned above there are many extra channels on offer. We've chosen to watch The Split which has been a fascinating insight into the lives and loves at a family law firm.
We also watched the film Yesterday. Imagine a world where The Beatles never existed. Then imagine being the only person in the world who knew all their songs. Sound implausible? Well of course it is but Richard Curtis and Danny Boyle have created a very amusing and almost credible movie out or this idea - well worth a watch.
Can you ever imagine being able to give someone a hug again? As in, not someone who lives in your household, but someone you meet casually - a friend of a friend say. Or shaking hands - could you/would you?
That may be enough for now. More in the morning as it's another Bank Holiday. Did someone say Groundhog Day?
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