6th April 2020

As I sat down this evening to write the blog, breaking news on the BBC reported that Boris Johnson had been moved into intensive care. This morning, we woke to the news that he had been admitted to the hospital as a precaution for tests, having not recovered from the initial infection as expected. It’s concerning, although he hasn’t been placed on a ventilator, survival rates drop to just 50/50 for those who are.

The day began under dark clouds and drizzle. Sue had kitted up with a face mask and gloves, ready for her first shopping trip into town since lockdown began. By 8:30 am, she was driving to Lidl while I set off on my bike into the Leicestershire countryside. She reported that there were no queues outside the supermarket and that most shelves were well-stocked, except for flour, which remained unavailable, though there were no restrictions on other items. She and one other shopper wore a mask, while most others opted for gloves. Strangely, people gave her a wide berth when they noticed her face mask; perhaps they thought she was infected? Or maybe they assumed she was a COVID-19 nurse?

When I returned from my ride, I found Sue busy putting the shopping away. I set about planting two rows of early potatoes.

In the afternoon, we braced ourselves for an encounter with the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) website. Previous experience with UK government sites had prepared us for frustration, and we weren’t disappointed. I’ve long suspected that the programmers behind these platforms are either hopelessly incompetent or under orders to make navigation as difficult as possible.

Last year, I set a reminder in my online calendar to check the progress of Sue’s state pension. She isn’t yet old enough to qualify, but today marks exactly four months before she is due to receive it. Annoyingly, perhaps deliberately, the DWP does not pay it automatically; you have to claim it. They are supposed to notify you between six and four months before your qualification date. They hadn’t.

As expected, the process wasn’t straightforward. After setting up an account (providing details they already hold), we had to verify it via a code sent by email. It never arrived. No matter how many times we clicked ‘resend code’, it failed to materialise. Eventually, we re-submitted the details and opted to receive the code by text. This time, it worked, perhaps. The site closed with the message: “Congratulations on your successful application. We may need to contact you for further details.”

Jamie has put a deposit down on a puppy. It’s only a few days old, and he expects to collect it in around eight weeks. He must be confident that the lockdown will be over by then; we shall see. What Maddy, the mad rabbit, will make of the new family member is anyone’s guess.

Rather sweetly, while Sarah was working from home at her desk, Mia found a little tag and placed it on the carpet by her feet. Can Mia read?

On a brighter note, and much to Joan’s relief, Phil has been discharged from the hospital and is now back home.