11th April 2020

On a day hotter than the Mediterranean, the good news was that a vaccine might be available by September (just six months away). However, the bad news came from South Korea, which reported on Friday that 91 recovered coronavirus patients had tested positive for the disease again. This raises serious questions about our understanding of the pandemic.

If it is true that reinfection is possible, then lockdowns may become a way of life for quite some time. I had assumed that those who caught the virus and survived were the lucky ones, now safe, unlike those of us who hadn’t had it, who would need to remain cautious until vaccinated. But perhaps this is not the case after all.

We already know there are two strains of the virus (S & L). Fingers crossed that the Koreans have been infected by the other strain, or that any vaccine developed will provide immunity against both.

I find myself torn between wishing for a long, hot summer or a cool, wet one, though, tragically, far too many will never have the chance to find out which it will be.

During my morning wake-up coffee, I did a ring-around of the family. Charlotte and her tribe were out walking Harry, Jamie was busy replacing a fence panel in his back garden, and Sarah was still in bed, understandably exhausted from the heat and carrying a baby.

Over the past few days, we’ve been running a little competition on the family Messenger group, guessing the baby’s birth date, time, and weight. The rather dubious prize? A babysitting session! We’ve also been suggesting names for the little girl, though my proposal, Buttercup, was met with little enthusiasm. A shame, as it’s a gorgeous name, evoking lazy summer days and wild meadows. Plus, it just so happens to be the name of the heroine in my favourite film, The Princess Bride.

Before the predicted heat of the day set in, I got up early this morning to turn over yet another row of soil in the vegetable plot and fill five water butts in preparation for what could be a long, hot summer.

 

In the afternoon, Sue and I spent some time working in the back garden. We repositioned several large pots, each containing plants of various (inedible) descriptions, along the front of the pool so they could be enjoyed from the sun lounge. A bird box was nailed to the trunk of the cooking apple tree, and we made plans to place a seat around its base.

In the evening, we watched The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind on Netflix. It’s a true story about a boy in Malawi who built a wind pump to help his family during a time of famine and political unrest. A beautiful and inspiring film, well worth watching.

12/04/20

Today is Easter Sunday. Boris has left the hospital and is now recuperating at Chequers, but tragically, the number of people who have died in the UK from coronavirus has passed ten thousand. It seems the UK may be the hardest-hit country in Europe, worse even than Spain or Italy, which is a frightening thought. It certainly doesn’t feel like Easter.

Overnight, we had a brief thunderstorm and some heavy rain. However, when I dug the obligatory row of soil in the vegetable plot this morning, the ground was still dry and rock-hard.

Sue has discovered a new pastime, attacking the moss growing between the patio slabs. I suspect the ants, which swarm in their millions on hot days in late summer, will take a very dim view of this. For most of the year, they live peacefully beneath the slabs. It seems the lovely weather we’ve enjoyed over the past week is about to come to an end.

The family have celebrated Easter in the best way they can: