25th September 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 34 people have died in the UK. There are 181 active cases in the Harborough area.

A chilly and windy day. During the morning, I attempted to remove the heavy metal railing from the balcony in readiness for replacing the top of the balustrade, which had begun to rot. Unfortunately, it was so heavy that I succeeded only in dropping one end onto the slabs below, leaving the other end straddled awkwardly across the balcony. How was I going to lower it to the ground without it swinging into the patio doors beneath? I decided to think about that after returning from ordering a new section of timber from the local woodyard. With the 6m x 17cm x 3cm plank ordered for delivery on Tuesday, I was pleased to be greeted by Jim and Bridget as I arrived back home. They had come to start their car to charge its battery; it had been sitting on our driveway for several weeks.

Returning to the problem of the metal rail, I enlisted Jim’s help and, after a bit of thought, he and I worked out a way to safely lower the offending metalwork to the ground using a rope, a platform and brute force. It took just five minutes. It’s what friends are for.

26th September 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 23 people have died in the UK. There are 182 active cases in the Harborough area.

As a DIY project, Ruth has been renovating an old caravan at her home in Bottesford, and today the Desboroughs took it for a weekend trial run in Haxley. They couldn’t have chosen a colder weekend, but it will be a good test for the little wheelie house.

27th September 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 17 people have died in the UK. There are 177 active cases in the Harborough area.

28th September 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 13 people have died in the UK. There are 212 active cases in the Harborough area.

Returning from their break in Rhyl, Sarah, Lee and Alice have now come down with colds and are feeling quite grotty. A more resilient Mia seems to have escaped the bug.

Between visits from Charlotte and then Jim and Bridget, I managed to fit and paint the new balustrade wood, which unexpectedly arrived today.

Disappointingly, it doesn’t look as though there will be enough grapes to make any wine this year. The low temperatures of the past two nights have ensured that what few bunches there are won’t mature sufficiently to make it worthwhile. 2020 has certainly not been a good year in so many ways.

29th September 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 47 people have died in the UK. There are 227 active cases in the Harborough area. The global coronavirus death toll has passed one million.

30th September 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 71 people have died in the UK. There are 157 active cases in the Harborough area.

Today I attempted to replace the ridiculously heavy metal balcony balustrade. It had been painted and the corner couplings re-engineered, and it was now ready to be sited back onto its new wooden plinth. However, as I began fitting the first of the side pieces, the rain arrived and brought any outdoor work to an abrupt end.

During the afternoon, I had an X-ray and scan on my right arm and shoulder at St Luke’s Hospital in an attempt to find the cause of the pain that disturbs my sleep each night. I should get the results next week.

1st October 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 59 people have died in the UK. There are 146 active cases in the Harborough area.

With Storm Alex forecast for tomorrow, it became important to finish the balcony today. The morning started dry and, with Jim Hanker’s help, we managed to get the heavy sections of the balustrade onto the balcony. Attaching the long section to the side piece proved more problematic than it ought to have been, so it was fortunate that the rain came to give us time to mull it over. With the downpour came Bridget, and Sue joined the three of us for coffee and a natter in the kitchen while we waited for the shower to pass.

Returning to the task, it quickly became obvious that our mistake was simply that the side section was upside down. Within half an hour, the three sections were bolted together and back in situ. Job done! It was then decided that the four of us should celebrate this momentous occasion with a meal later that evening.

Jim and Bridget picked us up at 6.30 pm and we drove to the Old Red Lion in Welham. Life occasionally throws up the odd serendipity: as we were taking our seats in the restaurant, we discovered Jamie and three of his friends dining there. We could only talk briefly as, under the new COVID restrictions, only groups of six are allowed and, unless seated at a table, masks must be worn. Our tables were also socially distanced, with ours being out of sight around the corner of the room. I wonder what the odds are of such a chance meeting.

2nd October 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 66 people have died in the UK. There are 171 active cases in the Harborough area. Donald Trump has revealed that he and First Lady Melania have tested positive for coronavirus and will begin quarantining in the White House immediately. Perhaps he may take the pandemic a little more seriously now?

On a cold, wet and miserable day that kept Sue and me indoors throughout, Sarah and Alice visited their local library, where Alice was issued with her first library card. During the afternoon, I lit the woodburner for the first time since last winter.

3rd October 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 49 people have died in the UK. There are 150 active cases in the Harborough area. Donald Trump was administered supplemental oxygen at the White House hours after being diagnosed with COVID-19, before being flown to a military hospital.

This weekend, Jamie and Ruth took the mini-caravan to the storm-lashed east coast. I do hope their little nest doesn’t get blown away.

Sue and I braved the rain on a journey to Desborough to feed Maddie the rabbit with fresh carrots from the vegetable patch. On the way, we called in to see the Rothwells. Charlotte made me a lovely mug of coffee with added Disaronno, very flavoursome. Must get some for Christmas!

4th October 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 33 people have died in the UK. There are 143 active cases in the Harborough area.

Today, Sarah discovered Alice’s first tooth. I do hope the tooth fairy took notice.

5th October 2020
After testing positive for coronavirus, 19 people have died in the UK. There are 184 active cases in the Harborough area. Donald Trump received widespread condemnation on Sunday following an “irresponsible” drive-by to wave to supporters congregating outside the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre. Today, he audaciously told America not to be afraid of COVID-19 as he announced he would leave the hospital at 6.30 pm.

Exasperation! The self-serving ignorance of the President of the USA truly has no bounds. Possibly, if you have 24-hour access to a helicopter to whisk you away to an elite medical establishment at the first sign of COVID-19, and a battery of doctors treating you with drugs unavailable outside research facilities, then yes, you stand a fair chance of surviving. But to imply to a nation that they need not worry about being infected by the coronavirus is verging on wickedness.