July 2020

Things are changing very fast for me these days. I seem to have climbed out of the depression of the loss two years ago. The constant metronomic swing of sadness to managing has run down and left me feeling as I always used to be. The social club I joined was a great help. The people who established it and run it are all strong and capable, most of them women. All members are expected to suggest things and arrange trips out. I arranged a meetup for a jazz concert. It was by a Cuban band that plays the Buena Vista music. Ten of us bought tickets for the night. Sadly, it is a victim of Covid19 and has been postponed until next September.

Life began to return to normal this week on the 4^th of July. Pubs and restaurants are now open albeit with restrictions. I went out for a walk around the city with Liz and as we walked past her favourite place, we decided on impulse to see if they had a table not booked. They had several and so we went in and enjoyed a meal. The staff all had masks except the waiting staff. They all wore full-face visors. The meal over and enjoyed, we continued our walk. When we were almost at her home, we decided to visit the local pub, The Black Swan. It, like all the other pubs, has been closed for weeks. We had to sit at a table and have waiter service but it was a good feeling to be there at last.

We went back to her house for coffee before cycling home myself. I am only about 20 minutes away on a bicycle and it is good exercise. I never often used my bike before this Covid19 lockdown but having to stay isolated made it popular with me and many others. It is so convenient that I intend to keep using it in future. To be sensible, winter may break my will about that but it’s a long way off.

I have recently bought myself a Saxophone, an inexpensive one I hasten to add. I have never played any musical instrument before so it is a little difficult. I bought a book and it is very good. It included instructional discs and they are brilliant at confirming I’m doing it correctly; or not. No, I can’t play a tune on it yet but I can play four notes. More about that next time.