Jim Stewart's Blog

Clever – very clever. I have had to deploy serious counter intelligence measures today. My neighbour sent me a note saying they would be willing to buy anything I needed. See the trap laid out for me? If I don’t ask them for toilet paper then thy will know I have some to steal! Clever, very clever. So I have ordered 48 packs.

Today I got the big cutters out and topped the fir tree in the front garden. I was surprised how many people were out exercising, but nobody was within 2m of each other (more like 500m). It is just 11pm and the major A road outside has no traffic. People seem to be paying attention. Even the note from my neighbour said they had washed their hands before handling it.

Now the end of another week. I have some fresh milk (courtesy of my other neighbour). I have a garden. I have plenty of spring cleaning to do. I am not getting any freebies from the government, but I have enough to survive on – in fact I have very little to spend money on till this all ends. Life is pretty pleasant right now, other than the fact that I can’t meet people.

Truth is, is it wasn’t for this virus life would be just fine. And as long as I stay in isolation there is no virus here.

For most of today I was certain it was Friday. This is one of the issues I have found with previous isolation – you really can lose track of the day when the days are all the same. It can help to have a weekly routine, even if it is only choosing a favourite TV programme for each day of the week (not coronavirus update). I’ll make tomorrow my planning day, Saturdays are normally quiet.

I managed to get some time in the garden today, clearing an overhanging Sycamore that my rear neighbours have never really managed. Half way through the left hand neighbours appeared for a socially distant chat. They have milk delivered – they agreed to up their delivery to cover me (the dairy are not taking on new customers). Just bread needed now.

I have an order in with Tesco for collection – there were no delivery slots available – I am hoping I can swap to a delivery slot nearer the time. Checked the list today – interesting to see the items that are no longer available. It looks like I need to book a slot for delivery and amend the order the night before delivery to be sure of what I will get delivered.

Oddly enough toilet paper remains available for on-line – does this mean the scarcity is over? But what does that mean for the toilet paper values? Have I just lost my lives savings on the TP market? Just what is 90 days supply worth these days?

I managed to photograph the paintings I bought in Nicaragua today. Not high quality, but you can get the idea.

Interesting session in parliament this morning. Experts responding to a lot of the problems raised by the newspapers. Makes you realize just how much fear the newspapers are generating – especially when the experts are given the chance to comment on the headlines.

Took my temperature today 38.7. I must remember and press the right button next time.

Work took up a lot of my time today – international transport is still going on.

Ventured in to the garden – palms needed some attention, and I manged to collect some seeds from a really nice bush I have. Getting too many trees/bushed for the edges. I think next week will be a mammoth effort to create a mid-garden tree patch. I do like the idea of my prickly myrtle (Rhaphithamnus spinosus). But I need to find a spot that is large enough. Apparently it can be as wide as 2.5 social distances, and as high as 3.5 social distances.

Wondering if it is time to break out the emergency rations.

They don’t just do knives!!!

Hearing from India today – they have a complete closure for 21 days – nobody leaves their house. I could live with that, almost.

I heard rumblings next door today – absolutely sure the neighbour is tunneling under the house for my toilet paper. Don’t think it will do him much good though – saw the drains along the road being rodded today. We have tree roots in the drains about 100m along the road – we were supposed to get them lined, but I doubt that will happen now.

At least we have three waste bins if the drains do get blocked. Question is whether it counts as recycling, garden or other waste.

In the UK the conservative government are implementing policies that are left of the Labour party manifesto. In the USA the Republicans are trying to implement socialism and being opposed by the Democrats. Reminds me of a song.

Today was a sort of un-isolation day. When I got back from Nicaragua I put the paintings I bought in for framing – I had to collect them today. I drove to the shop, made sure it was empty, went in, handed a bag to the guy who filled it with my paintings – paid by card – left the shop putting them in the boot of my car, where they will remain for at least two days (hard to wipe down an oil painting with alcohol).

I also drove to the beach at Southport and sat in the car watching the sea. The beach was pretty much deserted, which is odd. The local beaches are busy. It seems that people are picking places they think are remote to visit, while places that are normally busy are deserted.

I wonder if toilet paper has a shelf life? After doing some research it appears some brands do have a use by date. Apparently a normal American uses a roll a week.

I’ve seen a load of posts about the pros and cons of home made hand sanitizer. I found this interesting WHO guide to making some.

We had a small group meeting with church to compare Zoom and Adobe. I was disappointed at the audio quality with Adobe, but like the additional features. I think it really is horses for courses. You need to have better control over the group on Adobe – making sure only one microphone works at a time. Then again, with Zoom the audio quality was good enough to enable people to talk over each other. If anybody is interested in trying them out then contact me – I’ll give you a tour.

Hopefully my essential delivery will arrive tomorrow. For some reason my TV amplifier failed in the last few weeks meaning I have lost a lot of TV channels. I managed to order one on-line. If I am going to be indoors for the next 11 weeks I need all the channels (lets face it – there is so little worth watching on most channels we need them all).

Finished my art project today – decided on an easy one this week – an Easter candle shaped like an egg. I was trying some multi colour – didn’t go quite right, but at least I know where it went wrong.

Exciting day today, got a letter on a Sunday. What could it be? Is somebody offering to shop for me? Somebody offering to find an elusive sheet of toilet paper for me? Nah – Police Serious Crime. Now I know you might be thinking – have they realised my neighbour is a TP thief – but no – it was just the murder round the corner.

Today was a day of joining random churches around the world and playing with video conferencing software. Perhaps the best church service was this fiery sermon A good warning that social media streaming is a dangerous game.

Interesting reading Fb posts from a number of people today about growing things in their garden. Gardens are going to be so good this year. So what are you going to grow?

Struck me today that all those people with loads of toilet paper might be tempted to use it – and who is going to unblock the drains?

Downside of all this Covid-19 reporting is that other news is not getting priority. It took ages for the earthquakes in Zagreb to make the news today. I know we have a virus going round, but do we really need to talk about it all the time? I heard a journalist at the national briefing ask about two possible new symptoms that they had reported on (i.e. listen to us we have the breaking story) and asked what was being done to protect medical staff from the symptoms. I mean, where do you start with that? You protect against the disease – and that covers ALL symptoms, including the ones you still don’t know about. Fear sells. time we stopped buying.

I’ve re-arranged my work to being every second week until isolation is over, next week is a work week, the week after isn’t. I’ve always wanted to convert my vinyl collection to digital – I might finally manage it. And I have a few Hi8 videos that I really should capture before the old camera fails. And I really need to get those trees planted in the garden. Starting to get a list of work to do.

Worried isolation will end before I get all the jobs done in a strange sort of way (that is worried in a strange sort of way, not doing the jobs in a strange sort of way). I think this just tells me that my life had wandered away from priorities. Time for a rethink of what “normal” should look like.

Yes, I decided to have a day off from isolation today – I spent it chilling at home. It felt good, I was home because I decided to be at home, not because I had to be. Some people might not know, but some time ago I ended up spending a few months at home on my own unable to go out, and I learned a few tricks then.

One of the things that I discovered is that there are always options for picking up things to do. I was lucky enough to pick up an odd task of planning a little pilgrim walk, finding routes in places without maps and hotels near the routes, and making sure it was a true pilgrim walk – not too comfortable. In the end it resulted in a book and now a play. If you want to read about it why not buy the book – you have time to read. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Jerusalem-Blisters-other-ground/dp/1473673712

I know there are a lot of people offering to help the vulnerable and self-isolating by shopping for them, but there is only so much shopping you can do. How about helping with some of the home-schooling? I don’t mean going round to houses, I mean connect up on the internet and teach somebody for an hour. I am sure there are a load of parents that would appreciate support. Ah – but then we have a safeguarding problem – we need to vet people working with kids – another job that somebody can do!

Things on the toilet paper front are improving – I have discovered I miscalculated the number of sheets on some of the rolls – looks like I have 20 days more than I thought. It looks like I am about to start the second week of isolation with a whole month worth more than when I started the first week. Or is it alive and breeding now that I have hidden it wrapped in tinfoil?

I was asked what the streets looked like here, so I used my movable isolation chamber (car) to pop down to the beach. Ainsdale beach looked fairly busy (about 20 cars parked at the entrance), but to my surprise Southport beach was pretty deserted.

I’ve decided today was an “I” day. It started with a call to Italy to check up on how friends were coping. They have toilet paper in the shops. I mean lots and lots of toilet paper. Just a pity we can’t get there.

Then my old friend Nandu contacted me from India. Good to hear how things are working there. Like all of us his travel has been cancelled. Unlike many he wants to help in hospitals, but is being stopped because of his age.

Then there was my Windows update for my laptop which led to an Isolation drive because I was doing a major update. The tin cans on the road are good places to isolate yourself and to see the world. So I drove past our local murder site – the road is still closed for investigation. Investigation – another I.

Very quiet day today toilet roll and hand sanitizer wise. No sign of anybody trying to find it. Getting me really concerned – have I a blind spot on my CCTV? Recounted my toilet paper today – thinking I might start peeling the layers apart (Nicaraguan style) to make it last longer – reckon I could get over 6 months that way.

Then there are two not so pleasant “I“‘s. There are the people who put “I” first and raid the shelves for anything – driving past the supermarkets it is amazing how many cars are there. And there are the other “I“s – the ones that keep saying how their expert opinion is different to that of the government experts leading decisions on actions. I mean, why are you saying it? You are not going to change the past. We need to work together to beat this – there are better ways than others, but the worst way is to have different approaches by different people. So just shut up – isolate yourself from the internet!

And then there are the other “I“s – the ones I am really proud to know. Jan the nurse, Sean the ragamuffin (everybody in Wales is “the” something, it seems) working to ensure the vulnerable in Swansea have enough food during this period – helping to put together a city wide response with multiple charities and local government working together – a response that is already being rolled out in other towns and cities. The amazing people that put “I” last.

I’ve just been to church near Beverley. Didn’t even need to leave the room. Andy smith led a really good service from his church over the internet. Last night Kate called from Serbia. If there is a plus side to this virus it must include the fact that we are able to spend more time together with people we don’t see very often. I hope this is a lasting trend PV (post virus).

In other news we had a murder round the corner yesterday (or perhaps more accurately a “hit”). Lots of sirens and lights. But then I woke mid way through the night – the sound of silence – no traffic.

Spotted a man in a dayglo suit looking like he was cutting the grass along the edge of the road. Well, he was waving an implement about, but I didn’t see any grass cuttings. Personally I think he was toilet roll divining – must wrap mine in silver foil.

Looked out my jewelry making kit today at the suggestion of Liz. YES I DO HAVE ONE! Will try my best to make something for the art group by tomorrow, but the techniques I learned in Nicaragua seem to have left me.

My photographs of Nicaragua have finally uploaded. You can see them here https://www.flickr.com/photos/87785618@N00/albums/72157713524393356 It may have been hot, with bats, wasps, scorpions and boy there was a big spider in one bedroom, but it was better than the rain here. Go on – I know you are bored – have a look at them. And while you are there remember that organisations like CEPAD depend a lot on us visiting to raise interest – and right now it is hard to visit. You can help them through this time by donating here https://app.donorfy.com/donate/M1ZI3YVCZ8/ce296bb8-383e-6f05-b282-ff00004460b4

No sign of the neighbour today – worried he might be tunneling under my bathroom. I might move my spare toilet paper upstairs to protect it.

Bit of a mixed day today. First virtual meeting – worked quite well, but I would recommend people invest in good microphones if they are going to do a lot of meetings. I use a Samson USB microphone – works really well.

Tried to advance order my prescription before the big clamp down this weekend – rejected. A bit short sighted, not sure I am that interested in refilling the prescription in the middle of the peak infection.

In the old days false prophets were stoned to death. I wonder if that should work for false facebook posters? Amazing looking at the Trump comments and then replaying his statements just a week before. We need truth, not panic. Very disappointing coverage by the Guardian – just seems to be critical of anything.

Still no cases in Nicaragua – why couldn’t I have got stranded there?

Good news is that the house purchase that was due to go through next week is not cancelled, just postponed.

Bad news – discovered my TV booster is broken. Thankfully I can get one from online shopping. FreeSat for the next few days till it arrives….

Overall a day with more positives than negatives – that is until I checked my camping gear and found two more rolls of toilet paper. I declared this day a win.