Lockdown Diary – 2020 – 140 – Exit Stage Left

The Lockdown Experience has made many of us confront and do things we hadn’t previously thought of: or achieved, if we had thought of them. In my own case, I’ve kept up this daily diary for 140 posts. That’s 20 weeks, folks!

I think it’s time to let it go now, although I may note anything major that comes along and of course my intermittant writing blog will be here.

For those following daily/weekly, we scored 10 in the Guardian Quiz. It may be our highest ever score. I walked out yesterday afternoon and notice that agapanthus is now competing with crocosmia (other name of Mombretia) as the dominant garden flower. DH has one flower on the smaller magnolia so it may be over its huff with the stonemasons. Courtesy of a friend, I have watched several Olive and Mabel shorts. Go and see, folks. We watched the Festival’s light show in the night sky last night. We’ve been tuning in to their online 2020 Festival. We saw many family members last week and some close friends over the w/e. Still a long way to go. Off to buy more masks this morning.

I have enjoyed the diary hugely. My thanks to the regular visitors such as Kate Blackadder, Anne Stormont, Joanne Baird, Ann Burnett, Gill Stewart, Rae Cowie, Rosemary Gemmell who have left comments. Also, I know there are others whose visits went unrecorded here, but who mentioned the diary elsewhere or to me personally. Thanks to them, too. It’s been great to have companionship on this adventure which was an unknown quantity to us all.

Writing the posts was a purpose for the day and meant I did go out to see what could be commented on, I did read what could be alluded to and I noted the local businesses in need of a mention. Sadly, not all of them survived.

Keep buying local folks.

Keep safe.

Anne

Lockdown Diary – 2020 – 138 and 139 – Nae Birling

Ready to go

I took this picture in Granton-on-Spey as we were awaiting the start of a Strathspey Ball. Alas the 2020 Ball is yet another victim of the Covid-19 outbreak and this year, there’ll be nae birling.

However, folk are trying their best to have socially distanced fun and celebrations. We’ve been to a couple of distanced 70ths and the celebration online of the Edinburgh International Festival.

In addition, we had a great morning yesterday with family – outdoors. The weather was very much onside. Is it going to be quite as much fun into the Autumn and Winter?

Courting the Countess continues to be free – go here

A Debt for Rosalie is now off the shelves, but still available from the DC Thomson shop:

Anne

Lockdown Diary – 2020 – 137 – Freebie

My publishers Lume Books are offering Courting the Countess FREE for a limited time. Go here

Good news, too, from my editor at DCThomson where the serial proposal has found favour. Heads down now…

DH won the scrabble but lost at croquet. The latter is regarded as good because of handicap issues.

Finished The Black Sheep. Another delightful GH. Picked up The Convenient Marriage next. Baked a cake as we’re having friends to afternoon tea in the garden. Are you listening rain Gods – in the Garden! Had another browse through the local Waterstone’s. It might be years before this ceases to be a treat.

Anne

Lockdown Diary – 2020 – 136 – Come in…

So, the DH did go round, but I stayed home. If things stay good, there may be a resumption of short services from September. As we’re seeing, though, in other parts of the country, things don’t necessarily stay good.

Saddened by the news from Beirut. The devastation is hard to comprehend.

Also sorry for the poor folk who rely on the Rest and Be Thankful route.

Pleased to see that the Royal Lyceum and Pitlochry Festival Theatres were assisted by the special fund for Arts organisations.

Watched Dr Michael Mosely begin his project helping people who’ve gained weight during the lockdown to lose it again. Lots of alarming stats and yet more making of resolutions.

Sent a submission off to a publishing house. Fingers crossed.

Anne

 

Lockdown Diary – 2020 – 135 – The Storm Arrives

A strong wind and driving rain kept most of us indoors yesterday. Reminding, if reminding is needed, what it feels like to be locked-down. Measures have just been re-introduced in Aberdeen.

DH made some phone calls with startling results in at least one case where a ‘hidden’ heart attack was reported. Adult children have returned home from their extended stays in the countryside. He wisely cancelled a planned croquet match.

We had a Zoom clash last night, but resolved it when DH downloaded the app to his phone. Do I even understand what that means? Not necessarily, but it was good to be able to join in my Book Group chat. If our present way of living continues, I need to buy another camera. Installing said camera would necessitate tidying my study…

Shopped locally at Mathieson’s where the chaps are very smart in ‘uniform’ black shirts and striped navy/white aprons.

We don’t have any direct association with any teens who received results yesterday. I do feel for all these youngsters and their parents.

Local church opens tonight for 5-minute peace. Does one dare?

Anne

Lockdown diary – 2020 – 134 – Calm Before the Storm

Water lily

Starting the week saw several of the Lockdown norms and quite nice weather. DH finished weeding and reorganising his borders. Great family contact over the phone. Good Zoom meeting of the badminton group. Only six of us could make it this time, but a few e-mailed their news later – so we all feel updated.

The Black Sheep,which is the next GH discovered lurking in the basement shelving, is an interesting read. It has so much of GH’s usual touches but to my mind is ‘prosy’. I was surprised to discover it’s very late, 1966, as I would have said it was a ‘prentice piece. Very readable, though, and with one or two great characters.

Started writing a Scottish Regency. Possibly looking out the photographs I took of George Square for my friend stirred the coals. Whatever, I’m back there in imagination and trying out the voices. Also, I now know what a round gown is – and, more importantly – what it isn’t. Susan Karsten writing on Vanessa Riley’s blog.

Anyone else being driven batty by hotmail’s sudden impulse to correct both one’s spelling (good-ish) and one’s choice of construction (utterly unacceptable)?

Anne

Lockdown Diary – 2020 – 133 – 19 weeks

Travel plans are modest for most of us this year.

Yesterday, I didn’t leave the house but did make a couple of phone calls to catch up with folk we haven’t been able to see yet. Everything seems to be much as usual and excitement is building among the young who will be starting nursery/school/college soon – if it all works out…

After a television dearth while re-writing and editing the most recent story, I returned to it last night. Death in Paradise continues to entertain.One of the channels I normally watch (wall-to-wall Midsommer Murders) has been moved. May have to write another book.

On that subject, and while I wait to hear about a submission, I found myself in George Square circa 1819 this morning. Ah well. the housework can wait, can’t it?

Anne

Lockdown Diary – 2020 – 132 – And On

Greyfriars Bobby – a capital landmark

It’s Sunday and online worship continues to be the norm for most although I did meet a friend last night who was hopeful of attending Mass in her own Church today.

Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church is again offering music and reflections for all here

The church building will be open for quiet reflections on Wednesday evenings between 6.30 and 8pm from 5th August.

Delighted to see Tommy’s return to Mathieson’s yesterday: the world begins to right itself.

Finished The Grand Sophy. I have 20 of the 26 GH regencies. The Infamous Army is one I have failed to enjoy or read all the way through, but if life continues as at present, I may have to make the effort. There was a GH question in the Guardian Quiz yesterday. We scored 7 – nearly respectable.

Now the wip is finished and while I await advice about the serial, I’ve been reading through some of the short stories I have started and left hanging. One or two of them fill me with, if not excitement, hope. Am also dissecting what the writing and editing of the wip involved.

Writers – how do you beguile the time between submission and commission?

Anne

Lockdown Diary – 2020 – 131 – And it’s August

I don’t have any teacakes in the house. Reading the article in The Scotsman this morning about how losing weight is one thing some of us could do to help with fighting Coronovirus should we catch it, I have to be glad. The shelf life of a box of teacakes in this house is short.

Yesterday saw the submission of version three of the wip and – Drumroll! it caught the editor’s eye.

This morning saw the updating of all the house’s calendars to 1st August. What will I fret about now? Really sorry to see the number of new virus cases creeping up again and very sorry for all the people deprived of their religious festival and its social side. Two of my writer friends are again in lockdown with all that means. Nature triumphing.

DH played a croquet friendly yesterday. We did have the lawns booked for our annual family party, but of course, wasn’t to be. Did some REAL shopping and bought a bundle of birthday cards, a pressie and some soap for me. Am now wandering around wafting ‘minted fennel with nettle’. Delightful. Exposed our surplus garlic on the garden wall for any takers: a whole bulb arrives weekly from Hellofresh and I’ll never use it all.

Any absurdities in your ‘virus annals’?

Anne