The Covid Diaries 1 (March)

The kids have been home from school for two weeks now and we've kinda got into a rhythm of this new sort of life. It's perfectly reasonable, albeit not anyone's first choice. Fortunately we are all well, and the vast majority of people we know are well too. We know a couple of people (not locally) who have got/had it, but in both cases, entirely mildly. We have lots to be grateful for.

The "end" of school was quite weird. A strange sort of dimming of work but with the teachers running around with increased frantic-ness. We don't know when school might start again, and as both kids will be at new schools in September, it is possible that this is the last day that they will ever wear this uniform.

At least they took it seriously.

The kids have had work sent from school everyday, and so we have three offices in play - me in the dining room, Ian in the study and the kids in the kitchen. It's been a good reminder of how repetitive school is (they get a core of similar things to every day), but I guess that in itself is quite comforting - their days have some predictable structure.

We're not doing everything that is set, but everyone is definitely engaging with their school work.  But they've both taken the opportunity to do some other things too. Duolingo (online language course) features everyday and although they both started with French, I quite often find them dabbling in German. Or Latin. Or Hindi.

We've declared Wednesdays to be non-school work day, and this week Nathaniel decided to do a project on Money (when did people start using coinage, why do exchange rates work the way they do, how much is a £10 note actually worth?) and Dorothea, Julius Ceasar. Thea was so pleased with her resulting powerpoint presentation that she had to present it to us. Three times. And she dressed up for the occasion. There were many "interesting" slide transitions.

Many things are continuing with relative normality, excepting our new reliance on Zoom. Music lessons happen, and as Nathaniel was having monthly Skype lessons from a teacher in Northumberland anyway, the online nature of the lessons isn't as strange as it might have been otherwise. There are multiple ballet lessons available to us, and although Thea is sad that her normal teacher is prioritising the more advanced classes, she is currently being persuaded to attend (a little of Posy Fossil going on there!).

Scouts is a hive of innovation. As well as weekly meetings with bingo and quizzes, this weekend is an international jamboree, all online and we can play minecraft, discuss Covid-19, earn badges and take part in talent shows with scouts all over the world. It is amazing! Check it all out here: https://www.jotajoti.info/joti-special-edition

And of course we are finding lots to do of our own accord too. The garden is getting more attention than it usually does, and thanks to a well-timed dash to the garden centre when we realised what was about to happen, we have lots of seeds to plant.

We have discovered lots of fun games to play with friends over Zoom. Words games are the best, but Uno works well too as long as you both have a pack.

We've pulled out all the board games, and have played Dixit so many times that we know all the cards backwards and forwards!

And of course, the kids are never slow to make up their own games. Sofa-cushion jousting anyone?

We've found that the online pub has many advantages over the real pub including cheap whiskey, earl grey tea and cornflakes. And book club has been further enhanced by being able to easily include former members who inconsiderately moved abroad. Many silver linings.

So things are good. The shops have sufficient food (though everyone is waiting for the time that they feel confident that they'll be able to find flour), the sun in shining and no-one is coughing. Not bad.