The ups and downs of now

Hello, how are you? It’s hard to know how to start, as I know some of us are doing just fine, some of us are really not and some are up one day and down the next. Sudden change does that and with all the trauma involved, it’s a highly emotional time, isn’t it? My go-to when I am feeling overwhelmed is either my gorgeous four-footed companion Beth or my piano. So with restrictions on going out, it’s been more of the piano of late, and I really need to get back some vocal fitness as my singing skills are ropey to say the least right now!

Isn’t it incredible to see how the nation has come together? There are so amazing initiatives both great and small going on that just makes everything fall into perspective, from Captain Tom’s mammoth fundraising effort through to the little things that people are doing for their neighbours. Mum had a fall last week and wound up in hospital having X-rays and a CT scan. Thankfully, she is ok, however it does mean now she’s home, she is bed-ridden, so I am having to go in and do her lunch and supper every day at the moment. The other day, I saw this sitting on a bush near her house, the note the other side says it’s a gift from the local knitting and crochet group and to take it home, so I took it in for her and she was delighted. How thoughtful of them? They had scattered them all over town, such a generous thing to do!

Having the children home, quite selfishly, is delightful. I love having their company and while they spend a fair amount of time doing their own things, we are also doing lots together that we wouldn’t ordinarily do. We even had a dress fancy dinner last Sunday evening, which was brilliant. We all prepared a course each and dressed up for the occasion. Next Sunday, we are flipping it around and doing fancy dress, I have slightly more trepidations about that one, but they’ve been game for all sorts, I even brought Beely in on the podcast this week! You can check out the latest episode here if you are an Apple user, or here if you use Spotify.

So, that’s it from me for the time being. I’m going to take my coffee out onto the patio before the rain comes, this has become my little routine in the morning sunshine before the day hits the road. It’s funny, while I’m still working and perhaps even busier with having to do Mum’s meals and having the children at home, I feel the peace of the pause in the world around us and mentally have really enjoyed how that has slowed me down.

Please do come and say hi on social media, my links are below, I’m doing IGTV drop-ins most days and my podcast continues each week. I do hope you stay well and stay safe.

Much love as always,

Pipa xx

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