Life under lockdown – part 7
Posted by contentedsouls on 10/04/2020
Friday 10th April (I think!)
Today’s news is that a vote has been taken and that the current restraints will remain until at least the 10th May – it has to be ratified, but that is just a formality.
How do I feel about that? Well, OK really – the earliest I really hoped for any kind of easing of restrictions was the end of June if I’m honest, so it came as no surprise, shock, or disappointment. I have realised that underneath the skin of this person that is always doing, moving, exploring and bustling about, is an inherently lazy person that was waiting to come to the surface! Massively encouraged by the return to lovely Spanish weather after the first two weeks of incessant rain.
It makes me smile now when I remember how hard done by I felt, PTL (Prior To Lockdown), that I had to stay in for one day waiting for an Amazon delivery!
In order to avoid any recurrence of future, ‘rainy day blues’ we ordered some basic stuff from Amazon.es and yesterday we were, excitedly, waiting for a delivery of a pack of cards. It was scheduled to be delivered by 8pm. I get particularly excited because it gives me an opportunity to launch my dodgy Spanish at some poor, unsuspecting, delivery person – and G gets excited by the arrival of a new ‘toy’. You can imagine our disappointment when the church bells rang out 8pm and the cockerel crowed thrice (no, sorry it didn’t – I just thought I’d throw that in for a bit of added drama) and no delivery. All was not lost, however, as a new notification popped up saying it had been re-scheduled for delivery between 8 and 10pm; we could track the delivery person’s progress around the village – he was at the bottom of the hill, heading our way …… but, then he turned away again, then back towards us, then he turned away again. There was more excitement and tension in this little house than at a Houston pre-launch!
Then he headed away back to town. 5 minutes later a new notification pops up, ‘we tried to make your delivery today at 09.46, but nobody was available,’ – 4 bloody weeks we’ve stayed in waiting for this delivery and it didn’t come, we were in – WE’RE ALWAYS BLOODY IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Every night there continues to be singing and dancing and applause for the front line workers – most of it down in the town, but someone in the village here has been playing ‘the last post’ at 8 every night. Last night someone down in the town beat him to it so ‘our’ man, up here, played a kind of harmony to it – I think it was one of the most moving things I’ve ever heard and brought tears to my eyes.
I always listen to the nightly music as it makes me feel less isolated. The song, ‘Resistire’ (needs an accent over last ‘e’, but i don’t know how to do that on this keyboard), ‘I will Resist’ is sung every night to a very catchy tune and has become, almost, a new National Anthem. I have been learning the words and, tonight, I was on the doorstep poised with my song sheet prompt ready to burst into song – the neighbour, senor gas bottle provider, came out for his daily excercise (10 meters down the hill and back) and stopped to chat. His social distancing wasn’t great – each time he took a step forward, I took a step back. We ended up having our first ‘proper’ (I use the term loosely) conversation which ended with him saying we would be friends and we must go to his house (I think) and I responded that we would when this was over (I think).
Before I registered what was happening, he patted me on my (clothed) arm and bade me goodnight. Although this shouldn’t have happened, it was the most wonderful affirmation of some kind of local acceptance and future potential integration and such a natural gesture amongst the current frigidity of external relationships.
There is no need to worry about my being contaminated, as G watched this interaction through the window and stuffed me straight into the washing machine.
Another very good day.
contentedsouls 
vallypee said
Lovely, Jill. I’m so glad the sun is shining again, and that you are having some social interaction despite the distancing rules. Did Amazon’s package ever arrive?
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contentedsouls said
We’re really enjoying our outside space now. The package turned up about 10am the next day
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Kevin TOO said
If you meant that your wanted Resistire to be like this Resistiré then here’s a quick tip…
Look for the AltGr key (it’s usually on the right of the Space Bar), hold it down and then tap the
vowel of your choice that you require with an accent… now there is no need for you to be in a spin LOL
p.s. Glad to see Mutley is cultured enough to drink his beer from a glass rather than a can 😉
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contentedsouls said
Thank you because an accent, or lack of, changes the whole meaning and/or tense of a word and the pronunciation
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contentedsouls said
Do you know how I can get the accents on a Samsung android phone please?
At least Muttley is keeping some standards up!
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contentedsouls said
Do you know how to get the wiggly bit over the ‘n’ as well – the AltGr key doesn’t work for that and, without it, ‘years’ turn into ‘arseholes’!?
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Kevin TOO said
Good Afternoon Jill 🙂
Click on this link for information on how to get access to special characters on you laptop/pc > cut & paste example of n variants ñ ń ņ ň ʼn
https://www.isunshare.com/windows-10/2-ways-to-add-character-map-shortcut-to-windows-10-desktop.html
Sorry but I’m not too good with phones, but at a guess I would think that you would need to change both your keyboard and the language settings to Spanish to stand any chance of texting the characters you want… unless anyone else knows of an easier way?
Happy Easter 🙂
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contentedsouls said
Thanks for your help on this – my IT department has fixed all my keyboards now. Yeah! it makes life so much easier
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andywindy said
My Birthday? That’s a bit soon isn’t it? I know we’re behind with the spread of this vile thing, but I’d have expected July at least!
It is good to know that your Spanish is good enough to be accepted as a member of the community by Senor Propane, even if he was probably barely restraining himself from the customary cheek kissing, or at least a hug. It is hard resisting the habits of a lifetime, after all.
It is good that Graham threw you straight into the wash, but I hope that he followed the correct Disinfection procedures of washing you at a minimum of 65°C for at least 10 minutes, not being able to hold your breath that long is no excuse, thems the International World Health Organisation rules! Mind you, if you were pure Cotton instead of a blended fibre, it would be 71 or even 93°C!
I wonder how many Old Guard there are in the area? You could end up with a beautiful harmony, or a right cacophony of brass! Happy Easter Budds, Stay Safe, Stay Well and remember that you are Loved.
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contentedsouls said
That would be the best birthday present ever!
Senor Propane was so sweet – he couldn’t help himself but, yes, at least he didn’t kiss or hug me!
Thank goodness I’m not made of cotton then, it was hot enough as it was!
Happy Easter and thank you for the love.
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Carol Palin said
Oh Jill, that did make me laugh! A great start to the day! Hope you received your pack of cards eventually. Keep writing the updates. Kind regards and stay safe.
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contentedsouls said
I’m glad it made you laugh – yes, the cards turned up the next day!
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Gill Stollery said
Thank you again! Did the cards ever arrive?
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contentedsouls said
The next day. Now I’m waiting for pyjamas and knickers – if they arrive in 2 different parcels I’ll get twice the excitement!
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