tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43756374757951188732024-02-19T02:36:45.279+00:00Emily Benetmore laughs than BrontëEmily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.comBlogger419125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-39486293833406667092021-01-02T21:03:00.000+00:002021-01-02T21:03:33.499+00:00Happy 2021! Here we go again... <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sL1YYHTEUOQ/X_DeUs0C8MI/AAAAAAAAFcM/vFXIxF1vgtw7DE19H95XD-JK9viDBQSdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/New%2BYear%2B2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sL1YYHTEUOQ/X_DeUs0C8MI/AAAAAAAAFcM/vFXIxF1vgtw7DE19H95XD-JK9viDBQSdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/New%2BYear%2B2021.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Happy New Year!</b> We made
an effigy of the Old Year and burnt it on the terrace. We danced around it to a
90s soundtrack as the wind blew and for a while I felt like I was 20 again. I
stamped on flying sparks in my cheap gold trainers and transitioned from wine
to cava to beer like a true amateur. Oh, how fun to be alive! <b>Burn Covid burn!</b><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And then 1st January
arrived with a bang. A bang bang bang as my brain set up a scaffold to repair
the damage. Needless to say I no longer felt in my twenties. The soles of my
shoes had partly melted and the cloying smell of smoke clung to my nostrils
like a roasted bat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2021 begins with great
intentions.</b> Time to be healthy! Time for fresh air! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband bought a second hand bike in the
morning to accompany my own oxidized purchase. My bike's called Rusty (it might
not last the year), his is Squeaky (its brakes are tuneful). We took our
toddler out for a ride as the rain clouds gathered. My legs ached as if they
hadn't been used all year. I suppose 2020 was the year of hanging around at
home. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Time to change, now. Yes,
I shall get fit again! I shall meditate and do yoga and write regularly! What a
clich</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> I am!
Three cheers for all the optimists! In fact I did spend time in my new office
today. Did I embark on a new creative project? Don't be silly! I pushed Sol
around in my office chair for half an hour and said Weee Wee! as her soft owl
was propelled into the air. I could draw parallels with her spinning around in
that chair with my writing career, but best not. It's 2021 and anything can
happen! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">My dad always said
what matters is making an effort. Cheesy as it sounds, I will be making an
effort to live my best life. But unlike in my twenties, when I was desperately
impatient to be a famous author and suffered a lot of anxiety... well, today
I'm less interested in winning anything, and more interested in <b>accepting my
life as it is. </b>Because to be happy with what I have means I can be happy right
now. And so with my new year rambling over, let me wish you good health, love and happiness to you and your loved ones.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EmilyBenetAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook Emily Benet Author</a> page for more regular updates! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-35563140661368148802020-05-30T21:46:00.000+01:002020-05-30T21:55:01.506+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Rediscovering Home <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>Suddenly
I had to get away from my computer.</b> Away from my home office. Away from the
municipality I hadn't left in three months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
couldn't stand the thought of any more online research. I needed to see what I
was writing </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">about with my own eyes. I needed to get out. Far away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Far
away when you live in Mallorca rarely means more than an hour's drive. But the
thing about living on the island is your perception of time and distance changes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">When I lived in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">London everything seemed to be at least forty-five minutes away. Here, if something is more than a twenty-five minute drive away it makes me seriously question whether it's worth it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I had to do some research about the fishing town of Portopetro so we (husband, toddler and I) decided to
take advantage and stop at a bay at the Mondragó Nature Reserve nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZYqaxxAqxo/XtLAv7CxlmI/AAAAAAAAFYs/ZSMS4WwtS-8pZhIWDmLtJTUO8SJpqolmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/portopetro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZYqaxxAqxo/XtLAv7CxlmI/AAAAAAAAFYs/ZSMS4WwtS-8pZhIWDmLtJTUO8SJpqolmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/portopetro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Portopetro, south east Mallorca</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It took us just over an hour. It was the longest journey we'd done in over three months. As we got out of the car, I hoped it wasn't going to be exactly like the beach 500 metres from our front door. I hoped it had been worth it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
made our way down the stony path surrounded by Aleppo pines towards the
bay. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Dried algae covered a large part of the sand but it didn't matter. <b>Ahead
of us was the clearest seawater I'd ever seen in my life. </b>It shimmered turquoise
between striking volcanic cliffs on either side of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXNI98lyub1wOzggYy3J0M-LzqBRSDMzMqG_J2lAZoHfBSoAicnJpOOXcmp97yuz7wUJCqPUFlOqUDouRI_ESctyCQ-uCGA9kvsaa6mIMHoWJUEElOq_1_LdHYZ2ARiRgtK0wLhr399UA/s1600/Caldo+Borgit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXNI98lyub1wOzggYy3J0M-LzqBRSDMzMqG_J2lAZoHfBSoAicnJpOOXcmp97yuz7wUJCqPUFlOqUDouRI_ESctyCQ-uCGA9kvsaa6mIMHoWJUEElOq_1_LdHYZ2ARiRgtK0wLhr399UA/s400/Caldo+Borgit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calo des Borgit, south east Mallorca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"I've
never seen it so clean," a local told me later. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>If
only it hadn't taken a pandemic and closed airports to reveal the island at its most beautiful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
felt energised and inspired after that trip. It hadn't been a lost day of work
because the following days were more productive because of it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Lost day? Stupid
to considerate it that for a split second. <b>It was a day of full
fantastic living. </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I'm
still daydreaming about that crystalline water. In fact I already want to go on another adventure. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If
only it hadn't taken a pandemic and a lockdown to remind me how wonderful it is to
explore. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I feel as curious as if I've only just arrived on this island. <b>I feel excited
to explore my home. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lock-down-entry-2.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>Read the first Covid-19 Diaries post: <a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lock-down-entry-2.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Begins </a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My new novel <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590868128&sr=8-1" target="_blank">TIPPING POINT</a> is now available in ebook and paperback from Amazon. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590868128&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VqBLD30v2N4/XtK59dAAzlI/AAAAAAAAFYQ/yM_d7maHG6coAGwcF6MKIUVWpW1r8T7ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/FB-bannerTP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-52370770183399332522020-05-24T12:19:00.000+01:002020-05-24T12:20:29.337+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - what stories will we tell after the pandemic?<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>How
will Covid-19 change the stories we tell? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
haven't even begun to promote my new novel <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=tmm_kin_title_sr?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590238299&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Tipping Point</a> and I'm already
wondering what I'll write next. What world should my new characters inhabit? A
world where there never was a pandemic, one where it's still happening, or an
imagined post-pandemic world? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">When
watching films I catch my mind interrupting with little observations. <i>That shopping centre is too crowded, they wouldn't
shake hands now, that nightclub is contagion-heaven... </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LNuwD51TjsQkc9-6_miOtixhAgk3nBYkHDERzzwXBscCalzS3Hr8yjfhKj6SpLO_bzCV1bnAf5_spBTbuB_hCCsark5pZMgvFdktr2fKxjhjccps4f6_gRqjeNPsBBZFv1gff2ta2u6A/s1600/Vivarium-673304434-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LNuwD51TjsQkc9-6_miOtixhAgk3nBYkHDERzzwXBscCalzS3Hr8yjfhKj6SpLO_bzCV1bnAf5_spBTbuB_hCCsark5pZMgvFdktr2fKxjhjccps4f6_gRqjeNPsBBZFv1gff2ta2u6A/s320/Vivarium-673304434-large.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
creepy film Vivarium was popular during lockdown. In it, a couple gets stuck in
this lifeless neighbourhood looking after a strange child. They try to leave
but the road keeps taking them back to the same front door. I imagine it resonated
with a lot of people. Perhaps it made them think, things could be worse! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Would
you rather fictional characters to have experienced the pandemic or do you not
want to be reminded of it? Perhaps it would be more realistic if their back story
included it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
say back story but it's no one's back story yet. It's very much our present. I
admit to feeling more anxious now than during lockdown. During lockdown, we
kept very busy with our routine. It was very quiet and still. <b>Now we are
supposed to be moving forward, but I'm not sure how or where. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
don't know what kind of novel I will write next, but perhaps I'm over-thinking
things. The storm isn't what makes the story but the consequent reactions and decisions made. <b>It's the truth which is revealed in the midst of a
crisis. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">What
stories will emerge after covid-19? The same ones. The timeless stories of loss
and gain, love and hate, fear and courage. <b>The pandemic doesn't define who we
are, but we may catch glimpses of who we are more clearly because of it. </b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GwOFm6x-Hw/XrfrKP7zesI/AAAAAAAAFVo/LWGkbKPOtPcQny-pdIxQLa3tWxBG6nj0ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/FB-bannerTP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GwOFm6x-Hw/XrfrKP7zesI/AAAAAAAAFVo/LWGkbKPOtPcQny-pdIxQLa3tWxBG6nj0ACPcBGAYYCw/s400/FB-bannerTP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>About <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=tmm_kin_title_sr?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590238299&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Tipping Point</a></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">George and Ellen have retired to sunny Mallorca. Social butterfly Ellen is itching to make yacht-owning friends while George's heart is set on a secluded farmhouse in the country. In fact, now that they're no longer living busy London lives, they're beginning to realise they have very different ideas of happiness.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Private investigator Salva specialises in cases of adultery. That's why it's particularly embarrassing that he didn't realise his long-term girlfriend has been cheating on him. He has no time to nurse a broken heart, since his family are the victims of a property scam they urgently need him to solve.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Robyn Chase is giving talks on her self-help book, No More Toxic Relationships - 7 Years, 7 Lessons. She's finding it awkward being a relationship guru when her own boyfriend is avoiding her.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The sun is shining in Mallorca and everything looks beautiful. But the residents of one particular apartment block are about to discover it all might be too good to be true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=tmm_kin_title_sr?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590238299&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Available now in ebook.</a> <b>Paperback out 1st June. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-14637138979566409672020-05-13T21:39:00.002+01:002020-05-13T21:39:18.526+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Phase 1 - Ten People Walk into a Bar (No Joke)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>The
Balearic Islands was promoted to phase one on Monday.</b> Phase one of Spain's four
step plan to return to normality, that is. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What does it mean? What can we do? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Confusion
reigned for a while as we tried to work it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
think I've got the main points sorted</span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: ES;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>We can meet ten people at a bar at any
time of day. </b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
bar, I mean bar TERRACE which can only be used at 50% capacity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
can meet ten people at a bar but we can't sit on the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
can meet ten people at a bar at any time of day but we can only exercise at
certain hours of the day. (Adults 06.00 t0 10.00 and 20.00 to 23.00).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
can also meet these ten people in a house. Any house. (I think.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><i>In
non-bar news:</i> Shops under 400sqm can open and customers should make an
appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mask
are compulsory on public transport. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><i>Back
to the bar news:</i></b> Meeting ten people in a bar isn't compulsory but recommended to
help kickstart the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Those who find themselves in a bar
should celebrate having understood the regulations of phase one. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I'm
embarrassed to say I have not met anyone at a bar yet and have yet to help the
local economy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Instead
I did something I had been daydreaming about doing once lockdown relaxed: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A PICNIC IN THE MOUNTAIN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xV5rIb454k/XrxZujxNcnI/AAAAAAAAFW0/Iqb64rOOS7kj41UWZbG_rLOlQm84OnYFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Uppamantin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xV5rIb454k/XrxZujxNcnI/AAAAAAAAFW0/Iqb64rOOS7kj41UWZbG_rLOlQm84OnYFACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Uppamantin.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
were four adults and two toddlers. There was no one else about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
being so excited about the prospect of going <i>'uppamantin' </i>our toddler seemed
grumpy. When we paused to set her down on the ground she tried to walk off the side
of the mountain, pointing and shouting, 'Aguita!' at the sea view. Clearly she
would have preferred the beach. To be fair, it was bloody hot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She
cheered up later and the two little friends rekindled their friendship. They
explored barefoot, showed each other snails and swung on hammocks rigged at
different levels from two trees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Meanwhile
the adults caught up over wine - why only one bottle? - and ate shredded
chicken and homemade bread and hummus and carrot sticks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oh,
I felt pleased that the bars of Mallorca were making so many people happy that
day, but at Phase One, the mountain was the only kind of bar for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Don't
worry. There's still time to help the local economy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> *Cheers!*</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">___</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><i>Escape this brave new world with some brand new fiction. My new novel <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=tipping+point+emily+benet&qid=1589401768&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Tipping Point</a> is out now!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=tipping+point+emily+benet&qid=1589401768&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-82waTNOUx9DF5r_7qXHcD4jaTHa42F35GPZ4r04hpR165EEPRoZTIAdK7RbHdmIYXuL7YM6O1xF4nqmKpkstgJxGzu_n6iXf_cNvynk27V7XCNh4m3qWgbuCpdz207T7NMWk0SV6lhyphenhyphen/s400/FB-bannerTP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-57307259228774085282020-05-09T11:57:00.003+01:002020-05-09T17:54:20.177+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 56 - Love in the time of the coronavirus<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>It
was our 9 year wedding anniversary on Thursday</b> - another special event celebrated under
lockdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the morning
trying to remember where we had been for each one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Beautiful Sienna for the
first... a British seaside for the second? Was it two years ago that I was 8 and a half month pregnant and we moved
into an empty flat and had a picnic on the carpet</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">?</span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: ES;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>We pieced the memories together. </b>For each one
I'd made an effort to make a personalised card. There had been collages and
paintings, pop-ups and puzzle cards. Not this year, though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">As
I settled down to put Sol to sleep in the evening, I thought: next year we'll
do things properly. Next year we'll celebrate the birthdays, father and
mothers' day, and anniversaries that had quietly passed by during confinement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Sol
was quietly snoring. I replaced the side of her cot and left her room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">As
I passed by our bedroom I noticed my flowery dress had been laid out on the
bed. There was a note beside it that said: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Put
this on and follow the signs! :)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Feeling
a mixture of uncertainty and excitement, I did just that. On the back of the
front door, another Post-It read: </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
way to Sitges!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zred6DZNLRc/XraJaC6MIHI/AAAAAAAAFU8/KCh-qtnBlgc1ScK51lsjUG60samCrEYogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200509_114933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zred6DZNLRc/XraJaC6MIHI/AAAAAAAAFU8/KCh-qtnBlgc1ScK51lsjUG60samCrEYogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200509_114933.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Sitges
was where we got married. Friends and family had come from all over the world
to join us for a party in a beautiful rustic villa. There had been sun and rain
and thunder. There had been moving speeches, salsa dancing and rum in the hot
tub.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Along
the corridor outside the flat, there was another note with an arrow. I headed
up the stairs, my smile growing with every step. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This way to London. This way to Mallorca. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
reached the apartment on the top floor. It belongs to a Swedish couple who use it for holidays. The key was in the door. Clearly my husband
had asked them a favour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>Candles
glowed on the steps up to the terrace.</b> I picked up another Post- It. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Up the stairs for a taste of our future!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">My
husband was waiting for me at the top with a bottle of champagne and a table
laid out for dinner. His happy guileless grin was the same one I'd fallen for
twelve years earlier in a bar in Camden Town. He hadn't needed to wait until
next year to make things special.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It
was perfect.</span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> It was love in the time of lockdown.</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> It was an anniversary I wouldn't
forget. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It
was also a little windy so after our meal we cuddled up under a blanket and
beneath the full moon we listened to old songs and laughed and reminisced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And
we toasted to love and imagination and our future together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
also toasted to my new novel <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=emily+benet&qid=1589017029&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Tipping Point</a>! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Finally, I can share it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGLoUdm6-u_GdxHikcSXqAMFrRuFULCZcc7A8lO6BKU2TAK7U5RsY0bgZaP7nQnyo4IZK0kSxItlARw6HCZECLMbUliBlgV4VZ3np-sKhlrKswEYGZq0hxNJD_L8vZSpqQj7JM6FLYv-_/s1600/CoverTP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1054" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGLoUdm6-u_GdxHikcSXqAMFrRuFULCZcc7A8lO6BKU2TAK7U5RsY0bgZaP7nQnyo4IZK0kSxItlARw6HCZECLMbUliBlgV4VZ3np-sKhlrKswEYGZq0hxNJD_L8vZSpqQj7JM6FLYv-_/s400/CoverTP.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=emily+benet&qid=1589017029&sr=8-2" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">TippingPoint</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> is inspired by my love of multi-character storytelling, and books by </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Liane
Moriarty</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> and</span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Deborah Moggach.</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> The e-book is out now</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> and the print book will be released next month, lockdown permitting.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It goes a little something like this:</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">George
and Ellen have retired to sunny Mallorca. Social butterfly Ellen is itching to
make yacht-owning friends while George's heart is set on an isolated farmhouse
in the country. In fact, now that they're no longer living busy London lives,
they're beginning to realise they have very different ideas of happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Private
investigator, Salva, specialises in cases of adultery. That's why it's
particularly embarrassing that he didn't realise his long-term girlfriend has
been cheating on him. He has no time to nurse a broken heart since his family
are the victims of a property scam they urgently need him to solve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Robyn
Chase is giving talks on her self-help book No More Toxic Relationships - 7
Years, 7 Lessons. She's finding it awkward being a relationship guru when her
own boyfriend is avoiding her. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
sun is shining in Mallorca and everything looks beautiful. But the residents of
one particular apartment block are about to discover it all might be too good
to be true.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=emily+benet&qid=1589017029&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Buy Tipping Point Online. </a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Note: </b>For those who would rather not buy from Amazon, please get in touch to buy direct. In the future, I hope to have a smooth direct sales system in place! Thank you. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Note 2:</b> No, you're memory isn't failing you! I did change the title last minute from Melting Point to Tipping Point!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-40554554943200992352020-05-05T22:29:00.000+01:002020-05-10T12:54:51.094+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 52 - a fear of going outside <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">It's been ten days since Spain's children were first allowed out
of their homes. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">"Do
you want to go outside?" We ask our toddler every afternoon.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">"No,"
she says.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">"We
could go to the beach! Don't you want to go to the
beach?"</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">"No."</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">"We
could go to the grassy bit and say hello to the <i>Guau-guaus</i>!" </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><i>Say
hello as they poop all over the grassy bit,</i> I think. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">"No,"
she says, focused on her building blocks.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Once
we get outside though, she is happy. She points out the colours of the
cars. <i>Blue! Blanco! Blue!</i> If the stray cats aren't around
she <i>miaows</i> at a tree for a while. She loves the sea
and doesn't seem to feel the cold. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">But
before she steps outside the door, there is a hesitation. I'm not sure if it was
there before lockdown. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">A
few other Mum's in my whatsapp group have observed <b>a fearfulness in their
children about leaving the house</b> too. Some have become clingy and want to stay
in their parents' arms. I came across a piece about this side effect in the local newspaper. About how adults and children can become anxious about leaving an environment
in which they've been confined in for a long time, even when it's
imperfect. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">The truth is, even I have felt apprehensive about going outside. Although I
expressed relief in my Liberation Day post, I wrote it before I went out that
evening. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">After I published it, my husband and I crept out while Sol slept, taking the monitor with
us, and leaving a neighbour in charge, just so we could walk around the block together.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There
was so many people along the main promenade. I felt quite overwhelmed. 49 days in
lockdown and I wanted to go back home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">The
next day, when the allocated exercise time arrived, I went outside by
myself. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabJWUnwLgzhHMgbdg0F3D2DQBQ0wr5nF6Q92L-dj-GN1pVewyE3uTbn9IiiJ3TYYLF48EV_OtdhdtxEI_GHB-St5wmh8l5FFNA6hWQvdhIXwKklDqPapsqBZpHriRfL7NvOiPU4_u0Zbr/s1600/Behind+the+houses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabJWUnwLgzhHMgbdg0F3D2DQBQ0wr5nF6Q92L-dj-GN1pVewyE3uTbn9IiiJ3TYYLF48EV_OtdhdtxEI_GHB-St5wmh8l5FFNA6hWQvdhIXwKklDqPapsqBZpHriRfL7NvOiPU4_u0Zbr/s400/Behind+the+houses.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><b>I
walked away from the main streets, choosing the quiet roads behind my house.
</b>The first thing I noticed was a wonderful smell of
jasmine. As I walked, a lump grew in my throat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">There
were individual and couples out and about too. As people approached each other
on the same pavement, they would step onto the road or cross to the other side to observe the recommended social distancing space.<b> I wanted to cry so much, but the tears wouldn't come.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">I
told myself to slow down. After so long closely investigating every detail in
our apartment block - dried up woodlice, decapitated millipedes, petals,
leaves, sticks - I didn't want to suddenly return to old ways and rush past all
these things.<b> </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">I
stopped. I looked at the moon. I said hello to a stray cat. I observed a fleshy
cactus. I wanted to cry, but I didn't know how.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><b>Today
was a special day. </b>Today my friend and I agreed to meet on the beach below the
house. Her son is Sol's best friend, who she has asked after nearly every one
of these lockdown days. Worried the mum would expect Sol to wear a mask, I told
her that I would be happy if they played as normal, because if they </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">couldn't
touch each other it was more stress than it was worth. She agreed.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">My
stomach ached with anticipation that morning. I didn't tell Sol who we were
going to see until we were preparing to leave. She became so excited. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxF2yrps39s/XrHU1nUxeTI/AAAAAAAAFUI/On-l3hCyuMg74wfN2c74dfK2SdvDZvLmACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sol%2Bbeach%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxF2yrps39s/XrHU1nUxeTI/AAAAAAAAFUI/On-l3hCyuMg74wfN2c74dfK2SdvDZvLmACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Sol%2Bbeach%2B.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><b>There was no hugs or kisses, only big smiles. </b>The smiles were mainly between us adults! After pining for her little
boyfriend all through lockdown, in the end Sol was so</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> totally absorbed building a "grande grande" sandcastle that she barely acknowledged him. Meanwhile her enthusiastic little friend went to
a lot of trouble trying to find her the very best shell on the beach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">It
was a really wonderful encounter. It wasn't just any old day at the
beach. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">In fact. It was. And that
was why it was perfect.</span><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">For
the first time in a long time, life felt normal.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> I realised I
wasn't holding my breath and I didn't feel like crying. Instead, I
felt full of hope.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Read more posts from Covid-19 Diaries:</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/05/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-49.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 49 - Liberation Day</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-43-big.html" style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 43 - a big day out for the kids</span></a></div>
<a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-41.html" style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 41 - Important announcements</span></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-39-when.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 39 - when we all almost lost our heads</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-36-world.html" style="color: #8e7cc3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 36 - the world is my draining board</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-32-what.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 32 - what episode are you in?</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-30.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 30 - Cardboard Joy</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-26-be-bold.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 36 - Be Bold</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">EXCITING NEWS:</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> MY NEW NOVEL - <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B0887FVYR9/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=EMILY+BENET&qid=1589111667&sr=8-4" target="_blank">TIPPING POINT</a> - IS OUT NOW!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GwOFm6x-Hw/XrfrKP7zesI/AAAAAAAAFVk/ai-zKGmbirMdRaSSyoeRPCuRo0DuOQaswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FB-bannerTP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GwOFm6x-Hw/XrfrKP7zesI/AAAAAAAAFVk/ai-zKGmbirMdRaSSyoeRPCuRo0DuOQaswCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/FB-bannerTP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-1029767903142979142020-05-02T19:33:00.001+01:002020-05-02T19:34:14.637+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 49 - Liberation Day <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It's
Liberation Day here in Spain. <b>After 48 days in captivity, the adult population
is finally allowed outside the house to exercise.</b> Apparently there were huge
smiles on people's faces between 6.00 and 10.00, the allocated slot for morning
outings. I didn't witness them myself since at 9.36 I was still in my pyjamas, having breakfast with the husband and toddler. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
rule is that adults between 14 - 70 years old can go outside between 6.00 and
10.00, and in the evening between 20.00 and 23.00. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those over 70yrs have the 10.00 - 12.00 and
19.00 - 20.00 slots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Got
it? Keep up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Going
out with one other person from the same household is permitted.<b> However, children
can't go out during adult time.</b> They must be taken out between 12.00 and 19.00.
So my husband and I can't go outside together unless we leave our toddler at
home alone... Now, nearly 2 year old Sol has learned <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a lot of new skills during lockdown: names of colours,
parts of her body, how to make (wooden) kiwi and onion soup, random song and poetry
lyrics including <i>Each Peach Pear Plum...</i> HOWEVER, I still wouldn't feel
comfortable leaving her on her own. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">As
much as I'd love to go out with my husband, I'm not here to moan. I think the
Spanish government has been doing a much better job that many others in these
dire circumstances, and this new phase is just that... a phase. </span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: ES;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>Today
there was a huge collective sigh of relief around the country.</b> I've no doubt
there was laughter and tears and promises never to take our freedom for granted
ever again. There may also have been a few stiff joints and a twisted ankle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_FaQnhJt9-IaqEimzdvv2vh5jxFVPFMXeEdIo1-MnT-_S5UvZHmxlzVrLlW6U3bIo2u1vEG7cvAUc9wvjxrVg_QQsJTQqzYhkOcjI1aNHDyFRDrNAFww6K10o7RLllLc9nf88a0tU4my/s1600/Bobby+liberation+day.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_FaQnhJt9-IaqEimzdvv2vh5jxFVPFMXeEdIo1-MnT-_S5UvZHmxlzVrLlW6U3bIo2u1vEG7cvAUc9wvjxrVg_QQsJTQqzYhkOcjI1aNHDyFRDrNAFww6K10o7RLllLc9nf88a0tU4my/s320/Bobby+liberation+day.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My
brother's Boxer puppy, <b>Bobby, summed up the happiness of so many</b> as he splashed in the
sea near Alicante. Finally out for a proper walk with both his owners, he couldn't
contain his excitement and bounded from stick to rock to water, digging up
sand, and spraying everyone. The wag of his tail seemed to say: ISN'T LIFE MARVELLOUS!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Though
I'm not immune to the stresses of lockdown - I've a mouth ulcer the size of the
moon and my teeth are aching - knowing I can leave the flat this evening, to walk
around the block, is one of those small things which is actually the big things.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>If
lockdown is a difficult journey through the desert then today we reached the first bar in nearly two
months.</b> And my god, does the beer taste good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks so much for reading. Get in touch on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a>!<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> </a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Continue reading blog posts from the Lockdown:</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-43-big.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 43 - a big day out for the kids</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-41.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 41 - Important announcements</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-39-when.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 39 - when we all almost lost our heads</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-36-world.html" style="color: #8e7cc3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 36 - the world is my draining board</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-32-what.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 32 - what episode are you in?</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-30.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 30 - Cardboard Joy</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-26-be-bold.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 36 - Be Bold</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or, escape the lockdown with a copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hen-Party-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B072M21CNL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+hen+party+emily+benet&qid=1587588523&sr=8-1" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Hen Party</a> - set in the beautiful island of Mallorca! </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BT2dI8jlSodHSIR8ZRhwSoR6eM2vFyvf5pn_IE3RJ8vjdYp5TfDcoIk4pmXPybR-DrBFnaSqMkUom-FSw8rrwVi7TsbsZbwZhm5dRL83VttiCyKSKfH4nNiBliiKrkfTZYehlYRGWHa/s1600/ON+POINT3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BT2dI8jlSodHSIR8ZRhwSoR6eM2vFyvf5pn_IE3RJ8vjdYp5TfDcoIk4pmXPybR-DrBFnaSqMkUom-FSw8rrwVi7TsbsZbwZhm5dRL83VttiCyKSKfH4nNiBliiKrkfTZYehlYRGWHa/s1600/ON+POINT3.png" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-78248579058403331092020-04-26T21:37:00.000+01:002020-04-26T21:46:16.342+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 43 - a big day out for the kids<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmuVkHNqQzriEMULYS5hBsmU_fNNknj_ERwitxx6aahmSMceOEt9OIelRi6AuOXZj-gYxNIl2VDMtcCIrii4QgOfUOf7qlISa8SW0kiXF7eDLnBOBhKP5vj9CJKevxb9FMuQAZ_7sWvsZ/s1600/sol+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmuVkHNqQzriEMULYS5hBsmU_fNNknj_ERwitxx6aahmSMceOEt9OIelRi6AuOXZj-gYxNIl2VDMtcCIrii4QgOfUOf7qlISa8SW0kiXF7eDLnBOBhKP5vj9CJKevxb9FMuQAZ_7sWvsZ/s320/sol+sea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One
day we'll go to the park, one day we'll see friends, one day we'll go up a
mountain, one day we'll go outside...</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Today is ONE DAY!" I told my
toddler, excitedly. "We're going to the sea!" </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She looked at me, unsure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"We're going on an adventure! Sol and
mummy! Outside!"</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A smile spread slowly across her face and
she started to turn around in circles. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My stomach was hurting with anticipation.
<b>She hadn't been outside the apartment block for six weeks.</b> I had been to
the supermarket twice and the second time I'd been stopped by the police. I
felt nervous about what awaited us. I worried how we would be able to keep the 1-2
metre social distancing rules with other children running about. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Rule is: 1 adult, 1 hour, maximum 1
kilometre from home. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It had been so long since I'd prepared the
nappy bag. I packed an apple, corn cakes, and a change of clothes. The last
thing I wanted was hunger or a poo cutting short our maiden voyage. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sol seemed surprised when, rather than peer
through the grills of the apartment block gate, I took out the keys and
unlocked it. I carried her through the small kids' play park she wasn't allowed
to play in, and set her down on the pavement beyond. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>She started to point excitedly.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dog walker was approaching with a fluffy
white dog. Her joy was contagious and he gave her a big smile as he passed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next, a car sped by. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Beep-beep!" Sol cried.
"Beep-beep!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'd forgotten she hadn't seen any in six
weeks. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we turned the corner, we saw them...
Children! Little children at the water's edge. Some were
digging, some were splashing, some were simply staring out at sea. High-pitched
giggles filled the air. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sol ignored all of them. She knew what she
wanted. As soon as we'd crossed to an open space, <b>she walked straight into the
water fully clothed.</b> For a moment I worried about her getting sunburnt if I
took off her t-shirt. But then I noticed the plump baby sitting in just her nappy
nearby, looking very pleased with herself. I threw caution to the wind. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I took off Sol's soggy clothes and let her
enjoy herself in the full glorious nude. She loved every minute. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After her swim and her apple, we headed back
home, stopping on the way back to stare at a big black cat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The experience was so stimulating that she was
unable to nap. <b>Her face glowed for the rest of the day. </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And
I feel like shouting I'M NOT TAKING THIS FOR GRANTED!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They
say from the 2nd May, everyone will be entitled to exercise in the fresh air. I
can't wait. This is a tough time. It's frustrating for the 14 and 15 year olds
who aren't grouped in with the other children. It's demoralising for the group of seniors that would normally be at that beach, walking up and down chatting, or reading
the paper with their feet in the sand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
also think of what my neighbour told me yesterday, of <b>a poor man facing
lockdown in his car. </b>No home. Just a car and weeks of waiting. A man who
probably has no legal papers and little money and who can't risk getting caught
by police for going for a walk. So he sits in his car and he waits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everyone
hopes things go back to normal. But I'm not so sure our normal was so
wonderful. <b>After the lockdown lifts, let's strive for better than normal.</b> Let's
show solidarity with each other like never before. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks so much for reading. Get in touch on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a>!<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> </a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Continue reading blog posts from the Lockdown:</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-41.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">L</span>ockdown Day 41 - Important announcements</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-39-when.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 39 - when we all almost lost our heads</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-36-world.html" style="color: #8e7cc3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 36 - the world is my draining board</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-32-what.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 32 - what episode are you in?</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-30.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 30 - Cardboard Joy</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-26-be-bold.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 36 - Be Bold</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or, escape the lockdown with a copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hen-Party-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B072M21CNL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+hen+party+emily+benet&qid=1587588523&sr=8-1" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Hen Party</a> - set in the beautiful island of Mallorca! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BT2dI8jlSodHSIR8ZRhwSoR6eM2vFyvf5pn_IE3RJ8vjdYp5TfDcoIk4pmXPybR-DrBFnaSqMkUom-FSw8rrwVi7TsbsZbwZhm5dRL83VttiCyKSKfH4nNiBliiKrkfTZYehlYRGWHa/s1600/ON+POINT3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BT2dI8jlSodHSIR8ZRhwSoR6eM2vFyvf5pn_IE3RJ8vjdYp5TfDcoIk4pmXPybR-DrBFnaSqMkUom-FSw8rrwVi7TsbsZbwZhm5dRL83VttiCyKSKfH4nNiBliiKrkfTZYehlYRGWHa/s1600/ON+POINT3.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-6131221860522706552020-04-24T21:34:00.000+01:002020-04-28T09:08:41.074+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 41 - Important announcements <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I have a few
announcements to make.</b> It won</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'t
take long. It's Friday and I'm tiiiired.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oops, forgot to say Spoiler Alert! That was my first announcement:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCftv6yLCLY/XqNLG7lgAuI/AAAAAAAAFSs/WldBkBbWQ2sFSMXg8OVxP9gbEVQMtZw2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/pants2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCftv6yLCLY/XqNLG7lgAuI/AAAAAAAAFSs/WldBkBbWQ2sFSMXg8OVxP9gbEVQMtZw2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/pants2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1. It's Friday</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know a lot of people are
confused about what day or month it is. Generally we all know it's 2020. It's
going to be the year that makes it into future editions of Trivial Pursuit:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Q: When was the 2020 Olympics?</b><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Oh, this is a trick questions, isn't it? I know something weird happened
in 2020... </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wonder if we
will ever forget this year.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2. Don't inject
yourself with bleach</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No, it won't
actually cure you of coronavirus or prevent it. It's just some crazy rumour started
by this guy from some Politics Reality TV show. The scriptwriters are
hilarious! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3. My new novel TIPPING POINT is coming out this May!</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My editor sent
me the finished manuscript with one of the most wonderful compliments I've ever
received for a book:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have to say that I have probably enjoyed this more
than any edit I have ever done, thanks to the strength of your storytelling
skills. It's great the way you develop the characters through the eyes of the
other characters, their observations showing the readers what the people around
them are like and building really believable personalities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I grinned and
grinned and grinned... and then told myself to stop grinning and get on with
some work. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't wait to
share the finished <b>book cover next week. </b>I hope the novel, which is set on the island of Mallorca, will provide some hours of entertainment and escape in these challenging and uncertain times.</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Thanks so much for reading. Get in touch on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a>!<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> </span></i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> </a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Continue reading blog posts from the Lockdown:</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-36-world.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-39-when.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 39 - when we all almost lost our heads</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-36-world.html" style="color: #8e7cc3;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 36 - the world is my draining board</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-32-what.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 32 - what episode are you in?</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-30.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 30 - Cardboard Joy</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-26-be-bold.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 36 - Be Bold</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or, escape the lockdown with a copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hen-Party-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B072M21CNL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+hen+party+emily+benet&qid=1587588523&sr=8-1" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Hen Party</a> - set in the beautiful island of Mallorca! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NfyT07pWJvE/WUuMvm1PFvI/AAAAAAAAEjQ/QenjHi-iVqEtLq9mU9Y77LKxzeXVAkkPACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/ON%2BPOINT3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="568" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NfyT07pWJvE/WUuMvm1PFvI/AAAAAAAAEjQ/QenjHi-iVqEtLq9mU9Y77LKxzeXVAkkPACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/ON%2BPOINT3.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-31169166685054610222020-04-22T22:16:00.000+01:002020-04-22T22:46:12.936+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 39 - when we all almost lost our heads<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Millipedes make terrible pets. </b>They're either
curled up out of reach on the ceiling in the stairwell or dead on the floor. We
tell our toddler they are sleeping.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The woodlice are sleeping too. The snail
with the broken shell is also asleep. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Wakey! Wakey!" Sol says. But
they do not wake up. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We make millipedes out of egg boxes and name them Milly and Molly. We make them a house out of a cardboard box and feed
them plastic grapes. They fail to thrive. On Day 2 Milly loses her head. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JnMqX39lidk/XqCqAt39dlI/AAAAAAAAFSM/RjPs2F7_xwEFvWWQ4eVOZBxA8sTdc0imQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Milly%2Band%2Bmolly%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JnMqX39lidk/XqCqAt39dlI/AAAAAAAAFSM/RjPs2F7_xwEFvWWQ4eVOZBxA8sTdc0imQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Milly%2Band%2Bmolly%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Milly & Molly pose outside their mansion</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>We all nearly lost our heads yesterday</b> when
the news announced that the hotly awaited walk for our children from 27th April had translated into: <i>children will only be allowed out to accompany an adult to the supermarket.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The new ruling was supposed to provide Spain's kids, who have been confined for 6 weeks, some relief. As in fresh air, natural light and space to move. We have a terrace and an empty communal area, but some kids, especially in the cities, have nothing. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How did going to the supermarket count as
getting fresh air</b>? Since when did going to the shop in a car count as getting
exercise? How did letting touchy-feely little kids into a possibly contagious
environment sound like a good idea to anyone? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was hopeless. There would be no
change on 27th April. We weren't going to take our toddler to a
supermarket. It wouldn't give her or us any relief. She was too little for gloves and
masks. She would be frustrated at not being to explore the aisles or touch anything. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The mums in my Whatsapp group sounded like they had reached the end of their tether. They were crushed, angry... reaching for the wine. Even the calmest were
starting to wobble.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notices were passed around to <b>bang pots in protest</b> at
19.00 from our balconies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"It's not official," my husband kept saying. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I echoed his words in my mums' group. I said no one was allowed to panic just yet. Really, I was telling myself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That evening, the government amended the rule. Children <i>would</i> be allowed out for a walk from the 27th April. There was a huge sense of a relief. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>We still don't know what the restrictions will be. </b>We don't know how long they will be allowed out or how far from the house they will be able to walk. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The daydream of going outside as a family
will remain a daydream. It's bound to be one adult per child. That's
fair, considering everyone else who can't leave the house. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope people won't
resent kids being allowed out. We were all kids once, and at least as adults we understand what's going on. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Sol doesn't understand. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"One day," I say, when she asks about going to the park, seeing her friends, going up the mountains. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't know if it will be me or her papi accompanying her on Sunday. It doesn't matter. What matters is she has a lovely
outing... and if it's not too much to ask, that there are at least some insects awake to say hello on her journey around the
block!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic;">Thanks for reading! You can find me on my </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic;"> or on</span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Continue reading blog posts from the Lockdown:</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-36-world.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-36-world.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 36 - the world is my draining board</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-32-what.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 32 - what episode are you in?</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-30.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 30 - Cardboard Joy</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-26-be-bold.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lockdown Day 36 - Be Bold</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or, escape the lockdown with a copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hen-Party-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B072M21CNL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+hen+party+emily+benet&qid=1587588523&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Hen Party</a> - set in the beautiful island of Mallorca! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hen-Party-Emily-Benet-ebook/dp/B072M21CNL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+hen+party+emily+benet&qid=1587588523&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BT2dI8jlSodHSIR8ZRhwSoR6eM2vFyvf5pn_IE3RJ8vjdYp5TfDcoIk4pmXPybR-DrBFnaSqMkUom-FSw8rrwVi7TsbsZbwZhm5dRL83VttiCyKSKfH4nNiBliiKrkfTZYehlYRGWHa/s1600/ON+POINT3.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-54255319056370683112020-04-19T12:06:00.002+01:002020-04-19T12:06:05.640+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 36 - The world is my kitchen draining board <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is not a political blog</b> so I'm
absolutely not going to mention that I recently asked Google whether Trump was
a psychopath. Neither will I share that Google requested a more challenging
question.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not a political blog so I will not
mention that <b>I'm disgusted by Spanish politicians using a pandemic in which
20,000 nationals have already died, to bitch at each other in an attempt to
further their careers and divisive political agendas. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, I shall not mention megalomaniacs and
egos so big they could sink continents. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From now on, I must limit my newsfeed
because I have had a HUGE REALISATION.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's this:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE WORLD IS MY KITCHEN DRAINING BOARD. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySXt2Q3MWfw/Xpwt-fl3h-I/AAAAAAAAFRs/Uw2guWnwiDYlNX1DdU_QX2QhVsbRYwOPACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySXt2Q3MWfw/Xpwt-fl3h-I/AAAAAAAAFRs/Uw2guWnwiDYlNX1DdU_QX2QhVsbRYwOPACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/kitchen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>On a good day. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It will never be tidy. It will never be
completely clear.</b> Even when I think I've achieved the impossible, a little
glimmer will catch my eye and I will find a spoon lurking in the depth of the
cutlery holder. Even when I've wiped that spoon and put it away and I think I
have finally done it, as I back out of the kitchen I will notice in horror that
I've completely overlooked my toddler's high chair where more crusty
utensils are begging to be washed up, re-starting the whole process.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I am not going to give up trying to clear
my kitchen draining board, but I have decided I shall do it without the impatience. </b>I will strive to make the world around me a better place, but I'm
not going to turn into an angry bitter person while I'm doing it. How we react to the world may be the only choice we really have. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now let me share news of my WALK. Yes,
yesterday I decided that I would walk to the supermarket. It's 20 minutes away
and I'd been delaying it so I would make the most use of it, buying as much as
possible. Although we had done a big shop a week earlier, we had run out of
milk and other basics. I got five minutes down the road and was stopped by a
policeman. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Have you got a vehicle?" he
said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Ye-es..."</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You've won yourself a walk up until
here. Now go back for your car."</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt shaken, rather than annoyed. I had
thought I was allowed to walk to the supermarket or the bank. I felt a stab of
irritation on the way home as I encountered two dog walkers. WHAT ABOUT MY
TODDLER? LET ME WALK MY TODDLER!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few hours later I started to receive
excited messages from fellow mums.<b> "Children will be allowed out from the
27th!!"</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We turned on the news to hear the president speak. I imagined myself
in the 1940s crowding around the transistor radio during wartime. <b>Spain has one of the strictest lockdown in the world. </b>The restrictions and
limitations will continue, however it looks like from the 27th April, children
will be able to go outside for a short walk. Possibly only at a certain time. For instance between 12.00 and 14.00... when Sol naps! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks for reading! You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
Read last post... <a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-32-what.html" target="_blank">Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 32 - What episode are you in?</a></div>
Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-26818414723774266782020-04-15T22:06:00.001+01:002020-04-15T22:06:48.554+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 32 - What episode are you in?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wxAVGMXdpo/Xpd0gsHqq5I/AAAAAAAAFRM/LB5bfkDJALMZ95Ea12Z1dev6qUX1cDfdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Keep%2Bspooning%2Bsand%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wxAVGMXdpo/Xpd0gsHqq5I/AAAAAAAAFRM/LB5bfkDJALMZ95Ea12Z1dev6qUX1cDfdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Keep%2Bspooning%2Bsand%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Mum, I've been spooning sand for 32 days... <br />You sure I should keep going?</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I feel like I'm in one of those 'filler' episodes.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> You know the ones when the pace slows down
and nothing much seems to happen. The sort written by exhausted script writers
who finish up their plotting session with a half-hearted 'whatever, that'll
do.'</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We watched one last night. It was </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">episode 5 of season 3 of</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Westworld.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> It's
the only show we're following and released once a week so we can't even binge
watch it which, in these circumstances, is probably for the best.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One of the characters is given a pill called 'genre' and spends
the whole episode looking around him in slow-mo, thinking, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">what's going on?</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Nothing,
that's what. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">was clever lighting
and lots of music, but <b>no progression of the story. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
we needed was an old or new character appearing to inject some excitement. A
change of pace. Some fresh and engaging scenery. SOME PARK SWINGS. A sheep to
feed. The seaside. A walk around the bloody block.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Oh, pause it a second... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I just received a message from a mother of 2 under
two's. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">She reports that</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> her 'Easter Present
Campaign' had been a surprising success. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It had involved all the neighbours in her apartment block
coming up with homemade gifts for each other and leaving them on each other's
doorstep. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Her little toddler had been thrilled to receive a drawing from
another toddler. A couple of teenagers had also joined in, unearthing some of
their old favourite children's books for her. All her neighbours had also
encouraged her to leave the flat and spend some time in the communal area with
her kids in the fresh air, something not previously condoned. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After reading her positive message I realise I'm not STUCK in
episode 5, after all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This dull feeling will pass. Tomorrow episode 6 will begin and
though the new characters may be a woodlice and a spider rather than a human friend, and the change of scenery might be a tent in the living room
decorated with scarf; there's no reason it can't be a good episode. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In fact, I'm going to make sure it's a good one.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks for reading! You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-30.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-30.html" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-30.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Read previous entry Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown </span>30 - Cardboard Joy</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-20364429341935258672020-04-13T21:46:00.000+01:002020-04-13T22:07:31.119+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 30 - Cardboard Joy <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8smcl_0PUTE/XpTJ16ksdxI/AAAAAAAAFQo/gJcKgaQtsBk5pSWl2Mg76EWHWDwsB_WFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG-20200409-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8smcl_0PUTE/XpTJ16ksdxI/AAAAAAAAFQo/gJcKgaQtsBk5pSWl2Mg76EWHWDwsB_WFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-20200409-WA0002.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">"Spain relaxes lockdown..." say the international papers. </span></i></b></div>
<b><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></i></b>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Have
we?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gosh, that
sounds nice.<b> We still can't go outside for a walk, though.</b> More importantly, I still can't walk
the toddler. I see people in the UK posting pictures of lush green parks and river
scenes and I think, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whaaat? Lockdown is easy
if you can go out for walks! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>But I
know it's not easy. I know mostly families are cooped up. Some more cooped than
others. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was reading an article in <b>El Pais</b> about <b>entire families confined to a bedroom</b>. A mother with a 2 and a 4
year old in a bedroom for thirty days. A mother, father, and two preteen kids
sharing one room with a bunk bed. It made me cry. The worst bit is that even after
lockdown they will still be living in one bedroom...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, all across the island there are luxury villas lying empty, because we live in a painfully unequal world. Possibly the construction workers allowed back
to work today, despite uncertainty about how on earth they'll keep a coronavirus safety distance between them, are building more fabulous dwellings for people who may or may not spend any time in them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never mind about
the rich.<b> How much would I sacrifice for a more equal world?</b> Would I give up my
terrace during lockdown for another family? I like to think so. In the end, we can't expect people to do what we wouldn't. We all have
to take some responsibility for the world we live in. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do I sound grumpy? I probably need to be walked more often. In fact I did go out
today. My second outing in four weeks. I went to the chemist. I saw <b>three
police cars in the space of three minutes</b>. The chemist was closed, so I walked back worried that I would be
stopped and I would have no receipt to prove my visit. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The<b> highlight of
my day</b> came in the afternoon after a few hours at my desk. I walked into the living room to discover <b>my
husband had made our toddler a guitar out of cardboard</b>. He has rediscovered his
love of guitar playing during lockdown and Sol loves it. She was
so excited she was getting her own guitar that she broke into a highly expressive and unintelligible
babble, gesturing with her hands, and making certain I understood how brilliant it all was. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was wonderful to witness. I sat down on the floor beside her and she gave me
a big hug and I thought I'm never buying a plastic toy again... </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBWcYm47jhl46QUnDynrpkdifTmLwGSnaTXNfWWNiZQUmY35X3MsVEUGzLTb8nbVVMvT7z2XqIuxGKvFkaIy4CpZRAdP_yvc_tiz8HmJaTUEXuYnKblf7h1iYDUk5gBPS0yl0ftQpQ2EH/s1600/guitar.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBWcYm47jhl46QUnDynrpkdifTmLwGSnaTXNfWWNiZQUmY35X3MsVEUGzLTb8nbVVMvT7z2XqIuxGKvFkaIy4CpZRAdP_yvc_tiz8HmJaTUEXuYnKblf7h1iYDUk5gBPS0yl0ftQpQ2EH/s320/guitar.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also thought,
I have the greatest lockdown team ever. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is going to be alright. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One day we will be able
to walk around the block and we will love every minute of it. Until
then we will make cardboard instruments and deconstruct cardboard faces and
paint empty toilet rolls, and bury treasure in tubs of sand and sing and dance
and write and create and feel gratitude for the freedom of our minds to imagine and muster a surprisingly rich life within the confines of four walls. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">Thanks for reading! You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-26-be-bold.html" target="_blank">Read previous entry Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown 26 - Be Bold</a></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-73463921983448212472020-04-09T22:08:00.005+01:002020-04-09T22:11:18.636+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 26 - Be bold<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This is a time to be bold. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not bold so you can break the rules of
lockdown. I heard that in Greater Manchester, in the UK, police have had to
break up over 500 parties. <b>Lockdown isn't a punishment. </b>It's in place to
protect you and your loved ones. Do you want to be responsible for killing your
grandfather?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No. By bold, I mean
it's a time to step outside of your bubble, not your house. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Are your neighbours
okay? </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My friend, who lives
in a miniscule apartment in Palma, waves to the old man who walks around the
rooftop on his zimmer frame every day. He waves back. Human connection. I'm
sure it brings a moment of comfort to both of them as they go about reinventing
their daily routine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm saying wave at the
neighbours you would never have waved at before. Perhaps you'll become good friend
after all this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G1apBO2xNI/Xo-Osd9KiPI/AAAAAAAAFQI/2iKuMRO1aBwnjSPZLTA7cpdDIMI-rsSyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blog%2Bwindows%2B%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G1apBO2xNI/Xo-Osd9KiPI/AAAAAAAAFQI/2iKuMRO1aBwnjSPZLTA7cpdDIMI-rsSyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/blog%2Bwindows%2B%25282%2529.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Open those windows and wave!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I saw a post on social
media in which an elderly resident in an apartment block had left a note on her
door which said:<i> if anyone is going out, can they bring me back three bottles
of milk? </i>The next photo was of three bottles of milk on her doorstep. Okay,
between you and me three bottles does seem a lot, but </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the point is you have to be bold to ask for
help and bold to answer the call.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are only three
occupied flats in our block. The rest have chosen to stay in their native
countries or with friends in rural properties. While we chat regularly to the
Aussie neighbour below us, we've barely seen our other middle-aged Spanish
neighbour. In the five years we've lived here there's only been small talk
between us. Still, we have each other's number and we have taken to asking each
other if we need anything when we are about to go on a rare trip to the supermarket. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week we asked him
for potatoes. He dropped off a sack and today I went to his door to pay him.
Now I've been assuming all this time he's wanted to keep himself to himself.
He's a really outdoorsy type. We know because we've seen his trainers and ski
boots drying on the balcony. I thought he was the self-sufficient sort who
doesn't need anyone else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After our chat on the
doorstep <b>I realised I might have been wrong about a few things</b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Evidently he
had been reading a lot of news, was feeling restless, and on day 26, was not relishing
the thought of continuing at home, alone, and uncertain of how much longer the
situation was going to continue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I admit, as a mother of a toddler, I've felt pretty
judgmental of people professing to be bored. BORED? What a luxury! But perhaps
I've been too harsh. Our days are so busy with our daughter, and I'm still
writing for the magazine, so neither me nor my husband have barely had time to
look at the headlines. We don't have to time to worry or speculate. I had to
google what day of lockdown it was today because I've lost track. We've adapted
to our new life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But today, after
talking to my neighbour, I realised <b>social distancing doesn't mean hiding away
and forgetting everyone else in society.</b> On the contrary it means checking in
on everyone. After I spoke to our quiet neighbour we sent him a message to tell
him that we could always have a drink from one balcony to the other. He replied
instantly. He said that would be very nice. Perhaps we'll finally get to know
each other. Perhaps we'll become good friends. <b>Or perhaps we'll just be there
for each other when it mattered. </b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">Thanks for reading! You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-57483353308242745302020-04-05T19:56:00.003+01:002020-04-05T19:56:41.797+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 22 - supermarket trip<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">After three weeks without leaving the
apartment block, it was my turn to go to the supermarket. </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband set about crafting
a maximum dual-action defence mask. Basically he sewed a piece of old t-shirt to
one of those eye-masks you get free on the plane.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQHi9T9u7jc/XoooR1SEUfI/AAAAAAAAFPg/XCLOSGOn2BQtFyYaFGgzPdS5gSQl0TdPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Supermarket.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1405" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQHi9T9u7jc/XoooR1SEUfI/AAAAAAAAFPg/XCLOSGOn2BQtFyYaFGgzPdS5gSQl0TdPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Supermarket.jpeg" width="281" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been a lot of talk about whether
masks are effective or not. </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Trump has said he won't be wearing one, so I've
decided wearing one is probably an intelligent idea.</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was no queue outside the supermarket.
Nor were there police. Instead there was a young staff member sitting at the
entrance of the shop, wearing a full plastic face shield, a bottle of hand
sanitiser by his side. <b>He sprayed my hands and then gave me some plastic
gloves.</b> I don't mean latex gloves. I mean that flyaway plastic they sometimes
wrap bread in. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once I had my gloves on I went to get my
shopping trolley. Usually I only use a basket because we shop for only two days
at a time, but today was going to be different. I hadn't even taken advantage
of being able to walk to the supermarket because I knew I would never be able
to carry what we needed back. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I began at the fruit and vegetable
section. My first item? A cucumber. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
here in Spain you generally have to weigh the fruit yourself before reaching
the till. So I took my cucumber to the weighing scales and pressed the designated
cucumber button. Out slid the sticker. I plucked the sticker out of the machine
and went to put it on my cucumber.<b> But oh calamity, I discovered the sticker
had stuck to the finger of my glove! </b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I tried to peel the sticker off with my
other gloved hand and I succeeded in getting it suck to that one instead. I
pulled at the sticker and my glove started to stretch ominously. If I wasn't
careful I was going to rip my glove. How many times could I ask for a new glove?
Also, if I got a hole in my glove, wasn't I increasing the chance of contact
with the virus?!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I looked around me. I was in the middle of a
battle with a sticker but no one seemed to have noticed. <b>I felt like I was in the film Contagion and I was Mr Bean. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-intQV_nUq6U/Xoopz3r_pdI/AAAAAAAAFPs/MI_nC31dpVwMhls9qVL64YOlWPZJmihzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Mr%2BBean.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="496" height="187" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-intQV_nUq6U/Xoopz3r_pdI/AAAAAAAAFPs/MI_nC31dpVwMhls9qVL64YOlWPZJmihzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Mr%2BBean.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why wasn't everyone else having<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the same problem?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They all seemed to be getting on fine, focused
on their task of getting as much food as quickly as possible. My absurd
struggle continued. The sticker ripped in two. Luckily the bar code was still
intact and stuck to the cucumber, so I smoothed the ripped bit over my finger and
continued as best I could to attach labels to the rest of the items I had to
buy. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My very serious mission became even more
farcical when <b>my sack of oranges broke</b>. If I had got the nasty corona germs on
my gloved hands, I had now successfully spread it across all the fruit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally my shopping was packed and back in
the trolley to wheel to my car. Unfortunately my car was down a slope. <b>Shouldn't
shopping trolleys have brakes for this situation?</b> I almost lost control of the
trolley. Imagine how unlucky that could have been. The one time I take the car
out in three weeks and I crash into myself!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wore my mask all the way home. Not just
because it's super stylish, but because I've observed I touch my face a lot
while I'm waiting for traffic lights. I only took it off once I'd washed my
hands at home. My husband later found it discarded on the kitchen counter and
<b>lowered my health and safety score</b> to somewhere below five. After all that
excitement, I think I'll stay in tomorrow... </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">Thanks for reading! You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-61861857467028466522020-04-01T21:13:00.001+01:002020-04-01T21:13:29.465+01:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 18 <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I want to report a
crime.</b> Well, I don't want to. I would have preferred it hadn't happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SOMEONE ROBBED OUR HAMMOCK. They did. They
climbed over the gate into our small communal area and took it. It was Sol's
wee-wee. It was a big part of her lockdown lifestyle. It overlooked the park
she had almost stopped asking after. While she was swinging in it, things
didn't seem so catastrophic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whoever did it, I hope they fall off and bump
their head, like the five little monkeys in the song we play to get
ourselves and little Sol moving in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>We've
tried a few motivational YouTube videos but we haven't found THE ONE</b> that works
for us yet. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A <b>zumba</b> one proved too fast. My husband perservered but after
failing to replicate five moves in a row I abandoned the dance floor and sought solace in the washing up. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wljHqlEZlL0/XoTz547LKpI/AAAAAAAAFO0/1eTluifxcLcSpkEX35QQxks7THXTWAjzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/p33e_more_jazzercise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wljHqlEZlL0/XoTz547LKpI/AAAAAAAAFO0/1eTluifxcLcSpkEX35QQxks7THXTWAjzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/p33e_more_jazzercise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a laugh with an old Judi Sheppard Missett compilation (above). Then there was a the <b>funky choreography
</b>with the pleasant Australian lad. Trouble was our toddler just stared at him
zombie-eyed and put us off completing the half an hour routine. We don't watch
much TV in our house and even though we need to entertain Sol at home all day every
day we haven't resorted to parking her in front of a screen yet. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next we tried the incredibly popular PE
with Joe. Good luck to him and well done for raising money for the NHS...
however Joe was a bit too chatty for us. In the end, we chose to <b>whack a ball
against the wall</b> of the stairwell, back and forward to each other, until my palm
went red and Sol lost interest in the mud she'd been feeding into the drain. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Game of the week?</b> My white broken keyboard came very much in handy. My husband painted little pictures on different
keys and dictated to Sol what to press. "Strawberry, banana, tree, car,
car, strawberry..." Our hope is she'll emerge from lockdown a proficient typist.
We might need her wages when the economy collapses. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other day I was trying to locate a kids'
poetry book from the vaccum pack bag I'd stored all my books in to avoid them
getting covered in mould. Mallorca is a damp island and every winter the mould
invades everyone's houses. Anyway, I came across a book by Eckhart Tolle
instead. I opened it up on this page:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Become
at ease with the state of 'not knowing.' </b>This takes you beyond mind because the
mind is always trying to conclude and interpret. It is afraid of not knowing.
So, when you can be at ease with not knowing, you have already gone beyond the
mind. A deeper knowing that is non-conceptual then arises out of that state. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know about that. I simply
don't know much at all. I don't know when this lockdown will end. I don't know
what kind of world will emerge afterwords. I don't know if I'll ever find an exercise
video I like. And I certainly don't know WHO STOLE OUR HAMMOCK.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">Thanks for reading. You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<i><a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-13-14.html" target="_blank">Read previous post.</a></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-90167280888814531282020-03-28T20:41:00.001+00:002020-03-28T20:41:46.712+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 13 & 14<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I hesitated. Was I
really going to do this?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other side of
the gate I could see the playground. The wind had blown away the red and white
tape put up to worn off passersby. What passersby? It was against the law to be
outside except in transit to a supermarket. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But there were no
police about and <b>it had already been two weeks of lockdown</b> and I was running
out of ideas. Sometimes a mother has to make tough choices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a deep gulp of fresh
free air and opened the gate. Quietly and stealthily, <b>like a ninja without any
of the fancy tricks</b>, I hurried down the steps to the park and along the border
of the playground. If the police caught me now they would deduce from my lack
of shopping bag that I was not out foraging for toilet roll. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I reached the seesaw.
I had made it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, I was not about to
rob a seesaw. It was what was beneath the seesaw that mattered to me. I lowered
<b>my important piece of equipment</b>: a pink Hello Kitty bucket. Then, with my bare
hands, I shovelled the gritty, pine-needle filled sand into it as fast as I
could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhJsUiViFxCyStVgpmERhd2sQxqazKr9xByIl52Lt0si-IZQA3W-WD_cT1tg_BtyRMhGVXqyFfAglISalTGB-X0RxMbhu1nx5ffGvhjeWiurH3ToMaggl7nCZ0v1O1CzThMHKiuAX-KkT/s1600/Sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhJsUiViFxCyStVgpmERhd2sQxqazKr9xByIl52Lt0si-IZQA3W-WD_cT1tg_BtyRMhGVXqyFfAglISalTGB-X0RxMbhu1nx5ffGvhjeWiurH3ToMaggl7nCZ0v1O1CzThMHKiuAX-KkT/s320/Sand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I confess I felt no
remorse for my crime when Sol dug her hands happily into it later that day. Oh
glorious sand! Who cares about the mess in these days of lockdown? Let the children
play! There's PLENTY OF TIME to clear up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her adorably fun but also
methodical father introduced a sieve to the proceedings. As I got on with some
work in my home office, the pair of them converted my low-grade quality produce
into sand fit for the Caribbean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A success. And not the
only one this week. In a moment of feeling slightly insane,<b> I had thrown every
soft item I could find into the corridor of our flat. </b>Sol had happily jumped up
and down on it for a while. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there had
been the <b>smiley face episode. </b>After repeatedly asking after her millipede friend
(RIP), her father had drawn a smiley face on his finger and wiggled it. That
had made her laugh. Then he'd drawn one on hers and she'd wiggled her finger
back at him. Simple pleasures! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day of lockdown
presents a new challenge and I'm so inspired by the parents around me. Only yesterday,
a fab mum called Annie, posted a picture of <b>an oven she had made for her
toddler out of a chair and some old curtains. </b>A sailor (and sail maker), she's also using her excellent
sewing skills for making masks for health workers. Go Annie! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCHL18_JBFw/Xn-xOaFFKRI/AAAAAAAAFOM/X_oXSFWoqnIG8A4Ho6DIrA_coo-hkkpvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Annie%2Boven%2Bfinished.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCHL18_JBFw/Xn-xOaFFKRI/AAAAAAAAFOM/X_oXSFWoqnIG8A4Ho6DIrA_coo-hkkpvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Annie%2Boven%2Bfinished.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While some of us were
flagging, Becca, another mum in the Whatsapp group, shared her reflections
which made us feel much more positive:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Before all this, I never really had the
time to do all the arts and crafts I am doing now, coming up with different ways
to entertain the pair of them,<b> I would never have taken the time to make
playdoh or think to spray some shaving foam into a tray and dye it blue</b> (our
latest activities) not because I have never wanted to do that sort of stuff,
but because I am constantly on the go all the time, even when we all have the
day off together, we would be rushing about just trying to get out of the house
to enjoy the day. It's quite nice to just stop and appreciate the time at home
a little bit more, and not always being on a time limit. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said I cannot wait to have our freedom
back! I am counting every single day down. But I think I will always make sure
that we take the time, and just slow down a little bit more and do a few more
things at home."<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow there will be
sand and songs, animals baths and building blocks, owls in pushchairs and bears
in hammocks. We will keep inventing. We will keep communicating. We will keep
singing. We will keep striving to make this new lockdown life as rich as possible for our little daughter - and for each other. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">Thanks for reading. You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-69529219287409237142020-03-26T21:45:00.000+00:002020-03-26T21:47:27.799+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 11 & 12<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJKiIfYOFps/Xn0ggY3jYZI/AAAAAAAAFNs/hvITg6qP1ton2WSLpvxHXcrMzQm1VPcNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJKiIfYOFps/Xn0ggY3jYZI/AAAAAAAAFNs/hvITg6qP1ton2WSLpvxHXcrMzQm1VPcNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Books.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12 days in lockdown. Countless books read and games played. <br />She was starting to get restless. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conversation last
night with my toddler suggested she was growing weary of self-isolation and
confinement. <b>She had not set foot outside of the apartment block in 11 days</b>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She paused from
shovelling chicken soup into her mouth to discuss our future plans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Parque wee-wee?"
she asked, hopefully. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I felt a lump in my
throat. "I would absolutely love to take you to the park swings, but they're
closed."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Uppamantin?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Again, there's
nothing I'd rather do more than take you up a mountain, but the mountains are
all..." I swallowed... "closed."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Amiga?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I took a deep breath.
This was sad. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I'm so, so sorry
but all your amigas and amigos are also... closed."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She repeated the facts
back to me to make doubly sure she had understood. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Parque wee-wee
cloz... Uppamantin cloz... Amiga amigo cloz..."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Yes, all closed."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She pushed her chicken
soup away. She had suddenly lost her appetite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night I lay awake
wondering what I could do to make this temporary existence the best possible
one for my little daughter. I had to get her outside, if only for a moment. <b>And
that's when the rubbish idea dawned on me. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not that my idea was
rubbish. I mean that it involved ACTUAL RUBBISH. After all, she couldn't go to the supermarket, but she
could accompany me to take out the bins. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The very next day I
put on her little coat and her little boots and I took her little hand and <b>I
told her about our very important mission.</b> We slowly climbed the three flights
of stairs and, as a precaution, I opened the door to the apartment block with
my jumper sleeve pulled over my hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It had rained and the
air was crisp. Sol bent down and poked her finger into a puddle of water. I didn't
rush her. I let her examine every detail of the pavement before we crossed to
the recycling bins. I set my bag down and handed her the first beer bottle.
Then I picked her up so she could drop it through the hole. It made a
satisfying crash. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Boombala!"
I said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She hesitated, then, </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"More..." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I gave her another
bottle. She dropped it through the hole. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"BOOMBALA!"
I said, louder. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She grinned. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"More!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I passed her another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"BOOMBALA!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She laughed. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"MORE!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's how we came to
spend a happy few minutes outside in the big beautiful world. And later instead
of asking for the park, she looked at me with hope in her eyes and said,
"more boombala?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And this time I didn't
have to break her heart by saying the bins were closed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I may not have any more empty glass bottles NOW but I accept the challenge of relieving beer and wine bottles of their contents so we can return once more. As Sol tested the puddles with her non-waterproof boots
on our walk back from the bins, it really hit me. <b>Life is the small things.</b> Life
can still be wonderful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for reading. You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lock-down-entry-2.html" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Begins</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-2.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 2</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-3.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 3</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-4_19.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 4</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-4.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 5</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-6.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 6</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-7-8.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 7 & 8</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-9.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 10 & 11</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-48753797733470711712020-03-24T20:51:00.002+00:002020-03-24T20:53:04.058+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 9 &10<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last night I drank wine and ate cheese and I forgot about lockdown for a
while. It was necessary after <b>a day marred by tragedy. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First, Sol's new friend, PINK BALLOON, popped. She didn't cry, she just
pointed towards the area where her friend had been <b>reduced to rubbery scraps.</b>
Although my husband hastily resurrected it to a balloon the
size of a goat's testicle, it wasn't the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HySLGbC-7g/XnpsOFJc6WI/AAAAAAAAFNg/OqFCsQtMot4kZFzGya_aeQgw7yTTQvjSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Balloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HySLGbC-7g/XnpsOFJc6WI/AAAAAAAAFNg/OqFCsQtMot4kZFzGya_aeQgw7yTTQvjSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Balloon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To cheer her up I decided to venture down to the communal area to visit
her friend, Milly. <b>Milly is a docile millipede</b> who lives beneath a large square
brick. Since there are no cats about and the birds are too high up to tickle,
we have chosen Milly as <b>our beloved pet</b> to accompany us through the challenges
of confinement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We found Milly in pieces. I'm not being colloquial here. I'm not saying
Milly was in pieces over the state of coronavirus spreading through her native Mallorca. Milly was LITERALLY IN TWO PIECES. As we looked on in horror, smug little ants emerged from the inside of her head. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know what you're thinking. Why not befriend the ruthless little ants
instead? Another few days of lockdown and we probably will. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In other news, the UK has dragged its feet into lockdown. Luxury
lockdown, that is. They get to leave the house to exercise.<b> I wonder how many
people who have never exercised in their entire lives suddenly start training
as if they've signed up for the London Marathon.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think it's probably for the best, though. People might go mad otherwise, especially as flats in England don't
generally have balconies or terraces. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At least in Spain many of us have a small corner where we can turn our
faces to the sunshine like little hopeful plants. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm lucky there are only
three flats currently occupied in our small block so I can also take advantage
of the communal patio and the staircase. Technically, this is not allowed,
but <b>it's what's keeping us all sane. </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A mum told us her neighbour had threatened to call the police when she'd popped out with her toddler for a moment in the communal area. It had been raining and there had been no one about. After a week inside her toddler had been so excited to splash in the puddles. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another mother left for her hometown in Germany yesterday after her neighbour in Mallorca also warned she'd call the police if she appeared in the communal grounds again with her toddler. I don't
think these neighbours mean to be horrible. I think they are afraid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today I haven't felt afraid. <b>Today I've felt stiff, tired and frustrated</b> when I'd rather have felt inspiring, happy and fun. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't think I'm
the only one, either. It's <b>day 10 of lockdown</b> and there is a sense
of waiting for it to end, as if this period of our life doesn't count. But it
does count. We can't wish it away or we lose out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Tomorrow I'm going to go on an
adventure with Sol.</b> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's going to be so exciting.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We're going to find another
millipede... or a spider... or failing that, an ant, who will be our new friend. I can't wait. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for reading. You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lock-down-entry-2.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Begins</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-2.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 2</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-3.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 3</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-4_19.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 4</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-4.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 5</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-6.html" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 6</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-7-8.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 7 & 8</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-22890123465873995322020-03-22T12:27:00.000+00:002020-03-22T12:34:45.230+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 7 & 8 <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I can imagine the</b> <b>estate
agents' spiel of the future</b>. All those negative points about a flat being turned
into positives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"Ah, yes, here
you have a long dark corridor, perfect for lockdowns with toddlers... they can
race up and down it on their tricycles... yes, very narrow, perfect for an
obstacle course. If it was wider they might avoid doing it. "</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Ah, yes, these
random pillars may cut the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">room into a rather unmanageable shape for a sofa, </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">however they provide perfect posts for
stringing up a hammock when you can't take your children to the swings."</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"Small terrace?
Oh, not at all. Didn't you hear about the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/21/man-runs-marathon-on-7-metre-balcony-during-french-lockdown" target="_blank">French athlete who ran a marathon on his 7-metre balcony</a> during lockdown?"</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The lockdown has been
extended. THREE MORE WEEKS TO GO. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keep breathing, keep
breathing. I almost burst into tears today because it's Mothers' Day today in the UK and
my mum was due to fly over. I drew her a card. <b>It represents the rich inner life she has encouraged me to build all my life and which I'm calling on now. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NP02OzBmOU8/XndUhgx6VyI/AAAAAAAAFMw/xoHR7Z-4JuU-OvlEE55MgZof5pGhwGPlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Mums%2BCard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1082" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NP02OzBmOU8/XndUhgx6VyI/AAAAAAAAFMw/xoHR7Z-4JuU-OvlEE55MgZof5pGhwGPlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Mums%2BCard.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I know I am lucky. Our home is a
safe space. I read a post by a friend in the UK's National Health Service who
mentioned how worried social workers must be. How they must be wondering how they will keep the people
they normally care for protected when their safety structures are taken away. It gave me a lump in my throat. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking after our
mental health is so important. Staying present is key. <b>We may be confined but
we don't have to be disconnected.</b> Draw, write, sing, cook, play. List
everything you are grateful for. Pick up the phone and talk to friends and family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was feeling stressed this morning. We had done so much with our little daughter and the day was barely beginning. <b>She had </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>taken all her little animals to the swimming pool. </b>It had been good fun for her but two changes of clothes later she was ready for the next activity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We found a balloon. (For the record, we are anti balloons because of their environmental impact. HOWEVER, since we had it...) We blew it up and she took it on the baby bouncer for a while. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Da_JZWZ_TWc/XndWm03kU2I/AAAAAAAAFM8/z8MNdG_aBucPIyxt_t4Oh3EwkPjBxJ-PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200321_100710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Da_JZWZ_TWc/XndWm03kU2I/AAAAAAAAFM8/z8MNdG_aBucPIyxt_t4Oh3EwkPjBxJ-PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20200321_100710.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We read her books. We played music and danced. She pushed owl around in her buggy. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> What next? I thought. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How was I going to find the energy to keep on
creating new challenges, new games? </b>How? How? How?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSRf7exnIno/XndUq3DNnHI/AAAAAAAAFM0/5QnQt6NeBDs8kCh8YDV9BLKCYwCvy3KfACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_20200321_103152%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSRf7exnIno/XndUq3DNnHI/AAAAAAAAFM0/5QnQt6NeBDs8kCh8YDV9BLKCYwCvy3KfACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_20200321_103152%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And then I washed her
hands at the sink and she laughed and waved at the frog on the bottle of
washing up liquid. "Hola mem-mem!" she said. (She calls frogs mem-mems,
we don't know why). And it dawned on me that <b>she was teaching me to be happy with the simplest things. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If a little frog on a
washing up liquid bottle can make her smile, we will be alright. <b>More than ever,
it's about noticing and appreciating the little things.</b> So keep breathing, everyone, keep breathing;
we've got this. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for reading. You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lock-down-entry-2.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Begins</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-2.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 2</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-3.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 3</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-4_19.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 4</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-4.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 5</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://emilybenet.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-diaries-lockdown-day-6.html" target="_blank">Lockdown Day 6</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-67351043353439255062020-03-20T22:25:00.003+00:002020-03-20T22:34:51.853+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 6<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I almost didn't write a blog post this evening. I thought, it's Friday night, who's going to
read it? Everyone will be out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Ha.</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, I decided <b>it's
time you all knew the truth behind the panic buying of toilet rolls. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was the mums. Yep.
They could see into the future and they knew those empty toilet rolls would be
worth their weight in gold during lockdown. Because if you stick an empty
toilet roll onto the wall, just maybe you'll be able to distract a toddler for
a while as they drop things through it. If you're really lucky, they could
spend a whole ten minutes dropping a pen lid through the hole over and over
while you make lunch. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mj-cTDt_C0/XnVA3JbgxqI/AAAAAAAAFMM/chS1EmX9Nsg7KkY-1IP0v6Dqs5qT93LkACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/toilet%2Broll.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mj-cTDt_C0/XnVA3JbgxqI/AAAAAAAAFMM/chS1EmX9Nsg7KkY-1IP0v6Dqs5qT93LkACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/toilet%2Broll.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wasn't lucky but another
mum was. Despite my husband's engineering of three toilet rolls and an egg box,
Sol showed little interest. Still, there were other successes during the day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We looked at a millipede for quite some time. I used to ignore them, even
dislike them when I saw them on the walls and ceiling of the communal area in
the block of flats. <b>But since confinement every living thing is precious.</b> I
even toy with the idea of leaving food out and seeing what arrives. "A
colony of ants, probably," my friend says, "but I guess that could be
fun to watch?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mdkse7TwH8Y/XnVAxvYvLnI/AAAAAAAAFMI/6ELhPB6a944emP2Pl_blrf0iEX5AMGaoACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_20200319_165518%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mdkse7TwH8Y/XnVAxvYvLnI/AAAAAAAAFMI/6ELhPB6a944emP2Pl_blrf0iEX5AMGaoACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_20200319_165518%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Signs of life are so important.
Perhaps there are relationships which were dying which now might receive the attention
they need to flourish again. There is a woman I've been worrying about who I
finally contacted today. A few months ago she'd had to leave her twelve year
old daughter with her father behind for quite some time so she could look after
her dying mother in Latin America. On her return she found her husband had been
letting her out to places far too mature for her years and her innocent daughter
had turned into an unrecognisable and angry young woman who told her she wished
she had never come back. Home had become a hostile environment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She replied to my
message of concern to tell me that <b>thanks to the lockdown she was recovering
the time she had lost with her daughter</b> and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that she was happy because their relationship
was healing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll end with a clap.
El Aplauso. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It happens every evening in
Spain. At 8pm everyone goes outside or opens their windows and claps in gratitude
to the medical staff. Usually I'm putting Sol to sleep, but tonight I was free
so I stepped out onto the terrace at 7.59 and I clapped. <b>In the distance, I
could hear faint clapping and cheering.</b> I clapped even though our neighbourhood
was deathly quiet. I clapped for all of us united in this strange new existence
working it out one moment at a time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for reading. You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-26734278489239643662020-03-19T22:15:00.005+00:002020-03-19T22:26:35.531+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 5<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_9i7a7Q2To/XnPmcI7X7AI/AAAAAAAAFLY/M42W501mJoM6ywAQMwd5rsZJugwQg1h2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200319_130456%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_9i7a7Q2To/XnPmcI7X7AI/AAAAAAAAFLY/M42W501mJoM6ywAQMwd5rsZJugwQg1h2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20200319_130456%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I</b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t was fathers' day today in Spain.</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I felt terrible when I realised I'd
done nothing for it. My husband hadn't forgotten. He'd got out of bed first
when he'd heard Sol wake up and she had rewarded his enthusiasm by crying
extra loudly for MAAAMI MAAAMI.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe I should have got Sol to make a card with some glitter or pasta glued onto it. Thing is I'd been looking ahead at other dates. My Mum's birthday on 21st March,
for instance. She'd had a flight booked to come over and I'd been so excited
because I haven't seen her since November. Cancelled, of course. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then after<i> her</i> birthday, we had been planning a special party for my husband's 40th at the beginning of April. Cancelled, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All these important birthdays, coupled with a pandemic and not being
able to leave the flat... well, I hadn't been in the right frame of mind to remember fathers' day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even once I realised, I didn't do anything about it. Getting some work done is critical at the moment and I was struggling. <b>My current assignment is writing place
guides about places I can't visit. </b>I need information about restaurants, shops, sight-seeing...
I want to get into my car and drive over to these places and soak up the
atmosphere. Instead I hunt
for information online until my head hurts or track down friends of friends who
live there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mid morning I emerged from my office feeling frustrated with my lack of
progress. <b>I found my husband on the living room floor beside a new homemade toy.</b> He had transformed a cardboard box into a series of
animals with cut out mouths. My daughter was feeding them with food he'd drawn
on pieces of paper. There were grapes, oranges and a banana. "They're all
vegetarian," my husband informed me, before turning to our little
daughter, "give the Mem-Mem a grape, go on!" (A Mem-mem is a frog. We
have no idea why. )<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope my hug transmitted to him this: I THINK YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLE FATHER TO OUR DAUGHTER AND YOU TOTALLY DESERVE A CARD WITH PASTA GLUED ONTO IT - and next year, providing there's no pandemic, we will do a better job of celebrating it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc-66Cb3-4HaX-M97fS-A0cQkfAiGZSWKAcuFoLDsqjpPENRXdhK07BzqyPpRaZTXBFTRmUhiOYPdQ_Q5R6Yz5V2D5CjHJk35r-c5IK5GX4LI-g-ya21ST5FlQDahWjY5TrdlEhARXIyF/s1600/Sol+feeding+frog.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc-66Cb3-4HaX-M97fS-A0cQkfAiGZSWKAcuFoLDsqjpPENRXdhK07BzqyPpRaZTXBFTRmUhiOYPdQ_Q5R6Yz5V2D5CjHJk35r-c5IK5GX4LI-g-ya21ST5FlQDahWjY5TrdlEhARXIyF/s320/Sol+feeding+frog.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And how can I not mention my own Dad in this post? My wonderful, eccentric, creative, deep-thinking, ever-surprising father, who I don't talk to half as
much as I should. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZM8XcJSwIVL0CtOdoA_7iDvTh-GKoyRZD_vSlYfUTjnZ__Gfwt8Wqt0aLhkCEixGXwGZwDyZAIZI4hehhxCxQkaYdQEn41hGlzXQtvJgpn6cLzWMEkBjC_46zpZyF4dXYJ_O643jVRWb/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-03-16+at+13.51.29.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1305" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZM8XcJSwIVL0CtOdoA_7iDvTh-GKoyRZD_vSlYfUTjnZ__Gfwt8Wqt0aLhkCEixGXwGZwDyZAIZI4hehhxCxQkaYdQEn41hGlzXQtvJgpn6cLzWMEkBjC_46zpZyF4dXYJ_O643jVRWb/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-03-16+at+13.51.29.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He's in London and has been self-isolating alongside my Mum for over a week.
He hasn't stopped for a second. In the last picture mum sent us he was painting the
kitchen ceiling.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"If he falls off
the ladder, you'll have to treat him," my brother told my mum, "no
hospitals!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Dad's celebrating a very big birthday in August and there's going to
be a family reunion in a village in Catalunya. I hope so, anyway. I like to
think of us all together around a long wooden table looking back at this time. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"That was
crazy, wasn't it?" we'll say, "but we managed it."</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We'll share stories of what we felt during this lockdown, and what
we did, and how we </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">made the best of it. <b>And the toast to my Dad on his birthday
will grow into a toast for all the other things we came to value.</b> We'll savour
it; the freedom, the conversation, the love, the fresh air. We'll not take any of it for
granted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for reading. You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" style="color: #3d85c6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-17167362657786555432020-03-18T20:14:00.000+00:002020-03-18T20:14:31.581+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 4<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MAB0KT3Wq-k/XnKACV6OauI/AAAAAAAAFLM/iLT0fNMNd_k0PoqAjYDr1XsH3_gmTz3twCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sol%2Btent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MAB0KT3Wq-k/XnKACV6OauI/AAAAAAAAFLM/iLT0fNMNd_k0PoqAjYDr1XsH3_gmTz3twCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sol%2Btent.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Parque
wee-wee?" Sol asks, pointing towards the kids' park which we can see from
our terrace. A 'wee-wee' is a swing. It's what I say when I push her. <b>"The
park is closed. We can't go down there,"</b> I say, feeling sorry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She doesn't
understand. She keeps looking at the park. <b>Eventually she blows a kiss at it. </b>My
heart hurts a little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're lucky to have a
hammock strung up on our terrace. She doesn't want to go in it in this morning,
but she's happy to push her owl in it for a while. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's <b>day four of lockdown
</b>and still cloudy. The grey weather doesn't seem normal for Mallorca. It feels
like time has been suspended; as if Spring has paused. But then I notice the
birds in the pine trees to the side of the terrace. Wood pigeons, blackbirds,
sparrows... I even see a hoopoe swoop by with its punky black and white crest. They
are not suspended. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life continues but we have stopped being the centre of it. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dolphins
have been spotted at Cagliari Port in Sardinia since the traffic has stopped. Maybe for two weeks they can
enjoy the spotlight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our moods are a little
cloudy, too. <b>Energy levels are low.</b> My husband has a cold. We don't think it's
anything more ominous. Despite there being so much time, Sol doesn't manage to
nap. We open up her UV-protection tent in the living room. <b>I worry we're
pulling all the stops out too early. </b>What are we going to do if quarantine extends
for a month as is being suggested in the papers? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later we hang up a
baby bouncer in the doorway which we were given and didn't use when she was a
baby. We hang it up in a doorway high so her feet can't touch the floor and
then we push her back and forward. I make her little toy mouse swoop through
the air and kiss her on the nose. <b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
time she smiles it feels like winning a point.</b> Her giggles make me glow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the evening, as we
are bathing her, it dawns on that it's okay if it can't be fun for her all the
time. There will be dull moments. Dull hours even. But it's okay. <b>Without
constant stimulus we are being forced to build a world within. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can't see it now.
It's a building site. A work in progress. But it's growing. In these
quiet days, far from being suspended, we are all growing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>You can also find me on my <a href="http://www.emilybenet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Facebook Emily Benet Author Page</a> or on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" target="_blank">Instagram. </a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-88307599100034125492020-03-17T21:55:00.001+00:002020-03-17T22:01:57.378+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 3<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFw9B6WKW_MWDb1D8rD2Lb-yjk7S2o0BWFdiFEMIWHBB6eyPMuwmpNIrsfOe1w-pn4DC3f1a9Q1ePlGzFrkCXgiFbrBRr4VRSOYI6fk89lbwTQQAg8EY0AxFRy38fLTCmQdUebWPeoK6Q/s1600/Amazon+Box+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFw9B6WKW_MWDb1D8rD2Lb-yjk7S2o0BWFdiFEMIWHBB6eyPMuwmpNIrsfOe1w-pn4DC3f1a9Q1ePlGzFrkCXgiFbrBRr4VRSOYI6fk89lbwTQQAg8EY0AxFRy38fLTCmQdUebWPeoK6Q/s400/Amazon+Box+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>To spend the lockdown in pyjamas or to dress
up?</b></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's the topic on my
Mums Whatsapp Group on the morning of <b>Day 3 of lockdown in Mallorca.</b> One mum says she's going to wear
a dress to celebrate the news that the hefty monthly payment for freelancers,
(a fee you have to pay regardless of whether you've earned anything during the
month), will almost certainly be suspended.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>In Spain we're taking some comfort from being in the same sinking
economic ship.</b> Meanwhile in UK, the government approach is to recommend social
isolation rather than impose it, thereby shifting the financial responsibility
to each individual and business as if it were their own decision to shut down. Macron
sounds more supportive in France, declaring suspensions of rents, mortgages,
service charges and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At 9 am, I'm in pyjamas not a dress, and I'm not thinking about the economy. I'm
on the floor attacking a cardboard Amazon delivery box with a pair of scissors. <b>What used to be
rubbish has now become an invitation to be creative. </b>I'm making a rudimentary farmhouse for my daughter Sol. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I cut out windows, a door, make a table, individual
plates for the Flamingo, Camel and Zebra, and put up a partition for the Polar Bear's toilet all in the time it takes my husband to have a shower.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next, I try some yoga.
I have been feeling the same anxiety I used to feel when I lived in London.
<b>It's like I've stopped in the middle of a sit-up. My stomach is taut and I
can't let go.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's only Day 3 but there's a voice in my head saying I don't
want to do this, that I can't do this. I want to shout it out loud: I THOUGHT I
WAS MENTALLY RESILIENT BUT I'M NOT! I'M WEAK!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGrFdvfkYAy-utPNvARxEppTQkvIKZfwJbaE6DcQBgubTJISsv4jH1ZifDJDfWa-mGXJywlS8EA7ryEf6Nj8V-6wKL7atbTMRxn59SohPhJlunwzudQd7hMbOzOZWnAQrmuSTngOJqmEK/s1600/Yoga+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGrFdvfkYAy-utPNvARxEppTQkvIKZfwJbaE6DcQBgubTJISsv4jH1ZifDJDfWa-mGXJywlS8EA7ryEf6Nj8V-6wKL7atbTMRxn59SohPhJlunwzudQd7hMbOzOZWnAQrmuSTngOJqmEK/s400/Yoga+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the mums tells us that they have visitors over who haven't been able to leave the island. That means there are
five adults and two children under the age of 2 facing lockdown in a two-bedroom apartment.
When my friend calls the German embassy to find out what they can do, they are
told that, since they live on the island surely the guests can continue staying
with them. The woman must imagine they are living in a luxury villa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Her situation puts
things into perspective. I am fine. It's all going to be fine. It's only Day 3
for god's sake. <b>Before having a baby I would have welcomed two weeks at home </b>to finish whatever novel I was writing. In fact I used to live like there was a corona virus outbreak, only leaving the
house when there were no more lentils or tinned tuna left. But now, now that I
am supposed to stay inside, I want to go out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I'm not going out.
Not yet. We have supplies for the week. The thing is, at first I thought that I
could just go to the supermarket each day and it would all be easy. But
actually the point is there is a real risk each time you're in contact with other people
and places, so it's not about getting around the system, it's about staying
safe. Today, on our small island, there were <b>18 more positive cases</b> confirmed. They have
finally stopped international flights and reduced flights from the mainland to
returning residents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eventually I'm able to focus on some work. My husband, Mr Calm, plays with Sol. My brother writes a beautiful story
about the lockdown from the point of view of his new adopted puppy which brings
me to tears. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the afternoon my husband tells me that <b>the canals in Venice are becoming clearer and wildlife is returning</b>.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It gives me hope that something good can come out of this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At night, I recite <b>The
Hungry Caterpillar </b>to Sol from memory as I'm putting her to sleep. Do you know
it? It's about a tiny, hungry caterpillar which eats every day for a whole week
and then makes a cocoon around itself. After two weeks it emerges as a
beautiful butterfly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It makes me think, how
perhaps, after two weeks with ourselves, we might emerge transformed too. We have been consuming and consuming and now we have to stop. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe
in this time we will have life-changing thoughts. We might emerge more beautiful
because we have come to appreciate the little things, the things that matter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Thanks for reading. You can find me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilybenetauthor" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> or on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilybenetauthor/" target="_blank"> Instagram. </a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375637475795118873.post-42126506143693714362020-03-16T20:56:00.003+00:002020-03-16T22:32:46.603+00:00Covid-19 Diaries - Lockdown Day 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzizckXgcmVVhekjdexH0XZifGmQpRqP4vPiV1zSaPjf8gd_DhZrmPWd851caUDyfwNG0363Cz_IztPwZc-x0__rUgFkmbsA6wZgDb_XNB_gllW_6STWHtZd5EdgqCGyzcWWfXUrgpsW5I/s1600/Coronablog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzizckXgcmVVhekjdexH0XZifGmQpRqP4vPiV1zSaPjf8gd_DhZrmPWd851caUDyfwNG0363Cz_IztPwZc-x0__rUgFkmbsA6wZgDb_XNB_gllW_6STWHtZd5EdgqCGyzcWWfXUrgpsW5I/s320/Coronablog3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Lockdown in Spain. At least the food is good. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We woke up on </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 2 of
lockdown</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to a rainy Mallorca. There was a sense of mild relief among the mums
on my Whatsapp group. Bad weather was an easy explanation to give to their young children who didn't understand why they weren't going out again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not being able to
explain to Sol why we aren't going to the park or meeting up with her friends is the hardest part. She asked after her little friend today. "Gabel?" she said, her brow scrunched up and her little palms open in question. "Gabel?" </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She's too little to even pronounce his name properly (Gabriel), but her face lights up when she sees him, and they have so much fun together. He only lives twenty minutes walk
away but we won't be seeing him or anybody for who knows how long.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12 days doesn't sound so bad... but <b>what if
they ended up needing us to stay home longer? </b>I don't entertain dark thoughts as a rule, but I
do find getting to sleep has become difficult. My mind races. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to this morning.
I paced up and down in front the glass door to our terrace looking out at the
white sky and<b> I was reminded of animals I'd seen at the zoo.</b> I thought, HOW
DARE WE! HOW DARE WE LOCK ANIMALS AWAY! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My husband, who once
again fell asleep within minutes last night, initiated our <b>morning dance
session.</b> We opted for Latin and Reggae. Our 21 month old embraced it
wholeheartedly, waving her arms about and doing some great squats. Our dance
morphed into an energetic work out. "Knees higher! Higher!" shouted
my husband, as we marched around in circles on our square of astroturf, which we
had bought instead of normal carpet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our day proceeded much
like an ordinary rainy day. My husband has no work, but luckily I still have
assignments for abcMagazine which I can get on with. He kept Sol entertained
while I wrote. Thanks to a <b>toy exchange</b> with my friend at our last
supper pre-lockdown, we have acquired a dolly buggy which Sol has enjoyed all day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My mums' whatsapp
group was busy as mum's <b>showcased their creativity</b>. A lockdown is <b>a real test
of character </b>and I felt full of admiration for some of the mums who were being
so resourceful and upbeat. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some people have more room than others. But whatever space they had they were making the best out of it: from building ramps, making costumes, inventing motor skill exercises with egg boxes and cotton buds
and baking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Room, space... <b>Nothing like a lockdown to make you think about how unequally land is
divided in our society. </b>On the streets behind us our large
mansions with big gardens. These are mostly unoccupied holiday homes belonging to people who rarely visit. Imagine how wonderful that space would be to all those families in
lockdown in small flats with no outdoor area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I'm grateful for our
terrace.</b> I'm grateful for a long corridor which is perfect for a little person
on a tricycle. I'm grateful I have the keys to my neighbour's flat which she
says I can use if we start to feel claustrophobic!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never has a terrace,
or balcony, been so important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to balconies people are uniting in
solidarity. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Alicante my brother
and another neighbour from the apartment complex have been <b>Djing from their respective balconies</b> from 6-7pm. People on neighbouring terraces have been coming
out to dance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Barcelona, a video captures a keyboardist playing Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On from Titanic from
his balcony and a trumpeter accompanying from another balcony. It's moments like these that bring tears to your eyes and makes you realise HUMANS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE
AMAZING. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's show the world
how amazing we can be during these difficult times ahead. <b>Let's dig deep and find
every scrap of imagination, creativity, inventiveness, heart, passion,
compassion and strength</b> for now - and for our lives to come. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">You can also find me on my Facebook <a href="http://www.emilybenet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Emily Benet Author </a>Page. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Emily Benethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05889594625649397804noreply@blogger.com0