Payback time

Wales's regional lock-down started this evening, not that it makes as much difference to us as will the even stricter self-isolation I'll have to endure for two weeks before the operation (if it happens). We're well prepared, thanks to Clare's superb household management skills. Even so, there were a few things which I needed, plus some extra fruit, which took me out twice on shopping errands today.

After my first outing to the shops, I called in to the GP surgery for a blood pressure check. It was very high when I arrived as I'd been walking briskly, but soon settled down to just above normal. This is a great relief. Slowly, I believe I'm shaking of the chronic stress I have lived with, and am getting closer to finding a level of supplementary Doxazosin dosage that doesn't leave me feeling light headed and faint for much of the day. Clare's herb teas, foot massages and Reiki have all made a difference too. I've not taken my own blood pressure for months because the abnormally high level was worrying me too much, and probably helping to make things worse. 

Emma has asked me to do another week's worth of reflections to publish daily on the Parish Facebook page in a month's time. So nice to be asked again.

I did an hour's work on the novel before cooking lunch. I wish I could put in several hours a day, but if I sit for too long this has dire consequences for my wound which tends to break open, no matter what I do to avoid this happening. It's tiring, standing up to write for the length of time I need to, if I'm to make progress in finishing the job, and there are only a few places where I can perch a computer at a suitably ergonomic height to make it easy to type. Two days ago I spent an hour cutting up crab apples prior to cooking them. I expected my wrist to give me trouble yesterday, but surprisingly it didn't. After working at the computer using a mouse today, it was payback time. Now my left wrist hurts, no matter what I rub into it. Serves me right for overdoing it I suppose. I'll stop here for today.

State of Alarm - day Fifty Four

Clouds, wind and rain greeted me when I got up this morning. Yesterday's line of washing I hadn't brought in at sunset as I thought it was a bit damp. Well, it's no damper and thankfully not soaked as the washing lines are just under the back terrace canopy.

I prayed, and listened to BBC Radio Four's Sunday Worship programme, with the Bishop of London officiating and Archbishop Rowan Williams reflecting on VE day commemoration, celebrating also the life and work of Florence Nightingale in public health sphere, especially relevant in the light of the covid-19 crisis. 

Dom Trulan, an army veteran and holder of the George Cross also spoke of the qualities which had enabled a generation of soldiers to defeat evil and build lasting peace in Europe. He affirmed the high quality of organisation and discipline in civilian and military bodies which provided a secure foundation and framework for everyone to rise to the challenge and give their best. What was true seventy five years ago, he said, is true of the NHS today on the front line of the pandemic battle. It was all well said, and steered my thoughts as I prayed through the texts of the Eucharistic Word and Sacrament of the day.

When I stepped outside to go for my morning exercise stint (late again), it was raining, but I kept going, although I hate getting wet, as the air would be extra fresh and do me good. Besides the birds were singing cheerily, as if it was just dawn, not five hours later. As soon as the rain stopped, small birds emerged from shelter and flew around. Some perched in rain puddles and drank. Dry weather leaves them with only the occasional farmyard rainwater tank to drink from, or waiting until it the weather cools enough for dew to form so they can drink.

After lunch I finished the weekly bible study and recorded it before going out for a walk, and then recorded the bible passage in the evening, after the family Zoom meeting, which this week went on for an hour and a quarter, instead of forty minutes. Not sure why, but it was a real tonic to see them all, full of good humour.

For the past week there has been considerable confusion about what the easing of restrictions here actually mean. It's clear they are designed to manage large populations in densely crowded areas and this doesn't make sense in rural areas. A document issued by a local community association has now clarified matters and makes sense. Thinly populated rural municipalities with populations of less than 5000 are not subject to all the restrictions applying in urban areas. It'd be unenforceable given the limits on manpower and the need to concentrate on problem concentrations of people.

Time and age schedules for those doing sports or taking their daily paseo in rural districts are done away with. Meetings of small numbers of people, not of the same family are permitted. Heaven help anyone trying to hold a party however. I suspect their neighbours would denounce them. Nobody in their right minds wants the virus or lock-down to return. 

This good news should make quite a difference to my remaining weeks here.

State of Alarm - day Fifty Two

I saw the full moon descending toward the horizon and went back to sleep for a while, then got up at sunrise to listen to the dawn chorus - well, apart from the local blackbird singing its heart out, what I could mostly hear, now that my ears age getting attuned to it, is the sound of cocks crowing and peacocks crying from the poultry farm down the way.

It's the 75th anniversary of VE day today. News and comment focuses on how it is being observed in such unexpected circumstances, making good mention of the way people of that era, still alive now, are remembering and also reflecting on what's happening at the moment. The survivors run on gratitude, and take nothing for granted. They know they had a good life, even if they lose it any time soon. That's wisdom in old age for you. Not much whingeing around here.

One of the things I enjoy about walking everywhere is joining up different locations and paths in my mental map. So often new roads will take you one place directly, or else by-pass older narrower roads altogether. Walking an area you get to understand something of what shaped its ancient trails and what generations of road engineers have done on top of them since. This was an aspect of time spent on various locum duties along the coast from Malaga as far as Almunecar. Slowly I'm getting know the area within a 5km radius of Casa Capellania.

My morning walk today took me on local side roads through the neighbouring urbanizacion from here towards San Antoni, and then up past the extensive modern educational complex, which has primary, secondary schools and a sports centre all on the same huge site. Normally, I see this from the other side, walking up the un-metalled track. Now I've closed the circle and done the 5km circuit, and see how places fit together.

I found there's a small supermarket on the road, adjacent to the schools. I arrived just before the schools shut down, and saw students leaving at the end of their day from the track on the other side across the fields. I daresay local residents rely on the supermarket, but in the absence of hundreds of kids a day, five days a week, buying snacks, sweets or drinks, there's a huge loss of revenue. And now, installing bio-security measures in store has to be paid for as well. One economic nightmare among many, in a small seaside town on a popular holiday destination island. Scholars will return, but tourists - how long?

I spent some of the afternoon working on the sound file for this Sunday's service, then walked up to Es Cuco to do some grocery shopping before supper. In the hour before sunset lately I have noticed that there are more people out and about. You do notice when the road has been eerily silent for weeks, empty apart from the occasional dog walker. I went out to walk the last couple of kilometres of the day and was pleasantly surprised to see couples out walking, trail bike riders, a family of six and the occasional jogger out on the country lane. I don't think anyone is forgetting just how scary is the situation the country is in, but everyone needs to be outdoors in the fresh spring air, for the sake of sanity and well-being. The trouble is, sustaining strict discipline indefinitely, whatever the sanctions for non-compliance will end up causing other problems we may live to regret.