It's a New Day

My woodworking has always been at the forefront of all that I do. Waking in these present days makes me realise how much things have changed in the last few weeks and even days. Riding my bike (in self-isolation) and seeing the world so differently than even two days back made me realise that we should try to pull together all the more, serve the vulnerable and do what up until now we may well have neglected in our relating to one another. Today is the UK's day of Mother's day when most children will want to keep their mother's safe by not seeing them and spending that lovely day of thanks for mums with them.

There is such kindliness surrounding where I live. People delivering food and cleaning goods to the elderly and vulnerable. Health care in Britain has radically shifted and I have always been amazed and appreciative of what is a remarkable achievement in health care provision on a national level. Our NHS (National Health Service) began in 1948, so it has now given us over 70 years of constant service. Where would we be without it?

With a few rebel or stubborn pockets here and there, most of us are keeping safe social distances from one another. Doing things differently is part of our ability to adapt to change and this change will have long-term consequences with many things remaining even for years. Currently, we're accepting the responsibility we have to volunteer into our individual self-isolation, caring to reach out for and to others and supporting our health care army who are also volunteering themselves into caring for those who have contracted the coronavirus whilst still taking care of those already in need of care. Rather than relying on more draconian measures, my hope is that volunteering will continue on both a national and international scale. I would hate to think that harsher measures would be necessary to steady control because we are unwilling to do what we can from voluntary effort.

Over the past few months, we here in Britain at least have faced many changes, some natural, some self-imposed and some we have had little or no control over. We have had many months with some of the most severe flooding and rainfall ever in our history, we've had the General Elections, and then, of course, our separation from mainland Europe with Brexit. Any one of these is more than anyone ever envisaged and comes over and above anything we expected. The important thing now is to stay healthy and that can be hard without work. It's more important now to eat healthily, exercise through physically working, work where possible from home and then too, love one another.

My mixed workday always involves a higher percentage of physical work because I cycle and don't drive much, and nor do I sit for longer spells than an occasional hour at a time to write. Today is Sunday and I have had a long cycle ride which I always do first thing, With good long rides on my bike, control of my diet and eating right, I keep better control of my diabetes. I started a little outdoor work in my garden in areas that are as yet new to me. It involved a little outdoor woodworking which never goes amiss. With s sack of growing soil delivered to fill my new raised bed, I am preparing plant dahlias and it will mark the opening period for the coronavirus for us here. The bright flowers of dahlias will brighten our outlook from the living room window. It's such a bright and sunny day it is hard to believe this hidden enemy is so near, but believe it we must.

Please, my wonderful friends, do your bit and stay well!