Evidence that Fran could be the Pepys of her generation
I've been collecting a Corona-photo-diary over the past few weeks.
Here are my sensible shoes.
I saw them in my wardrobe this morning and thought, 'Who even ARE you?' The only foot coverings I have worn for the last month or so have been socks, trainers for my walks, and skin.
And yet, if it had been this time last year, when I was working outside the home as a teacher, those shoes would not have seemed such strangers at all.
I am guessing that the sensible shoes of nurses, doctors, supermarket workers, social workers, and anyone else keeping the country going, are very far from strangers to their owners' feet. In fact, rather than strangers, they are no doubt constant companions, the kind which stalk you and follow you around and refuse to be separated.
I am grateful to all those wearing sensible shoes. Let that be said.
This is a picture of some pages in my diary for next year.
It's my daughter's wedding weekend. 22 May 2021. But this was meant to happen this year, not next year. It's been postponed, along with a thousand other events that mattered to people. But there'll be no less joy, even if we have to wait for it. There's going to be paella, and jazz, and family.
This picture I have captioned 'All of our hair by this May'.
Over the last few days, I've heard several programmes on Radio 4 discussing the issue of 'What do we do about haircuts?' Some hairdressers are making the most of the opportunity and live-tweeting or Youtubing DIY haircut tips.
I'm going nowhere near this. I get very confused when looking in mirrors as to which is left and which is right and will likely stab myself in the eye. That's not a good look, whether your hair is well-groomed or not.
This picture shows you my daily walk.
I lied when I said 'daily'. Every other day, on average, I tell myself that typing very very fast, running towards the fridge, or bending over to pick up a bar of chocolate I've dropped are NOT a substitute for real exercise. I plug in my headphones, select something to listen to on my phone, and set out for this field, five minutes away from our house. I listen to something on Radio 4. If it's a programme about the importance of a daily walk, I switch over.
At the beginning of 'lockdown' I was busy checking the proofs of my forthcoming book 'Miss, What Does Incomprehensible Mean? It seemed strange, because, even as I was checking them, I wondered whether the book would be released when expected (21 May).
As it is, any physical book launch parties or book signings are out of the question. IN of the question, however, are Twitter launches, or Facebook live launches, or me standing in the middle of our street, shouting, 'Buy it or else!'
Here are my sensible shoes.
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And yet, if it had been this time last year, when I was working outside the home as a teacher, those shoes would not have seemed such strangers at all.
I am guessing that the sensible shoes of nurses, doctors, supermarket workers, social workers, and anyone else keeping the country going, are very far from strangers to their owners' feet. In fact, rather than strangers, they are no doubt constant companions, the kind which stalk you and follow you around and refuse to be separated.
I am grateful to all those wearing sensible shoes. Let that be said.
This is a picture of some pages in my diary for next year.
It's my daughter's wedding weekend. 22 May 2021. But this was meant to happen this year, not next year. It's been postponed, along with a thousand other events that mattered to people. But there'll be no less joy, even if we have to wait for it. There's going to be paella, and jazz, and family.
This picture I have captioned 'All of our hair by this May'.
Over the last few days, I've heard several programmes on Radio 4 discussing the issue of 'What do we do about haircuts?' Some hairdressers are making the most of the opportunity and live-tweeting or Youtubing DIY haircut tips.
I'm going nowhere near this. I get very confused when looking in mirrors as to which is left and which is right and will likely stab myself in the eye. That's not a good look, whether your hair is well-groomed or not.
This picture shows you my daily walk.
I lied when I said 'daily'. Every other day, on average, I tell myself that typing very very fast, running towards the fridge, or bending over to pick up a bar of chocolate I've dropped are NOT a substitute for real exercise. I plug in my headphones, select something to listen to on my phone, and set out for this field, five minutes away from our house. I listen to something on Radio 4. If it's a programme about the importance of a daily walk, I switch over.
At the beginning of 'lockdown' I was busy checking the proofs of my forthcoming book 'Miss, What Does Incomprehensible Mean? It seemed strange, because, even as I was checking them, I wondered whether the book would be released when expected (21 May).
As it is, any physical book launch parties or book signings are out of the question. IN of the question, however, are Twitter launches, or Facebook live launches, or me standing in the middle of our street, shouting, 'Buy it or else!'
Oh, I plan on cutting my own hair. Any bit that sticks out with growth and refuses to be tamed -- snip, snip, it will be gone! I don't care. Who is going to see me anyway?
ReplyDeleteWhile we're in lockdown, that is very true. What worries me is that if I do that, there's going to be that Day when I have to step out of my house and inflict myself on the neighbours again.
DeleteWe've a niece who's supposed to be married this June. I don't think that's going to happen, but for now they haven't made a final decision. Imagine having your wedding suddenly out of the question because of a pandemic. It's one for the books.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at the plant "hair"! My husband has offered to take the lawn mower to my hair "so it will be cut nice and even" but I have declined with thanks. May change my tune in another three months' time.
Congratulations on your upcoming book release! A real shame you won't get to promote it in the usual ways, but thank goodness for alternative methods on the internet. I have seen quite a lot of folks on Twitter busily ordering reading material via the internet - you never know, this staying-at-home gig might be a positive thing for writers rather than a loss. Good luck!
So many weddings cancelled or postponed, and christenings, and other family events. I hope your niece's situation works out for the best for her. Thanks so much for your encouraging comments about the book release. It could indeed be a blessing in disguise. As for your husband, how kind of him to offer to lawnmow your hair. He sounds like a keeper ;)
DeleteI've been growing my hair so cuts aren't a problem. I don't care if I never get it cut again. it's wavy/curly depending on its mood, and when I comb it and find a snarl or small knot I just snip that out with scissors and that's that. I've heard several neighbours who regularly go to the hairdresser have taken to wearing turban style hats to cover "the mess".
ReplyDeleteAh, my hair's short and straight and any little snip would soon show. Especially my misguided left-when-I-meant-right snips. But the turban idea is one to file away just in case. This is how new fashions are made, at times like these.
DeleteYes! I would buy it from you like that, defo. I love that bending over to pick up a bar of chocolate could be considered exercise. Your posts always make me feel 'We're all in this thing called life together. We might as well enjoy it and have a laugh, the way Fran does.' This is why I love them.'
ReplyDeleteIt's even better if you pick it up, break off a square, drop it again, pick it up, break off another square, drop it, pick up, break off, drop, pick up, break off. It's almost Zumba when you think about it.
Delete"almost Zumba" - HAHA! Thanks for the additional smile!
DeleteI'm working on a Rapunzel look, although we'll have to move to a two-story dwelling for the full effect.
ReplyDeleteThat's a brilliant comment!! Good luck with the move ;)
DeleteA good start on your Corona-diary Fran. One comment puzzled me. How do you see people ordering books on Twitter? Is it just that they declare their intention to do so?
ReplyDeleteSheila, don't ask me technical questions! I guess there's always the link on your Twitter profile or you just say 'Go to Amazon now or I will troll you!' or something like that? All I know is, quite a few are doing Twitter launches and I'm assuming it's a possible thing ...
DeleteWhat I have seen is, yes, just folks declaring their intention to do so, or photos of the books that they've bought and had delivered, put on their Twitter feed, and also folks sharing the online addresses of bookstores that are still open for mail-order business. I should think that the only way a writer would know if people are ordering their particular books would be in sales figures from the bookstores selling it.
DeleteAn entire post without the word "unprecedented" deserves 10 out of 10. Also your turning over on Radio 4 should they mention a walk. Loving it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Ruth. I am so, so weary of that unpre ... that word you mentioned. How is everyone still using it even though they know it's now so cliched. Have they not heard about the invention of the thesaurus?
DeleteI so agree with you about the word 'unprecedented'. It drives me mad. When I see writers using it I think this is incomprehensible.... if I knew what 'incomprehensible' meant of course...?! By the way you may be interested in something I once asked my teacher (who was male). I said:
ReplyDelete"What does it mean to be 'chaste'?" He carefully replied: "it means 'to be free from the advances of men'." Very elegant.
I really sympathise with your teacher. One gets asked so many delicate questions and have to be ready with an answer that won't get parents ringing in to the headteacher to complain.
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