Kindnesses

I slept on an off for most of yesterday afternoon and I'm feeling much better today. I'm sure the diverticulitis flare up was triggered by stress so I am making a real effort to calm myself and to (try to) stop worrying about things I cannot change. I have to accept that the important people in my life will make their own choices on how to cope with everything this crisis throws at them. We are able to keep in touch and, should it become necessary, we will be able to help each other in an emergency. None of us can do any more than that.

Yesterday's first kindness came from neighbours in the Close. They have initiated a traffic light system and delivered two pieces of coloured card to every house. If everything is okay we have been asked to keep the green card displayed in a front window but if help is needed, for whatever reason, we change and display the red card (with our phone number written on it) instead. Someone is walking along the Close to check the cards every day but for the most part each house can see at least one house on the opposite site of the road - it's only my home and one other at the other end of the Close where someone needs to actively check. It's another example of people going the extra mile but it's certainly given me peace of mind.

The second kindness was from R, my friend's daughter, who send me details of local businesses who are offering home deliveries during this crisis. One of these is a fruit and veg wholesaler so I have ordered a box for two people, their smallest option, which hopefully will be delivered next week. They are also including milk in the package which they agreed to change for extra fruit or veg but if they forget I can always give the milk to someone else. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and veg, together with plenty of water, is key to keeping the diverticulitis flare ups at bay.

The next kindness was from M, the choir director. She has now set up a virtual choir for us so practices start again on Monday. This has been achieved using an app for video conferencing so I need to follow her instructions and get that set up today. I've printed out the songs for the next practice and some time during the week I will print the rest of the repertoire. 

She has also given us the details of one of the other choir she runs so we can join in with that as well if we want to. Thursday morning she is organising a virtual coffee morning so we have the opportunity to chat to each other and on Friday evenings it's prosecco and pyjama night with another opportunity to chat, and on Sunday afternoon it is Facebook Request Time where we can ask for something to be played or sung. There is a new (closed) Facebook group for her three choirs combined to hang out, chat and support each other and again, the offer to contact the choir for active support if anyone needs anything. She really is a star!

The final kindness is that, with the theatres ordered to close a number of production will be made available online. What's On Stage has listed all the shows you can now view online for free. There's all sorts - plays, musicals, Shakespeare, opera - but some of them are only available for a limited time. Also Andre Rieu is releasing some of his full concerts free of charge on his YouTube channel. I watched one last night ... the perfect feel-good viewing for these troubled times!