3 May 2020

Midsummer approaches–sunset not until later and later. Seems a shame to waste the long evenings by the TV. I walked along Pennington Street yesterday to avoid the crowds along the canal–certainly far less foot traffic that way & no bicycles inconsiderately whizzing past too close (already thought that before the pandemic) but I missed the beautiful chestnut trees–now is the best time when they’re in bloom & the sweet smell floats down, then the blossoms fall beneath the trees like a carpet. Maybe if I go today at dusk.

2 May 2020

I decided to use my fountain pen to write my journal because why not. Might improve my handwriting if I work at it. I sometimes wonder if I’ve seen my parents in person for the last time; if airlines are going bankrupt and cancelling flights. Will other forms of long distance travel emerge or are we a stay-at-home planet now?

1 May 2020

Nice catch up call with Ana & Seb & Adi & Emma. Revealing moment when they were all bragging about their robot vacuums and Adi said “You can’t do without a real vacuum entirely,” and Seb said, “We seem to be doing fine,” and Adi said “What about the stairs?” and Ana said, “I’ve vacuumed the stairs twice in the past three weeks, and Seb said, “You vacuum the stairs?” and Ana said, “Who do you think has been doing it?” Then later as we were ending the call they all asked “But Cait, are you really okay on your own, don’t you wish you had someone for company?” Honestly. Big rainstorm yesterday afternoon: glad I got out for my walk in the morning. Slightly hairy moment on the path when I thought a large German shepherd was going to be aggressive with me on the narrow bit by the old power station but his owner kept him to heel and though he wanted to lunge forward to see what was happening he didn’t bark. I left a drawing (“take care <3”) on the Thames foreshore. I thought of it getting washed away later when the rain started. Sat outside briefly with a cup of tea enjoying the quiet between video calls.