Motivation waning

Izzy puddle surfing in one of this

weeks biblical rain storms

I’m not sure what happened to last week’s post - I started it, but Sunday evening got away from me and once I’ve missed that slot I rarely recover and find the time to write in the week. I suspect the hot tub may have had something to do with it - it has certainly been a big time waster since it went in last weekend, but that was the intent so all OK.

The biggest newsflash this has been that the Coronavirus threat level has finally gone down from 4 to 3. This is exciting for a number of reasons, not least the fact that the BBC got to use a new graphic.  We are all waiting for BoJo to pull his finger out and announce that social distancing can go from 2m to 1m - but for some reason, maybe to save face, he’s insisting on waiting for the scientists to come up with a set of words that explains the rationale for having held out for so long Surely the reducing threat level is sufficient reason?? Even more importantly, the government has said that schools will be back in September with all pupils in. There are a lot of naysayers (including the teachers) but at least the gauntlet has been thrown down and the schools have something to work to. If nothing else these last few months have shown that school is about far more than just learning and I'm so keen for them to be back with their friends again. 

The girls have only 2 weeks left in school and it feels like getting them to stay focused will be an uphill  battle. They are doing OK with the core subjects but when it comes to subjects best taught in a proper setting (textiles, cookery, computing) it's much harder. That said Abi, made a pretty good pizza this Thursday - good enough it was pretty much gone by the time I emerged from my study - and Izzy has managed some decent artwork.

I’m definitely feeling the need for a break now. It’s been a very intense 6 months between starting my new job and then all of this. I have one week to go and then a week off - I cannot wait. This week is another busy one but at least I know there’s respite at the end. I’m not alone. Talking to a number of people we are all feeling the strain. Lots of people are now struggling to stay motivated in the constant barrage of video calls. What we wouldn’t give for a day in the office now! I’m waiting for the trains to start running again (there’s still no direct train from Newbury to London) and then I plan to do at least one day in the office every couple of weeks - for a sanity check if nothing else. 

It is a strange time. The virus hasn’t gone away but there’s less of it in circulation so we feel safer. Locally I think people feel it’s pretty much gone (it sort of has given no new cases in the county for almost 2 weeks) but of course that’s because we’ve all been on lockdown for nearly 4 months. What happens when we start moving around again? 

Hot tub heaven

In amongst this the kids are loving having a bit more of a social life again. Izzy spent Friday afternoon with Amber and then we met friends motorbiking yesterday and Abi spent last night at a friends and this afternoon segwaying around the village with another friend. Izzy has been a bit quiet this weekend - I can't decide whether she is just missing the social interaction now ands it's taking its toll or that she's tired because its the end of term. I keep having to remind myself that although they haven't left the house, I know it's tiring concentrating on a screen all day, so it must be for them as well. I just want them to see more of their friends and not feel so isolated. 

Right - yet again it's gone 10pm and another week beckons. after torrential rain and storms this week it's forecast to be 30 degrees by Wednesday - as if a rampant virus wasn't enough to confuse us the weather has gone bonkers as well!