2020 LOCKDOWN

After celebrating the birth of Hannah Hopkins and the wedding of Hannah and James on the 14th of March, we decided to lockdown in the face of the Corona virus Covid-19. In fact, we locked down a week before the country was ordered to do so by the Government. In preparation for what we considered was going to be a lengthy period of lockdown, we had booked Tesco Delivery slots, bought seeds, compost and manure as well as ordering plants and seedlings on line for Spring delivery. We also bought some decorating material for Gerry and craft supplies for Annie. We quickly settled into a routine of breakfast, 3 to 4 mile walk, jobs around the house and garden before changing for the evening. The weather in April was sunny and dry and we enjoyed many an hour in our bus shelter. We didn’t panic buy much although we did order extra wine supplies. We coped very well and, surprisingly, found ourselves enjoying the regime. Our, but mainly Annie’s efforts, resulted in a garden that we were very pleased with and well able to enjoy. A glass of wine in the early evening often accompanied by a game of Smite or Boule seemed a wonderful end to the day.

As Spring moved into Summer we had some (in fact quite a lot) of much needed rain. Whilst the weather sometimes curtailed our garden activities, we continued to walk every day. Annie had a few days off when her knee started playing up, and, as we write this, Gerry has completed walks on every one of the last 124 days. Some walks were completed in full wet weather gear but most have been in very pleasant conditions. We intend to continue our daily walks as they, and the static bike, have certainly increased our fitness levels. Whenever we have been able, we have walked a circular route on the road from Eastleach to Southrop and returned via Fyfield. There has been so much to see including, roe deer, muntjac deer, herons, egrets, ducklings, stoat, a mole, rabbits, hares, red kites, buzzards, young lambs (not so small now) and regular encounters with some horses. However, most of all, it was the changing vegetation that fascinated us.

We watched farmers preparing fields, then sowing the crops. We then marvelled at the way the brown fields became greener each day until you suddenly realised that the crops were several inches high. One such crop of broad beans is now 24 inches at least. This week we have seen the first combine harvesters at work and the rape fields have long since lost their yellow colour as the seed pods form. One field we saw at the end of May was beautiful, the bright red poppies in the field of Flax.

We have both appreciated the change in seasons and the amazing changes in the hedgerows and roadside flowers. We also realised just how much narrower the roads have become as the road side vegetation has grown!
Below is a series of photographs taken over eight days early in July. Annie and I hope that you find them as beautiful as we do.

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There were many more colourful and not so colourful wayside flowers but one couldn’t fail to marvel at the incredible beauty that surrounds us if only we look.

We also noticed how suddenly acorns, conkers, hips, haws, blackberries and other berries were suddenly filling out.

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There were also many small flying insects, bees and butterflies. Once again you had to look if you were to see. Lockdown has taught us to look so much more carefully at what nature has to offer.

One of the fields we have watched from bare unprepared soil to a what looks to the laymen to be a wonderful crop of broad beans has a beautiful strip of wild flowers along the edge of the field.

During Lockdown Annie and Gerry have kept in touch with family and friends by phone, email, snail-mail, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Zoom. We have missed seeing and meeting people but technology has certainly helped compensate.

Our routine has been a great help and we have never felt bored. In fact, we have enjoyed the peace and solitude particularly when the roads were almost devoid of traffic and the air seemed to smell sweeter! We also enjoyed dressing for several special dinners.

We realise how lucky we have been to live in the country with a spacious house and nice garden. How different it was for those with young families living in high rise blocks of flats in busy towns. We are also thankful that our family in the UK and California have survived without major problems.

As lockdown eases, we do think of those less fortunate than ourselves and especially the friends and relatives of those who have suffered from or died with the virus.

Be Strong and Stay Safe.