Day 56, Thursday, 7th May. 8 weeks and a Green Flag.

Thursday and it is 8 weeks, 56 days since we closed the school.
Hard to believe it.
Who could have imagined that this would ever happen?
Today I did the usual, worked on the computer, proof read my daughter's essay for grammar, got the papers for my parents and food and stuff, tried to get good photos of wild flowers to make a Virtual  Nature Walk activity for my pupils, got a lovely walk in the evening, looked at the sunset.
I will miss all these good parts of quarantine when it is over.
Great News in the emails: I was successful in achieving our Green Flag in Travel for the school!! Phew.
Very pleased about that.

Day 55, Wed 6th May 2020.

Another windy day and I was even more reluctant to go out in it today then yesterday. Ah well, nothing for it, but to go out. Got the walk!!
I got petrol later at a small petrol station on the main road and I just have to note the price of the petrol: 119.9 c per litre with diesel at 114.9c per litre. Wow!
I got an aquilegia and two Bucopa flowers at the shop, to join my Wallflowers, pansies and Bidens at the kitchen door.
My washing machine developed a funny groaning noise when I rotate the drum, so I am thinking that the bearings may be gone. Eeek! Repair shops and laundrettes are all closed until 18th May.
Oh well, thankfully we have self-service washing machines in a nearby village. Not ideal but the best I can think of now for the next 2 weeks.

Day 54, Tuesday 5th of May, 2020

The day was windy. It looked cold and windy, and it took me a while to get out for a walk. I soon discovered that it was kinda mild and windy! Along the way I picked up leaves that had blown from trees. I hope to do a little video on Seesaw for my pupils of a virtual Nature Walk. So I popped the leaves into a jar of water when I got home.
I joined Zoom on a paid basis to get unlimited meetings. I had a Zoom meeting at 6pm with the other spinners and we had a good turnout: 9 people I believe! I got some carding done upstairs while on the Zoom meeting. I need to get some spinning done too, soon!

The evening turned dark and cool later and I just stayed at home.

Day 53, May Bank Holiday, Monday May 4th 2020

A beautiful morning. Off I went for a walk and when I got home I did some Yoga. The 5 Tibetans and the Sun Salutation, and just lying on the floor, breathing. Yum
The day went by with paperwork for school and fixing Seesaw.
I cancelled the accommodation for our July holiday in Spain. We are not going to be going there.
Another walk in the evening, followed by watering the flowers with gathered rainwater.
Then in home to the smell of bread baking in the breadmaker.
Not a bad day at all!

Who knew ivy leaves unfurling could look so wonderful?
The 3 ages of ivy are in the photo.

Day 52, Sunday 3rd May,

Another lovely quiet sunny day.
I didn't even want to break the silence with the noise of the lawnmower so I didn't mow the lawn!
I had a walk and took these photos:

Majestic Beech trees

Red Valerian

Another fasciated dandelion. I find them fascinating!

Day 51, Saturday 2nd May 2020, Sunshiney day

It was a lovely sunshiney day today. Although, I have to admit, there was a cool easterly breeze. At one point when I was sitting on the deck reading, I was wearing a fleece jacket and I still had to have a blanket on my knees as well as one around my shoulders. So not exactly sunbathing weather.
A very quiet day today, I had some reading to finish, daughters had work to finish and husband was relaxing on his Saturday off.
It is a long weekend, there is a Bank Holiday on Monday, not that we will notice really, but still.
I went for a walk this morning, here are some photos:

Sunlight through the young beech leaves

Clematis

The Babbling Brook

Swallow pair

Day 50, May Day, 1st May 2020, The Next Announcement

Day 50. May Day.
I am writing this post 3 days later and scheduling it to post in order. Sadly I have to admit that I do not remember much of what I did last Friday. I do believe that I managed to submit one very large piece of writing late on Thursday night, so I was very happy with myself on Friday for that reason.

I recall making phone calls to some people, family, friends and colleagues. I recall taking the groceries to my mother. There was sunshine.
At about 6.30pm, Leo (Varadkar, An Taoiseach = PM) was on TV with the next announcement. There will be no let up in the restrictions for now, not until 18th May.
There is a road map for the loosening of restrictions. The main point for me is that there will be no school until September. Of course I will continue to contact parents with work they can do at home and also via Seesaw the app; it provides a digital platform for an online journal with activities.

A few photos from the past few days, as I do not seem to have taken any on Friday:

Primroses still in bloom

Fasciated Dandelion (4 or even 5-headed?)

Moody sunset.