Self-imposed isolation, day 15

It has now been two weeks. The idea of this post was to look at what happens when you spend two weeks in (self-imposed) isolation. But since the answer is not a lot, this post seems rather pointless.

There are reasons for that answer, though.

- It has not been a complete isolation. I meet my family in video chats several times a day and have even met them face-to-face… if that term applies when we keep our distances and cover our faces with masks. I also have a couple of dear friends providing me company via messages. 💙

- I’ve had practice. For over a year now, since the pandemic came to be, I have stayed at home. I have only ventured among other people when I must go to the hospital for my infusions or blood tests or other necessary medical appointments. Other than that, I have only left the house for walks in the woods or to go to our summer place – which, being on an island, is a rather good place to isolate oneself.

- And look, more practice! I am an introvert and a hermit lone wolf. There have been times when I have spent weeks without the company of other people, mostly on the aforementioned island. All of it voluntarily.

As to what (little) has happened during these two weeks: Some inability to concenrate. Things I normally enjoy (such as reading) fail to interest me – but then my sister-in-law was so kind as to let me know it was the same for her when she felt lonely, and that helped (”OK, so this is normal.”) 💚. I seem to find hot showers comforting, which might be a way of compensating for the lack of human touch.

But there have been no inordinate amounts of chocolate devoured (OK, that may depend on how one defines inordinate amounts 😉). No sitting all day long, staring at the walls. No talking to myself (apart from an occasional ”it’s going to be all, all right.” I read that phrase in a book and it’s driving me crazy not to remember which book!). If I was going to use this blog to document myself going mad with cabin fever, I’m afraid we need a better plan. Going mad for other reasons, of course, is not out of the question! 😄

In the woods about a year ago

Self-imposed isolation, day 14

 Today I have

- had too much coffee (two large cups in the morning – daylight saving)

- cooked (sweet & sour chicken for tomorrow)

- had three video chats with family (one more coming up later!)

- talked to dear friends (OK, wrote messages)

- read (when do I not?)

- done some writing (a story I’m really not supposed to be writing, so no more about that)

- read about Victorian fashion, particularly about popular colours (research! And yes, related to that-which-should-not-be-written… sigh…)

- eaten a solid chocolate nougat egg that comes in a real egg shell (Mignon by Fazer)

- named a character in a story my daughter is writing (just a casual suggestion, which, to my surprise, was accepted – if you know teenagers, you know that your suggestion being accepted is kind of a big deal! 😀 Also very proud of my daughter writing a story.)

 

 

Self-imposed isolation, day 13

An unexpectedly busy day in isolation! It all started with an oven and a desire for pizza.

Since we dared not get take-out from our favourite pizza place, we picked what seemed most appetizing in the freezer section of the supermarket (cheese. Lots of cheese.). My DH brought one pizza for me to heat in the oven, but as I went to switch the oven on, it did not work. Nothing happened. No lights, certainly no heat. The stove worked, though. The user's manual was of no help.

I messaged a question to my landlady, who advised me that the oven does not work when you’re using the dishwasher, but I haven’t used the dishwasher yet. My DH baked two pizzas at home, delivered one to me, picked up the frozen (well... mostly) one I couldn’t bake, tried to get the oven to work, but nothing happened - surprisingly, as he is rather good with this sort of stuff. But he went home, baked the last pizza, and finally we all met in a video chat while having lunch.

Later my landlady was so kind as to come over to have a look at the oven. It turned out that for the oven to work, you have to switch on not two but three buttons, one of which is the timer (which I had tried, but not at the same time with the other two). So, everything worked out and now I know how to use the oven! (Actually, I haven’t tried it… this piece that I have left will go in the microwave, just to be safe. 😄)

 

 

Self-imposed isolation, day 12

Not much going on today. My daughter came to see me after school, we stood outside in the sun and talked. That was lovely. And hey, Easter is coming…

 

Self-imposed isolation, day 11

 Even in isolation, exercise is important. 😃

 

 

Not just to keep fit – which should also help your immune system – but as a distraction and a routine, and, hopefully, to cheer you up and/or help you cope with stress/anxiety. Those endorphines! I just realised there are lots of quarantine workouts available, and though I’ve thus far stuck to my own routine, I might take a look at those. (Actually, I had this cunning plan to start trying yoga now that I’m supposed to have all this extra time in my hands… right, no, I haven’t found the time yet! 😂)

Self-imposed isolation, day 10

Today was cleaning day! It is a small room, true, but cleaning kept me busy most of this morning. We also had to place our grocery order, and getting a week’s supplies always requires some planning (what to cook and when) and even more coordination now that we live in two separate places. Since the pandemic began, we have ordered our groceries and other supplies online. Only when we forget something or they don’t carry a particular item, does my DH venture into the supermarket. We’ve grown used to it by now. The online selection isn’t quite as good and you can never get fresh bread – but other than that, it is convinient. This may well be a permanent change for us, especially seeing how much I hate going shopping for groceries on dark, cold, dreary winter evenings!

As far as shopping in the time of covid goes, I’m afraid I have bought even more e-books than I did before – as I may have mentioned, I am a big fan of libraries, but going there is not an option now. Luckily, e-books are easily available. Rather too easily… 😏

And here is a magpie posturing on a nearby rooftop.

 

 

Self-imposed isolation, day 9

I had a good laugh when I looked at the two books that had been left here in this room (by the owners? Previous tenants?). In one of them, a woman isolates herself (😲 What are the odds of going into isolation and there being a book about… isolation?) and the other is titled ”Getting Things Done” (Should I feel attacked? 😄). I have not opened either one, but a day may come when...