I delivered the stone lions yesterday. A mixture of technique and a little brute force got them into the back of the car (above - they just fit) and out on the ground at the other end. The owner busied himself with some distanced weeding while I decanted his stone sentinels. We need a tele handler to get them back up on the gateposts, so I don't know when that will be. I'll keep an eye on the five o'clock briefings.
Even now it is good to finish a job on a Friday. Normally I would feel a rare sense of justification in going to the pub to celebrate, but... well... you know.
All the hard work I put into finding new, private clients has come to nought for the foreseeable future. The trouble is that the two most promising ones open their gardens to the public when there is not a global pandemic in full swing. I don't think they will be spending any money on the sort of luxuries that I specialise in for at least a couple of years. I am going to have to rethink it all over again. I have lost at least a year's worth of work and I don't think H.I.'s Summer Schools will be going ahead in July and August.
Despite the above sob story, I still feel fortunate and optimistic, especially when I compare my life to many others - particularly the younger ones. The shit waiting to hit the fan crept up on us from behind, and there is nothing we can do to change it.
I still greatly enjoy some of the elements to this lock-down, even though shopping is a little stressful. I never thought that going to the supermarket would be an adventure.
I have managed without even going to the supermarket Tom. I have had three deliveries from Tesco and the company who deliver my milk will do a mid week shop of bits and bobs - it is working very well. Think I am eating better than in normal times!
ReplyDeleteI'm very pleased to hear that Weave. I like it that you have a good appetite.
DeleteFortnightly supermarket deliveries are all very well, but these days I fantasise about running round my local Aldi on a Supermarket Grab.
ReplyDeleteI try to get in and out alive.
DeleteThe lion is so beautiful. I would be happy if I had one like these here in my simple little garden.
ReplyDeleteThe lions are about 300 years old, Yael.
DeleteYou are in a beautiful city for lockdown, though. Today I was remembering spending a week there, years ago, the year there was a floral Paddington made by the civic gardeners. Perhaps you remember him?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do remember Paddington very well. Parade Gardens. I can almost see them from where I live.
DeleteI don't know, Tom. We're not in charge any more. I wonder if what hits the fan won't be us.
ReplyDeleteGood job getting the lions over there. We just get better and better at our jobs, as I remember. I don't load anything anymore.
I get better at some things and worse at others. I try not to do any loading but now have to. Just so long as there is something to load I don't mind.
DeleteYes - almost like preparing for an expedition going to the supermarket. Gloves, mask and antibac gel! Unfortunately necessary because, although we are both certificated as "old and vulnerable" it is impossible to get any delivery slots, or even "click and collect".
ReplyDeleteI don't wear anything (except clothes) to go shopping. I just hose everything down when I get back. Shame you can't get deliveries.
DeleteWe use the pensioneers hour to shop...himself comes in the car in case it misbehaves! It also means that he is reading while I shop, something he doesn't do enough of.
ReplyDeleteThere is no hope of deliveries..and when we tried to get online to order material from a well known diy chain, to organise a Click and Collect...you were supposed to wait 45 minutes to get on their website....
Hopeless. I don't mind queueing. I look at things I normally don't find the time to look at.
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