send help ... stuck in the garden
By Elizabeth
@Poppylicious (11133)
April 16, 2020 5:02am CST
I came outside to have my breakfast {bran flakes, banana and a big mug of tea, if you're interested} and enjoy the sunshine as it finds its way into my garden. The birds are having a good old natter. I wonder what they're talking about. Maybe how quiet it is, and how good to be able to chat without shouting over all the unnatural noise humans make.
Are the birds louder? Are there more of them this year? Or is it simply that I just notice them more, now that the world is suffering a staycation of silly proportions.
I am on my Easter holidays at the moment. I've had a wonderful time; I've been to Bedroom, Garden, Lounge and Kitchen. I've seen a panther prowling and a fluffy bear dancing with bees. There have been adventures with Hoover and leisurely outings {inings?} with Duster. Even Mop made a rare appearance last week.
I've been learning to draw. I taught myself to finger knit. I've enjoyed visiting my pixelated farm and giving presents to my friends. A strawberry for Maru, a pink cake for Jas, and beer for Shane.
I've joined queues, read conspiracy theories, shaken my head at local shenanigans. I've barely spoken two words to anyone except Husband and Mumma.
Monday morning will see me suffer the shrill tunes of my alarm, and I will rise for work once again. I wonder how many students will make it back online. Probably all of them; they must be bored witless.
But until then, I'm stuck in the garden.
I went to go in, only to open the door and have Husband shout, You're on video, Elizabeth! Not anymore! I said as I quickly closed the door. Now I'm simply waiting for him to tell me it's safe to go in.
I wonder if he will.
*sigh*
7 people like this
7 responses
@LadyDuck (460346)
• Switzerland
22 Apr 20
@Poppylicious We do not hear the noise of traffic here, so very little has changed, except we do not hear airplanes anymore and this is a good thing.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
22 Apr 20
@LadyDuck I do miss the streaks of white that planes leave in their wake. I always find them quite pretty.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
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22 Apr 20
Yes, I think because I haven't got the background noise of all the traffic I'm just noticing them more.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
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18 Apr 20
I had to help my younger relative to use Zoom the first time for her online class meeting some days ago. I did my best not to let the camera capture me, but the kid still reported to me later, 'ha ha ha, we saw you in the camera, but it is OK, I don't think anyone noticed your clothes...' 
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
16 Apr 20
It sounds as though you are in your element (until Monday, at least). How do you find the online teaching? Are you using video (so you can see your students and they you) or just audio or text?
I have a little black panther, too, but he's very scared of the Tortoishell Tiger who lives next door and thinks our garden is her space, too, so he only prowls when I'm there to protect him or when he knows that Rasta is safely shut up at night.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
22 Apr 20
Your little black panther needs some balls!
Because I'm only support for students, I thankfully don't have to deliver lessons, but I do join them. The teachers tend to just use audio rather than show their ugly mugs to the students. I don't have a webcam, nor a microphone, so I just use the text function, and tend to laugh a lot at the banter of seventeen and eighteen year old boys!
There's a lot of pent-up anxiety and frustration beginning to show though; I think they'll be happy when they can get on with ordinary life. I've had to have a lot of reassuring conversations. I'm like an emotional support dog at the moment!
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
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22 Apr 20
Do you have a garden? I feel so very sorry for those people who live in flats and apartments. In the UK we can go out for exercise, but we can't sit down on a bench or on the grass in a park. So those with no garden, how can they just relax and enjoy the sun on their face? Such sadness.
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
22 Apr 20
@Poppylicious Our next door neighbour is on maternity leave. It is really difficult for her and her husband not being able to go places or have the baby looked after by grandparents etc. The strain is starting to show.
It's good that you and your husband are still able to work. I'm just a bit annoyed I retired at the end of 2019. I would have been sat at home on 80% of my salary right now instead of spending my pensions. Hindsight eh??
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
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22 Apr 20
Ha ha. Yes, I am grateful that I've still got a job, am still able to do it (albeit very differently), and still getting a full wage. Thankfully, Husband is okay in that regard too. My Bro-in-law has been furloughed though, and I think it's going to be tight for them (my SiL is on maternity at the moment).
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (1769)
• United Kingdom
29 Apr 20
I am off work til next week and then only in on Monday and Friday ...we are setting work for the children to do online ….and only have a few actually in school. I am planning my activities for them right now ….
Interested to read about the birds ….I had noticed that we are getting very few in out garden at the moment which is unusual ….maybe its because there are so many hoomans about !
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
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29 Apr 20
I've seen far more birds than normal, and braver ones too! Even though there are more people at home, it's still very quiet and quite deserted here!
