During these long lockdown weeks, we have had several occasions that deserved celebrating. Although we are lucky enough to have been able to celebrate with our household it has been sad not to see the remainder of the family as well.

 

• ▪️Mother’s Day – Fell on the first weekend of lockdown. We had booked a table at a restaurant for a nice roast dinner, however the Prime Minister had advised pubs and restaurants to close, two days before. We hadn’t food in to cook a roast dinner, so turned to the local Chinese, for a takeaway. Not quite the same and our eldest daughter was also missing from the table. We rounded the day off on the sofa (where we’ve spent most evenings since) enjoying a couple of rhubarb & ginger gins with prosecco.

A couple of weekends later and we should have been enjoying a weekend break with friends in Belfast. Instead all we could do was share a virtual drink via a what’s app video call 🥂

• ▪️Easter – We were anticipating an extended family get together for either tea or a bbq in the garden (depending on the great British weather ) to celebrate Easter. In this strange world, we are currently experiencing, the youngest three boys in the household still had an Easter Egg Hunt in the garden and discovered so many chocolate goodies, they were still consuming them two weeks later! Two other grandsons enjoyed a hunt at home and sent us lovely pics. My daughter & I had tackled a weekly shop and we enjoyed a nice dinner in the evening, followed by video calls with our daughter and granddaughter who had been unable to join us.

By this time our eldest daughter had contracted the virus and was self isolating at home. Working at the hospital, caring for patients with Covid-19, it was almost inevitable that she would contract the virus herself. It was a worrying time, as she lives alone and our only way to see she was ok, was via video call. Thankfully she came out the other side, and although still not 100%, she’s back at work.

• ▪️Ruby Anniversary – The following week was our Ruby Anniversary. We had been planning a get together at a local restaurant, which again was scuppered. The day before, our daughter, son in law and children laid on a surprise afternoon tea. Lots of lovely sandwiches, cakes and scones, which inevitably prompted the discussion of jam or cream first 😂. On the morning of our anniversary our
  granddaughter had promised she would make us a lovely breakfast. But by 10.30 she still hadn’t risen, so we ended up with a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea! We did however have a lovely day. Lots of gifts were delivered, with social distancing in mind and chats through the window. My sister and some of her family arrived separately and social distanced themselves at the end of our drive, with red balloons and “Congratulations” blaring out
  from their phones. That was very emotional as no hugging
  allowed, just chatting through the window. My little robin appeared at my sisters feet as she was leaving (maybe a sign that my Mum & Dad we’re celebrating with us too 😢). Several friends dropped in, via zoom, for a chat and to share a glass of vino, at lunch time. Then as we were unable to go out for dinner,
  we ordered a “ruby” and dropped some round to our daughter, popping it in her porch and exiting before she opened her front door. I was relieved to see, in the flesh, she looked so much better. Then we finished a great day with a house party, with our two daughters, granddaughter and niece. Quite raucous, but a lovely end to the day.

 

• ▪️Birthday – Our final celebration of the month was our granddaughters birthday. I had managed to buy her a card and small gift pre lockdown, which we had deposited outside her door. Thank goodness for the Internet as, she was after some new clothes, so we were able to purchase a gift voucher, which was delivered to her email on the day of her birthday. We were then able to sing 🎶 Happy Birthday 🎶 to her via a house party catch up in the afternoon.

So although life, for most of us, is being lived behind closed doors, with no physical contact with anyone beyond our personal four walls, we are trying to celebrate special occasions as best we can, to include both family and friends.

It would be wonderful to think we could have one enormous party, when lockdown is over, but I feel we may not be able to arrange this until 2021.

Hang on in there everyone. We are winning the first battle, but we are a long way from winning the war.

However, together, we will get there.