Wednesday 9th September 2020 Day 169

6.30    I am awake and listening for sounds coming from the roof.  There is nothing this morning so I am hopeful it was just a large bird in Doc Martins’ yesterday.

7.00  I switch on the radio to hear that Boris is putting stiffer measures into action as the number of Covid 19 cases appear to be on the rise.  Only groups of six people with fines or arrests if not adhered to and NHS Test and Trace legally required in restaurants and pubs.  Covid-secure marshals to be introduced.  What’s that saying about stable doors and bolting horses?

I am going to see my niece and family in Hastings today for the first time since March, the family have been shielding due to their seven-year-old son suffering from Ataxia telangiectasia.  It has been a long hard six months for them and there is still debate as to whether he should be able to go back to school.

9.45   I am taking Audrey for a longer than usual walk today as I will be leaving her on her own for quite a long time, something she is no longer used to since I have spent most of my time at home for these past months. She will be able to go outside so she should be ok.

We meet a very large ten-month-old Bernese Mountain dog who positively dwarfs Audrey.  She has to speak to him sharply a few times in bark language, till he gets the message that he is being a bit over boisterous and in fact I avoid being knocked

flying by just a few centimetres as they go rushing off together.  I speak to his lady owner who says that she has to be careful not to walk him too far, apparently they can’t take a lot of exercise until older and when he has had too much he just collapses in a heap and won’t move, so when they eventually come bounding back, she puts his lead on him and turns for home.

11.00   I am setting off for Hastings.  It is another beautiful and warm September day.  Through Cade St and Punnets Town, lovely old names of places on my way towards Battle before the traffic thickens heading for Hastings town.

12.00  It’s lovely to be here and I get a great welcome from the children, tripping over themselves to tell me all their news and Wren, who is four and couldn’t possibly be expected to understand what is going on in the world, although she knows there must be no hugs, sidles up to me a couple of times and touches my arm and how I resist giving her a big cuddle I will never know.

We spend the afternoon happily in the garden having fun with the children and talking nonstop when my niece and I can get a word in edgeways and four o clock comes round all too quickly when I must leave.

17.15   Now home, I go to collect the latest ripe tomatoes from the greenhouse and discover a very odd one.  I am not sure what it reminds me of!  Perhaps it is a Pinocchio tomato!