More Lockdown

Lockdown intensifies. From tonight, for four weeks, we will be even more restricted than usual as to what we can do. So whilst our decorators are allowed in, we cannot go away as planned while they get on with the work. We'll need to go out locally.

Our weekly trips to Wythenshawe Park on Saturday mornings may continue, but we will have to meet in pairs, so we won't really be able to meet at all. The pictures above and below this text are from last Saturday morning, with Andy and Jan pictured with Sue, getting socially distanced coffees. We have tried to give the cafe some business, but this week it won't be allowed to open so we will have to take flasks.

There's a good children's playground at Wythenshawe Park. Hopefully it won't be roped off.

There's also one (just beyond the picture below) at our more local Newton Park, where we used to enjoy the company of grandchildren Jacob and Jessica. Nowadays our contact with them is over Zoom. We've lost eight months, to date, of a 'normal' relationship with our grandchildren.

These pictures were taken a couple of days ago. The bright autumn colours have evaded my camera, which seems to forever encounter showers of rain and falling leaves.

Pre Lockdown, Sue and I had got into the habit of enjoying a Sunday morning 5 km run with like minded folk on Sunday mornings, thanks to Great Run Local. Sadly - especially for many small children for whom the 2 km version of this event provided an ideal introduction to athletics - they have called it a day:

Dear Martin,

The uncertainty of running in events and groups continues, and as such, we have taken the difficult decision to permanently suspend all Great Run Local events.

 

As a business we have supported Great Run Local financially over the years but given the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic effects on us as a business, we are no longer able to do this.

We are truly sorry to bring this popular series to a close.  

We want to thank you for being part of this over the last 9 years.

I hope parkrun - the 5km Saturday morning event, doesn't go the same way. The (not)parkrun they introduced several months ago, whereby you can register a 5 km run or walk every day, has certainly provided an incentive to stay active. I registered (not)parkrun number 135 this morning, during which the following picture showed the canalside trees to be retaining their leaves rather better than those in Newton Park in the next picture.

That was after a visit to our local carpet/curtain shop who I was pleased to learn can still operate during the heightened Lockdown that starts tomorrow, so we can still have carpets and curtains fitted when the decorating is done.

When will all this end?