Having teleworked for over ten years, I am quite familiar with being within the four walls of our home most days but since I retired in November this current time was going to be spent working on my bowls technique and enter more competitions – c’est la vie!
Since self-isolation started, besides doing the mundane household chores, I have completed three crocheted afghans for Blankets for Canada organization; did one side of a two sided jigsaw puzzle; honoured the front line workers with my front window display of hearts; yard work; gardening; weeding (OMG – the dandelions are on steroids this year and are abundant) and now sewing scrub caps for the healthcare workers.
Enough about me, the rest of the family are active also: Jaymee, Jim and our son-n-law Keith are frontline workers during this crisis.
Jaymee works at the Belmont Market Thriftys in Langford where she has had her fair share of impatient, demanding, rude, frightened customers to deal with as well as keep up with all the new regulations which seem to change daily. She was scheduled to be Stage Manager for a Four Seasons production at the Macpherson Theatre which sadly won’t be happening.
Jim is concierge over five accommodation buildings at Work Point Barracks. He provides rooms for military personnel coming in off ships, out of country and from other parts of Canada that have to be in quarantine for the fourteen day period, making sure these residents are abiding by the social distancing rules as well as update them on the other regulations in the now new world.
Keith works for Advance Collision maintaining essential service and personal vehicles that Victorians rely on.
Sherrey and the grandchildren (Arianna & Quentin) have been self-isolating since the start of the school winter break due to Quentin being diabetic. Sherrey is able to do her financial work from home for Charter Telecom as well as home school the kids. They all get out during the week for bike rides or hiking up the mountain behind their house.
Jaymee’s partner, Trevor who is a teacher also works from their apartment hosting three online classes for students of Parklands Secondary School.
Blue, our dog and Lola, our chinchilla are chilling out doing their respective things per normal.
So there are no ‘Idle Sidels’!
These are trying times globally, but in Victoria we have it pretty good compared to other parts of the world. Yes we have to wait in line at the stores, follow the red arrows laid out on the floors, can’t hug our kids/grandkids, can’t play bowls, no spur of the moment gatherings but through modern technology we can stay in contact with our friends/loved ones almost any time of the day.
Try to support our local businesses rather than ordering from Amazon-like companies, stay safe and healthy.
Bowlingly yours,
Shelley
