Well Lockdown was – is – and continues to be a very surreal experience for many of us.
Having been furloughed from work – a word alien to me (‘work’ that is), there’s been little going on for a monthly blog. Every new post would be similar: ‘sitting in the garden, reading, and having a cold beer.’
The hundred acres comprising our local Warley Woods provided welcome relief during this mad time with daily walks, the upside being that the season could be experienced on an almost incremental scale.
The golf course was closed but walking was allowed over the green, which also allowed for the occasional picnic in a bunker. It turned out to be a surprisingly sunny and warm spring.
However, just before Lockdown, there was a final theatre visit before doors were shut on the Alexandra. In an eerily empty space, we saw What’s in a Name – an adaption of the French play, Le Prenom starring Joe Thomas of ‘Inbetweeners’ fame.
It’s basically a dinner party that explores themes of rivalry, resentment, and prejudices with a good few laughs along the way.
As restrictions were lifted, a short break in Wales was taken with Annie and Dave – staying in Llanelli. It proved to be an ideal base with trips out to Swansea and Carmarthen, and the Llanelli Wetland Centre.
On some of the hottest days of the year, we also had a couple of days in Bath along the way. Always a good choice with Bath Abbey, The Circus and Royal Crescent all requiring an audience.
There were also several walks along several canals – as well as what passes as a river in Birmingham, and ‘selfies’ became the go-to establishing shots for many an outdoor tipple.
So here’s a catalogue of the lockdown with a serious amount of drinking going on….
Pre-Lockdown, there were some reliable reports of a rare Ferruginous Duck having taken a liking to Wolverhampton’s West Park – a traditional Victorian municipal park in our neighbouring city. A short tram ride later, and this Eurasian visitor was soon ticked off, shyly pootling around one of the lakes. I didn’t get a decent enough photo of it so you can either Google it – or imagine a Tufted Duck kitted out in Coventry City’s 1970s brown strip (actually, it’ll save a lot of bother if you simply google the duck and the football shirt).
One thing was for sure – it was a well-sprung spring day – and the park was in bloom.
There was plenty of lockdown life still going on over in Warley Woods…
…and, when the pubs weren’t available – it was back to garden shenanigans…
jacey666 