SHERINGHAM DIARY 37 - Nothing Happening But Bluebells

We take our half hour daily 'end of the road walk' down to the bottom of Weybourne Road, our morning coffees travel cupped in our hands. Opposite the end of that road is the sign photographed above. Just to leaven that sense of having our ability to travel restricted we imagine which direction and place we'd like to go to, run across the road, jump up the bank, touch that place on the sign then return to the end of our road and then back we toddle. Our small imaginative lock-down rebellion complete.




The Bluebell Path

The path to the gate
is short, of adventure
we crave, the novelty
of being, somewhere else
takes possession of the heart.

Vidyavajra 28/04/20

I had a birthday card to post urgently, so one morning we both walked not in our usual direction but to the post box then along Cranfield Road away from the village. About halfway up we discovered ,just to one side of the road, a really lovely section of Sheringham Wood we hadn't encountered before, here, close to our doorstep. This 'woodland walk' has now become our regular alternative to 'the end of the road' walk. each time trying to explore a different area or path. At the moment with spring and the bluebells in full flower it has a particularly elfin quality to its beauty. Without the lock down we would probably be unlikely to have had cause to come across it.

We have well established week and weekend routines, and this can help us keep mind and body busy and sane. But we nevertheless have moments of emotional exhaustion. This week it was a jaded weariness with working from home that descended upon us for a day or two. Normally, to change the energy, we'd just jump in the car and go somewhere we're fond of like Wells next the Sea or Walsingham, but we can do this only in our imaginations at present which never quite cuts it. It was Hubby's birthday this month, so to make his day I bought him a book he wanted on pattern making for menswear, made him a lovely Genoa cake and we bought in a local Indian takeaway with lots of nibbles and alcohol free wine. So we did our best to make it special.



I've reflected lately on what we are currently experiencing, that its all about staying put, looking out for your neighbours, not venturing far from the place and locality in which we live. Until the industrial revolution in the 19th century, that was most people's way of living, with perhaps a once a year trek to Norwich, if that. With additionally no TV, social media, phones, radio, theatre, films or fast cars to distract themselves with. They also had to learn how to spend acres of time not just alone with themselves but cooped up in small houses with many generations of relatives. Which is not to say people didn't become bored, restless or frustrated with their lives, anyone whose reads Jane Austen will know that's not the case. They too probably went for a walk in the woods if things got claustrophobic, But if we rediscover one or two of their abilities and personal resiliences it may not be entirely a bad thing.

We've had the £10,000 grant from the government come through which will help tide Cottonwood Home over the lock down, hopefully. We can't claim any other support, largely because we are in our first year of trading and having not submitted any yearly accounts we can't prove what loss of income we've incurred. So this grant alone will have to do. Continuing to make products in a vacuum without any idea when we can take the shop out of being mothballed provides its own moments of motivational lethargy. Once we know when we can re-open then I suspect we'll be re-energised and focusing on what needs sorting out before normal retail service is resumed. I suspect this may still be a good month or so away.