Like the majority of people, we are keeping ourselves occupied; quietly and gently so.  Paul finds it's fairly easy to chill-out and can immerse himself in a crossword puzzle or doze placidly in the April sun, but at the moment I appear to have a suffice of nervous energy - although to be honest, this might be a degree of anxiety and low-level hysteria.  

Therefore now being out of the strictly enforced two weeks' of isolation I have ventured out twice - once to the local Co-op (on Saturday) and yesterday to Cleeve Hill where I met a good friend for a walk at the prescribed 2 metre distance from each other - and anyone else out walking dogs or jogging. Naturally we spent a good hour huffing and puffing up and down the hill, whilst putting the world to rights!

I came home to find Paul sanding-down the outside door (we only have one), which he then painted with a rich brown stain.  We have owned the house for about twelve years and this is the first time it has been done!  (Ahem).

I spent most of the day re-potting seedlings and planting out those more established vegetables - specifically the purple sprouting broccoli.

I also sowed sweet red peppers, chilli peppers, leeks, and for succession planting, more peas, dwarf French beans, runners, tomatoes and so on and so forth.

However, it does seem that we are in danger of becoming a bit obsessive - forget pampered pooches, we have mollycoddled cauliflowers!!  Paul created a wind-break for those in the raised-bed who were being agitated and harassed by a brisk  breeze on Sunday!?

Without stating the bleedin' obvious, it's a very weird time for everyone isn't it?  Across the world we are in lock-down or isolation of some sort.  I personally haven’t been out from the confines of house and garden for nearly two weeks now.  I was with my sister Kate, albeit briefly, the day before she passed away, and the cause of death recorded on the official paperwork was Covid19, so obviously I have had to be in complete isolation.
 
My family is ticking-along as well as can be expected, and we all speak regularly on the phone or via Facetime. We are not allowed to actually get together as a family and a proper funeral will NOT happen, and that is very upsetting.   My niece confirmed earlier today that the “non-funeral” will take place next Wednesday; a service that nobody can actually go to, but will be a regular cremation, with music of our choice playing (if we want) and someone (an official) saying a few words.  

April’s Super ‘Pink’ Moon Will Be the Brightest Full Moon of 2020;  this will rise into the night sky on April 7th.

Despite the name, the moon will not have a rosy hue, instead the name alludes to pink wildflowers called creeping phlox that bloom in April.  The colour will not be any different to normal -it will be golden orange when low in the sky, and brighten to white as it rises.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon happens on the same night the moon reaches perigee, or the closest point to Earth in its orbit. (Apogee is its furthest point from Earth in its orbit.) On April 7th, the moon will be about 30,000 miles closer, only 221,772 miles from Earth.
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The scientific term for the astronomical event is “perigee-syzygy.”  Other full moons in April have been called Sprouting Grass, Egg, and Fish moon, which all evoke thoughts of early spring. This year’s super pink moon is also a paschal moon because of its closeness to Easter, which is 12th April 12th.