Well this week is going extremely quickly. In many ways it's like a week of work. I started the week with detailed plans of exactly what I was going to achieve and then other 'stuff' happened- meaning priorities changed accordingly.
It's increasingly likely year 6 will go back to school first in UK. That includes my son. Also they've announced we should all wear face coverings (don't even get me started on consistent messaging!).
I was sort of prepared for this. I've already worked out buying disposable face masks at £10 for 10 isn't financially viable in the long term. So I had decided to make some washable masks. I'm not one for boring bed sheets so I ordered some funky fabric and some thick backing.
Most fabric turned up - but not the thick backing. In the attic I located a roll of upholstry fabric from circa 1984 (see burgandy pictured mask).
I actually stumbled across this on a walk years ago outside a house with a 'please take me sign'. Normally I'd ignore such a sign, but I just had a hunch it would be useful to have and I've been lopping bits off the roll in ever since. In case you are recoiling in horror it has been fully washed since I brought it home.
I got out my very underused sewing machine (last used in 2008), I was rubbish at sewing at school - nothing has changed. Using YouTube I spent 2 hours trying to thread the darned thing. Finally I was successful. I did a test run on the fabric - within 2 minutes the cotton holder in the machine (posh name???) was a mass of knotted cotton, the needle was broken and the tension from the knotted thread broke the stick (posh name???) that the cotton real sits on.
Sewing machine is now in the pile to go to the dump. I officially hate it and don't want it in my life.
So I've spent the last 2 days dutifully hand stitching masks. My aim is for each of us to have one for each day of the week - total 21 (get me and my 'quick math'). After 2 days and with very sore fingers I have a grand total of 11. I've got a bit of a groove going now though so I think the rest will be quicker. Haven't started husbands yet - his are going to boring plain black. I felt more inspired by the dogs and camouflage so started there.
I'd only scheduled half a day for this activity!
This morning I've been doing the weekly clean (I miss my cleaner soooooooo much), changing sheets and putting on endless washes. Doom.
Once completed I sat down to do some life admin - cancelling pre-holiday hotels, holiday insurance and sorting out long overdue reimbursements on ordered items that didn't arrive due to the virus.
Whilst it's good to get this all sorted life really does feel like it is on hold for the long stretch now! That said, I can't help but feel that with some creative thinking there's good times ahead.