When our outside activities came to a halt in March, I set up a routine that roughly followed my normal activities. Routine, I decided, would help me keep active. And it would give me something to look forward to each day.
So my COVID19 routine was:
Every weekday morning walk around the lake.
Monday afternoon – something to do with writing. This covered the two U3A writing classes – Creative Writing and “As Time Goes By”. I added to that writing classes from the Australian Writers’ Centre.
Tuesday afternoon – watch a film. This covered my BPACC volunteering. It gave me a film to write about for the Film as Literature class.
Wednesday morning – Sit down and read in place of “Play Reading” U3A class, although the class was only once a week.
Wednesday afternoon – Knitting. This replaced knitting at the library. It could be knitting for one of my projects, or a knitting course to pick up new skills or improve old ones.
Thursday – Our normal routine was to go out exploring or go further afield for things we could not buy in Benalla, and always go out for lunch. So we headed out to find some takeaway for lunch, supporting local cafés.
Friday – this was shopping and lunch with friends. We still needed to buy food for the week, and for the afternoon I decided that I would try to make calls to friends and family.
So how did I do? And why am I behind on the TODO list? I am still trying to do all the things on the list, just not necessarily with the original timing.
The Yarn Bombing event “Benalla Rugged Up” came along. There was a lot of organising required – applications to prepare, planning under the current restrictions etc. At least it was knitting related.
I am still watching a film at least once a week – just not on Tuesday afternoon.
Writing seems to happen as and when I feel the urge…or when I need to get some writing done for U3A writing classes – like now, Saturday afternoon. And I have done some Writing Courses, including one this month that has a daily challenge…mmmmm…not meeting those challenges every day.
Reading on a Wednesday morning – well that is not happening. But I am reading every day if only in bed at night.
We are still buying a takeaway lunch once or twice a week.
Friday calls to friends or family tends to happen whenever convenient rather than Friday afternoon.
I am still doing everything at some stage during the week. But this does not explain why I am behind. “Benalla Rugged Up” activities are on hold until it is time to remove the decorations. That no longer is taking up time. The reason that I am behind is that we are in the process of purchasing a new car. A lot of time on-line for insurance quotes, arranging a temporary increase on my daily payment limit to pay for the car, paying for the car, cleaning out my car so that my husband can move things he needs into it – I get the new car!
But I am nearly there. I have written some emails. I have sent off the U3A Newsletter contributions for the two classes that I convene and have kept running. I have cleared my things from the car ready for my husband to move his things in. And I have written my “As Time Goes By” contribution for August! Now for the daily writing challenge and I am up to date.
Joy Shirley
August 2020