How was your day? (Random off topic chat)

My local barber has reopened, with masks and a restriction on the number of people allowed in. Now I need to make a decision: hair cut or not? A couple of weeks ago I'd have jumped at the chance but my hair is now getting long enough that it's becoming controllable again, as opposed to last month when it was encountering unaccustomed ears and heading off in random directions.

First visit to a theme park post-COVID yesterday. Not as bad as anticipated. In fact it was pretty great!

It was very quiet to start with, and even as the day got busier, you could still enter a ride and queue for maybe 5-10 mins max or not at all, including all the popular thrill rides that would usually have you queueing for 30-60 mins.

It felt incredibly safe and well managed. I got used to the new compulsory measurements (masks on every ride, one way systems, etc), hand sanitiser stations were scattered everywhere, every attendant was masked or visored up, and every so often each ride was stopped for roughly 5 mins so it and the surrounding enclosed area could be thoroughly cleaned before the next guests could enter.

Besides a ride breaking down whilst I was on it, and a drunk couple in a queue claiming to have asthma as a lame excuse to not wear masks (the attendants sadly aren't the police so couldn't queston it, but I'm surprised Blackpool even allowed them in the park in the first place), I had my best theme park experience probably ever.

Took my car in to be repaired today. They didn't actually fix it — it was a manufacturer-authorised dealer and the amount they wanted to charge for a part was not only four times what anyone else charges but also more than the car is worth — but that's not what bothered me most.

Because of Covid-19 I can't get taxis at the moment so I had to walk there to pick up the car, and it's a 65-minute walk. So when they don't phone me at all to let me know I can collect the car and I have to phone them, first 1¾ hours before they close and then nearly an hour later, it's far from ideal. I ended up having to part-walk, part-run about 6 km to get there before they closed. I haven't done any long distance running for a long time, and it showed.

On the positive side, at least now I've fulfilled my quota of exercise for ... ever.

Visited a national trust place today, all very well organised, one way system in place, lots of sanitiser all round and ticket checking done at safe distance, staff all noticeably very young, might have just been a coincidence but assumed it was possibly an attempt to get older, potentially more at risk staff out of harm's way. Of course everyone had to go at the speed of people either side of them to keep their distance but from a couple of women who seemed to have decided they just had to do a ten minute photo shot at one point, everyone was very sensible and followed the rules. Was nice to get out.

Having been a bit down the last couple of weeks (due to work stuff and the passing of a close friend) and in an attempt to break the work, eat, sleep and repeat cycle I decided that now museums and tourist attractions are now reopening, a day trip to Liverpool (for a change of scenery rather than just looking at the same 4 walls of my house) and a tour of the Liver Building this afternoon would hopefully lift my spirits and improve my own mental health. Despite the bad weather, I ventured out and that it just what the Dr ordered. A really interesting tour of the building and being able to have a look at the Edwardian mechanics that work the clocks in the towers.

I was very impressed with the COVID19 safety measures in place within the building - one-way system in the visitor's exhibition centre and when using the lifts for certain parts of the tour, you went in your own bubble groups. It was just a shame the bad weather and cloud this afternoon obscured the views from the 2 viewing platforms we went on to have a look across the city and the Mersey river. Despite that, it's certainly done me the world of good just to get out and about once again.

I’m very sorry to hear of your loss David 

I'm sorry for your loss, david . But yes, sometimes doing just the tiniest things out of the routine helps us to feel better. It's good to do it.

I have been feeling a bit down lately, too - due to a combination of factors, but none as serious as your own: somehow this past week was just full of things to process (including three sessions of My White Best Friend at the Court/online, that got me thinking) so I went for a walk yesterday. The plan was to go to Covent Garden and back via Tottenham Court Road to do my weekly shopping. Somehow, I re-routed and decided to walk to Greenwich instead (I live in Islington), and pick up a copy of a book about the visual identity of a band I love from a small gallery at Greenwich Market that printed them, while they still have the last few copies on sale. Of course, it took me forever to get there (some 2 hours), and even longer to get back (because I was now carrying a 3kg-heavy book on my shoulder, and it was a 23km walk), but it was so worth it!
Flicking through the book also made me a bit nostalgic, because it made me long for the days when I was young and I travelled to see that band for my birthday present - which remains the best birthday present I ever got - and they were young too, and still playing together. But that's a good kind of nostalgic.

Today I'm just a little tired and lazy to go grocery shopping (again), so I'm writing this with a coffee in hand instead. 

You encountered someone else's lost cow, or did you misplace one of your own?

Don't keep us on tenterhooks, peggs. How, or where, is Daisy now?

Continuing with the farming theme, I have, as of 30 minutes ago, finally been shorn. I did ask if Countryfile wanted to come along, but Adam Henson was busy filming a piece about pig nuts. 😉

To celebrate looking gorgeous again, I'm having tea out, Yates' has introduced the Government's half price deal a fortnight early, so it would be rude not to!

I assume Daisy got home okay, I rang someone I know who I thought might be likely to know who farmed where I thought it had come from and she said 'oh yes their animals are always getting out, i'll give them a call'. How she got over a bridge with bars though I don't know.

I did not make it as far to check today as cows the other side of the river decided to scare me by suddenly breaking into a room and heading straight for me. I assume they were bored, since once I'd hoofed it up the bank to get a fence to my back wondering if I could get over it if forced (and onto the railway line) they gave me some looks and allowed me to depart for a nearer gate.

I wonder if this is how my small nephew feels when the sheep decide to run at him, it's possible I have never fully sympathised enough with him.

Haircut day!
My ears are confused by that bright glowing thing in the sky.