Just checking in

Hi everyone,

Rather than high-jacking the salon thread, I thought I would start a new one. So how about just saying how you all are doing? Two words are fine. "I'm okay." Or elaborate if you like. We are a loving community and worry about each other.

Re COVID-19 my husband are I are fine. We have self-isloated and were looking forward to Chicago beginning to reopen on Wed. (I need a haircut so badly that I could pass for the Witch of Endor!) Unfortunately, the past three days of protests and riots have changed everything. I am heartsick for my city and my country and grateful for my very strong mayor and governor who are in no way "weak".

I have a comfort read suggestion. I just finished The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. It is a totally fictional account about eight people who
found the society in order to save Jane's home in Chawton being sold after the owner of Chawton Park dies. Check out the reviews. It has made me start to reread Persuasion.

So, my friends, how are you?

Elaine

This is a lovely idea Elaine, and I'm glad you are your husband are keeping well. What's happening in the US looks absolutely heartbreaking to us in the UK - but I can understand the anger against the police. I just wish it wasn't being channelled in a way that threatens peaceful people. I hope you and yours stay safe.

I am fine, and in isolation with my husband (we both fall into risk groups). So I have been working from home since the schools closed on 20th March (I work in a school) and it has been a bit of a learning curve. Remote systems have been set up and do seem to be working, but not seeing all the people and the children has been hard. My own children and also my 86 year old mother are all 2 hours drive away, so no visiting... Our Government, in their (lack of) wisdom, are trying to relax things but I remain unconvinced they know what they are doing or that this is the right idea. So I will be staying put for now...

Lots of reading when I am not worrying and plenty of comfort reading (usually in the form of British Library Crime Classics). Persuasion is my favourite Austen so maybe I should re-read.

Lovely to hear from you Elaine. Stay safe and take care, you and everyone!

Karen x

It's great to hear from you Elaine. My heart bleeds for what is happening in America, mainly for the event that caused the current unrest and how we have seen this happen over and over again with no lessons learned.

I am working from home in the London suburbs, supporting our students and staff remotely while the university is closed. Most of my job entails finding electronic resources to make up for the lack of access to our print collections. Part of me is enjoying working from home, being surrounded by my books and able to eat fresh home cooked lunches. I certainly don't miss commuting! But I am not looking forward to having to give inductions and other teaching sessions remotely and I miss face to face discussion with colleagues and friends. I share Karen's view of our government; their actions so far have not convinced me that they know what they are doing or have the best interests of ordinary people at heart.

I'm reading a lot, though sadly still purchasing books online so my TBR piles are not really getting any smaller! School stories from the early C20th seem to have found their way into my reading rotation quite frequently ...

I hope everyone is as well as can be, and that one day we will be able to meet in person again to enjoy good company, food and book shopping.

I've been posting so most people know what's going on with me. I did decide on day one to make this time count for something, which is why I've been painting the whole house room by room.

I also had to give up my literacy students at the beginning of this thing. We met in small library rooms, almost always with small children playing under the table, and because their home computers are mostly commandeered by older children there has been no learning from home either. My other volunteer gig is still going, so I do get out one day a week.

As for the situation with George Floyd - it's a worry. As the mother of a mixed son with dreadlocks we've seen our fair share of profiling. We call it 'Getting Zimmerman-ed'. The saddest thing for me has been finding out which of my friends and neighbors voted for this man. As my son says - You didn't have to be a racist to vote for him, but it sure wasn't a deal breaker for you!

Great idea, Elaine! I'm happy to hear from you four so far.
We're fine. Of us three, I'm the youngest at 75, closer to 76. Life isn't all that different for my 98 year-old mom and me at day 76 or so of our self-isolation. My dear husband keeps us in food. Mama has had a rough time with another compression fracture but is doing better now. I never seem to read as much as I wish, but that doesn't stop me from buying or starting another book. Oh well.
My heart bleeds for our country. I think of all the beautiful young men and women of color whom I've taught through the years, and fear for them. I can't seem to do anything but cry and pray.

So lovely to read these updates. I have been sheilding at home since mid March. I am used to being at home now, I don't really want to go anywhere. School where I work, is starting to open up very gradually for small numbers of children. I am not expected to go back to school until September but I woukd like to try and do a couple of weeks in July. My Rhumatoid Arthritis has been very bad for months anyway, but fingers crossed I might have turned a corner this last week.
I share the political frustrations of many of you. The UK government are a disaster, and responsible I think for many COVID deaths. The pictures coming out of the US over the last week have made me unbelievablely sad, and angry. I continue to hide in books.
Wishing you all well xx

My library opened for curb side delivery this week and I picked up a reserved DVD I've been waiting months for, from a lovely lady sitting on a bench outside the building. We've been allowed to return books on intermittent days for the last two weeks and I got rid of my Covid stash the first day the book drop was open. Alas, anything I want to read is reserved for months and the few movies I want to watch are all at branches that remain closed.