May Month 4

Gosh – third (second full) lockdown month. Who would have thought? Lockdown is probably worth a blog of its own, but here I am, reporting on a small number of the 70 tasks to complete before my 70th birthday. Again, no mention of things I can’t do because of lockdown and simply an account of what has been possible. I’m not giving up yet. However, there are more photos than writing this month, so whizz through, have a look, and bear with me.

3. Write a proper letter every month. I wrote a letter to a friend in San Francisco. American friends are not in lockdown but are ‘sheltered in place.’ It’s a cute turn of phrase and I love how it goes along with such things as lift/elevator, pavement/sidewalk. I looked it up, and the origin is that the warning is issued when chemical, biological or radiological contaminants could have been released and residents should take refuge in a small, interior room with no or few windows. Slightly less dramatic for epidemic incidents, but the message is the same.

I wasn’t sure if the letter would even get to the USA. We were seeing no aeroplanes in the pandemic sky. Then, a couple of days after posting/mailing the letter we saw a vapour trail on our daily walk. I looked it up because where on earth could it be coming from, going to. And look!

As you can see, I’m spinning this out….

4. Paint a picture. I ordered extra acrylic paints when I looked at my limited colours. They arrived and I started painting on my one and only canvas. It didn’t take long for me to realise that I actually can’t paint. I have no idea what I was thinking of. I’ve now done some research on how to go about this. I’ve ordered a couple more canvases and I have some ideas. Progress will be made, just not this time!

And as I write the doorbell rings….

Canvases!

Am. Spinning. I. Out. Definitely It!

8. Monthly donation. This time to local women’s aid. Lockdown and the associated increase in domestic abuse doesn’t bear thinking about. There couldn’t be a more important time for services to be there for women and children who need them.

21. Learn scales. Yes I’m learning scales.

33. Study a new composer. I chose the Schumanns this month. Robert and his wife Clara. I didn’t feel particularly comfortable about lumping them together. Apart from two lives in one month being a lot to learn about, I quickly realised that I was downplaying the genius of Clara. She deserves her own month. I went from not being particularly comfortable about what I’d done, to being annoyed with myself. So Clara moves to June.

Robert Schumann wrote a delightful book on Advice to Young Musicians and now the cellist Steven Isserlis has added to Schumann’s advice, bringing the book up to date. I LOVED it. It truly resonated with this old musician!

Schumann was not known as a virtuoso. He played the piano (not as well as Clara) but in his twenties he damaged his hand by using mechanical devices to try to strengthen the weaker fingers. Any career he might have had as a performer was finished. So composing it was.

The story of his life is not a particularly happy one. He was thought to have a bipolar disorder and was diagnosed with psychotic melancholia. He died young. I’ve learnt a lot about his life from this excellent book by Judith Chernaik, and look, there’s Schumann looking so much as if he belongs in that Romantic Era of music.

43. Buy and listen to a CD recommended by Matt. This month’s may just be the best yet and overtake Lizzo. It’s Alone, Not Alone by Tiny Leaves. Beautiful instrumentals, absolutely perfect for lockdown. Highly recommended.

62. Cook a new recipe every two weeks. The cooking. The cooking goes on and on. Maybe I should cook 70 new dishes and be done with the whole project! I think Sue Holden is currently up to Number 66 of Shakespeare’s Sonnets – she’s posting one a day during lockdown. If I’d started recipes at the beginning I could soon finish. You see, I’m beginning to worry about not being able to complete this whole challenge, which may have been a bit bonkers to begin with.

OK back to new recipes. This one was weird but, of course, delicious because Ottolenghi suggested it. Smoked fish (haddock) and parsnip cakes. You wouldn’t would you? But do, because they really were good!

And another unlikely combination. Rosemary, olive oil and chocolate. CAKE! This worked too. It’s been a morning coffee addition for a week or so.

And go on, one more. This time Socca – pan fried gram (chickpea) flour fritters things. Just flour, water and olive oil. Quite delicious.

A quick nod to number 65 here where I am supposed to weigh 7lb less at the end of the year. Somehow or other, even with all these goodies, and gin and tonics, I seem to have lost 4lbs while locked down. I’m only popping it in, because it’s one of my 70 that I’m on the way to achieving. And I find it amazing and amusing, because food is figuring highly in my life right now!

63. Learn a poem. Last time I said thank you for all the suggestions and I meant it. I’ve said I’m not a poetry lover, but I’ve so enjoyed reading the ones you’ve sent. This month is the month that I’ve chosen the poem. Apologies that it’s not one ‘of yours’. It’s one that I vaguely knew of. Justin Webb chose it as his 8.30 poem of the day when Radio 4 was doing that a few weeks back and it struck a really strong chord with me. It’s The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. I will report on progress. So far I’ve learnt the first line…… I have time!

64. Plant a herb garden This is so funny. Plants I didn’t know I’d ordered keep arriving. The planted garden now has thyme (it already had thyme), tarragon (two lots of tarragon have arrived – regular and French. Does anyone know the difference?). Parsley (I had parsley). Sage (I hadsage). Rosemary (I had rosemary). Do you see a theme here? And Lemon Verbena. No, I didn’t have that. At least I’m doubling my chances of a successful herb garden!

68. Read all bookclub books. Well this was a struggle and it’s extraordinary because the book is by Julian Barnes, one of my favourite authors. A tough one as I don’t much like historical novels. And this is not so much a novel either. It’s filled with too many facts which, although interesting, I’m never going to connect with, or remember. Maybe you don’t have to. On the upside, the book is beautiful and the pages a delight to turn. Thick, off-white paper. Lovely. I enjoyed the touch and feel of the book more than the content.

Thanks for reading. Slow progress but progress nevertheless. If I keep writing I’ll keep up enthusiasm for all the things I can’t currently do.