MAY 2020

Lockdown life continued, structured around home schooling.

A new way to occupy my time was added – making face masks. Evidence was mounting that masks might inhibit the spread of this virus, and make contracting it less likely. But there had quickly become a shortage of the usual disposable ones – previously mostly used by medical type workers. Patterns and instructions for home made ones had popped up on the internet. I had plenty of the recommended cotton fabrics. Also had part of a roll of fusible interfacing fabric, and decided that the density of that would make a good middle layer in masks. Gave some of this to neighbour for the same purpose. Made several masks each for John and me and, upon demand, for daughter and various members of the extended family. Made child sized ones for the 8 year old too. Quite a little home factory happening.

By now, there was also a major shortage of the scrubs clothing used in hospital and medical centres, and volunteers were making these to donate, often in fancy patterned fabrics, which made a bright change from the norm.

About mid-month, restrictions were eased. It appeared the lockdown restrictions had slowed the spread of Covid to a trickle of cases. Small gatherings of people were allowed again.

We were not about to go out partying, but did visit a local nursery to buy some shrubs for autumn planting. Got those into the ground, and John planted garlic and broad beans in the vegie beds.

Late in the month, older grandson – a VCE student – went back to school. He’d actually found that working at home suited him. He was fortunate that his teachers supplied him with adequate materials and remote supervision. Perhaps secondary level teachers had been better equipped to swing into this type of delivery than primary level ones had been. Certainly, his non-government school was better organized and seemed to expect more of their staff at this time than for the Grade 3 one at a government school.