Lockdown. You only used to hear that in prison movies, now it is the topic of every conversation. Furlough was something that Missionaries did when they came home for 3 months or so from which ever far flung corner they had been working. Funny thing is, we're not supposed to work whilst on furlough, missionaries used to spend all there time going round loads of churches telling everyone all the things that they had been doing and all the things they had planned and wanted prayers for.
My furlough though carries on regardless. Regardless of relaxation (not mine, the rules surrounding our movements), regardless of the 'R' factor, regardless of whether I'm bored (which I'm not), it carries on for me because our company doesn't have enough work for even half the workforce. Apparently there are quite a few who have said they are in no rush to come back, don't think that will bode well when they are looking at trimming the numbers, if that's what it comes to. Obviously there are a few who have health issues or are living with those that are shielding, that's different, but the others, well! My furlough has been very well spent, I've managed to get quite a few jobs done and my garage door just need the top coat (or two), but I may have to wait until we are sure of no rain for 3 or 4 days.
I can sort of understand why people are heading for the beach, it's hot and sunny and that's what you do. If you have been working all week and it's your weekend off that's one thing, but if you have just been in lockdown like the rest of us, why flood the beaches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Why go to the beaches that you know are going to be crowded, because they were yesterday and the day before? And why moan at people when they ask you to take your litter home or getting nasty on social media when those people complain about it, while still clearing up your mess?
It has been sunny for weeks now, but the rain on the way. some parts of the country got it today, for us it was just overcast all day and a bit 'damp' in the air. Those of my vegetables that haven't been grubbed up by the squirrels or completely scorched by the sunshine are coming on nicely. I have flowers on my first batch of potatoes, I have some Strawberries, the Chard is getting bigger, the Leeks, well if you didn't know they were there you wouldn't know they were there, they are still very small and slight. The Radishes are crunchy and peppery, I've been having them with my salad lunches and I must say they are good. The Beetroot and the Lettuce have gone by the board and I have started again. All the other things that I have sowed have been from old seeds and I don't expect anything from them, but we'll wait and see.
I don't think my Dad waters his vegetables enough, they are only have the size of mine, but saying that, his lettuce is ready to pick and eat.
The return of Football has been announced, so my friend will be happy. They will probably show quite a bit on the normal TV, so that should be good. The Premier League and The Championship are returning, but Leagues One and Two, who knows? they have a meeting and a vote next week. I was right, within hours of Tranmere's plan being sent out to clubs for them to study and maybe vote on instead of just saying let's use the unfair PPG system, Dale Vince (Owner of Forest Green Rovers) dismissed it off-hand as just a ploy to stop Tranmere being relegated, and gave the impression that he would vote against it. Just because they are stuck in mid-table obscurity, with nothing to lose or gain. Still we wait and see, although I was wondering, as the Championship are playing on, it seems strange that they will still have the vote on whether the other two divisions should use the PPG or not, and how those teams in the Championship that are in danger of relegation or would be relegated using PPG will vote when it affects others in the same position, whether they will have any sympathy for them, especially if they manage to escape the drop.
As I say, we wait and see. (I'm not too hopeful though)