So apparently, we are nearly 50% through lock down but in this day and age who actually knows … right? … Just take it all one day at a time… at the moment I am just concentrating on getting through the weekend (Easter with no real Easter eggs to “hide”) and home schooling the 11 year old next week … a thriller and horror all rolled into one … you know the movie … there can be only one survivor …. Blood …. Digging… burying ….and I am definitely more the rom-com movie watcher…. you know the movie… ending with a couple walking down a tree lined street … in autumn … hand in hand….
Being the wife of the HF (happy farmer) not much has changed for me during this time. Being in the essential services, HF still goes out every morning …but comes home a little earlier in the evening … I can still take the dogs for a walk …. And I still check on the animals regularly throughout the day …. My big changes are positive (mostly …) in that I have all the kids at home under our roof, the admin in the office has decreased tremendously, SARS has seemed a little more lenient on its time lines and penalties (not that I am ever late with any submissions … …), our family car has got a much needed internal and external wash and has been parked in lock down, the off spring have made a home gym in the garage and use it daily, we have had the time to go on family walks around the farm, the off spring (OS) have tried their hand at baking …
BUT ….
1. We must share our wine stocks with our older OS …. And they drink A LOT! And our stocks are diminishing even faster…
2. I must make two proper meals a day and they expect snacks and pudding occasionally. This is the standard conversation about food in a day …..11-year-old asks “what is for breakfast” (wifb) from the comfort of the couch at 7 am …. The 17-year-old gets up at ten … scratches his crown jewels and asks “wifb” and the 20-year-old gets up at 10:30 but he is on intermittent fasting so no breakfast for him. Mean while the HF can come in any time, for any amount of time and want sustenance for his morning. Luckily the HF is used to sorting himself out, so is of little to no hassle.
During the day …. The 17-year-old will bring up “what is for lunch?” straight after breakfast but always answers with “that sounds yummy …. Ohhh my favorite … I love that” … The 11-year-old always has an issue with the daily menu …” you know I don’t like raisins …I hate lamb …. Can’t we have pasta” …. Again! Making mealtimes all about him … Again!. The 20-year-old will always mock charge at meal times and make his own salad … which everyone will want and so I will have left overs to store ….. my WORST
3. The wifi is a constant source of fuel on an already percolating fire …
Despite our sp’s best efforts … we are on a farm and so no fiber in sight, a slow internet speed and occasional break downs ….
“who is on the wifi “… “I am trying to do internet banking” …. “Stop your fortnite” … “who is downloading a movie” these are the calls from the farmhouse that can be heard down the driveway onto the district road… (apologies to all neighbors)
After 15/17/19 days … (I loose count) … we have got a bit of a rhythm going and everyone knows when it is their turn on the internet… although HF can, at any moment with no warning, come in a use his “master of all he see’s” power to overrule any tentative peace agreement.
This rhythm has resulted in some late nights for the older OS trying to get their daily fix of Netflix , music downloads, face time ….
4. A dark cloud looms on the horizon … the 11-year-old iPad has decided this is the time to go on the blink …. Two days before home schooling starts …. Hhhhhhmmmmmm me thinks ….
5. The baking by the OS is great for morale but not so good on the waistline… also when the 20-year-old wants to make some exotic dish and is horrified that out local fresh fruit and veggie dealer does not stock …. marinated artichokes …. Smoked paprika …
6. Doing daily gym workouts by the OS is great for moral but the gym-type music which they find motivating, I find a little like …. being at a stop street alongside a “sesfikile”….. moving into the red zone in terms of self-defense (you know the feeling …. awakening your fight or flight response from that self-protection course you took years ago ..)
7. Sharing the shower – great for family bonding but … we only have one shower … with five people … yes a first world problem but MY first world problem … wet shower mat … no dry towels …. Shower cluttered with the individual OS face wash, shampoo … and everyone is so germ-a-phobic at the moment …
Our lives have barely changed but daily we recognize the sacrifice many are making during this time, those that have taken huge damage to their businesses and those involved in trying to keep us safe… we thank and salute you… at some stage the economics of the country will have to be more important that the health of the country and when this happens you can be assured that we will do all that we can to support you ….
#cyrilramastayphosiramblings #lockdownlaments #familybonding #gettingtoknowyouradultkidagain #familysnapshot #familysharing #wifiwoes #pamperingthepets
Pink Farm Chick 