There's a light

...though it's hard to find, most days. Most days at home feel like Groundhog Day. Today started with three calls regarding hand blended aromatherapy products. Did my best to dispense advice, and mix products. More Rose Absolute ordered. More base products needed. Text messages then flooded in about a mysterious blue bottle found in nursery office that contained "herbal liquid". Would I like to collect it asap? Reassured colleagues that it was in fact Hand Sanitiser in an unmarked bottle, and it could wait till until next Monday, unless they wanted to drink it first! 70% alcohol, I added.

Friend wanted to meet for exercise/Waitrose therapy. We met in town, where 'our cafe' was closed. Costa dispensed takeaway drinks at twice the price. We sat on the 'dossers' bench' in the street where the Christmas lights are still up. A man pleaded with the DSS; he needed a document urgently but was sent away with a flea in his ear. Another man watched him depart from an upstairs office window, then closed the blinds.

This national lockdown (no.3) is being measured out in takeaway cups. Beverages I have drunk, caffeinated or non caffeinated, non-alcoholic. Benches I have sat on. My new boots (ordered late November, during lockdown no.2) have worn soles already.

This shop still had its Christmas lights on. I hope it will survive. How will the owner pay the rent? Who will order a garment online, £100- plus, without trying it on?

Waitrose is still Waitrose. Or is it? The decorative ceramics have disappeared, replaced by piles of bed linen, or stern white functional tableware. Pillows, not parties, is the message. Put on your PJs and Work from Home, if you're able.

As for myself still working in the world, being asked to act in front of children as if Nothing has Changed since January 2020, I wonder how long this pretence can carry on. The elephant is in the room.