Costa Women Blogs

#LivingInLockdown Day 45 – Wednesday 29th April   Today has dragged by. I was on the phone with friends and family for most of the morning, which was lovely, but I’m conscious of the fact that I am counting down the hours until I’m allowed out for a walk. Tomorrow should be better as I have to do my usual Friday supermarket trip on Thursday as Friday is a bank holiday here.   This week I have increased my stair climbing. I’m now doing 1000ft a day and it feels great. I’ve never paid much attention to how much incline I do on my hikes. I trudge up the mountains for fun. It makes me feel good and the views tend to distract you from the fact that you’re doing exercise. Walking up the same stairs everyday is not as distracting and you end up counting the stairs, which is super boring. Instead I decided to just continue going up and down until I hit a certain number of feet in altitude. I started with 400ft then gradually increased it. The gradual increase had nothing to do with capability, rather finding a time of day when I would not be disturbing others. This way I can switch off, like I do when I’m walking.   This week I’ve also managed to finish ironing all my summer clothes. You know it’s bad if I’ve resorted to ironing. I did wonder when I started this task last week, whether I’d have the opportunity to wear my summer clothes this year or if I was doomed to a summer in pyjama shorts. Then the government announced the deescalation phases and that gave me the impetus to finish the job. All I have to worry about now is whether any of the clothes will still fit me, but there’s a fair few with elasticated waists so I should be alright.   Years ago I lived in Singapore and I had a lovely Filipino maid, Cristie, who would wash and iron everything and I mean everything. My underwear drawer was a thing of beauty. When my family visited they would pack half their clothes unwashed and throw them into the magic wash basket on arrival. Couple of days later it would all be cleaned, ironed and neatly folded away in their bedroom. I miss Cristie. I found myself thinking of her as I did the ironing, but decided that the day I start ironing my knickers is a day too far.   The reality is when you have too many hours in the day you sometimes find yourself filling them up with inane activities, like the little obsession I indulged in at the start of this lockdown: taking my temperature. This was so I knew what my usual body temperature is and could tell if it started to go up (fever being one of the Covid-19 symptoms). I mentioned previously the last time I had a raised temperature when in hospital for a day op, I was totally unaware of the fact. So I dug out the digital thermometer I bought last year (It was on sale at my local supermarket for 5€ right next to the deodorant I was buying at the time and I thought what the heck, it’s been sat in the medicine drawer ever since in its original box) and started to take my temperature at different times to see what my ‘normal temperature’ is. I’m usually between 36.5c and 37c. One time it got cold real quick when it went dark and I was busy writing so didn’t notice until I started shivering. I took my temperature whilst huddled under the duvet trying to get warm: it was 36c. I also took my temperature after sweaty exercise and when I got out of a scalding hot bath. It seems 37.5c is my maximum.   Then there was the week a friend of mine had us all measuring the length of our leg hair, as obviously we’d given up shaving for a while. Between this and the endless FaceBook and YouTube rabbit holes I’ve been down, you can see how much I need to get out.

#LivingInLockdown Day 44 – Tuesday 28th April   Today the government announced their plans for a deescalation of the lockdown in Spain. There are five phases which I’ve detailed at the end of this blog. The hope is that all phases will be completed by the end of June. However this is dependant on case numbers continuing to decline. Each phase will last at least 14 days, as that’s how long it takes to see any potential increase in infections.    The deescalation will not be uniform across Spain. Those regions with fewer cases will be able to deescalate more rapidly than those with higher case numbers, which basically means Madrid and Barcelona will be the last to reach phase 4. This is fine by me. As of Saturday, when phase 0 starts, I can go for a walk and hopefully 2-3 weeks later I’ll be able to sit on a terrace and have a coffee. For some reason this is what I have missed the most and I’m not an avid coffee drinker, I just like to watch the world go by.   There is no mention here of resuming international flights, so I guess a trip to the UK is still some ways off. However by phase 5 I can travel in Spain and go enjoy our apartment in the South. As holiday goers from other countries wont be able to fly here until later this means I might actually be able to try some of the restaurants that are usually fully booked in the summer season. I’m well happy with that.   It seems the weather remains in tune with happenings in Spain. Since the start of this lockdown it has been wet and miserable. When the government announced children were allowed out the sun started to make more of an appearance with scattered clouds. They said adults would be allowed out from Saturday and the forecast for the weekend is sunny and hot. Then today they announced the deescalation plan and a beautiful rainbow appeared over our urbanisation.   THE DEESCALATION PHASES (from N332)   Phase 0: Preparation and planning. Certain businesses will re-open with an appointment system. Restaurants will be able to prepare ‘takeaways’, in which customers can collect their order. Exercise and walks, with those who you live with, allowed 2nd May, maybe with staged time slots, etc. More details to come.   Phase 1: Open small businesses. There will be schedules/time slots for elderly. Terraces of bars/restaurants 30% capacity, always with sufficient social distances (at least 2 metres). Hotels and tourist accommodation can open (under certain measures, e.g. no common areas allowed open), also 30%. Religious sites can open, 30% capacity, always with sufficient social distances. Funerals permitted (under certain measures). The use of masks in public transport will be highly recommended.   Phase 2: Inside of restaurants/bars can open, 30% capacity, social distancing, only table service. Schools will re-open in September for most students, but different measures will be taken for those with children under 6 years old, in which both parents work, also there may also be measures for re-enforcement classes for those most vulnerable students, also for EBAU students, bachillerato, etc. Cinemas, theatres etc may open, 30% capacity, social distancing. Also expositions and meeting rooms. Religious sites 50% capacity.   Phase 3: Easing of movement between different territories. Restaurants/bars 50% capacity, social distancing.

#LivingInLockdown Day 43 – Monday 27th April   I woke up this morning feeling good. A sense of calm and contentment had come over me. I suspect this is due to the fact that I may be allowed out for a daily walk as of next week. It’s not just the opportunity to walk, though God knows I’ve missed that, it’s the fact that Spain is beginning to loosen its strict quarantine rules. A sign of better things to come. Now I know we still have a long way to go and that we’re likely to experience further spikes of new cases in the future, but it’s a step in the right direction. That’s all I need. It doesn’t take much to keep me happy.   It helps that many other European countries are also loosening their restrictions or looking at doing so in the near future. Then there is this week’s statistics. I have put my usual table below and you can see that new cases and deaths have significantly dropped this week. There is light at the end of this tunnel, though I appreciate it is still a very long one.   Apparently the expert health committee advising the government on lockdown measures has now presented their recommendations for what needs to be in place at each regional health authority to allow further deescalation of the lockdown. I won’t bore you with the details of this and I have no doubt the regional authorities and central government will need to go through their usual bickering before this criteria is finalised, but again it is a step in the right direction and something concrete to aim for. Having read a summary of the criteria, they are not the easiest to set up so I’m not expecting a rapid response.   Finally with the exception of a few pockets of idiots, who will always exist no matter the crisis, the majority of families throughout Spain kept to the regulations laid out for allowing children one hour of outside exercise a day. This is according to the Guardia Civil and National Police, and I’ve no reason to doubt them. To be honest I have been quite proud of the way most of Spain has behaved and come together to support their health service during this lockdown. The Spanish are masters at public demonstrations and I rather expected more protests against authority. However they are also very family oriented and now is the time to focus on those nearest and dearest to you. Mind you the rumblings of discontent have already started against the present administration, hence the pots and pans. I have no doubt the Spanish public will soon be back to their usual hobby of public protest.

Age Care volunteers are working hard to keep their members from being isolated, the drivers are distributing light lunches to over 30 members twice a week, weekly shopping trips, regular telephone calls, bi-weekly bulletins that keep them informed of the latest news, an on-line chat room that enable them to see and talk to their friends. We are looking after the ‘Elderly and vulnerable`in all Calahonda, Fuengirola, Los Boliches, Benalmadena and Coin. The help line 635 407 255 is open 24/7 and the Client Information Advisor is busy organising hospital and clinic appointments. In addition to all these activities Age Care has now instigated a new programme Check In and Chat” in which volunteers will call the elderly just to chat, making sure that no-one is left feeling alone and forgotten.  Age Care has also opened a funding app here to raise funds now that the Charity shop in Calahonda is closed.  Age Care and its members are extremely grateful to these volunteer drivers who are risking their own health for them.

#LivingInLockdown Day 42 – Sunday 26th April   An exciting weekend. Yesterday the Spanish government finally announced the rules for children being allowed out for exercise. From today up to three children under 14 can go out with one responsible adult for one hour of exercise up to 1km from their home. They must observe social distancing from others and use of playground and sports facilities is not allowed.   The government also announced that they may allow the rest of us out for an hour’s exercise a day from next Saturday, May 2nd. This is contingent on the continuing decline of new cases and deaths, and provided families this week respect the rules for children going out.   So this morning I was at my window watching hawk eyed to see how the families were behaving. There are a lot of families in this urbanisation and if they all went out at the same time it would be chaos. I know this because when the government closed the schools the Wednesday prior to the lockdown, it was madness in our plaza. Hoards of kids running around and screaming at the top of their voices, obviously ecstatic to be off school. I did think at the time that I was far more likely to catch the virus now than when they were in school.   However today it was all very organised. They mainly started to appear from midday through to 2.30pm and then again from 5pm to 8pm. It was all nicely staggered and no more than two to three families out in the plaza at one time. It’s a big plaza so this works fine. I don’t know what it was like on the streets, as I obviously haven’t been out today, but I’m hopeful if the view from my window is anything to go by.   I did wonder whether I would resent the fact that children are allowed out when I’m not, but in fact it was quite the opposite. Turns out I have missed the noise they make. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want the constant chatter of children in my apartment, but the sound of happy playing from a distance is nice. I like to see life going on around me and for the past 6 weeks it’s been deathly quiet out there. That is not normal for Spain where the noise volume on the street is normally set to maximum. Today some of that normalcy returned and next weekend hopefully even more.   The government also announced that it will be discussing the quarantine deescalation plan with the regions this week and hopes to publish their intentions next weekend. Again this is dependent on no increase in cases. Fingers crossed folks.

#LivingInLockdown Day 40 & 41 – Friday/Saturday 24th/25th April   It finally happened. I missed a day’s blog. To be honest it was such a busy day yesterday that I didn’t even notice until I fell into bed at 2am this morning having drunk rather too much during a Zoom social. It didn’t seem a good idea to try to write the blog at that hour. I’m sure the result would have been amusing if somewhat unintelligible. Then this morning I went to post some updates on the community group I run in Madrid and ended up putting it on my own page by mistake. I’ve just hastily deleted it and moved it to the correct place. I’ve previously posted my personal stuff in this group by accident or on my wine blog page. It get’s a bit confusing to be switching between the three accounts, especially whilst suffering the aftermath of a bottle of red wine (a rather nice one too). Anyway the reason I was too busy to blog yesterday is because I spent over nine hours either on the phone or FaceTime or Zoom with various people. Some of that was planned and some not. I am often on the phone these days, as my incredibly long phone log can testify, but nine hours is a new record. I have two more Zoom meetings this weekend and I’ve a horrible feeling they’re both today. Best I check my calendar and I think I’ll stick with non alcoholic beverages this time. Yesterday was also my supermarket shopping day and the first time to test the masks I bought from the pharmacy. I had to do a little adjusting to make them fit but they are so much easier to use than my bandanas. Not as stiflingly hot and easier to breath through. I still don’t like wearing masks but I can put up with these ones. Between all the calls and the shopping trip I had little time for anything else except preparing my meals. I did no cleaning yesterday and this morning the apartment looks a wreck. It is incredible how much mess one person can make in 24 hours. I really need to get up and start sorting it out, but the flesh appears to be unwilling. Maybe later. Right now I’m happy to just sit in my sun spot sipping water until I’m rehydrated.