(Monday, 27 April 2020)
Today was a day of many parts, both physically and emotionally.
The day started with a fairly heavy discussion on the subject of re-opening. Not that we have any concrete information yet. There is a big announcement due from the government Tuesday so until it’s official, it is just purely speculation.
Whilst domestic lockdown is due to end from 1st May and therefore in just a few days time, social distancing must still be respected. There is a phased re-opening of certain businesses etc and you will be allowed to visit family and friends. It’s life Jim… but not as we know it. 🤨
I’d read an article that suggested hotels may be allowed to re-open under certain strict restrictions. Until we have word from the government, we won’t know for sure of course, but it covered things like no buffet style meals, wearing of some degree of PPE and maintaining social distance. All well and good, but that would not necessarily be so easy to achieve here. We’d have to make some big changes.
We talked through various options… actually a lot of options. It’s time like this when you are at your most unsettled. It’s not just the practicalities of making the expected new rules possible, it’s also the emotional side of it. I’m on some scale or other of risk for a couple of reasons, not least some medication I take. It’s a bit unnerving to say the least.
I am very aware that we are temporarily existing in a rather beautiful bubble, effectively isolated from towns, risk and reality, just keeping busy and trying not to think too much of the future. Enjoying the weather and doing things that make us feel positive. It’s all worked very well and we have been quite content to ride out this lockdown and make it count towards improving the future. I’m certain our methods aren’t for everyone, but it’s kept us sane.
Having the possibility of the end of closure being in our sights, makes me feel both hopeful and vulnerable. We can protect the guests one way or another, I have no doubt about that. But will we then be the ones more at risk? 🤨
Heavy discussions were halted when a car arrived and brought one of our friends bearing a little bag of gifts and an invitation to a post lockdown meal. What perfect timing and instantly lifted our spirits! What a thoughtful and lovely gesture on all counts – thank you! 😍
The weather is definitely on the turn now, although Weather Mountain was ominously shrouded in a stormy black cloak , we were merely side swiped and whatever might have been disappeared up one of the other valleys, missing Perneck completely bar about 3 drops of rain. 😁
The sun reappeared with just a few fluffy white clouds around. Since (in)Accuweather announced that there was to be 1.5 hours of no precipitation, we grabbed the boys and treated ourselves to a walk up at Rettenbach.
Whilst the high alpine valley of Rettenbach is a cycling, walking and langlauf heaven, we only occasionally take the dogs up there and never on the main path through. It is one of the main routes on the Trans Salzkammergut cycle route and is therefore frequented by a few cyclists.
Nowhere here is ridiculously busy (except perhaps Hallstatt in mid summer 😉) but with two daft mutts on the end of extending 8m lines, even one cyclist every 10 minutes is a faff, you don’t hear them coming and spend your time constantly checking fore and aft for incoming and then hauling dogs back into the side. It’s simply not relaxing and since we have oodles of choice that are quieter, we don’t often take them up there.
During a lockdown and with all the traditional old alms shut, yesterday it was absolute paradise. We saw one set of cyclists and one pair of walkers and that was it. We virtually had it to ourselves and the boys were in heaven! We walked all through the valley to the end, the boys went paddling in the river at the beginning and the end and in between they alternated between running backwards and forwards across the path from one verge to the next. They love their walks, they are always incredibly enthusiastic, no matter if it’s a route they’ve done a thousand times, but a new walk? Oh, now that is exciting! 🐕 😁
Having spent way too much time stopping for photos and paddling, we route marched back again to get home in time for a facetime birthday party for Mum. It’s actually her birthday today (Tuesday) but since in the UK, it was also the last sunny day for a while, it was possible for my sister and nephew to get there to sit in the garden for tea and cake, whilst we were online at the same time.
There were some entertaining moments trying to position Mum’s ipad so that we could achieve some balance of fitting everyone in the screen, whilst maintaining social distancing and yet, still be able to hear them. But it worked after a fashion and it was so lovely to ‘sit down together’ with my family. 💕
It made me feel more than a bit homesick afterwards. Having now missed two of my Mum’s scheduled visits here and not having been able to get back to see my sister and nephew lately, I miss them all terribly. 😢
My Mum is one in a million, she is an inspiration, a rock and one of the kindest human beings I know. She always puts everyone else first, above herself and always was – and continues to be – the best mother a girl could ask for and is much loved by everyone. I love you Mummy, Happy Birthday! 🎂 💕 😘 😘
As I said, it was a day of many parts.. highs, lows, tears and smiles…. pretty much standard fare for most days of a lockdown I guess! 😉
Stay safe everyone xx
