I’m not sure when to start this week’s entry, as Monday was Easter Monday (a bank holiday) and my work, the legends, gave us Tuesday off. So this week is going to be a very short working week of just two days! Finishing on Thursday for our holiday in Rome, I mean holidaying at home. I can’t wait, a chance to recharge my batteries and enjoy more DIY. Yet I can’t deny that the cancellation to our Rome trip has dashed my hopes, dreams and list of places we had planned to visit. I keep walking through the trip in my mind, seeing the famous Colosseum and sights, tasting the pasta, the pizza, and other delights of Rome, smelling good holiday vibes and loving every minute. Instead we will be at home, but in holiday mode – I hope.

We start the week in the holiday spirit by taking on the role of the Easter bunny to drop off chocolate eggs on the doorsteps of our Scouts. As we jump in the car, my heart is running fast with excitement, finally an opportunity to spread joy and connect with people in person. With every door that opens, a new, yet familiar face of surprise, delight and or excitement greets me from where I stand on the curb. It is the best feeling seeing and talking to parents and young people. A Beaver Scout (7 year old) has ran back inside and returned with a Mars bar to exchange for his egg. It is so sweet, no pun intended, and I don’t take the chocolate the sentiment is enough to melt my heart.  After two hours our good turn is achieved. As we drive home well wishes, excitement and optimism circulate in my head.

Another person in a celebration mode and ready to do a good turn is Captain Tom, a 99-year-old war veteran, who has decided to celebrate his birthday by walking his garden 100 times. He started a crowd fund for the NHS and with the whole nation behind him his target has been blown away. But I can’t help thinking, how can this one man’s efforts to fundraise have such a big impact? Can the government do more to support the NHS who are struggling for the basic protective equipment?  And while I appreciate the government are trying their best to resource the NHS, I can’t help question when will the NHS have what they need to protect themselves from coronavirus? Will it all be too little too late? Why did it take this one man’s efforts to get the nation rich list donating? What is the fate of other charities – don’t they matter? However, in the present what is important is that Captain Tom has an incredibly Happy birthday and his fundraising celebrations continue.

While back in my four walls, I start back at work for my long two day week. Trust me any work is long when you’re already in the holiday spirit. So, what to say about my two days of work. Well they fly over. I’m not stressed by my endless list of jobs.  I just do the essentials in a timely manner and think ‘job well done’ as I put my out of office on. I guess maybe I am learning to care less, if that doesn’t sound too heartless. It will never be true either, as I make a list for my return post-holiday and work an extra few hours both working days this week. I just can’t seem to get things done in the time I set. First the internet drops out at intervals throughout the day, then I make a few errors in my hurry, I find a shortcut and it backfires as I don’t follow the instructions correctly thus creating more work. But finally, I do set the out of office and our holiday begins.

But what is the point? Under normal circumstances I would have been the last person to wish them away. However, sorry to all you fellow dreamers out there, it wasn’t a traditional holiday: there is no lying on a beach, exploring a city or venturing across, up or into the unknown.  We are after all ‘grounded’ until further notice. Yet we still need to take a break from our work to give our batteries time to recharge. The alternative would be somewhat more ‘Dawn of the Dead’. Imagine if no employee takes a holiday during this period, workplaces could be desolate upon the return to the familiarity. This could spread fear that (I cringe as I type this) employees on holiday are actually fatalities of coronavirus.

Worse-case scenario over, let’s get into the holiday spirit as this weekend and the week ahead is, well was our trip to Rome. But instead of heading to the airport and exploring a city I am joining the home holiday makers to become a DIY lover. For weeks we have been looking at painted strips in the sitting room, now we can finally get the walls back to one colour.

We end the week taking some time to relax too with ‘One World: Together at Home’ a free concert on the BBC to celebrate our key workers keeping the country going. Watching it live on TV, it is inspiring to see the stars perform from their homes as passionate and brilliant as if they are live in concert. The heart-warming clips between the performances of the efforts of key workers, are bringing tears of joy. Hang in their fellow humans we will come out the other side soon.