How have the restrictions affected your daily routine?
Not that much: I still knit, do embroidery, listen to BBC Radio 4, read the newspaper, make meals and feed my two cats Tsume and Kaia. I also keep in touch with people by text and phone. I have a friend with two nieces who are both expecting babies and have been working on knitted outfits for them. I got a new pattern in the post yesterday, posted at the start of the month, so the postal service is now slower. Shopping for materials is difficult as Craftworld is closed.
How has the crisis affected you personally?
As somebody who has survived cancer twice, I am very cautious anyway, but even more so now. My routine in lockdown includes a daily, fairly long walk, and I've discovered places and streets I didn't know even though I have lived off the Ormeau Road for over 30 years. At the moment, it's beautiful and I'm realising what a nice place this is to live. You can hear the birds, see the blossom and leaves coming out in fresh green. One not very serious problem at the moment is not being able to go to the hairdresser's. I colour my hair myself but cutting it is another matter.
What are the worst things?
Apart from the mortality rate, there is other fallout. I lost my youngest brother John recently and we'd hoped to scatter his ashes on Cave Hill. But they remain in England where he was living, so we will have to wait. Talking to a dear friend in Canada who is very ill and discussing where he would like to be scattered, I mentioned our plans for John and he said immediately that that's where he would like to end up too. It's returning home in a way, a sense of things coming full circle. Politically, what's awful is the fact we have a dreadful government at Westminster. Through gritted teeth, I'd have to say Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill are doing a rather good job, although I don't share the politics of either woman. In fact, women leaders round the world are showing the way to deal with this. New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern is a terrific woman and politician, I think.
Are there any positives?
The sense of community. My neighbours, all younger than me, have been marvellous. they'll say they're going to Dunne's Stores or Tesco and can they get me anything. I text family in Kent. My nephew Jack says he's enjoying spending time at home away from his job as a senior manager in the restaurant business with his wife and little girl.
What keeps you going?
Food! I don't like starting from scratch each evening but yesterday I made a batch of superb spaghetti Bolognese, which included herbs plus some red wine vinegar. That's why I do the walks – to burn off the extra calories.
