Corona Journal, 2 May: Day 48

10am French lesson. The activity I have prepared where K has to match the country (in French) to the emoji flag isn’t working, so I try it on my laptop (I usually use boyfriend’s because my laptop is so old that it panics and overheats if I so much as try to watch a YouTube video while it’s on charge). Log into Zoom on my laptop and am confronted with my own face, looking like the Corpse Bride. Am horrified and then delighted when laptop reliably dies and I have to log back on to boyfriend’s laptop, where I look radiant again.

10:30am Realise with much disappointment that I think boyfriend’s laptop has some kind of portrait mode/beautifying filter in the webcam. I mean, I had thought my skin looked especially smooth and glowy, but I thought that must have been the benefits of all the healthy food and exercise while in lockdo – oh, wait…

2pm Lying on my bed, eating chocolate (told Tech Savvy Friend 1 that I’d “limit myself to one per day to make them last,” but alas) and watching with amused interest as a man runs up and down the alley behind my flat. Up and down, up and down. Start counting his lengths, but it starts to feel like counting sheep and I’m worried I’ll fall asleep if I don’t stop.

4pm Walk to Regent’s Park for a socially distant walk with a friend, who lives alone and hasn’t had any human contact in 6 weeks. Decide to include her in our flatmate/boyfriend/me household.

5pm Sitting on the grass in the sun, 2m apart, drinking rhubarb and ginger G&Ts from cans. Feels almost like normal life, until we see a plane and can’t stop staring at this relic from the past.

5:30pm Rhythmic growling and grunting noises coming from the lion enclosure at London Zoo. People who would usually crane their necks to get a view of the amazing beasts are tutting and rolling their eyes as the horny lions make it obvious that they don’t have to socially distance.

5:40pm We wander over to have a look because we’re perverts. Don’t see any lions getting it on, but we do see a camel, and friend asks if I’m going to take a photo for the Corona Journal. I roll my eyes. And then take a photo.

6pm Walk up Primrose Hill and sit, watching the sun sink a bit lower, talking about life and what we’re going to do When This Is All Over. Think of some ideas about how I can spice up the Corona Journal now that lockdown isn’t exciting or new anymore, but just a more boring version of day-to-day life. (Suggestions welcome).

7:30pm Eventually it starts to get chilly and we say goodbye and head home.

8pm Arrive home, heat up some leftover risotto and read in bed until 10pm when it’s time to sleep. Feel peaceful, calm and yes, a bit bored.