Having fun

Life in a cocoon was not just about physical survival and avoiding contact with the virus. It was necessary to have some fun too, and keep ones senses alive. I am a keen gardener. I also like sports. One morning a lightweight football had appeared in the back garden, presumably kicked or thrownover from the field behind. A large empty plant pot weighted down with a suitable stone, together with the ball provided plenty of scope for practising basketball skills. 

When the fun of gardener's basketball wore off, I turned again to the defunct microwave. One of the parts in a microwave is a microwave turntable support ring. Naturally there were watering cans to hand. So, gardeners' quoits was invented. This turned out to be far more challenging than expected and led to some very competitive matches, often decided by very low scores. 


Games that were to be more taxing mentally were soon to follow. One of Lee's marvellous nieces was kind enough to begin the organisation of a Thursday evening quiz night to which she invited family members, friends, and a few neighbours. It was timed to begin after the weekly Thursday night doorstep applause for front line workers.

We used Zoom for the main part of the video links, and sometimes a WhatsApp group to share pictures, feedback scores and generally chat between quiz nights. The quizmaster was whoever volunteered, though the week's winning team were encouraged to volunteer for the following week. Lee and I were accustomed to finishing next to last, for which we had a whole string of excuses. One week we won quite unexpectedly. 

We spent the following week crafting a quiz that we felt was a true test of various aspects of participants' general knowledge across a range of topics. It was the most unpopular quiz of the entire season. Apparently the round on mythology was especially disliked. With so many modern super-hero films based on classical stories I was surprised at the groans as our questions ground on. We were never again encouraged to volunteer our services as quizmaster. Perhaps I am showing my age.




Do you like my zero gravity chair, It is excellent for relaxation. We had lots of fine days in March, April, and May: it was good to relax in the fresh air. It's what the garden is for, isn't it? 


 




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