March 17th, 2021, Menorca
Happy anniversary. Exactly a year ago today I stepped off the last plane into Menorca to begin quarantine and lockdown on the island… A whole year… In my whole life, I don’t think I have ever, ever spent a whole year in one place… mind you, if you’re going to have to stay put for a year, I can’t think of a better place to do it. I’ve alsways said I wanted to spend a whole year here… not exactly the circumstances I would have chosen (Covid, sis) but in fact, without Covid I’m sure I would have up stakes and left at some point, and inspite of all the drawbacks inherent in living with my sister, without her I would have been very lonely at times… And the benison of the land, the sea, the beautiful old house and gardens (tho’ SO much work), fresh air, nature in general, and of course, most important, the cat – what’s to complain about? I can’t call myself a musician anymore, I don’t think, or a composer, I spend so little time doing either – I am a caretaker (giver?), housekeeper, gardener, farmer – or as the song goes, “Maid, cook, gardener, poolboy and nurse, Painter, cleaner, tour guide, nanny and worse, Shopper and chauffeur, translator, oh for a flash back to days of yore, with Servants.” I do have a little help. Twice a week a lady from Social Services comes for an hour – she gets sis dressed (so I can take her to her rehab/physio at the hospital). and also does some vaccuming and cleaning in the time left, bless her. And once a week a wonderful girl comes to give sis a shower, change her bedding etc – S.S’s. would do it, but sis loves Sandra, it’s worth paying for…. so 3 days a week I have a little help, which is wonderful. And actually sis is definitely getting better, slowly – today we went mattress hunting and actually bought her one, so next week when it arrives we can get rid of the hospital-style articulated single bed and she will be back in a regular double bed – with a fabulous new mattress. Very expensive, but half what it would have been had it not been on sale. She deserves a good bed – she spends so much time in it! And we had lubina for lunch in celebration.
Chris and Catherine are in residence in my apartment in Westbeth – he transferred his job to NYC (so lucky he could do that), and she works from home at the moment, so it’s a chance to have a few months with their own home together, and for him to save his pennies so he can come back out here again at some point and take care of his mom so I can finally go back for a bit… we video chat and it is so weird seeing my apartment…. great for the place to have some TLC – the piano has been tuned, all the mail finally gone through, and Catherine has done a deep clean on both kitchen and bathroom, which was much needed, I’m sure. What AM I going to do about it all??? Living day by day at the moment, the only way possible at present, but it. cannot continue indefinitely…
It’s been a pretty gentle winter, overall, apart from a couple of really cold snaps – dire shortage of rain, tho’… we’re headed into another cold spell this week – march, the crazy month – the sun is actually really hot already, but the air is still cold – I love it, but it drives sis crazy. I’ve gone down to the sea a couple of afternoons and napped by the water – once at the rocks (with my yoga mat!). and once at Binidali. Sweet…
We are facing another major repair, that of sis’s patio, which has been completely destroyed by pine roots – it’s like the Himalayas back there and extremely dangerous for sis, so it’s going to have be dug up, the roots cut out (sure hope we don’t lose the trees) and the stones re-layed. How we pay for it heaven knows, but like the bathroom renovation, it. has to be done, so we will just find a way. It is also the only cool place in the hottest part of the summer, so important for all…
And then there’s the fact that I’m about to turn 70. Jesus me beads… I think my body has definitely taken the idea on board – gippy left hip and knee, right shoulder, aches and pains all over, creaking like an old sailing ship, and seem to be tired all the time – less interested in biking etc in the. afternoon, would. rather take a nap – let’s hope it’s just the end of winter… roll on spring…