Quarantine diaries: day 5

 It is a strange thing to go a day without any real external stimuli. I have become aware of the natural fluctuations in my mood - which beforetimes would never have affected me very much (too many things to do according to a schedule that involved others, so I am held accountable). If I felt a bit low, so what? The washing machine just beeped and it needs to be hung out, so I would have to go outside and breathe some fresh air, and see the sun, and move my arms around stretching to get the washing in the right configuration and bending over to pick up fallen pegs. All of which would have solved the low mood issue. Now, I feel low for a brief moment and my thinking mind latches on to it and catastrophises to the point where I end up like "Sadness" in Inside Out and cheek down, arms beside me lying on the floor. 

I miss the hoover. I'm too much of a crumby, long-haired soul to be OK with living on this carpet for two weeks without being able to pick it all up off the floor. Lack of yoga mat means any kind of chaturanga ends up with me becoming hyper aware of the bits on the carpet. 

Meantime, the food is becoming the highlight of the days. Breakfasts are consistent and simple, but with something sweet that I've been saving for after as my morning tea (such an important meal of the day!). Granola and assorted cereals are reminding me of the boring but reliable porridges I was eating whilst working (god, that seems like such a long time ago now). Lunches are a bit of a mixed bag. I'm preferring the assorted salads, and I am terribly glad I am not a fussy eater or have any allergies. Dinners are the most exciting - there have been a few duds, which makes a good hot meal even more of a treat. And somebody knows the importance of pudding because there is always some exquisite little cake (well, I'm sure it starts off exquisite - they tend to smush against the walls of the little containers they are packed in, and goodbye carefully piped cream garnishes). All in all I feel like I am eating recommended portions of things, which is a novelty for me. Fingers crossed that between that and the jumping around I can get myself to a size I'm happier with - this spare tyre needs to go!