THE PERIODICAL NEWS FROM ALI HOAD: What one does during Lockdown

Corona Virus, took a while for me to get used to, and getting settled into the routine of staying at home. From the start of the pandemic to the 24th April, I managed to keep working, as dock workers are classed as essential workers and so I was able to keep up with at least two shifts a week, of various lengths to keep my income above zero. It felt really eerie when I had to walk my usual hour and a half to West Bay House in the Western Docks to be ready to start work at 06:00hrs. Social distancing created extra running around, as the Crew buses were only aloud to carry four passengers and a driver, so transport was multiplied depending on the number of drivers on shift. Slowly the ships dried up as the cargo was spread out round the world, and the stores of vehicles in the manufacturers compounds emptied. Then it became a case for some to be put on furlough, being paid by the government not the agency and that was where I ended up. From 25th April until the 11th September that was my position.

But as is my experience God is faithful and he didn't let me go short. Due to the formula that the agency had to apply, they deemed I was worth the nice amount of £220.00 each week, that easily covered all my expenses and more. As we got to September work was starting to pick up again and eventually I was called back, even though its only for a few days each week, it keeps me occupied and covers the weekly expenses.

What I've done during lockdown? Well not a lot and to confirm it I've put on weight due to plenty of non exercise and general vegging out.

The one project I managed to get completed during lockdown was having my front given a a covering of resin and gravel mix. Over a week two contractors from a firm in Bournemouth excavated ten inches of soil and builders rubbish from the garden, put in a layer of concrete and reinforcing wire, drilled holes in the concrete to allow for surface water to dissipate and then finished off with a layer of resin and gravel. The front is so much better than it was. All I need now is the fencer to come and finish the front so I can set to and build my garden shed.

As I've said I 'm planning to build a garden shed, due to the garden by the fence being an odd shape, building it myself will allow it to fit the odd shape and square the garden off. Down the sides of the garden I'm planning to make raised beds for flowers and possibly vegetables as well, along with some potted fruit trees and a grape vine, how this is all going to pan out I don't know. Down by the front door I'm aiming to put a double secure cabinet for deliveries when I'm not in and a raised flower bed for the benefit of my neighbor down stairs. I'm also planning to put up an outside projector screen for summer film shows, audio to be on Bluetooth and requires bluetooth headphones or earphones to hear the sound track.