Normality returns and some decisions are needed

FIVE days after the pubs opened on the inside as well and I still haven’t been for that pint.

Of all the things I have done without over the past 14 months, a proper pint of proper beer is the one I’m most keen to re-engage with. There’s nothing quite like a proper pint of proper beer in a proper pub. But the pub, the beer and the mood has to be right.

This week the mood just hasn’t been there for me. I’ve always scoffed at the notion of people’s mood being affected by the weather but this week’s cold wet rain and relentless wind has got into my bones. Usually I love the weather, especially the rain, and particularly that heavy-soft summer rain that makes the tree tops hiss and the meadows sigh with relief. But this week, out on the moor with the dogs, the sky was angry, the wind cross and the rain spiteful with cold. It felt ugly and unwelcome. Perhaps my mood has been affected by another significant milestone in the passing of time.

The Girl turns 21 today, and even though she is still a little girl in my eyes she has become a fabulous young woman; confident and clever with a mischievous streak and a smile that will bring sunshine into anyone’s day. We went out this week to celebrate. There were just six of us of course, but that was more than enough for us to mark the occasion with cocktails, sushi, lots of laughs and the obligatory late-night taxi tussle to get home.

After 14 months of life rotating between four places (gym, bedroom office, telly, bed, repeat) this week has been unusually busy. My poor feet are smarting after having to wear proper shoes three times. It’s actually been good to get out, to chat face to face, to be able to laugh and have comfortable pauses in conversation without someone bellowing “You’re on mute”. I’ve been back in my car, have ventured nearly as far as Exeter and have even crossed the Tamar Bridge. By the looks of things everything seems ok and after months of restriction and limited living things really are returning to normal.

The simplicity of lockdown life has meant that one area of my life has suffered from major neglect – and that is my wardrobe. Apart from new trainers, and a pair of tracksuit bottoms, I’m pretty sure I have not bought any new clothes for more than a year. There was no need. Because all my work meetings have been virtual and I have only seen people from the neck up, new clothes have just not been needed.

T-shirts I haven’t worn for years have become regular work wear and the only shoes I have worn have been slippers, trainers and walking boots.

Re-emergence into normal life is going to force me to make some decisions. I have a rack of suits and shirts hanging in a cupboard, and a row of leather shoes. I also have maybe 50 ties. Before this all started the ties had become redundant – now I am not sure I will wear any of those things ever again. I guess at some point I will have to decide what my new work attire will be, as I can’t see me cutting it out there in a vintage Spiderman T-shirt and gym shorts.

Of all the things I have done without, the ones I least want to reengage with are making decisions about what to go to, and what to wear. Ah well, that can wait for a week or so.

My last decision this week is, am I ready to go for that pint yet, and what to wear to walk the dogs in this wretched rain.