Moving into week 5 of lockdown

It's the Easter long weekend. We were supposed to be in London for the weekend but ah obviously that didn't happen. British Airways cancelled our flights. As we bought our tickets through another intermediary, British Airways said it could not do the refund directly. Of course, as I fully expected, the line of this intermediary agent was busy and there was no way we could have gotten our refund before the date of departure. We will see in the coming weeks if there is a way to 'rescue' the situation. Luckily, the hotel managed to return the payment we made.

Health wise, we are all ok, even my face have returned to normal, Alhamdullillah. This is the most important thing and no one we know is infected by the virus. Brunei recorded one death so far and hope it will stay that way. This is a big deal considering we are a small population.

We are getting into the routine of things and my office table which was originally home to a lot of junk and trinkets, including makeup, has now been cleared for a temporary office. It is quite cosy actually and conducive to work. The only thing I cannot control is when the kids barge in, in the middle of a video conference. I feel kind of sorry for them, because when Antoine and I are working, they are left to their own devices for hours on end.. with a lot of screen time. Although we go outside in the garden during the lunch break, I feel that the kids need mental stimulation at a higher level. Their learning process is not the same at home - with homework only taking up a short period of time during the day. They obviously need to socialise with others their age and also learn from the teachers which are fully trained to do so. I bought them a lot of games, lego and puzzles to keep themselves occupied... there is only so much we can do to help.

On a positive note, the bank account looks healthy. My skin also looks healthier as I use less makeup during the weekdays. I get to see the kids grow, everyday. I was concerned at one point because of the regular travels. I had 31 missions last year. I have more opportunities to record the kids for YouTube and take more photos - my treasured memory bank. I also value the things I own, more than before. I listen to more music and read more books at night, instead of working. Perhaps rushing back to the 'new normal' wouldn't be so great afterall. We will see.