Well, I suspected I wouldn’t be able to resist posting again.

Firstly, I wanted to share this picture. It seems to me suitably apocalyptic for the times – the fountain in Trafalgar Square awash with blood:

But, no. It was actually red dye dropped into the fountains by Animal Rebellion last week as a protest against animal farming.

And, .secondly, this pic. I’ve banged on in this Blog about my love for cranes (not the avian kind) and ,today, at lunch, “The Writer”, spotted this little gathering not far from our roof:

Extraordinarily, they even seem to be Social Distancing.

My main reason for writing ,though , is that tonight, we had our first meal out since we looked down on March 12th. And what a major event it was after four months eating in our own apartment. First, I had to locate the cardboard box which holds my make -up.

I have had no adornment near my face for four months. Then I had to remember how to put on the various concoctions, wondering throughout why we spend so long applying unnecessary gunk to ourselves. I didn’t notice my husband changing the colour of his eye-lids, lips or facial skin before going out. It didn’t look much different when I’d finished either. Next came the hunt for shoes. Last time I wore anything but trainers, it was boots, four months late, sandals seemed more appropriate. A dress was easier – in the wardrobe with all the other Summer gear I haven’t worn, my Lockdown wardrobe having consisted entirely of yoga pants, T -shirts and shorts. How long since I had to carry a handbag? Mind you, by the time it was filled with antiseptic wipes of varying sizes, a bottle of hand sanitiser in case the wipes went missing, a mask in case -in case of what, I’m not sure, since we ere eating outside – and my phone, it was as packed and inelegantly bulging as always.

I notice how celebrities’ handbags always look perfectly in shape – obviously some assistant carries the stuff they actually need. Same when they get off a ‘plane, never bent over like me, struggling with the armfuls of junk necessary for travel: IPad, headphones, spare jumper in case it’s cold on board, book I’ve been intending to finish for months, pen for the sudoko I do instead of reading the book and so on. No, they step out of the door with just the aforementioned perfectly in shape handbag.

Walking to the restaurant, 45 Jermyn St. at the side of Fortnum and Mason, was as thrilling as the anticipation of a first date. And, in the quiet street, there it was – our oasis in the desert that is Covid – crisp white tablecloths, silver cutlery gleaming in the early evening sun and masked waiters studiously pouring glowing wines into sparkling glasses. Oh how we’ve missed eating out. Our pre-Lockdown life was punctuated by lunches, dinners and even breakfast alone or with friends in the myriad restaurants that surround us in Soho, sadly now falling victim to the Pandemic by the day. It doesn’t have to be anywhere grand – a pizza chain is fine and we will always mourn the loss of Patisserie Valerie, our favourite place to idle away an hour. Just seeing London passing by is what we want and if the food is good, so much the better.

The Maitre D’ at 45 dealt quickly and unobtrusively with our concerns about sufficient distancing from Tod and Trish, moving tables around with the minimum of fuss and, happily seated, in the excitement of the event, we totally forgot our vow to sanitise all implements and glasses before eating.

Happy beyond measure, we laughed, told bad jokes, complained about the behaviour of our so-called leaders and behaved like gauche tourists, forsaking what we fondly believe to be our cool London sophistication even to the extent of rushing inside to watch the masterly flambéing of our lobster spaghetti.

We had the most perfect evening and for the first time in a long while, forgot to worry about the horrors that have been or may be still to come.

As we walk back home through the Soho streets, thronging with life and young people locked together in groups, heedless of danger, we realise that there is yet more bliss in store :

WE DON’T HAVE TO CLEAR UP THE KITCHEN OR EVEN LOAD THE DISHWASHER!!