This was one of those days that I thought I had all planned, but as Rabbie Burns said, “The best laid plans o’ mice and men gang aft agleigh.” I think you get the drift.

I had a Zoom call set with a potential new book client at 11 am, so I made an effort, got dressed, fixed my ever-lengthening hair and put on some makeup. At 10 am he messaged me to say he is fighting an illness and could we reschedule for next Wednesday. Oh well, not a big deal, just a slight change of plans.

A couple of months ago at met a woman called Susan at a tango party I had gone to with Alejandro. She lives five minutes from me, but we had never got together. Out of the blue she emailed me yesterday and suggested we might meet with shopping bags in hand and go for a walk — we would be going to the store according to the rules, but just taking the scenic route!

I met her at 2.30 pm and we had a lovely walk. Socially distanced of course, but a nice conversation getting to know each other better. I popped into the Nataria Portuguesa and bought two Portuguese custard tarts (pasteis de nata) to take home. Then we stopped at the corner cafe and chatted a bit before she left. I was going to pick up coffee, when I realized I had forgotten to buy some fruit and veggies, so I walked just a few yards to the greengrocer. Then back to the cafe and picked up my cafe con leche.

Walking across the street, I think I was concentrating on the coffee and the bag, and I tripped over my own feet and fell flat, about 3/4 of the way across! I went down heavily and it took me a few minutes to get any strength back to stand up. When I looked up, there were about six people looking down at me, all speaking Spanish through their masks! Anyway, one woman asked me my name and where I lived. I was only a few yards from my building. Next thing I know, Alejandro, my portero, arrived. He picked me up bodily and carried me into the building — and put me down on the steps. Next thing I know there are two police officers there — don’t know who called them — but they took my name and address and document number. I don’t know what that was about, but hey, it’s Buenos Aires.

The woman who had called the portero was also there, and she gave me her name and phone number and told me to call her if I needed anything as she lived just down the road.

Alejandro wanted to call a doctor, but I really balked at that. In the present circumstances they would be wanting to test me for Covid-19! So he brought me upstairs and left me. I felt a bit wobbly so I lay down for a bit and then I was just fine.

Ten minutes later there was a buzz at the door, and there was the other portero (the weekend guy) standing there with a bouquet of flowers – sent by the lady who gave me her name and number! How nice was that? Another example of how caring Argentines are, and why I love living here!

So I’ve had my dinner and now I’m having ice cream and malbec. What ? It’s the perfect comfort food combination! And thus ends a very strange day.

Well at least something happened — a break in the monotony of lockdown!