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| A holiday memory from Malta |
Hello Everyone,
This is week 8 of lockdown and peeps in England have been praised for being good citizens, and obeying the new Stay Home rules. Now, our lockdown has been eased. Stay Home has changed to Stay Alert. We may drive anywhere in England, but not Wales or Scotland. We may put our homes on the market, and invite strangers in, but we are not allowed to have our friends and relatives round. If we can work from home we should, if not we should be back at work but not using public transport. Oh, and we are now allowed to visit garden centres; they have reopened. Wait for it... we may play tennis, and golf, or go fishing. Confused at the dichotomies? So are we plus there is fear. Fear of putting ourselves at risk, and fear of a second wave because restrictions have been eased too soon.
This week I would like to share my log from the weekend. Please enjoy, even if it leaves you confused.
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Day 47, May 9th,
back to Groundhog Days.
It’s 11.30 on a Saturday morning. I’m here with my second cuppa. I’ve had breakfast while watching the Kathryn Jenkins’ concert at The Royal Albert Hall on YouTube. One of her words to describe it was “surreal”. Apparently, there was a proper concert planned for VE Day evening but it has been postponed until September. It was an enjoyable half hour concert with some musicians for accompaniment. Kathryn, a true professional, did not let the lonely, empty, deserted, eerie venue affect her performance. She sang the old favourite war time songs, “We’ll meet again”, “A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square”, “The white Cliffs of Dover”, a few others, and the one associated with this pandemic, “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. When historians look back at this time they will see the hope and positivity shown in the symbolic rainbow. Pretty rainbows, many painted by children, are everywhere.
What am I going to do today? It’s a sunny day, so I’ll miss Antonio! I have to make do with ice cream from the freezer. Not as exciting but…
I shall potter in the garden, carry on with my editing and writing, play games, make my phone call and…
BBL
I’m watching “Britain’s got Talent” and have to admit that I am thoroughly embarrassed by the first act. It’s a group of children, “The D-Day Juniors”, inspired by the “D-Day Darlings”. These children show such respect for the war veterans, and those who did not return, but made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. They want to make sure future generations are aware of what that generation did for them. Their act was a song, Pass it On. Such maturity. Why am I embarrassed? Because I remember the fifties, those post war years of austerity, and then the swinging sixties, with the main slogan, you’ve never had it so good. We had not, and that was when we forgot, or ignored, all that had been done for us, The war was over, and forgotten. We paid it a kind of mock homage on November 11th, annually, and that was a bit of an effort. There’s an old adage, “Don’t teach your Grandmother to suck eggs”. Meaning you should not give advice to those who have more experience, and knowledge, than you. Generally, thought that older people are wiser than younger ones, and youth should learn from age; from wisdom gathered over the years. Those children show so much more respect, and wisdom, than I ever did at their age. I’m so pleased that things are back to how they should be. I guess it’s a case of “out of the mouths of babes and suckling”. Thank you to today’s generation for putting things right.
This afternoon I listened to the usual update. It was one of those times in life when I could not believe what I was hearing. From the end of this month all peeps entering UK airports will be quarantined for 14 days. Isn’t that shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted? Other countries put quarantine into operation at the beginning of the outbreak in an attempt to contain it. There will be exceptions. Why? Does it apply to ferries? Apparently, unknown to us, there was quarantine in February for certain sectors entering our country.
Thinking ahead on this one, if you’ve a summer hols booked, and still optimistic of escaping abroad in July, August or September. Think again. This is obviously another setback for our aviation industry who are already teetering on the edge of both despair and destruction. Let’s say there is a plane going to where you want to go in August. First, there’s the new screening hassle at the airport. Next, anxiety on the plane. Is it safe, or is someone unknowingly, maybe even you, carrying the disease? Finally, you reach your destination, how are you going to be received? After, going through another screening and border control what will greet you beyond? Unhappy locals? Are you bringing them the virus? If you’re in a hotel or eating in restaurants, (if they are open) will you still be practising social distancing? Then, when it’s time to come home, will there be a plane or will it be another case of borders closed, and flights cancelled in that week or two while you’ve been on a “holiday”? Okay, you get through the screening, onto the plane, and eventually land back in the U.K. only to be whisked into quarantine. Or possibly, confined to your home for two weeks.
Easier option, this summer. Visit our coastal resorts for a week or two, again as we did in the fifties and sixties, but will you be any safer? Social distancing? Many places closed. Guess, it means forget all hols for the foreseeable. When we are allowed freedom again, will that industry have survived?
Further listening, and I’m thinking, another backward step. We should all be walking or cycling to work, thus avoiding public transport, (public transport cannot cope with the numbers who would normally travel due to social distancing), and taking exercise at the same time. Escooters are going to be trialed now as opposed to next year. A century ago peeps lived near or where they worked. Then, a new affluent society emerged, and the arrival of the suburbs. Peeps were looking to move out of towns, and cities, to a more rural environment, and a better life, away from work and the commuter was born. The new “must have” was a vehicle. Most homes had one car. Now, each member of the family needs a car. It’s looking like the car is becoming redundant, and peeps are going to be living nearer their work again, if they can find work. The wheel has gone full circle. Peeps are being taught a lesson.
Those five tests for easing of restrictions are being mentioned again. Tomorrow evening, at 7.00 pm Boris will be giving us another message on how things are moving. We’re to be told to “stay alert” as opposed to “stay at home”. There’s evidence from other countries, who have eased restrictions, that cases have risen again and fear of a second wave. It’s not looking good is it?
Another sad note in the news. The adorable Little Richard, has died at the age of 87. For youngsters, who have no idea who I’m talking about, he was the founding father of Rock and Roll.
Time to say goodnight, be safe, see you tomorrow. As Colonel Tom says, “tomorrow will be a good day”.
Day 48, Sunday, May 10th. Groundhog Day? Who’s counting?
Good morning all. Our sunny days have left us, temporarily I hope. Think the heating will be back on today. It’s Sunday, again, the special day of the week. I’m here with breakfast while watching, what is now the norm, a surreal morning service. It’s the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, in Hereford Cathedral. Rather a long way from Dover to Hereford isn’t it? It’s followed by a new programme of Sunday Morning Stories. Yes, Sunday is slowly getting back to the way it used to be. Second cuppa time.
Back to work until “Songs of Praise”.
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Until next week, wherever you are in the world stay safe. 212 countries now have the virus and you probably dwell in one of them. Be happy, smile and the world will feel a better place.
Love to all, Lady M xxxxx
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