Life in
the time of Covid-19 and other things
Being part of the ‘vulnerable’ cohort, we have had to give in
and ‘self-isolate’, much to our children’s relief. Delivery drivers are being punctilious in their
manner of conveying items to us.
At present, all is bonhomie and I really cannot complain. We go
out in the early evening to walk our four dogs. It’s quieter then and because
we drive to the woods we do not risk breathing on others or being breathed
upon. Susannah lives close to us and calls by every day to see if we need
anything. She keeps her distance and we are becoming accustomed to shouted
conversations that the whole neighbourhood can enjoy, though, to be sure, they
are fairly banal. Frankie stands by, looking a little bemused. His routine has
been severely affected, as school has closed for him and all his activities
have been suspended. Susannah says the local shop is empty of many things but
full of people ignoring the oft-repeated mantra to maintain a 2-metre distance
from others. Why? Some people appear to be treating the current lockdown as an
impromptu holiday. In some instances, police have dispersed gatherings of more
than two people.
Gillian, our eldest daughter, told us of an incident in sleepy
Blandford, when police were called to a supermarket to arrest a man who had
punched another man because he wanted his block of cheese! Dear me, whatever
happened to self-control?
I am enjoying the peace and quiet. It’s never horrendously
noisy here but currently we are free of over-flying helicopters and other
aircraft, apart from a very occasional airliner. Is it my imagination or are
the birds singing more joyously than usual? They are certainly very busy,
meeting and mating, nesting and brooding and keeping Herschel and Jellicoe
entertained. Their brother, Isambard, died very suddenly last October. Barry
had been confined to bed with pneumonia and Isambard had been keeping him
company and developed a respiratory disease that killed him in 24 hours,
despite the best endeavours of our lovely vets. Very sad. However, he left a
little of his soul behind in his brothers, who have both become much more
attentive and demonstrative. Jellicoe had also been very ill with pancreatitis
and we have found that nursing sick animals seems to make them more affectionate.
The last few days have been glorious, sunny and bright. As spring
matures, Nature continues to awaken and dress herself in fresh green and flowers.
I saw my first butterfly yesterday. It was yellow, perhaps a Clouded yellow. I’ve
just discovered that a yellow butterfly symbolises hope and guidance, and was
the symbol of the soul in early Christianity. We certainly need plenty of hope
and forbearance at present.
To occupy the hours, I am practising the piano, attempting to
improve my playing – long way to go there! – doing jigsaws and tapestry, reading,
writing, and trying to remember how to crochet. Crochet is not like riding a
bicycle – once you fall off the hook it’s not so easy to get back on!
We are only in the first week of lockdown – I think some folks
are going to get mighty tired of it long before the initial three weeks are
over. I do feel sorry for teenagers and also glad I haven’t any to contend
with. Someone suggested that the divorce rate would increase and/or there would
be a ‘baby boom’, the resulting infants possibly becoming known as ‘Coronalists’.
