Another week, with much reference to Groundhog Day, which makes little sense as aren’t most days, weeks, months “the same”. Surely we are at our most comfortable within the structure of a routine ….. it’s the change of routine that throws us off kilter.
Which is why, as a quick aside, I am far from convinced that there will be a huge change in lifestyle once we emerge from the “new normal” phase (whatever that may be) back to “normal”. We are creatures of habit (which are by definition hard to change) and easily influenced by others. Hands up who hasn’t sat on holiday thinking the first week is bliss, making plans to incorporate more “down time” into life, then week two ….. get me home!!! Back home a week goes by, and “was the holiday only last week” …..
On a (roughly) similar vein it will be of interest just how much change we do adopt as a result of COVID-19?
Pubs? I think they killed the pubs years ago when they turned them into mediocre ‘restaurants’, and life would be much better if they looked to adopt the European Bar/Cafe model.
Restaurants? When we lived in Spain I adopted the theory that people really only need 5 ‘places’: a best restaurant for those special occasions (probably used 3-4 times a year), a place to eat for when cooking at home not an option/desirable – a one plate type of meal, a regular place where you could have a chat with staff/customers/friends, a ‘me only’ place for a bit of down time with a book/cigar/podcast etc and a general place where you met people that you didn’t want to introduce to your ‘inner sanctum’. Fundamentally my view has not changed, and we very much live within this: we use an Indian Restaurant that you would class as ‘up market’ for the occasional family birthday, and we enjoy a Sunday Lunch at a ‘club’ a couple times a year, and twice a year we have a meal at a local ‘Stately Home’, and to be honest that is about it. I hardly ever go to the Pub, or out for a coffee – I much prefer to do this at home.
Flights? I think they days of cheap flights needs to be consigned to history. Probably room for one or two carriers for those that want to book up say three months in advance so they can run will full loads, but the reality is we need to accept making less flights, and paying more …. and in return get a service that treats us like humans and meets our requirements for baggage in the hold, meals included, boarding in a civilised manner ……
I am hopefully not alone in the constant speculation as to how and when the Social Distancing Guidelines will be relaxed. First up, let’s see how the other countries get on! Friends in Spain say it’s all a bit confused and mad, and the images are off crowded areas with very little social distancing – and let’s be honest they are really coming out of a tough Lockdown to a situation we have been in since we imposed Social Distancing: their relaxed is our current!
Second, how can we police and implement a relaxing? I am not at all confident that the general public will be responsible. Overall the current guidelines have been adopted well, and policed overall effectively, but when one group gets something and another doesn’t ….. we don’t have a good track record on that so I think the probability will be a far more chaotic and indisciplined environment – something we intend to avoid. Our hopes for a “new normal” are very basic: longer walks with the dogs, spending more time at home with family, maybe a meal at home with friends that we know have been socially distancing responsibly.
Keep Safe, Be Nice!