Technically this is the week that I should note that I started to get frustrated. Not with the social distancing guidelines, or the impact they are having on us, but with the fact that a) people keep calling what we in the UK are having imposed on us as a Lock down, and b) the inability of many to comply with sensible and realistic restrictions, while at the same time saying they are bored.
We have friends in Spain that we are in touch with daily. They are in Lockdown mode: they are not allowed out at all other than to go the shops, or work. The police this week put road blocks up to stop anybody leaving other than for medical reasons, and they stopped allowing online deliveries in. Everyone has to shop in the Supermarket, under strict rules (not guideline you note RULES), and there is zero tolerance. The streets have been disinfected and police patrol the streets.
Get the picture, yes you, sat in the park with your mates watching videos on Social Media without a care in the world. Sorry did I say you, I meant you moron!
And so to point b)
I think it is fair to criticise (constructively) at times like this, but let’s make sure we are fair …. well I at least will try to be! Successive Governments have ensured that the country is woefully prepared for an event like this: NHS not fit for purpose, population not educated enough to understand the strategy. Parents need to shoulder some responsibility for the lack of discipline shown by all age ranges and where do I begin with the claim by so many to be bored! Bored of what – living? Being a decent human being? Reading books, learning new skills, getting on with jobs that lost out to the more important things in life – the pub, sporting events cinema. They will all be back you know, all you need to do it to try and stay alive to enjoy them, and help others to stay alive to enjoy them as well.
Rant over ……
Our social distancing continues to go well. We have tinkered with the structure a little and the dogs now walked every other day as we have no choice other than to drive them a short distance (we live off a main road with no pavement), so one of us walks the dogs, then the other goes for a jog. On the days we don’t walk the dogs we go for a walk along a local public footpath.
Once a week I shop at the CoOp locally for fresh produce for ourselves and my parents, and they have slowly been restocking so I reckon 90% of what we would want is available and they have been cheerful, helpful and respectful throughout so big shout out to them. Once a week we go to my parents to collect their medicines, clean the house, and make sure all is well, but apart from that we (and they) are not seeing anyone.
Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime are all in use – but they always were and the webcams at my parents on a shared account ensure we get notifications that all is well with them, and of course Charmin.
The big question occupying my thoughts these days (OK a passing interest occasionally) is just how many of these ‘new’ habits and activities we will keep. On Twitter the Reverend Richard Coles said that for two weeks he hadn’t consumed anything that he hadn’t made himself. I am mildly interested in how people will react once the social distancing is relaxed. I am pretty sure being a rocket scientist is not a pre requisite in working that one out but time will tell, and I will return to that subject along with the varied responses from within Sport and the role the news outlets have played (or not) in this.
But for now ……. Keep Safe, Be Nice