ON THE EVE OF SOMETHING?

On our pre phase 2 of lockdown walk early this morning we were amazed to find our usually quiet meander along the river absolutely rammed with people as well as their cars, dogs, vans, sun awnings, boats, canoes, lilos and bikes and therefore, not surprisingly I guess, being patrolled by the police. The authorities had found it necessary to place cordons alongside the road for some distance to prevent roadside parking on what is a dangerous stretch of highway on a blind bend. Normally it is a lovely peaceful spot, with a large area of grass and a 'mini beach' leading down to the water’s edge. So, I completely get why anyone would want to come and spend a beautiful sunny day by the river, but couldn’t they have waited one more day as requested by Police and Government? It is a question we asked ourselves this morning, along with, should Government have waited until tonight to announce lockdown phase 2? Personally, I don’t think it would have made a jot of difference.

We have seen the reports and photos of crowded beaches, beauty spots and party gatherings in parks and I wonder if we have always been such a selfish society. I guess during previous national crises, normally during a war footing, it has to be acknowledged, there has always been the element of society who believe the rules don’t apply to them and those who use the situation to their own advantage. From the black-market dealers and spivs during WW2 (can't help but think of Private Walker from Dads Army whenever the term Spiv comes up), to the scammers and fraudsters using the Covid-19 pandemic to line their own pockets. It was and will always be ever thus.

So why am I always surprised when I see it in action and witness it on TV? I guess fundamentally, I still firmly believe that the majority of us are caring, thoughtful people with a modicum of intelligence who don’t feed the need for immediate gratification, come what may. Or maybe I only believe this now, when I am in retirement (in other words an old codger)! Would I have been one of those ignoring advice and doing my own thing when I was in my 20’s, 30’s? Still with the, I am going to live forever, it’s not going to happen to me mentality of my youth, when I was still going to make my mark on the world. I would like to think not but …………..?

Anyway, that’s my rant for the month. I am only allowed one rant a month now, because of my high and now medically controlled blood pressure, in case it bursts the monitor again and results in another trip to A and E where last time (and hopefully the only time) I ended up 'query stroke', with the most horrendous headache I have ever experienced. A wonderful, quietly spoken A and E Doctor advised me that I would require medication for the rest of my life and not to stop taking it! I do love our NHS. Thank you for rescuing me.

Anyway, back to this morning and our walk which, after by-passing the crowds, burnt out rubbish bin and piled high overflowing black bin bags, we continued along the river-bank with a dwindling number of people and continued our usual quiet circular route. It was lovely and calm with only the noisy ducks and the swans, ever watchful over their signets. to keep us company. A picture of Englishness. We also noticed some very appropriate fencing erected by some contractors working on one of the ‘posh houses’ lining the river-bank. It was covered in butterflies. As our photo shows.

I am now sat in the garden in what has turned out to be the driest and sunniest May since records began, 125 odd years ago. I am extremely grateful for that because the good weather and being able to breakfast outside, like we do in Hygge, lunch outside, like we do in Hygge and drink beer and eat our evening meal outside, like we do in Hygge, has helped with my sanity levels.

Remember when

Today I am barely containing my excitement because tomorrow we are meeting up with family and our lovely little grandson, walking with old friends on Tuesday and I am walking again Wednesday with one of my girlfriends. Whoooopie!!!! All from a distance of 2 metres but it will be great. If I am honest I do feel a little anxious. I think I have become too used to our current normal ( Oh no I am back on those ‘normals’, promise not to mention them again),social interacting reduced to facetime or telephone, walking - mostly local and on our own and the battle that is now shopping for food.

Arhhhhh

Talking about shopping for food, let me relate to you my last experience:-

4pm. Arrive in car in supermarket car park.

4:03 Still looking for £1 coin for trolley

4:05 Given up looking for £1 coin, now searching for facemask

4:06 Found face mask, but where have I put the car keys?

4:07 Found the car keys, check I’ve still got face mask and shopping bags. Open car

door

4:08 Handbag falls out, contents spill on floor, pick up contents

4:09 Lock door, walk across car park

4:10 Get to entrance, lost face mask. Turn around face mask in middle of car park

4:11 Re-trace steps pick up face mask drop shopping bags, make 2nd attempt to go through the entrance

4:12 Put on mask. Drop shopping bags again. Only one basket trolley left - that’s broken

4:13 Hunt the working basket trolley. Find one at the last till

4:15 Start shopping and realise most of the shelves are empty, because its 4:15pm

4:16 Peer at now irrelevant shopping list because the shelves are empty its blurry and I realise I have forgotten my reading glasses

4:35 Leave empty supermarket with almost empty shopping bag and realise I am going to have to do the same again in another supermarket!

4:40 Find myself tittering hysterically all the way to another supermarket

4:50 Arrive in car in supermarket carpark

Welcome to my world. Am I totally losing the plot?

Well as you can probably guess I have researched the subject of Brain Fog during this

pandemic lockdown and apparently my pre-occupation and forgetfulness is totally normal

under these stressful and anxious times, I read with some relief.

I am normal. Never thought I would be writing that either!

Hope you enjoyed my slightly light hearted chunter and yes I admit bit of a rant. I guess we all do it on occasion but like me I hope you finished it smiling.

We managed our second, yes second, day trip out in Hygge this week, watch out for the video on YouTube.