Lockdown Lessons
20th March 2020 was the formal start to our commitment to the new normal ways of living, working and breathing.
What have we learnt in a year? In no particular order here are a few thoughts: Despite many vexations, we are a very reasonable, sensible and pragmatic nation. We may grumble but we do actually Keep Calm and Carry On.
We have redefined our relationships with commuting, with time – becoming less speed conscious and more used to filling our days, with working (or not) from home, enjoying time on our own but also revelling in personal contact whenever and wherever we can find it. We are not a stern selection of stiff upper lipped monochromes.
We have no idea what we would have done without computers. And electricity. Or Imperial College and all vaccine inventors. Or friends and family.
We can often eat and drink better at home than at many restaurants. But the social aspects and the need to relieve the main home cook of yet another meal will ensure that we quickly book that favourite table of ours.
In the middle of this, we also went through another major issue … Brexit. Remember that? We seemed to have survived quite well so far. All that fuss …
A personal view – I cannot believe that Scotland will actually move ahead with independence. It beggars belief. By the way, I have a strong Scottish background … so, what have we learnt? Strength in togetherness. And not just nationally. We need each other.
Home schooling is awful. We are not good at teaching subjects we were never very good at anyway.
The imperative of good communication, using all available means have been accentuated.
Without good health we are just wasting our lives.
Anyone over the age of six is out of date concerning IT systems.
Walking begets talking. Travel programmes do not beat travel. Sports are central to our lives. Yes – chess and bridge are sports. OK – so are gardening, painting, photography, chatting, book reading, listening to music, snooker, and anything else you have deployed over the last 12 months.
We will be a wee bit nervous about: driving, going out, breathing in public, other people, adapting to ‘formal’ clothes having become accustomed to a few favourite casual items, being able to converse sensibly when face to face, remembering names and faces, spending money, keeping to social distancing, shaking hands and kissing, venturing ‘far’ afield (a friend found himself putting ‘Reading the Gas and Electricity Meter’ in his diary, as this involved actually going outside), our first racquet, mallet and club swing, going into a cinema or theatre and ‘meeting’ our family again.
Masks are important. Haircuts are essential.
Despite many moments of frustration with our political leaders, we are prepared to cut them some slack for doing the best they can under abnormal conditions. But – our tolerance will not survive unenforced howlers.
Small things do matter. Good manners, patience, shared good ideas, smiling, the first snowdrop.
Dogs are … well, you either love ‘em or not, but we have once again learnt how central they are to many millions of people. And all pets for that matter.
We respect rules and the law – but they have to respect us too.
Cornwall is as good as Brittany, sorry Torquay but the Riviera still wins. We can live without Henley, Lords, Ascot, Glyndebourne, 12 August, Aintree, Pimms, Wimbledon, Twickenham, Royal St George’s but would prefer not to.
We did miss the siren call of Mr Whippy.
The Stonehenge tunnel and the Heathrow third runway will not happen in my lifetime. It would be good news, however, if Hammersmith Bridge could re-open (sorry, Castlenau).
The American Presidential election made for riveting viewing. Thank heavens we live here.
By the same token, THAT interview was … you fill in the word yourself but it did provide gripping viewing.
As I said – in no particular order. You will have your own additions no doubt.
But … what a year. How will you answer the question: ’What did you do in Covid year?’ I think we have learnt a lot.