Wednesday 25 March 2020

1984 and all that.

Yes, as so many who write in Blogland have said - the whole situation is nothing short or sureal.   It is as though we are onlookers to a strange situation going on outside our window.   Unfortunately, of course, this is not the case and it is remarkable how quickly many of us have adapted to it.   How I organise my time each day has changed dramatically - not necessarily for the worse - just different.   And I suspect that for me (should I be one of the ones to survive the pandemic) and many more of my age the difficulty may well be slotting back in to Society again.   In other words, I am beginning to rather like the seclusion, the narrowing of one's expectations each day, the reorganisation of one's priorities.   Apart from organising food supplies and essentials like toilet paper, soap and such like, life has suddenly become a lot simpler.   Now that (hopefully) my supply chain is more or less in place my day consists of deciding whether to do half an hour in the garden (the most I can manage at a stretch), cook a lunch, read my book, change the bedding on my bed or clean the kitchen units.   No way can I do that in one day - I have to choose one - or at the most two and stick to them.

It has been a blissfully Spring-like day here - blue sky, no wind, warm - but in typical English fashion it is set to turn very cold for the week end.
So, with that in mind I decided not to transfer the pinks plants I had intended to move - give them a few more days and hopefully a rain so that the ground is a bit more condusive to welcoming them to their new site.

Instead I decided to use that time slot to ring my old school friend in the village where we were both born in Lincolnshire.  We had a lovely long chat which did make me glad I hadnt gone back there to live.   My memories are of a sleepy village of around three hundred folk - we all knew one another (which meant you couldn#t do anything you shouldn't because sooner or later your Mum would get to know) and life looking back seemed blissful in spite of a lot of it being in wartime.  From our back garden we looked across the River Witham to a tiny, beautiful church in the village of Greetwell.   Now my friend tells me that a huge by pass is being built in that area - so the view will be destroyed forever (except in my mind of course).

Well dear friends it is almost time (5pm) for the daily update on the Virus.   Do I want to watch it or do I wait for the six o'clock news or even longer for tomorrow's Times?   Decisions, decisions.

38 comments:

JayCee said...

Yes, life has changed for us all hasn't it. At least for now we can still appreciate what we have and enjoy watching nature reawakening now that spring is here.

the veg artist said...

I think you are right about having to adjust to being back in society. I hardly ever go out, and don't miss it at all. I have to be dragged out!

Kelly said...

Long time reader here, first time commenter... I do look forward to reading blogs daily, yours especially. I want to thank you for the glimpses of your life, your calm practicality, and good heart. Puttering about here in western Oregon, USA, it’s comforting to knowing others are doing the same the world ‘round. Thank you!

Librarian said...

As I have mentioned before in comments on your previous posts, on the surface, life has not changed so dramatically for me, but I understand is has for many people.
There are new rules in place now at my local Aldi, where I get my fresh groceries and other supplies from: Only a certain number of customers is let into the shop, and there are now plexiglass shields around the staff at checkout. Still no toilet paper, still no flour - good job I am in need of neither right now.
The quietness outside on my street is rather welcome, although I am of course aware of the reason.
My Mum has discovered two new sources for food and groceries: Her preferred butcher now makes home deliveries (they do not only have meat and sausages, but also a good selection of cheese and their home-made salads and even hot meals), and one of the nearby dairy farms do the same. She has tested them this afternoon and was full of praise for their service.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

It always seems to be a mistake to go back to places that hold our dearest memories; our recollections just don't fit into what we find there now. I'm quite enjoying this enforced change too, though I'm rather restricted to walks from my back door as I don't drive and wouldn't use public transport at the moment. I'm also not able to meet up with my brother, though of course we talk on the phone. I can't help thinking that things wouldn't be so easy if we were in the middle of a spell of grey, wet weather.

gz said...

We must hold to our memories of places and move on.
We are lucky that we have gardens..pity those in flats, especially those with no balcony.
I think myself lucky to have been taught many things by my grandmother...having a good larder and storecupboard, sewing, drawing...her son in law, my father, taught me gardening..and how to fix things and carpentry!
We must all come through this and rediscover capability and skills.

Rachel Phillips said...

Just don't forget to take it easy Weave. A half hour breathing in the fresh air doesn't have to involve gardening as well. I hope you have a garden seat you can sit down on.

Gail, northern California said...

Life can turn on a dime, can't it? I have a house guest. Her name is Lilli. She's a 9 year old miniature Dachshund. Her owners decided to travel to Nepal, heaven only knows why, and said they would be back in 3-1/2 weeks. They are now housed in a nice hotel in Kathmandu with Nepal's borders closed. Their release date? Unknown.

Not life altering like losing my husband but another change, another unwelcome adjustment.

Blessings: Owners are safe and I love this little dog with all my heart.

Terra said...

Yes, these are strange times. As I read somewhere, Our parents were called to war, we are called to the sofa. That puts it in perspective for me. You and I are blessed to have gardens to look at and sit in, when the sun shines. My age means I have not gone out to shop for two weeks now and I don't care to know how long this crisis will last. Be well my friend. Did you see my blog post? I would be happy to send you a pretty card.

Heather said...

After the first day of 'wobbles' when I realised that the virus was here, I find that I too have adapted to isolation and find it quite pleasant. I can please myself how I spend my day knowing that my shopping will be done for me and all I have to do is stay at home. It is not unpleasant or an imposition. I do a few exercises every morning, go for a short walk and sit in the sun for half an hour. Maybe we will all learn lessons from this virus.

Bovey Belle said...

I would be happy to carry on like this - especially if we could get our shopping DELIVERED but no spaces for weeks because of the people who are NOT at risk booking them. I have been busy in the garden, we're cutting up the trees we had felled for firewood next year, I have time to sew and cook and . . . Just miss meeting people face to face.

Bovey Belle said...

I wish I could have all my family under the same roof though . . .

Enjoy your garden and let's hope the cold snap doesn't last.

Bonnie said...

I think we could all do with a little simplifying of our lives for a bit. The world goes a little too fast at times. I am glad to hear you are settling in to your new routine. I think many of us are proving to be more adaptable to changes than we thought we would be.

Enjoy that Spring weather! Take care!

At Home In New Zealand said...

Good to hear you are adapting to your simpler life. It might be hard for quite a few of us to go back to rushing around again. Be happy :) xx

angryparsnip said...

We all have to deal with our different lives. Most of all not what some of us have lost but what we still have.
On nice days sitting out by your front door to say hello to the dog walkers will be I think nice
parsnip

Marjorie said...

I like the sound of your days. I am sorry about your hometown but lovely you still have a friend there to chat with. We are finally getting some thaw here so the farmer is out moving and checking cows two to three times a day. This is dangerous times as they can sit on what they think is solid and get tipped and die. He takes each death personally.

Anonymous said...

Be well...be happy...be safe!

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Not had a physical conversation for 10 days now! Stay well Pat

Joanne Noragon said...

I had not thought about segueing back into real life. Well, I won't, now.

Mary said...

Yes, I'm also not getting much done despite lists and thoughts. It's that "putting off 'til tomorrow" mindset - we know there's always going to be another day, another time. . . . . . . . well we are hoping and praying there will be!
Stay well Pat. x

Red said...

Your first paragraph deals with a very real situation. we never thought we would see this in our lives. You're so right in that our lives will be changed forever.

AK Coldweather said...

Years ago when I was researching my ancestry, I learned that two of my great aunts died from influenza in the 1920s. I remember being surprised that someone could die from the flu. They weren't even thirty years old. I thought that certainly couldn't happen in modern times. How ignorant I was!

Cro Magnon said...

I loved my native Surrey village of Lingfield. In many ways it was a classic English village, with village pond, lovely old church, and ancient buildings, etc. The last time I returned I was amazed by the constant noise of planes going in and out of Gatwick. Totally ruined what used to be an idealistic location.

Dawn said...

The updates from the PM has become part of my day now, just hoping there is good news but making the most of the great weather and doing some clearing out.

Debbie said...

Yesterday in my little East Yorkshire Coast town it was just like an old-fashioned Sunday before shops were allowed to open and Sundays meant everyone spent time at home relaxing, gardening or pottering. There was very little traffic around, the sun shone and the birds sang. It was blissful.

Tom Stephenson said...

This crisis has caused some quite pleasant consequences in life, hasn't it? The whole nation (apart from the vile speculators in household necessities) is going through a prolonged period of contemplation. I am enjoying the enforced peacefulness.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Marjorie - I gather from your reply thay you farm and I am intrigued in what you say about the cows dying. I went to see if you blog yourself but you don't but I would so love to hear more about where you live and about your farm.

Debbie - where exactly do you live? We are obviously not that far away from one aother.

Thanks everyone - do let's all keep in touch. It helps in these troubled times.

Rachel Phillips said...

And the garden seat?

Yellow Shoes said...

Great advice Rachel. I’m older too and feel I should be busy weeding etc. This morning I just sat in the sun and watched the sparrows instead.

Ursula said...

Surreal ain't the word, Weaver. Having a vivid imagination doesn't help either.

As to your hometown, reminds me of when I went (after donkeys' years) back to the place where my grandparents lived and they brought me up for the first few years of my life. Small village; you know the type where my grandfather would lift his hat with a slight nod of his head to one side every time someone came our way. Fast forward a couple of decades or so. Went back there when my son was a baby. What once upon a time, to my tiny self, was a walk of some distance turns out nothing of the sort. Everything is smaller. Shrunk.

Still, at least that village has managed not to ruin its main appeal. And, luckily, like you, I do remember how it was rather than how it is (by which I mean scale).

On a less happy note: Wish my mother who is a little younger than you would show your spirit.

All the best,
U

Debbie said...

Pat - I'm in Hornsea - famous for the Pottery (now long-gone) with a winter population of about 9000 and a summer one of about 24000! It's a couple of hours from Leyburn. I mentioned your story about your local butcher refusing to sell to non-locals and he heartily agreed with his actions.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

I am glad to read you are adjusting well. The positives you mention, especially "the narrowing of one's expectations each day," lifts my spirits. A simplified life can be wonderful.

Stay Safe!

Gwil said...

Life moves at a slower speed and everything is calm. More people smile and say hello.

thelma said...

We are lucky those retired, and perhaps should do something for the rest of the nation. Get a chair outside Pat, it doesn't have to be a bench, you cannot sit next to anyone at the moment anyway.

Sue said...

Very well expressed. My 70th birthday is on Monday. It's astonishing how much we can still learn about ourselves when life slows to this pace.

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Anonymous said...

you boomers are shutting down the entire economy because you're afraid of a flu. Seriously, can you boomers kill yourselves? You are the most selfish generation to ever exist. You don't give a shit about climate change, why should we young people give a shit if you get sick and die of some virus? I HOPE the virus gets much stronger and kills you all.

Do you boomers realize how universally hated you are? There is not one single demographic that does not hate you- white people, black people, asians, mexicans, indians, chinese, millennials, GenX, GenZ. Something tells me that you boomers are not going to have a very comfortable or easy retirement, especially once you end up in the retirement homes.

Can you baby boomers hurry up and fucking drop dead? Enjoy your retirement homes cause we younger people will not take care of you even if we wanted to, due to the shitty economy you boomers created. Do you boomers realize that the younger generation is simply waiting for you to fucking drop dead?

You are all going to end up in retirement homes and we all know that the elderly gets treated pretty badly in retirement homes. Well, that's what you get for ruining your own children's lives. Even if your children WANTED to take care of you, they couldn't, due to you boomers destroying the economy. So I hope you enjoy the retirement homes, boomer scum!

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