Thursday 26 March 2020

Sensational

On the news at six it was suggested that we open our front door or a window and at 8pm applaud the National Health Service Workers and the Volunteers.   I opened the door at about two minutes to eight.   It is a still, very dark night and the sky is full of stars - very beautiful.   When eight o'clock came at first there was silence - then bit by bit the applause grew until it seemed that the whole of the town was applauding - the sort of night when sound carries and very little traffic about - it all helped.   For several minutes the wave of applause filled the air.   I found it very moving and without a doubt it brought a feeling of solidarity.   We are all in this together and together we will win.

24 comments:

Ruth said...

My eyes are full of tears. What a wonderful, moving gesture. May we never take those very brave souls for granted. And may the feelings of solidarity last long after this is over.

Gwil W said...

Ah yes, I heard from a relative this was going to happen. I'm glad it went well.

Bonnie said...

That is beautiful.

Heather said...

I too opened my living room window and applauded but heard no others, though a couple of passing cars sounded their horns. How weary our doctors and nurses must be already and the virus hasn't reached it's peak yet. I wish them strength to carry on their vital work and hope that some sort of national recognition will be given to them when all this is over.

At Home In New Zealand said...

What a wonderful demonstration of community spirit. Our essential workers put their own lives at risk to keep our world going, and they deserve all the applause we can give them.

Jean said...

I went out on to my patio in my dressing gown and joined in the clapping. There were lights showing all round and the clapping and whistling and cheering were amazing. DS and DDIL in the next street said it was the same there and little GD was beaming.

John Going Gently said...

Moving here too
Thank you x

jinxxxygirl said...

I'm so glad you have that feeling of solidarity... because i don't feel it here.. I feel people here are very much out for themselves.. hoarding everything.. not respecting the stay at home.. or at the very least distancing themselves.. arrrgghh.. just frustrated.. 10 people standing together fishing... yes they are outside but they are still too close together.. People think if they are outside they can do whatever they want.. that it magically doesn't matter.. Yes i just spent some very frustrating time in town getting some supplies watching people go about their lives like none of this is happening..

angryparsnip said...

I love your country's solidarity with each other. Heart !
parsnip

Joanne Noragon said...

Yes, and I put a Thank You John on John's blog.

Cro Magnon said...

A wonderful moment, and all those volunteers who've come forward to help the NHS are heros.

I've said it many times; I have the greatest admiration for nurses (and all others in the profession).

Bovey Belle said...

Such a positive response for the staff of the NHS who put their life on the line for us. Of course, where we are with the farmsteads spread at least 1/4 mile apart, the best we could do was send out thankful thoughts and I hope that they were felt too.

Debbie said...

Our end of town clapped..... and cheered! And a passing car honked his horn.

Librarian said...

That is wonderful, Pat! I hope the NHS staff were able to hear it.
In O.K.'s village, a week ago on Saturday, everyone who plays an instrument was asked to open their doors/windows or get in their gardens/on their balconies at 6:00 pm to play "Ode to Joy".
O.K. was with me, so he did not participate, but some of his musician friends and village band colleagues sent him video clips. Very moving, too.

Tom Stephenson said...

Supermarket workers deserve a round of applause to, I think. There are very few domestic dwellings where I live, so I heard nothing last night.

Rachel Phillips said...

I didn't know about it, but then I only listen to the News Conference and then turn off. I give the doctors and nurses and ambulance men and all who keep the hospitals going a round of applause every moment in my head and all the other workers who are keeping the show on the road for us, including utilities and bin men. Where would we be without running water, electricity, and rubbish collections.

littlemancat said...

That is beautiful,so moving. Here (near Phila.,Pennsylvania) there have been many acts of kindness in the community. People are trying to help one another as best they can in small ways which in these difficult times become big ways.
Keep well,
Mary

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

A little thanks is always welcome in every walk of life; I still have a couple of letters from parents of the children I cared for. My grocery delivery man seemed almost on the point of tears telling me how understanding people had been about the incomplete and much-substituted orders he was delivering.

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Donna said...

That is moving!

gmv said...

Thanks for sharing this lovely moment of unity and praise to those working so hard in health care. The clapping echoing in the cold dark night must have sounded amazing.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Sincere and heartfelt thanks to them all.

pam nash said...

That was such a great thing. Obviously your community continues to work together.

Sue said...

Even on our hillside on many homes a great distance apart we all seemed to join in and in the distance we could hear our nearest neighbours valiantly clapping and their children whooping in the cold night air.

The houses on the other side of the valley all had extra lights on and for five minutes our hillside was illuminated as though it was Christmas. It was a great show of solidarity and gratitude for all our emergency services and the NHS.