Seriously. Just when you think, ach, valt mee... the world explodes.
I was supposed to fly to Scotland on Thursday past. Had been swithering for days already, should I go? Should I risk it? But was thinking entirely in the wrong direction, to be fair. Of course, I shouldn't risk it! Not only is the virus hitting more and more people, but more and more measures are also being taken. Among them, flight restrictions. This... this *thing*, is building and building and for goodness sake, whole countries don't get closed down for nowt. I was scared I'd get stranded in Scotland. Sure, I'd have been comfortable, have a perfectly nice place to stay with my daughter, not like stuck at an airport or something, but then J would be alone, in horrible, uncertain times. So, had to take the decision. Gutted not to have been able to go though.
NL laid out a new advisory only yesterday and the shops were immediately inundated... like folks hadn't been told NOT to go nuts and like we haven't had time to slowly build up supplies. UK is running behind as far as I can make out and they don't seem to believe prior examples abroad. Now Spain, after Italy, is SHUT... I'm just not sure why NL is only like half shut. Nor why the UK seems a bit wishy-washy about it all. What do I know eh? I was the one still prevaricating only last week.
Bu now, I'm going nowhere. Seeing no-one and doing nothing. Cancelled prior-arranged meets and outings, and of course, postponed my flight to Scotland. Hopefully by the new date in May we will be good to go but, if I'm honest, I'm not all that certain of that. Not getting to see my grandkids here in NL as it is. J, of course, has been 'at the shops' and still walks the neighbour's dog but we have the handwashing down to a T now and being careful. We're otherwise staying in and, to be honest, no more shopping needed so, no more shops!
This is a major change to the world as a whole. Lots of stuff is going to be forever different. Offering a hand to shake, not the least of it! Lots less travel maybe? Even when restrictions are lifted. That's actually a good thing, environmentally, but everyday things will show loads of changes. More companies will finally realise their place doesn't crash if most staff works at home so there will be more of that allowed. They'll also realise they don't need such large offices and the knock-on effect of that will manifest itself in office supply companies at the very least. Schools will have more online lessons in place. Courses in remote teaching will be popular among teaching staff. Home deliveries for everything will explode... even more than it has recently done. There will be more taxis (and Ubers) than ever because nobody wants to travel on buses right now, never mind trains... and the knock-on of all that will be problematic too. Having said that, I wouldn't be a taxi-driver, or their family, for a pension! Online doctor consultations will become more popular and more easily available but not popular (who'd be a doctor or nurse right now, but very grateful there are such.) Also, not unimportant, apparently (although I can't for the life of me see how it came to it) people will figure out what to use other than toilet paper when it really does run out. Homemade, washable squares will become the norm and the hardware store better stock up on nappy bins to be storing used ones! You heard it here first!
Things should all pan out with summer coming up, but some changes will stay, I'm pretty sure of it, and the thing will probably only 'rear its ugly head' again next winter, having, by all accounts become endemic by then. The whole 'social distancing' will be put in place again and life, as we've known it, really will be changed. Who'd be a kid in this scary world eh? I could weep, really. Expect at the very least to see hand sanitiser hanging in pubs and clubs for the die-hards who won't play the game. Actually, such places might even be closed, sad to say! You thought the smoking ban was bad folks? Wait until you can't even go to the pub!
So hey people, think of how best you can look after yourself and get through this. But think of others too, because if you get infected, you will infect others. Me 'n J are being as careful as we can, having got the wind up through being in the demographic that is 'most at risk' (ok, 2nd in line after real oldies) but we all need to do our best. Let's all get through this together.
Stay safe out there.
