Day Two - Deliveries, Collections But No Yoga

I may not continue to do this on a daily basis as it could become extremely tedious and uninteresting both to read and to write. I am interested to see, over a sustained period of time, what effects social distancing might have on myself and possibly others. Of course I cannot rule out the possibility that I might have to self isolate at some point as the tentacles of this insidious pestilence reach out further and deeper. But since it remains an unprecedented occurrence in my lifetime I feel the need to  chronicle it in some way. I've even set up this separate blog!! It doesn't really fit into the bookish blog

Today started out like most Wednesdays. It's the day my rubbish is collected so I'm up early to put it all out. But I did a double take this morning. As I looked up and down the road I couldn't see the rubbish of my neighbours. For a few moments I feared that perhaps the service had been paused. But looking up the adjacent road I could see the residents had all presented their stuff for collection. It's all been carted away as normal.

Also on a Wednesday I have an organic vegetable delivery. I have done for several years. I believe that, although expensive, it is marginally healthier to eat organically and the lack of chemicals is of benefit to the planet. Also not having a car it is very helpful to have things delivered. But like everything this company have been affected by current events. Some items were no longer available and they had provided substitutes. The delivery drivers had been instructed not to chat with customers but to deliver, ring the doorbell and leave. 

My yoga class is on Wednesdays. Not today. It is held at the local Community Centre. The teacher messaged me to say that she was cancelling until the end of April at least. Today the Community Centre itself has advised it is closing until the end of April, initially. So I did a session at home. On my own.

The postman, Leon, knocked with some book post. We're on first name terms which is nice. He delivers a lot of books to me and we joke that I keep him in a job. It was good to see him. To see someone! But he just handed over the books and went. Yesterday he told me that he has to sign for packages so customers don't have to touch the electronic thingy he has. And back at the sorting office none of them are to handle money.

Then I went out for a walk. I'm lucky. I live on the coast. Five minutes and I'm up on the cliff tops looking at the estuary. There were a few ghostly container ships sailing in the haze and I wondered where they had come from and what they were carrying. I wondered if there were goods from China, or Italy or France. It worried me.

There were several people out walking or sitting on some of the many benches up there. The trees were starting to blossom and the grey and drab of winter was beginning to be replaced by some, verdant greenery. I was walking along the path and there was another person coming towards me. Before we got close this person veered off across the grass clearly wanting to avoid me. I met another person, Leon also , coincidentally. I knew him from his brief attendance at my tai chi class and we've chatted ever since. He walks his dog on the cliffs. Sometimes he irritates me because he is so cheery and he talks non stop. Not today. He looked furtive, worried. He said he felt scared to go out. When the dog came up to sniff me, he pulled her away. He doesn't usually. This thing is so getting to people.

The schools aren't closed. I can see the kids coming home from school as I sit here and write. They are young. Unconcerned it seems to me. A friend emailed to say that about town the cafes and restaurants were well patronised. So not everybody is taking this seriously. A friend told me her son was insisting that it's 'just the flu' and he can't see what's wrong. Part of me envies him that certainty. I fervently wish and hope he's right and we've got it all wrong. But I don't feel I can take the risk. 

I have two library books out on loan at the moment.  One is due back on Saturday and I've nearly finished the other. So I was going to return them. I can't. The libraries are now closed. Any fines incurred during this period will be waived. 

It's unusually quiet outside. You might say it was peaceful if you didn't know the reason. But it just feels eerie. Wonder if I'll get used to it?