Day Thirty Two - Clapping, Zoom and Englishmen Abroad

As I came downstairs this morning to go for my walk just before 6 a.m. I saw the light of my answer machine flashing. I was shocked because I couldn't imagine how I could have slept through the phone ringing. I was also worried about the nature of the call if it had been an early hours call. That usually means bad news. However when I listened to the message it was my cousin giving me a positive update on Auntie Pat. And the time on the message was 11.30 the previous morning. So I hadn't  heard the phone ring yesterday, I may have been in the garden. But neither had I spotted the flashing light. All day long!! I now keep checking it every time I go near it.

I joined in the Clap for Carers again last evening but I found myself wondering what the motivation had become for people. It seems that it was becoming competitive; who could make the most noise and what could they make it with. Some woman was running in and out of the road waving something, shouting something which might just as well have been 'Look at me! Look at me! Aren't I great?!' I feared I was becoming cynical again until I looked on social media this morning. To my horror there were photos and a video of crowds on Westminster Bridge last evening all 'clapping for carers'. Take a look at this.

Can you believe it? No social distancing. But THE POLICE! Doing nothing. To quote a fellow tweeter, 

'That Westminster Bridge video is the absolute inevitable pinnacle of fuckery that is turning this clapping thing from a one off gesture in to a weekly dog & pony show of one-upmanship. It would always end badly the minute it was turned in to "a thing" by this country of morons.'

It seems my own opinion was mirrored by others. 

Many people have been using the 'Zoom' app during this lockdown period to connect with others. It's an app that offers a screen sharing performance across several operating systems. People are using the app to participate in classes, quiz nights, some working from home objectives and just connecting with others. I looked into it a few weeks ago when my yoga teacher found a chair yoga class being offered for free. But when I researched I found reports of privacy issues, no encryption, evidence of instances of leaked passwords and hackers hijacking video calls midway through conferences. So I decided against installing it on any of my devices. Now one of my cousins wants us all to link using Zoom. Given me a conundrum. I don't want to do it but I don't want to be a party pooper either. Actually I don't think I want to do it at all! I love my cousins and I'm sad we don't get to meet up very often, some live in the States even. But I loathe seeing myself on the screen. And not being a very talkative person born into quite a talaktive family I'd probably just sit there looking like some care in the community project. And I say that because the last video I ended up in that was exactly how I looked. I was shocked! I vowed never to put myself in that position again! I have to find the right words to tell them no, though.

I mentioned yesterday after receiving an email from my friend who lives in Japan that I found it interesting to compare how different countries are dealing with the lockdown. Spooky. For that evening I had a message from my dear friend in Gran Canaria, who is also a regular reader of this blog, and he sent me a photo of our local newspaper where he is featured explaining the regime in Gran Canaria. I googled the article which also has contributions from other expats. 

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18384310.lockdown-like-countries-apart-uk/

What is lovely is that my friend said my blog inspired him. S'funny, you blog away sending this stuff into cyberspace not really knowing who is reading it, if anyone,  Then someone tells you something like that and you feel it's all worthwhile and has some meaning.

Now for some good news. My friend who works for the NHS has damaged her hamstring. No, I'm not being a heartless bitch. That's not the good bit.  I'm sad she's in pain and can't walk very well but....... she's signed off work until the end of April!!! That means she doesn't have to put herself at risk for a while. That's one thing I can stop worrying about. The other good news is that I cut the grass again today. I'm really hurting now, more than the last time but I am actually very pleased I managed it.