Day Twenty - 'I Will Survive'

No prizes for guessing today's relevant lyric. It might even need to become a mantra in the weeks to come. I nearly didn't go on my walk today. I felt achey and I was hurting. I thought, what the heck, it's Sunday, let's do the ritual 'lay in'. But, alas, my OCD kicked in and........ off I went. But it was a struggle. For no other reason than my own uncooperative body. It was like wading through treacle and I felt quite dejected by the time I returned home. But I may be glad I did go today if there are repercussions from some of today's irresponsible behaviour. I see that people are STILL ignoring the directives. Reports of people having picnics, sunbathing, barbecues on the beach?! It defies belief doesn't it? And the upshot will be that the Health Secretary will out law going out for exercise. Regardless that probably the majority of the population are respecting the instructions, the selfish minority will make life even more difficult. If I am no longer able to go for my walk I will suffer physically and mentally.

However if that directive comes into force it will further inflame a potentially disturbing scenario. There is a fear that growing frustration with the lockdown could give rise to what is being called 'isolation fatigue'. (Do they employ someone solely to construct these gems of pandemic jargon?) Already in Italy there have been some rebellious acts of theft in supermarkets as people struggle with poverty and hunger. Conversely it has been quite refreshing not to read of stabbings and muggings on every other page of the newspaper. But if tempers become frayed then I am afraid lawlessness might add to the crisis. Some people have shown themselves to be fickle, weak and self serving. Harsh, critical words, I know. But this situation calls for extreme effort from everyone. We're fighting for our lives here. Is that too dramatic? I'm speaking broadly. Not just our bodily lives but the entire fabric of society as we knew it is under threat.

My brother made me cry today. He is in his seventies and whilst not quite self isolating he is apart from the rest his family. I mentioned that his domestic situation is unusual which means it isn't unusual for him to be apart from his family. Except it's never usually for this long. He speaks with his wife each day on the phone. But last night as she signed off she told him she loved him. He said it's years since she said that to him and it made his heart lurch. When I hear things like that I feel that there will be some good to come from this.

I decided I would 'take it easy' today. So apart from some laundry I've done nothing  but read and write book reviews. I've done some in the garden but it's hard to concentrate.  With everyone in lockdown and some beautiful weather people are making the most of their gardens. So are their kids. So are their dogs. And some of them can't be outside without being able to listen to the TV. My neighbours have a blue tooth speaker I believe and whilst they, considerately,  do not play their music loud the constant bass register is relentless. I've been in and out like a fiddler's elbow. Then I struck upon the idea of using ear plugs to dampen the noises so that I could enjoy the outdoors too. Sorted.

And if this post has been a tad negative here are some more awful jokes which might make you chuckle.

What do you call a magician who has lost his magic?
Ian.

I worked in a light switch factory for ten years. On and off. 

I saw someone in the supermarket with two trolleys full of OXO cubes.
I hate stock pilers.

I turned into a cat earlier.
Don't ask meow.

Alexa. What's the weather doing tomorrow?
Don't worry. You're not going anywhere.