Day One Hundred and Twenty One - Flying Ants, Drizzle and Decisions

My friend and her daughter turned up quite late in the afternoon yesterday. But we had a very pleasant hour or so sitting out in the garden, chatting. There wasn't much more my friend could tell me about her hospital appointment. But it looks as though the delay was because our local hospital had failed to send all of the scans up to the London hospital. I suppose hospitals are under pressure at the moment. Can we be too critical?  We also discussed coronavirus and the different attitudes. I think any time you get together with others now you talk about COVID-19. They think I am quite paranoid. But that's okay, I'll be paranoid. I'll also be safe. We had some cabaret! It was Flying Ant day and we watched the little creatures as they made their bid for freedom and life. Then we saw the gulls circling in the sky ready to pick the poor little devils off once they got airborne.

I also had a text from my tai chi teacher which has actually confirmed my decision to not return to the class yet. I had asked him whether the structure of the class would be changing and he said that it would stay the same except he wouldn't be adjusting posture so social distancing would apply. But he said a caveat being that if someone asked him to adjust or test out he would. That made me realise that he wasn't serious about social distancing. I asked him about face masks. And he said people have to make their own choices about whether they wear them or not. He affirmed quite emphatically that he would not be wearing one. That was another little chink of doubt as to his commitment to keeping us Covid safe. And he wants paying in cash which I expected. I can't see any other effective way that he could collect the subs. He concluded by wishing me the strength to make the right choices which I found almost amusing.

I had a nice little exchange with Sue, the Waver this morning. She was brought up on the Isle of Wight which is where she developed her love of walking. We talked about nature and flowers and gardens and how flowers evoked memories. We talked about our parents. It was a very pleasant conversation. I hope I see her again. It clearly rained in the night but I was confident that it had stopped when I set out for my walk. But it was that insidious drizzle and I was actually soaked by the time I got home. Somehow I didn't mind. It didn't really matter. And the rain drizzle clouds made everything look eerie and ghostly on the estuary. Spooky. And there were less people about as well. That was another thing that Sue, the Waver commented on.

Face coverings will be mandatory in all shops and supermarkets in England from the 24th of July. Children under 11 and those with disabilities will be exempt and there'll be fines of up to £100 for those who fail to comply. So that's public transport shops and supermarkets. Why not everywhere? Are people going to take them on and off?

Scientists are advising the government that a second wave of coronavirus infections in the UK this winter could be more severe than the first. They reckon but they do say it's the worst case scenario there could be nearly 120,000 hospital deaths but stressed effective prep and response  - lockdowns, treatment, vaccines could reduce the risk. I have this horrible fear that everything is going to get going again and then it will all have to stop. I'm sure that's why I'm reluctant to come out of lockdown. Because to me it seems easier to stay in it than come out and go back again! But don't forget I am paranoid!