Day Thirty Five

Every now and then I pop into a UK-based, online Forum.  It has numerous sections and anyone can put up a question, game or problem and hope others will respond.

The members are mostly women based in Britain, although Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are also represented.

It’s interesting to see all the different personalities emerge: the friendly, funny, helpful, stroppy and argumentative.  This last lot would argue black was white and whatever subject comes up, they find reasons to moan or snipe.  

But in the main, the posts are enjoyable and I could waste a lot of time there.

When self-isolation is the norm for many, it’s fascinating to see how couples who usually spend little time together are coping with close proximity.

 ‘I told him if he didn’t wash his feet, I’d do a Lysistrata. He said he’d had it once in a restaurant and didn’t like it.’

 ‘I said to her, “Once we had something beautiful and precious. Where’s it gone?” she said, “You spent it.” ‘

One lady from Scotland said she’d been nagging her husband to fix the faulty lock on the lavatory for months.  When he got stuck in there and was banging on the door to be let out, she decided to teach him a lesson.

She went into their large garden and spent the rest of the afternoon blissfully tidying and weeding.

As predictions in the UK are that lockdown may be extended and the ‘release date’ seems every further away, I’ve seen a decline in spirits. 

Everyone is fed up of being stuck in the house.  They’re angry and frustrated, unable to live their normal lives. 

There’s also the anguish of not seeing, playing with and hugging beloved grandchildren.

 ‘Enough is enough!’ one lady wrote, in fury,  ‘I’m going to break this bl***y lockdown.’

After 87 posts of advice not to do so, she felt calmer and agreed to stay at home.

But that’s typical of what’s happening all over the world where lockdown has been strictly enforced.  People have had enough.

  Sadly, in many cases, those voices of sanity and safety won’t be there.

Spring is well on its way in Britain so there are many postings and photographs of beautiful gardens which have benefitted from extra care since lockdown began. 

The relief of having a garden to walk in has helped many.

 For those in rural and isolated areas where the prospects of meeting others is remote, confinements has not been quite so bad.

As New Zealand moves back to Level Three, nothing changes for me.

I'm still in solitary and will be for many weeks yet I suppose.

With no garden and only a fairly busy suburban road for exercise, it’s not easy to go for even a short walk without encountering someone, children especially.

So I’m grateful for that hermit streak in my character... and at least I’m not locked in a Scottish  lavatory.