These last few weeks have been extraordinary. The daily challenges faced, the communication updates and the stark reality now of changes that may become more of the norm – I hope not though.
With schools now ‘closed’, but still open for certain students, structure will need to be maintained. As we approach the end of the financial year I have a year end closure to complete and a new budget to finalise: although as we face such uncertainty what this will have to cover is anyone’s guess.
Last weekend my sister and I visited our parents in Scotland, this was booked before the CV crisis and we decided to still go as we were unsure as to when we would see them again.
It was surreal not to hug, kiss and leaving without any planned visits was so, so hard. They are both over 80, so, vulnerable and will be self isolated, possibly for many months. This will be hard on us all, but we have family nearby and FaceTime so contact can still be maintained.
We went to Cromlix Hotel, owned by Andy Murray last Sunday as an early Mother’s Day treat and Judy was there enjoying a relaxed Sunday. Food was superb and the service impeccable
It’s strange to think this will be a last outing for the foreseeable future.
Since I first went abroad 40 years ago, I have travelled extensively: it’s hard to contemplate that air travel too has been curtailed. My trip to Australia in April no longer happening. My eldest lives there with his wife and I was so looking forward to it, he too has been unwell but fortunately had a negative test result for the dreaded ‘Rona.
How fortunate we have been that we just accept that we can travel anywhere, anytime, that we can visit theatres, go to gigs, eat out, entertain, etc.
Now for an indeterminate timeframe we cannot. This will have an effect on us all in some way. My daughter lost her job on Tuesday, so we are impacted early on. We are lucky though, this will have far greater ramifications on the sick, elderly, homeless, those with young families, those with mortgages and rent to pay.
Social distancing and self isolation will affect our mental wellbeing. We will have to be resourceful to cook store cupboard meals, play games, talk to each other, watch the television with subtitles to read, listen to music, appreciate our gardens and stay in contact with loved ones with virtual hugs.
Air Pollution is lower, the Venetian canals are clear, and dolphins where they haven’t been seen for sometime: these are a few benefits for the climate and globally.
Whilst we are in the eye of this pandemic, perhaps we can view this as a realignment, a line in the sand to regroup, refresh mankind, our world.
If we follow the advice, take heed of the ever changing proclamations, we can develop what we have for the greater good.
My wish for those that I know and love, is that we survive this with little detriment to health, wealth ( and by this I don’t mean only monetary wealth) and happiness.
Life has changed and in a relatively short space of time, but hopefully by 2021 we will be able to meet each other, travel, hug, as we used to, but maybe at a less frenetic pace, content with what we have and who we have around us.
My little life 