I watched Johnson’s announcement last night and wasn’t surprised by anything he said, which in itself should be a surprise. Banning us from leaving the house except to get essential supplies, or to exercise once a day. None of this was a shock, maybe because some of our European friends are already in this situation. At least we have their experiences to learn from, in a sense we know what is around the corner, optimistically therefore we can make a better fist of it than they do. The pessimist says, it will still be dreadful, you can’t wage war against an enemy you can’t see.
I asked my son Joseph what he thought about the Prime Minister’s announcement. “Annoyed, but fair enough…I don’t know…we knew…worried because of how long…” it all blurted out lots of half finished statements, thoughts and worries with no conclusion. And that’s the thing we think and say lots of things, but our thoughts and questions remain unanswered. It’s the uncertainty, what Covid has done is remove the routine, stripped away the rules that surround our lives, so we live day to day unsure what the next will bring. Half finished statements, unanswered questions, the only certainty is that tomorrow will come and it won’t be a good tomorrow, we are all waiting for that day when we can say that tomorrow will be better than today. At the moment it feels a long way off. But contradictorily, the virus seems to be coming upon us apace. The grains of rice on a chess board that double with each square until the entire population is consumed in a matter of moments. This leads back to Mr Johnson’s announcement, while expected, it wasn’t expected yesterday, in a week maybe, somewhere down the line. But that’s the problem we see events unfolding in Italy and Spain, and logically know that they are coming. But when they arrive it is takes us by surprise, even though we were expecting it. So my feelings about the announcement; like Joseph I am annoyed, my civil liberties have been stolen just like that, and more will be taken. But it’s no time to be worrying about freedoms, the virus doesn’t give a shit about rights. Then I am a little numb, that lack of feeling you get when you have been sleeping on your arm, it is a lumpen piece of flesh that is attached to you, but all life has gone, it no longer responds. That’s how I feel, useless, an accessory that does nothing, I’m waiting for feeling and life to return. Then I feel dreamlike, I heard and understand the announcement and will adhere to the instructions, but somehow, it doesn’t feel real, the world is still outside my window, I can see it, it looks the same. I even see people and hear cars, so what has changed, it’s that damn feeling, the dread.
Hi matt, I was just looking back through your 19 blog and this one seems a bit scary. Ending with the dread. I guess its fear of the unknown, Too much change too quickly, Not personally being in control and relying on governments to do the right thing at a strategic level and us individually as families to do the right things at the personal level.
I had a whatsapp chat with my son Thomas today (Friday) as he has just gone back to work having been off with possible covid (but there’s no testing so no confirmation) I asked him… So you are the covid police now. What’s your script for approaching people and getting them off the street if they are not doing essential trips or their daily exercise. Apparently they get on the Tannoy and shout ,this is not a holiday I repeat this is not a holiday. He also showed us a bodycam of a guy who was apprehended for his 5th exercise jaunt that day and when he realised he was in deep trouble he did a runner. They didn’t bother pursuing him. I think a lot of kids in the inner cities (Thomas works in Lambeth)use their phones to meet their mates on the streets. Then as soon as the Feds (Thomas’s word) turn up they scatter. They know its wrong but they dont have a well developed sense of community and personal responsibility and even if they were altrustic and thought about the old people who might get it from them either directly or indirectly from meeting others on the street, they are unlikely to come crashing down with 19 themselves. The young will be the ones that get no symptoms or mild symptoms only. Would be good if the government could send them a generationally tailored video in their language rather than just an HM govt email.
And that’s an interesting development because the government now has all of our mobile phone numbers because the telecom providers have been required to release them to the Govt to make important COVID announcements to everyone.
So I guess our whole world is affected in so many ways and at so many levels. Stock markets are down 20%. Housing market is dead. So why the heck are are all those construction workers still going to work building useless office blocks if everyone could work from home as so many are? Clare made an interesting comment to me over a week ago. She said this crisis actually raises big question marks about capitalism itself.
At least a major economic slow down is good for the environment and global warming. CV19 Also seems to be good for building community and inter personal communications and relationships. Some pretty good silver linings huh?
Perhaps in your next 19 blog you could reflect on the silver linings rather than the dread! Much love to you and family. Chris