Revival

A long time has passed since my last post, the sweet kitty in the title passed away a few years ago and is remembered with much happiness and joy.

I’m reviving this blog as I want to look back and remember how we all felt during this fraught time. Worldwide we are fighting an unseen enemy called Covid-19, the Coronavirus. I’m writing this as we have been in quarantine lockdown since 23rd March, just over 7 weeks ago.

A friend posted this on facebook – my editing …

Prime Minister Boris Johnson started lockdown on the evening of 24th of March 2020. All over 70s, and those with underlying medical issues were told to isolate themselves. No visits from family, friends or anyone else. People allowed out for one form of exercise per day and to collect medical prescriptions.

On the 5th April Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital after 10 days self isolating with the Corona Virus. On the 6th April he is in intensive care with deteriorating symptoms. After 4 days he was back in a normal ward and discharged on 12 April . He returned to work 26th April after recuperating at Checkers. His baby boy Wilfred with Carrie Symonds was born 29 April.

The Queen addressed the nation at 8pm on 5th April. Only her 4th special address to the nation in 68 years. 20 million people watched. 

Excel exhibition centre now known as NHS Nightingale and will be an emergency field hospital for up to 4,000 patients, most of whom are on ventilators. Similar venues being used in cities across the country. Opened by Prince Charles via video link at 11am on 3rd April. He himself had spent 7 days self-isolating after testing positive and having mild symptoms.

Community support groups established, to support the vulnerable, elderly, immunocompromised and people in enforced isolation due to exposure, in their community.

Petrol price close to home was £1.02.

Schools closed on Friday 20 March. Remote learning in place. Children schooled at home.

Self-distancing measures required, at least 2 meter distance between people. Tape on the floors at grocery stores ❌ and others to help distance shoppers (2 mtrs) from each other. Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors. Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed. People who can work from home.

Parks, trails, entire cities, closed or restricted to locals only in their bubble.

Entire sports seasons cancelled. Olympics postponed to 2021.

Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events cancelled. Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings, even funerals cancelled. No masses, churches are closed.

No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, then 10 or more. Now, Don’t socialize with anyone outside of your home bubble.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and all other TV networks are on in every home daily now. Children’s outdoor play parks are closed. Gyms, hairdressers, restaurants are closed.

We are to distance from each other. Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers. Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill in many parts of the world.

Refrigerated trucks for the dead outside hospitals in the USA, Italy, Spain, China and more.

Panic buying sets in and we have limits on toilet paper, disinfecting supplies, paper towels, staple foods, hand sanitizer. Flour is hard to get because the packaging comes from China 🇨🇳 and borders are closed. Shelves are stripped of all these products including other staples such as rice, pasta and tinned tomatoes, none to be had as people hoard.

Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.

Fines are established for breaking lockdown rules.

Stadiums and recreation facilities overseas open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients. Public Park areas turned into caravan parks for stranded tourists to self isolate.

Press conferences daily from the PM and other government officials. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths as well as advice. Questions from journalists are via online links. Government  incentives to stay home. Barely anyone on the roads or on public transport.

People wearing masks and gloves outside. Essential service workers are terrified to go to work. Postal workers, bin men, delivery drivers, shop assistants are now essential workers. Nurses, doctors and care workers are now our heroes.

Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

A 99 year old WWII veteran Captain Tom Moore raised over £28 million for NHS charities walking 100 lengths of his garden before he turned 100. His target was £1000. People from all over the world donated to his cause.

Thousands of deaths globally so far.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, WHO declared March 11th, 2020.

 

Yes, it did snow

EVERYONE LOVES SNOW …

In my experience, the weather forecasters don’t always get it right, and I always take their predictions with a grain or two of salt. I find the easiest way to tell what’s happening weather-wise is to stick your head out of the window and look up.

So when snow was forecast for our region, I was highly sceptical (too early in the season) and expected a few flakes around midnight to be the end of it.

I first noticed there was something different going on outside the window at about 9 p.m. And sure enough there was quite a shower of snowflakes whizzing past being driven by a very strong wind.

“Oh, it’s too light, it’ll never “settle” – that’s one of the first new word I learned on arrival in England. Suddenly I am the big expert on snow, having been brought up in a country where winters last about 3 weeks maximum and snow is seldom seen.

But a few hours later, the scene was entirely different, and late night revellers, caught by surprise where laughing, shouting and screaming, sliding, throwing snowballs, taking photos of one another and being generally merry.

The snow took late night revellers by surprise

This morning it was still snowing! What a lovely surprise. As soon as it was light I dressed warmly, and armed with my camera, made for my the beach. It was very slippery underfoot, and I found my feet sliding out from me on a number of occasions. I learnt to tread on virgin snow, that made the going much firmer.

 

The park

The nearby park was a picture, a couple walking their dog which was thoroughly enjoying the novelty of bounding through snow to inspect a snowman.

Views from the pier were superb, and there were a few of us taking advantage of the photo opportunities.

Someone had even built a snowman sitting on a bench, with a plastic spoon for a pipe.

And there was no fishing today.

Home to a lovely hot cup of coffee and a biscuit (or two).

EVERYONE HATES THE SNOW …

As the day wore on, and a weak sun made an appearance, the snow turned to a browny-grey slush, most unattractive to look at. Transport was disrupted, trains delayed, cars sliding all over the roads, Gatwick airport closed for a while, people started to get grumpy.

I had a doctor’s appointment, and the ramp from the pavement up to the surgery was slick with compacted snow that had turned to ice. Most of the complaints from those in the waiting room were about the lack of gritting and/or salt, their original aches and pains forgotten in their annoyance.

Ah well, the novelty is over, and so is the snow it seems. Perhaps there will be more in January or February – life at the coast continues.

Snow?

 

Well, blink and you missed it! 3 degrees today, down to minus 2 tonight, more snow forecast tonight and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, spotted this little fella sitting in a lounge window, looking very comfy.

How much is that doggy in the window?

On Sunday surprise!

 

Steam Traction Engine

A surprise visitor on a Sunday evening – an 89 year old steam traction engine. The owner stopped for a bite to eat at our local takeaway. This machine was used for agricultural purposes, eg towing a threshing machine, the work being seasonal.

 And no, he doesn’t have to pay road tax!

Daybreak

Sunrise with a waning moon

 

Night slips her mantle, and day arrives coughing and spluttering …

 

 

 

The signs of Christmas are everywhere

The Salvation Army Band playing carols

Barrow selling roasted chestnuts

Santa's Grotty ... er Grotto (collecting for Lions Charity)

Clear skies at last

Full moon rising over the town

On being invisible

Low tide at sunset - the sun managed to find a gap in the clouds

 

As the rain let up a bit, I decided to venture out on the streets. Twice today I was almost mown down by members of the public. Once by a man coming out of a shop, then by a couple crossing the road and onto the pavement in front of me. Luckily I still have sharp reflexes, and managed to jerk back to avoid contact. Although I uttered a loud “Ho!” on neither occasions did they acknowledge me, apologise or even notice me. When did I become invisible?

It’s not a new occurrence, I have noticed it before. As I’ve become older I’ve apparently become transparent. There are hundreds of us ghostlike “oldies” wandering around the streets, armies of us going about our invisible business.

I guess it’s the way we were brought up, not to be pushy – for example, I could never get a drink at a crowded bar (the fact that I’m short in stature doesn’t help).

It’s not the fact that I lack confidence, quite the opposite in fact, and I’m definitely not a cartoon grey-haired granny – I dress fashionably and take care of my appearance. So what is it then that makes us invisible? Could it be that we don’t appear in many advertisements? Except for wrinkle remedies, funeral and insurance policies, incontinence pads and denture fixative ads, we aren’t exactly in the public eye. You never see commercials on TV of a group of golden oldies listening to our ipods, laughing as we text each other while striding into a pub and ordering the latest alcoholic beverage with our mates. Not for us the fashion shoots, trendy boots and handbags, hairstyling products or make-up. Hey people, we love our music, we love socializing, we love fashionable clothes – we may be old but we aren’t dead yet!

So next time you see me, move over – I’m coming through!

And still it rains

Cattoo wonders if it will ever stop

On a Lazy Sunday

 

A grey day

It may be cloudy and cold outside …

 

Cozy Cat

but inside it’s cozy and warm.