Wednesday 18 March 2020

Random Ramblings :: Social Distancing

Hi there everyone πŸ˜€

In the UK a few days ago we were all asked by our Government to practice socially distancing ourselves from the rest of the population ... including small gatherings with friends and family.

I have to say it came as a bit of a shock ... I think I was expecting it for the elderly and infirm, but not for all of us.

So what’s that all about then?

I have seen this image a number of times doing the rounds on Facebook and the Internet and I think it kind of really sums it up ...

It’s left me with a real dilemma ... we are due to go on holiday, to Scotland, with friends just next week ... and we have all so been looking forward to it ... what to do? Should we go? Should we follow the Government advice and avoid spending time in close proximity with friends and family? If we don’t go will we be able to rearrange? Or will we lose our money? What would happen if we went and one of us got ill? What if the measures we are asked to implement become more draconian and we are told we are only allowed out for shopping and essentials ... like in France and Italy?

For someone who likes to know exactly what is going on and to feel in control I have to say it’s left me feeling a bit anxious ... it’s really interesting to me though, realising what I am actually anxious about ...
  • Am I worried about losing the money? ... Not really
  • Am I worried about catching the virus? ... I'm not really sure about that one
  • Am I worried about not being seen as a responsible citizen and doing what the Government is suggesting? ... Yes ... I would hate to get the disease and either spread it or add additional burden to the NHS when the whole idea is to push out the peak of this disease to help the system cope better.
  • Am I worried about letting down my friend? ... Oh my goodness yes.
  • Am I worried about not being able to visit pubs, restaurants etc whilst away? Not at all
  • Am I worried about not being able to get what I need whilst I’m away? Not at all
  • Would it be the end of the world if we didn’t go? No
So there are a few things that I’ve discovered about myself ... It seems that I am a bit of a stickler for ‘following the rules’ and really don't like ‘letting down the people that I’m close to’. These things concern me far more so than my health or money.

I also really struggle making decisions ... especially when they impact on other people.

After lots of deliberation I’ve ended up asking if there is any chance that we can rearrange our booking to the autumn 🀞🀞🀞. If we can, then problem solved ... for now.

If not, I’m still not sure what we will do ... but will cross that bridge when we come to it.

In other ‘social distancing news’ I’m very much trying to make the best of it. Since finishing work I think I’ve become a bit more introverted and to be honest, for most of the time, I’m not unhappy with my own company ... I’ve plenty to occupy me, when I put my mind to it, and there are lots of ways of keeping in touch with people.

Yesterday was a bit of a crafting day and I sat at the dining room table and cut out beeswax wraps and enough small squares to make 20 packs of reusable face wipes, so there is plenty of sewing on the horizon ...

Today the plan is for some batch cooking, catching up with the ironing and doing a stack of reading in readiness for a school governors meeting next week, which we are going to be attempting on Skype, which will definitely be something different.

We’ve even practiced a four way family WhatsApp video chat ... now that was an experience 😜

Martin is at work for the next couple of days but after that, unless somehow we end up going on holiday, we have no real need to go anywhere, other than supermarket and foodbank volunteering for a good few weeks ... maybe by then we will be going stir crazy ... only time will tell.

In looking for a bit of a silver lining to the unprecedented situation that we are finding ourselves In ... I’m hoping that my garden is going to have its best year ever.

Oh ... and look what dropped on the mat this morning ... the question is do I read it now ... or shall I save it for another day?
That's all for today ... I promise we will be back on the Isle of Wight in my next post for something on a far more lighter note πŸ˜€

In the meantime ... take care everyone and look after each other πŸ’œ

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2 comments:

Thanks for taking time to comment on my blog. I love to hear what people think about what Martin and I have been up to.