Independence and Inaction

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Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Billed as England's own Independence Day, July 4th was supposed to be a big occasion. As I understand it a few pubs got served with closure notices for failing to adhere to the requirements and a few more have closed subsequently because (surprise, surprise) Track and Trace has identified that people, who have since tested positive, were drinking in them.

In reality it seems that regaining our liberty has all been a bit of a damp squid with most people locally still preferring to stay at home, or venture out only with a mask on which, of course, makes socialising and patronising restaurants and public houses a little difficult.

The Government's coronavirus dashboard suggests that transmission in our district, which was always relatively low, has been pretty much non-existent for a few weeks now and it is, of course, easy to get suckered in to the idea that life is resuming as normal. Easy too to forget your guard and the benefit of that all important 2 metres distance (or is it 1 metre plus mitigation?) when coming into contact with others.

Once a lawyer, always a lawyer, so for me the highlight of  the latest step back on the road to recovery was actually reading the Coronavirus Regulations to check what had changed. Well would you credit it? Despite all the advice that's been thrown at us about meeting 6 people outside 2 metres apart, social bubbles and 2 households getting together, the statutory instrument itself suggests that the limitation is actually up to 30 people, indoors or out. 

That's quite a mind blowing concept as I can't recall whether we've ever had a gathering of 30 people at our home. Still it makes me feel a whole lot better learning that I can now throw a party if I want to and guests can even stay over. As I have no desire to face sink loads of washing up or to launder bedlinen and towels, I can safely say that I have no present intention of hosting any such event. However, knowing that I can but won't, is a boost in itself.

Strangely whereas I was beginning to find the whole idea of "staying at home" somewhat tedious, once I don't have to, I'm loving it again! Perhaps I'm just contrary by nature. Certainly when the hairdresser rang to offer me an early appointment for that cut and blowdry I've been fantasising about, I shrugged the offer off and left it for 3 weeks. Now that I can finally have my hair done, it's genuinely amazing how much better it looks as it is!

Theme parks,  galleries, museums, stately homes and cinemas are reopening; coffee shops, markets, caravan parks and hotels can begin business once more. Why suddenly, therefore, am I missing the nightclubs, skating rinks and bowling alleys I've never been inside since my twenties? Give it another week and I'll be bemoaning the continued closure of tatoo parlours, body piercing services and tanning booths.

Should I be dismissed as a person who is quite simply never satisfied or pitied as someone seriously struggling to emerge from lockdown? Alternatively, as I defy the Prime Minister's cry to eat out and shop to save the economy, am I just exercising my individual right to freedom of choice? Moreover and so long as I have no overt symptoms of mental distress, does the motivation for my inaction even matter?

Comments

Mona McGinnis said…
So true. Somehow there's a difference between being an introvert and a home body and being mandated to stay home.
8 July 2020 at 16:34
Caree Risover said…
Confess I am finding out rather a lot about myself as a result of the imposition then relaxation of restrictions
8 July 2020 at 16:55
Pat WD said…
It is fascinating to hear the details of lockdowns and release of restrictions in various places around the world through the blogging community. Hearing that your district has had no cases in weeks is mind-blowing. The story here in the US is quite different...everything is opening up but we are seeing huge increases in cases. And I do mean huge. I follow two states closely - we have homes in each and just went from one state to the other - the state we left had 11,000 new cases the other day. Yes, in one day. Yesterday was "only" 6000 new cases. Ack. They did close restaurants and bars back down, but so many people are not wearing masks in the stores, I'm starting to consider paying for grocery delivery.
8 July 2020 at 20:51
Caree Risover said…
I think even the Government was surprised by the level of compliance with the restrictions that it imposed. Now it faces the monumental task of trying to persuade us all that it is safe to resume much of our pre-Covid normality. I think it's fair to say that you can't spend 14 weeks pushing out the message to Stay at Home and then expect us all to give up the benefit from the sacrifice made overnight in order to spend mindlessly in the High Street and on dining out. Stay safe.
8 July 2020 at 21:19
B. Steele, British Columbia said…
Greetings from British Columbia Caree ! I am a first time reader of your blog and I enjoy your sense of humour. I just retired 4 years ago from a career as an elementary teacher and high school counsellor. We have been fortunate here in B.C. so far. We are only getting 10 - 14 new cases per day and have less than 10 people in the ICU. People here are also getting back to normal - a little too quickly in my opinion. We have closed the Canada / USA border and plan to keep it that way for the foreseeable future. Washington state, just 30 minutes from my front door is still getting up to 1000 new cases per day. I look forward to reading more of your posts as we all navigate our journey through retirement together.
8 July 2020 at 23:35
Caree Risover said…
Pleased to make your acquaintance B Steele. From this side of the Atlantic, Canada looks to be in control but, with notable exceptions (your neighbour included), that’s how everyone seems from the UK perspective where sadly our death toll has been unforgivable. Our Government has even gone silent on its “we’re better at counting” explanation, as calls for an Inquiry grow. Keep well.
9 July 2020 at 07:23
cheshire wife said…
We usually don't go out much and the economy manages quite nicely without us. So, we have no plans to changes our ways. I have been to the hairdresser and husband has been to the pub, which is normal for us.
9 July 2020 at 17:35
Caree Risover said…
Thank you for your comment Cheshire Wife which I guess goes some way to demonstrating that the new normal may not be so different from the old normal after all. Today’s big announcement about the reopening of gyms is undoubtedly going to be my big test.
9 July 2020 at 18:06
Bob Lowry said…
With Arizona now the #1 (or #2 depending on the poll) Covid hotspot in the country, our governor is having to reverse his reopening plans. My gym was open for three weeks before shuttering again. Dine-in at restaurants and open bars are very likely to have to close down again.

The desire to restart the economy is understandable, but at what cost? At least in the Grand Canyon State, the costs of illness and human life seem to be valued lower than business concerns.
9 July 2020 at 18:52
Caree Risover said…
I anticipate opening up and shutting down again is going to be the way of the world in so many places unless or until this virus is eradicated. In the meantime, the impact on people and businesses will be immense. I suppose it demonstrates just how fragile economic systems that rely on tourism and hospitality for so many jobs really are.
9 July 2020 at 19:09
Dr Sock said…
As the Province of British Columbia in Canada continues the gradual reopening that it began at the end of May, daily new cases In the province are beginning to inch upwards. The last couple of weeks, we were averaging about 8 new cases a day, but on Friday there was a spike of 25 new cases. Although our cumulative total since the beginning of the pandemic is just slightly over 3,000, this is a worrisome sign.


Jude
12 July 2020 at 22:18
Caree Risover said…
Yes, our council district had its first for a few weeks today but I guess as restrictions are lifted it is inevitable. Hopefully, the numbers are now such that tracing procedures followed by targeted isolations will be sufficient to control the spread. Gyms can now open here from 25th July but I remain hesitant about returning too soon as they have to be a hotbed for infection. Take care.
12 July 2020 at 23:01
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