The North Wind Doth Blow

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So the pandemic restrictions are eased to enable two households or up to 6 people to meet outdoors and what happens next? Just like the rhyme: the north wind doth blow and we shall have snow. Well it cetainly made for a chilly Easter weekend when we caught up with various parts of our family that we hadn't seen for months, braving the cold to sit in gardens in winter coats and mittens. Mister E even resurrected a fetching bright red Michelin Man-style jacket last worn trekking in the Himalayas. Chic indeed. I relied on a thermal vest and porridge for breakfast!

This week, non-essential shops have opened again along with beer gardens and restaurants on the terrace, just in case we start to feel a little too cosy indoors. Nothing much has altered in our behaviour as yet though; "lockdown-lite" I think it's called.

Meanwhile, and because of the hard overnight frosts, all the seeds I enthusiastically sowed last month are enjoying the B&B experience in my utility room. Is this the nearest I shall get to a hotel stay this year, I wonder?

Then just as you think we should be enjoying our new found freedom (if visiting the zoo or shopping for items you don't need is the latest definition for liberty) the Duke of Edinburgh, bless his soul, dies and the whole country is officially plunged into an 8 day period of national mourning. In my role as Parish Clerk, I've become acquainted with various sections of the Local Government Act 1972 over the last few years. Section 243 dealing with  the impact of national mourning on notice periods had, however, so far escaped me. 

No longer, for I now know that despite the best preparations for a Parish Council meeting; all the typed documents and notices are of no avail once a period of mourning is declared. It sounds almost medieval but if you are relying on any day of mourning as part of the notice period for your meeting (even if, as in my case, the notice was published before the sad demise of the person being mourned) then the meeting must be postponed and reconvened later. All of which would be fine, if it wasn't for urgent business requiring decisions that has now resulted in a flurry of e-mails seeking extensions of time before, of course, I have to restart all the work and correspondence associated with setting up and preparing for a meeting. Duplication of effort has  long been a real hate of mine.

Democracy in modern Britain is, of course, a curious concept at the best of times. I can't help thinking, however, that bringing it to a standstill locally because of the death of a member of a family that historically was the diametric opposite to government by the people, has to be one of its strangest facets.

 




Comments

Treaders said…
There's something very gratifying about being British, isn't there, when lockdown lite means you have to sit outside to enjoy yourself in the freezing cold and you jolly well do it. It's a bit like "sand sandwiches" on the beach or having a picnic in a layby!
15 April 2021 at 16:16
Caree Risover said…
I’m drawing the line at camping just yet, though!
15 April 2021 at 16:31
Jean said…
The easing of the lockdown makes me nervous, based principally on the fact that things went 'orribly pear shaped with every easing so far. However, we have braved the chilly weather for the sake of having family we haven't seen for several months sitting in our garden drinking rapidly cooling mugs of tea. Defining what it means to be British is complicated but braving the great outdoors regardless of the weather has to be one factor.
15 April 2021 at 20:29
Jeanette Lewis said…
Ontario is in another lockdown as the 3rd wave crosses the ocean and hits hard in Canada. It's cold here as well -- snowflakes this morning!
15 April 2021 at 21:10
Caree Risover said…
I think it is right to be nervous, Jean, and far better than throwing caution to the wind. It would be wonderful to think, however, that muffled up in the garden we really are edging our way back to normality and a mug of tea in hand has to be part of that strange definition of Britishness.
Keep safe, Jeanette, the UK appears to be avoiding its 3rd wave for the moment but with variants developing and spreading, it may only be a matter of time.
16 April 2021 at 07:43
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