We’ve hit just short of 6,000 deaths today. Deaths now include two nurses (both in their 30s, both leaving 3 children behind), two doctors, and six bus drivers.
Although the majority of people are taking social distancing seriously there are still some who just don’t get it. I keep hearing figures like ‘one in ten’ are not social distancing. One in ten doesn’t sound too bad until you realise that’s nearly six million people. Yet another new word has been added to our vocabulary – ‘covidiot’ – to describe these people.
The police have been trying to break up groups picnicking in parks, having football games and just generally stop people from crowding into the same areas for their ‘daily exercise’.
Although some people have little patience with these covidiots and think the police aren’t doing enough, others are worried about the threat to social liberties or just think the police are being over-zealous. The police in Derbyshire came in for some flack for using a drone to take pictures they used to publicly shame people for not social distancing. This went a bit wrong when they shamed an elderly couple out for their daily walk together in a place where there was no-one else around and a young women who was walking alone and away from others but had stopped to take a photo of a flower with her phone.
Listening to phone-ins on the radio I’ve heard plenty of people wonder why they can’t drive 20 miles to walk their dog if that means that they’re in a more isolated place or why they shouldn’t sit on a park bench to have a rest whilst they’re out exercising? It’s like they want to do the right thing but still haven’t go their heads round the issue.
If everyone just asked themselves a few questions before doing anything outside of the house they might work out the answers for themselves.
Can I ensure that I’ll be able to keep at least 2 metres away from everyone at all times? (Obviously no if it’s a crowded park or a narrow canal towpath and you meet someone coming the opposite direction.)
Can I avoid touching any surface that anyone else might have touched in the past seven days or that someone else after me might touch in the next seven days? (That’s the park bench out of bounds then.)
What are all the eventualities that might happen when I’m out and could they affect my ability to maintain social distancing? (Each time I drive and the further I drive there’s the possibility of the car breaking down or my being involved in an accident which could not only mean a rescue service mechanic having to come out to me, but also paramedics. If it was serious I could take up a hospital bed. If I’m far away how am I going to get home?)
I see it as weighing up risks. I drive to the supermarket because it’s close by (I could leave my van and walk home if it broke down). Why don’t I walk then instead of driving? Because it means I only need to do one trip a week rather than having to go several times because I can’t carry everything in one go. The risk of driving the short distance seems lesser to me than the risk of visiting the supermarket three times a week.
I actually went to the supermarket for the first time yesterday. I waited until Saturday because I wanted to go early whilst it was less busy, but during the week the first hour has been reserved for the elderly and NHS workers. It was my first time shopping since social distancing measures had been put into place and I was quite interested to see how it was working.
I took a book expecting to be standing in the queue outside for quite a while. It didn’t take anywhere near as long as I thought though and I was soon inside. Just inside the entrance were wipes, a roll of paper towel and antibacterial spray and hand gel. I cleaned the trolley handle and then liberally applied hand gel before putting my gloves on.
Although most people tried to keep their distance from each other it wasn’t always possible as the aisles aren’t wide enough to pass whilst maintaining a two metre gap. Staff were directing people to stand 2 metres apart whilst queuing for the checkouts and the checkout workers had perspex screens to separate them from the customers. It’s not ideal as when packing shopping and paying it’s not really possible to keep that distance. Considering how quickly measures have had to be put in place though, it’s good how much they’ve been able to do.
I’ve still been quite busy with work this week, though not nearly as busy as last week. Friday was the end of term and the start of the Easter holidays. It’s never felt less like holiday time. This weekend I should have been driving down to Bournemouth for my union’s annual Conference. Following the Conference, I planned to spend time in my van exploring that part of the south coast. Of course none of that is happening, but I still cleaned and sorted out the back of my van so I’m ready to go whenever this is all over.
I’m feeling quite settled with my life at the moment, despite not being able to travel and do the things I’d normally be doing. Maybe it’s because I’ve still been working or maybe because I don’t know anyone who is seriously ill with Covid-19, but even after 3 weeks of social distancing measures (two of them in lockdown mode) I’m still enjoying being at home alone and seeing this as opportunity to slow my life down, get things done and enjoy spending time in the home I’ve spent the past 18 years working to make my perfect retreat.
There’s no sense of FOMO anymore, no internal debate over whether relaxing with a book is time well spent or time wasted that I could otherwise be using productively. I think the last time I felt remotely like this was when I was walking Sweden’s Kungsleden and all I had to do each day was walk south, stop when I wanted, sleep when I wanted, get up when I wanted, gaze at mountains and read my Kindle.
It’s also why I like to start my summers sitting in the conservatory of the hostel in Uyeasound in Unst (Shetland). I know the place so well I can enjoy doing things as and when I want without having a checklist of must-dos. And I can happily sit for hours in that conservatory looking at the sea and over the small island of Uyea to Fetlar beyond without worrying that there’re a thousand and one other things I should be doing. It’s the perfect way to switch off from the working year and get into summer mode.
How are you finding isolation? Are you winding down or is it winding you up? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Like this? Read these next:
- Why I’m Going to Shetland and Not Walking the Camino
- Kungsleden Photographs
- I’m a Solo Female Traveller – Get Used To It!
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