Social Distancing
It's the speed at which the situation is escalating that's scary. Our ordinary lives are now on hold as we all do our best to follow the advice on how we are to live for the next few months. In the UK the advice currently takes the form of guidance for voluntary changes to lifestyle rather than enforced changes but the government is stressing the importance of everyone doing what they have been asked to do.
For me this means following the advice given to the over 70s and anyone with certain existing medical conditions. I naively thought I didn't fall within this group but was corrected when I spoke to the surgery on Monday. So, along with my siblings who also fall in this group, I am following the guidance on social distancing. The need for social distancing applies to the entire population but the over 70s and vulnerable adults have been asked to be especially stringent in following the advice.
With this in mind I informed the parents that the teaching will finish immediately. They were all expecting this so it was easier than I expected, although one child was tearful about it. The choir and U3A groups are also affected by the call to reduce social contact so all will stop for the time being. Both trips I'd booked for April have already been cancelled and my money refunded so the only things left in the diary are the three local history talks and I'm expecting those to be cancelled as well.
It seems strange to be in a situation where there is absolutely nothing in the diary except medical appointments which, as they are non urgent will most probably be cancelled as well. I know that we are all going through this together and we're all in the same boat but I admit that today affected me more than I thought it would.
I decided to do a final shopping trip, not for food as I have plenty in, but for some treats to help ease the isolation. I went to Sainsbury's where the sight of the empty shelves was shocking and the attitude of some shoppers extremely upsetting. I didn't stay long, just picked up the treats I want for the coming weeks, and came back home.
I will have to put my thinking cap on to come up with a strategy for coping during the next few months. My immediate worry is sinking into depression - I've always made sure to have something in the diary to look forward to but that's not possible for the foreseeable future so I have to come up with some ideas.
I apologise. I've just read back over what I've written and it's all rather glum. I need to get my act together and I promise that tomorrow's post will be much cheerier. Take care x
(((HUGS))) Eileen. I know you will miss the choir and other social activities, but, maybe you can video-chat (Skype, Google Hangouts, etc.) with your family and friends on a regular basis? I do that every night with my daughter and every now and then with a friend in Germany. Also, there are online virtual tours of museums and places that might be fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteThat was a very good idea to stock up on treats! I was tempted to get a supply of chocolates, but, I decided not to! I might live to regret that decision! LOL.
Take care of yourself and look for those reasons to be cheerful. No more teaching students who don't practice, for one thing. :)
I did buy a supply of chocolate and may regret that decision as I have nearly finished the first bar already 🍫😂
DeleteThanks for your suggestions. I'm sure I will be fine. I just need to fine tune my ideas for keeping myself occupied x
Unfortunately most people will find it glum, but I'm afraid it's a necessity. We will be looking after our youngest grand-daughter on Friday and there is supposed to be a get-together at our daughter's on Sunday for Mothers Day with us and her partners parents, but we will have to see how things go for that. After that we will pull the drawbridge up, but as our daughter will be working at home from tomorrow and the ygd is a live-wire my husband has said that he will go to her house for a couple of hours to look after her whilst daughter gets on with some work. Our eldest grand-daughter is still going to school and next week she and her class were spending a few days away on a break. So far it is still going ahead. Her partner travels a lot with his job and at the moment is in Scotland. It is so disruptive and alien to us, but in order to stay safe it seems to be the only thing we can do.
ReplyDeleteKeep busy and stay safe.
There still seems to be a lot of uncertainty locally of how much interaction is advisable. It's the confusion that's unsettling as much as anything.
DeleteThe child care isn't going to be easy for any working family, even where working from home is permitted.
Wishing all the best for you and your family xx
Not glum my dear, but some very necessary precautions required. This side of the pond, in Canada & in Ontario our government has declared a state of emergence for the next 2 1/2 weeks. Our federal gov't has closed our borders to non citizens except for Americans & that border is open probably to allow the Snow Birds to get home. The federal gov't also instructed all Canadians who are aboard to get home now before the airlines close down. I do feel my anxiety rising. I've found some online yoga classes along with some online mediation classes. Several churches are conducting online services. There's free virtual tours for many of world's museums & art galleries. Social distancing in the physical sense does not have to be in the technology sense. As part of my church's pastoral care team, I'm checking in by phone and/or email, every other day with a few of our seniors who live alone. You can do this - it's only temporary & you can still go out for walks. I'm keeping you close in my thoughts. Together we can flatten the infection curve, give our health researchers the time to develop better treatments & find that vaccine, collectively we call all help keep our hospitals from being over run. Together - apart - we can to this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary-Lou. I'm feeling much more positive today and will be fine. Thanks for the suggestion of the virtual tours of museums - I will definitely make use of that.
DeleteOur shelves have got a little better. I think it was the shock of things happening so fast had people panicking and now those people are done, things are being restocked. I'm not saying things are normal - all our restaurants are closed (except for drive through) and schools are closed - but the supermarkets are still going strong and things are slowly being restocked.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a very social person so the whole being around other people isn't something I really have to deal with. I wouldn't like to be stuck completely in the house - I think that might be coming here. At least I have my garden - I'll wrap up in my winter coat and a blanket and seat out there if I have to lol. I certainly won't lack for reading or crafting materials. I might have to stock up on some chocolate though lol (and ration myself).
I am good at keeping myself occupied and interested at home and I'm used to living alone so I will be fine.
DeleteThe food supplies will settle down after this initial panic so future online shopping will be okay. I too am lucky to have a garden so can get out of the house whenever I want to.
I’m kind of weird person I think, because I really don’t mind staying home by myself. 😊
ReplyDeleteIs there a park or a trail that’s not crowded so you can take a walk? It’s good to stock up some treats too. 😊
I'm used to being on my own so will be fine for however long it lasts and can keep in touch with others via phone and Facebook.
DeleteI agree, I think food supplies will settle once this initial panic is over. The garden will get plenty of use this summer!
I think you are very wise, especially given the healthy scare not that long ago. Interestingly, I'm not the least bit tempted with chocolate, etc, right now and even crisps seem to have lost their addictive appeal. There's plenty of them in the shops anyway!
ReplyDeleteA shame about the music but it will all come back again, should you want it when this has settled down again.
xx
I was dithering about stopping the teaching anyway, even before this crisis, so it's not as upsetting as it otherwise could have been.
DeleteI feel more upset about the choir but we've been promised an online alternative which we should hear about later this week. It all sounds very exciting!
Everything you say is realistic, practical and not unduly glum. I am following the advice to the letter too, and taking no risks as I'll be useless to my parents if I fall ill. I am already missing being able to do the things which make life bearable but I am so worried about them that the upside is I'm not focusing on myself! I delivered a variety of staples and fresh food to them yesterday and had to go to three supermarkets to get it together. It was quite depressing but people were being civilised. I made sure to be especially lovely to the staff and they said that the behaviour at the weekend had been appalling. It's sad, thoughtless and doesn't get us anywhere. Meanwhile I will continue walking, alone or with a friend, and I have found a crochet pattern online which should keep me quiet for a few evenings. I will certainly have more time for blogging in the coming weeks, so you might find out more about that than any sane person needs to know! Keep the faith!
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for a delivery of wool and will attempt to crochet a blanket when it arrives. I ordered it before this social distancing became a necessity but it will be something new to add to the activities to keep me busy.
DeleteI think blogging and keeping in touch with online friends will be so important over the coming months. I look forward to testing my sanity by reading your blog.
Take good care xx
The thought of distancing myself from my children and grandchildren for what could be months is so distressing. I am dreading it.
ReplyDeleteI live alone but the thought of not seeing family and friends is unbearable and I'm trying to put it out of my mind.
DeleteIt's okay to be a bit glum, probably even healthy to get it out. The good news is that the groceries will get caught up and restocked, says the woman who has now seen that to be the case just a week later.
ReplyDeleteI hear that the supermarket shelves are restocking regularly but it is almost impossible to get a delivery so I am hoping that that situation is improved soon.
DeleteThe day our universe changed! And here we are, more than a year, later. My state is saying they will open up all businesses and do away with social distancing effective June 15! I am not sure if that is a good thing or not! I know I will not want to be unmasked among strangers who might or might not be vaccinated!
ReplyDeleteI think the UK should pause the relaxing of restrictions until there is certainty that the Indian variant has been completely contained. I will continue to wear a mask for some time yet.
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