By Bernie Bell
Be warned – this is pretty much me thinking aloud – so if you’re not interested – there’s always the delete button!
Something that I’m pondering, is whether I’ll be able to do the things I used to do before Covid, after Covid has passed – not that I’ve had it – thank goodness, no! – just when the situation has changed.
I’m getting old and have some health difficulties which mean that I can’t do much – not as much as I used to. And this is progressing – slowly – but it is progressing.
I’m wondering if by the time I will feel comfortable about going among people again, will I be able to do what I’d like to, anyway? Who knows.
We had a holiday to Skye planned for Spring 2020 – all planned, all booked – maps and books bought and a list prepared of what we wanted to do – acknowledging my limitations. Covid hit – we thought “Maybe next year”. Then…. “Maybe next year.” The books and maps are now in the cupboard, and I’m wondering if, when we feel able to I’ll…… be able to.
Then I tell myself that I’ve had a lot of good times – some very horrible times too – but a lot of good times, and travel.
I’ve been to Orkney islands as well as Mainland Orkney, Kilmartin Glen, The Western Isles, over to Ireland to various places – not just my ‘home turf’, some crackin’ places in Wales and England. The ‘feel’ of Frenchman’s Creek in Cornwall is still with me. When will someone make a film of Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Frenchman’s Creek’, with Aiden Turner as the Frenchman? Sigh.
Then, across the water on the other side to Paris – twice, Crete – including Knossos and the Gorge of Samaria – my lord – the Gorge of Samaria. Seville and working at the Cota Donana in Spain. Naples – and Rome and Capri and Ischia. Portugal for our honeymoon – yay!
And now I live here in Orkney and the fact is, if I never go anywhere else again – that’s fine by me.
What I would like to be able to do is….go into Stromness, have lunch in Julia’s, raid the charity shops, have a look round the Museum, then meet Mike from work to come home. Just – ordinary life.
I’m honestly not sure if, by the time I feel comfortable about doing that, I’ll be able to manage it. But, as I say – I’ve had a lot of good times.
The world when the Covid situation clears/settles down/whatever it’s going to do – is for the young – but they need to stay healthy to be able to go for it when it’s actually, genuinely safe to do so, not squandering the little bits of ‘freedom‘ being fed to them. Stay safe – pay attention – do the right things – so you can do more things, in a more relaxed way – eventually.
I just picked up an email from our friends in New Zealand – which has done so well, for so long……..
“We are just getting Omicron about to take off. Someone thought it was a good idea last w/e to put on a rock concert, now 8,000 people have been told to get tests ‘cos 100 people have tested positive from it and the numbers are expected to skyrocket. It may be our ‘super spreader event’.”
Think on, young persons, think on.
Meanwhile I’ll go for walks, and spend time in the garden with the frogs and the neighbour’s dogs – no’ a bad life.
