In the first episode of his part in the coronavirus war, we heard of Tim Sinclair’s dash for Blighty. This was his long trek back to the UK in his campervan from a site west of Barcelona. Now moored in his brother-in-law’s garden, it’s not the home it was ...
High fever? No.
Constant dry cough? No.
Lethargic? Yes.
Can't really dial 111 because of that last symptom. Still I'm blaming Covid-19 for my malaise. Trouble is my self-isolation is in a campervan, my "permanent" home for the past two years, in which there's no space to put up a book shelf, or an outside with a veg patch to dig over.
Wake up and ask myself why get up? Nothing to do but boring chores like showering and shaving. And the bed to unmake. My life had been one of moving on, of challenges, exploring new vistas and with different views outside my bay window (windscreen) in the morning.
Lockdown, shutdown - nearby pubs or restaurants closed, as are my usual resting places (campsites). The outlook the same, it seems, for weeks ahead.
Then, I know that compared to many I'm living the life of Riley in such dire times. The serenity of a brother-in-law's garden while hooked up to his utilities, what more could I ask? I also know that actually the blame for my lethargy is myself. Time to explore new interests and projects. Plus there happens to be many lovely walks in the area. Right.... time to get motivated.
Interestingly, on my return fleeing Spain and France four days ago, I discovered that despite the ban on social gathering, there was one place you could meet up with friends - at the correct distance of course. That is in the hour-long queue around the supermarket car park. Has to be arranged beforehand for all to all arrive at the same time for the weekly supplies. But at least you can then chat or shout and not be totally bored.
Tesco, I found out that day, counted me in and counted me out - all sensibly to restrict numbers in store and people sneezing down your neck at the toilet roll shelves. Hence the long queue of trolley-pushing folk that started way beyond the (regretfully closed) car wash and ending at the front doors. Not quite as long was the queue half way round the aisles to the check-outs.
Tip 1: scan-as-you-shop queue lot shorter. Tip 2: check with Google for the store's popular times. Queue had halved when I emerged at 1pm.
I wouldn't have bothered but the store's pharmacy had my prescription meds. Otherwise, the small Waitrose at the filling station, where I replenished my heating-required diesel, had no queues and would have supplied my needs.
We've all got to adapt to a new way of living.
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