I don’t think that it’s going too far to say that the current coronavirus shut down is the biggest global event to have happened since the Second World War. The world has changed, probably forever, and we are sat plumb in the middle of it all.
It is hard to believe that this time last year we were sat on Kanagroo Island taking in the amazing assault on the senses that were around us. I still believe that it is one of the finest places on the planet. Since then, they have suffered from the double whammy of devastating wildfires and having their tourist lifeline cut as the island self quarantines before the virus reaches them.
My heart hurts for them and I wish them nothing but the very best as they get back on their feet.
As you can tell from the total lack of posts on this blog, our own travel plans have been none existent. We were looking to book a trip into Europe for our main holiday this year but just held off as the virus was beginning to take hold. Absence makes the heart grow fonder as they say, I can’t wait to get past this and see the world.
Until then, I am seeing this hiatus period as the perfect time to use this blog for what I set it up to be. I never really expected anyone else to read it, I write this so that I can look back and remember what I felt and what I thought when I was visiting these places. It’s not bad timing as I read through my memories of that Australian trip and relive them. It’s a great reminder that we need to make memories and have experiences while we still can, to make the most of the opportunities that you have.
It feels like a long time ago now, but last weekend we walked into our local town for what felt like one last poke around the high street. It didn’t feel remotely dangerous or exciting at the time but, looking back, we were doing things that would seem insane today. Walking right past people eon the street, getting a hair cut, handing money over at the shops…..who knew that this sort of thing would become something we would look back on and hope it returned soon?
One of the few changes that had taken place last weekend was the closure of cafes. It was a stark reminder than things were changing and would probably get a lot worse before they would get better. One of the reasons that we like to shop locally is to help local small business and make relationships with independant traders, being part of a community is so important but maybe we didn’t fully appreciate that until it was gone.
To see cafe locked up was, in all honesty, distressing. People should have been sat in those seats, sharing thoughts, ideas, laughs and smiles. Sharing problems, solving problems and helping each other through tough times making each other fell better. They weren’t.
I think that is why communities have put so much effort into replacing those connections that keep us all alive, give up hope, make us human. It feels like every street has it own WhatsApp groups that share news, offer help, share laughs and jokes to keep each other going.
Blokes, normally so terrible at checking in on each other and making sure we are all mentally well, are still terrible. But we are looking after each other in the only way that we know how. We laugh at each other and make jokes at each others expense. We dont know how to say we care for each other, but we all know that the best we can so is to say something, anything, just to keep in touch and keep that connection with normality.
Maybe after all of the negativity we have faced around politics, Brexit and extremism, we all just needed a reset to remember what was, is and will always be important. Be nice to each other, be safe and be healthy. What more can you ask for?
Itchy Feet and Titchy Feet 