Now that we are on LD3 after lots of different Tiers where we have moved up and down like a football team chasing promotion, or fighting relegation I find it is not so easy to keep track of the days.

Retirement had never appealed to me as I always felt that my life would lose structure (I hate golf, or the idea of it)  and unlike so many millions who had gone before me, I was not looking forward to retiring - so didn't when it came to my turn a couple of years back.

When my father retired they had bought an old house to renovate and worked full time on that. Having retired he had Mass on Sunday to either work towards or away from as the whole country would close down for the day in those days.  Now we have Sunday every day with everyone staying home, and the majority of the country on lockdown, especially my own industry, driver education - sadly all driving lessons are on hold until HMG say otherwise.

I miss the sound of children in the street going to school, the usual ones being called to, as mum, or dad tries to get them in the car because they were on the edge of running late and upsetting the whole day. I miss my own pupils - seeing them work at our targets for the day, watching their independence grow as it takes them one step nearer to leaving me to going on to drive on their own. The huge smiles on their faces when they pass and the pure joy they exude on the drive home.

I miss hugs and shaking hands with friends.

Everyday is now Sunday, apart from the big food-stores are now open everyday, but then we now buy our groceries on line so that doesn't even affect us. We can pick up almost anything we like on the internet, even a new - or nearly new car and do not need to venture outside anymore. I miss popping into the corner shop, then sitting in the sun in my car reading the paper on my lunch break, now I just flick through pages on my tablet or phone. Who needs cash anymore, as the banks have had a dream come true without it costing them a penny - being a cashless society in a mere 8 months has slipped in without us even noticing or whinging.

On the Plus side.

We have to be grateful for the technology I have listed above to be able to buy and sell goods where possible. We have all the means that are available to help us keep in touch with family and loved ones at no additional cost, even talking face to face on our screens to people from the other side of the world.

 I no longer have to do the dreaded weekly trip to the supermarket on a regular basis - bliss. Plus they have a brilliant team of friendly delivery drivers who give us a super service. Books on the internet for pennies, or even free, though I'm still old fashioned and love the feel and smell of pages and paper. We can get music and films on line to fill our 'virtual libraries' which in turn save the trees and forests of the world as we no longer need wood for the shelves - so more space in our homes.

Money is no longer needed and flashing the wedge of cash is not a sign of doing well anymore as all cards are the same, unless you have a particular type. You can just swipe or wave the plastic and the world is yours with no more holes in your pockets from the jangling coins of the old days with heavy pennies and ha'pennies, crowns, half-crowns, florins and threepence bits. Age brings wonderful memories that are priceless and a fond fun thing to share.

People should be cleaner and smell better from all the washing we are doing plus there must be a market growing - excuse the pun- for human hair as there will be an abundance of it when we can visit the barbers and hairdressers again. I am on the second ponytail of life, the first one only last year.

The air is cleaner from the drop in waste gasses being emitted, and we are making bigger strides towards clean energy, all given a huge boost by the situation we find ourselves in. Our awareness of our planet is growing, for which I am grateful, with growth in awareness of recycling and waste produce. I find it strange that I do not see the environmentalists celebrating this more. I would have thought that they would be doing cartwheels in the street and shouting 'well done' to everyone!  We are eating a more interesting diet and the move towards veganistic diets is on a strong upward trend. Even yours truly is munching more on the veggies and less on the animals I love. I now find that Aldi sell a very passable sausage roll that I prefer to the real thing which usually has the poorest of meat inside. So many veggie burgers make a nice change and it also helps the dietary system out as much easier to digest.

In the south of England we have had an unexpected bonus and that is loads 'n loads of rain. I can hear you guys to the north of Watford laughing and yawning, but here in the SE, rain is quite rare.  Every year we have the BBC showing us dried up rivers, low levels in our reservoirs and aquifers with warnings of hose pipe bans, closed car washes and droughts. I even have a desert, yep a desert a short distance from my front door.It may be small, but we have one, no camels though. 

People are friendlier, it is so nice to meet someone outside that it is an event to say 'hello' and make a joke about keeping your distance. There are more smiles about, it is true that you can see the eyes sparkle quite easily atop of the mask and it is brilliant to respond to another human. We wave across the street to each other and even speak to strangers of all shapes and sizes, as long as we stay the 'magical' 2metre apart.  When you think that 2metres is 6 foot and that is the depth they dig to for a grave, a timely visualisation to keep your distance. So, please keep out of the other guys grave.



Will we come out of this ok?

Yes, I am convinced we will, and be the better for it. Us humans are a great species and I see us calmly waiting at the starting blocks of the great race for the future. We will hopefully retain some of the humility, warmth and community spirit that we have built up these last 10 months and go forward as a better species.

The love that has been put into the support for the health service, community workers, drivers, shop staff and all the others that have worked their socks off to help us all to pull through has been heartwarming.  The children that in many ways have lost so much and yet given us all so much love in return is priceless and we owe them a lot more than that first hug we manage to give them when free to do so. 

Thank you to the scientists who worked day and night, collaborating across the globe like never before to beat a common enemy along with the politicians of different countries. Unheard of in the past.

The future is bright and it looks good post Covid19, I look forward to seeing you soon on the other side. Just keep away and keep safe
Cheers all.

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