The Country Steps Up a Gear

Yesterday felt like an historic day. Despite the recommendations from Government to avoid bars, theatres and other social spaces earlier in the week, the PM yesterday officially ordered all pubs, cafes, restaurants, gyms, cinemas and so on closed. Almost inevitably people went out for one last hurrah and as we walked through Chorlton to the pharmacy last night just before 7.00pm there were people in lots of the places that remained open. The Thirsty Korean was busier than I've ever seen it, there were folk in The Font, and a queue at the chip shop.

The pharmacy was a bit awkward with people trying to keep their distance from each other, that being said one cretin walked through the door coughing without covering his mouth and got a few looks thrown his way. Of course nobody said anything to him. I saw hand sanitiser on sale for the first time in about a month but didn't buy any as I thought £4.99 for 50ml was a bit steep.

We went to Charles and Paul's last night in lieu of going to the theatre, which of course had been cancelled earlier in the week. Right up to the last minute we were questioning whether we should go or not but decided to as it was a small group, everyone had been working from home all week, and it felt a relatively low risk. We didn't do the usual hugs and kisses when we arrived or left which felt unusual but I think everyone accepted it for what it was.

We had pizza from Double Zero which a few of the group went to pick up, there were people eating in the restaurant apparently but it wasn't full which, considering you have to book well ahead of time for a mid week table, is unusual in itself. Of course, like everywhere else, that was their last night of being open.

It'll be interesting to see who manages to ride this out. I expect there'll be a lot of restaurants and bars which just don't open again when this has all ended. The world will be a very different place that's for sure.

There are key events in the world which change everything, the one that springs to mind immediately is the attack on the the World Trade Centre which changed travel forever, and I suppose locally the terrorist attack on Manchester Arena in 2017 which has had implications for mass gatherings of all kinds since. I daresay that these will pale in comparison to Coronavirus when it's all over.

This is a truly global crisis. I looked at a map yesterday of countries in the world which had been affected so far and there were, as far as I could see, only a few countries in southern Africa where there were no reports. I wonder if that will change. There's no escaping this thing.

I spoke to my dad this morning and told him that I wasn't going to see him after all. I just think that getting on a tram and a grubby train and then walking into an elderly man's house is asking for trouble. Besides I don't know if I picked anything up at last night's gathering. Probably not but you never know.

My cousin Natalie has been a superstar. I put a message on Facebook yesterday asking for people's opinions and advice on going to see dad and she saw it and offered to help. So today at 4 o'clock, she's taking him a pork casserole and coffee cake then going shopping for him. It's a big relief for me.

I spoke to my brother Matthew today too, he's in isolation for a fortnight with Falak and Micah. Micah, who turned four a couple of weeks ago, has been poorly and developed a fever. Unable to get through to their doctor Falak eventually called 999 and a paramedic came out. He's improving but they've been advised to self isolate in case they have Covid-19. Like everyone though, they'll probably never know if that's what it was.

So today is our first Saturday at home. We contemplated going to the street market in Chorlton which Chris said is still on but decided against it. The decision was helped somewhat by our hangovers.

It's mother's day tomorrow. I'm not sure what Chris is planning with his mum, if anything. It feels weird to write this but I'm glad my mum doesn't have to go through this.