Tuesday 26 May 2020

Waiting for the all-clear siren.



I've said in the past that I seem to spend an awful lot of time simply 'waiting'.

Whether it be waiting for plaster or cement to dry, for Lady M to get to the car so we can go somewhere, or for Spring/Summer to arrive; I'm always waiting for something, and if I moan about it I'm told not to be impatient!

Well, I am impatient. Any time spent waiting, is time wasted. It's in-between-time; time that can't be used to do other things, time that is possibly quite short, but seems like ages.

Many now anxiously wait for each evening's details of deaths, new infections, and new restrictions or liberties. Personally I don't.

Mostly, of course, we are waiting for things to return to 'normal'; which may never happen. Some are desperately waiting for science to develop a jab that will make the world immune, others are just waiting for all the shops to re-open. Everyone is waiting for the whole pandemic to become no more than a nasty memory.

One day a siren will sound, and we'll all come up from our temporary homes in The Underworld, and blink in the sunshine. Churchill will declare it to be safe to breathe again, and Vera Lynn will sing patriotic songs.

Carry on waiting; it may be some while.

57 comments:

  1. My attitude to waiting quite different to yours. I don't see it as "wasted" time; I see it as down time; time I am not expected to do anything (other than wait); it's time to ponder and think at leisure.

    As to the waiting for lockdown to end - that's a rather different type of waiting. The "how long is a piece of string" variety. I think a lot of people are impatient, and anxious, to get back to work, if "only" for financial reasons.

    Anyway, in the wake of Dominic Cummings and his goings a lot of people won't give an eff any more as to government advice. They'll do what they think right. Which, in principle, I agree with as long as no one coughs on ME and keeps their distance. Sniff. I am a hugger.

    U

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    1. From what I've seen, most people had given-up any adherence to 'lockdown' long before the Cummings farce. The press are making an example of him, simply because they don't like him. Luckily, being out in the country, I've not missed-out on too much, but there are certainly places I need to go to, but still can't. I believe things will be relaxed a lot next month.

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    2. The outrage at Cummings can't be put at the feet of press and media. The PUBLIC, the very public who obeyed by rules even if at great (emotional) cost to some of them personally, is outraged; even dyed in the wool Tories and ministers have been moved to voice their less than favourable opinions.

      I think what some people forget that Cummings' digression took place when we were quivering and quaking in our shoes; namely, right at the BEGINNING of the lockdown, not last week.

      I couldn't give a toss about Cummings and what he does. Good luck to anyone who breaks the rules. But, in this instance, there is a principle at stake. And that principle he has not only violated, he has invalidated. What times, Cro, do we live in when it's one law for the plebs and another for the few, seemingly, exempt from the rules THEY made? In terms of ethics I find it outrageous. Should Johnson fire him? Yes. I don't advocate anyone losing their livelihood. I am sure there are many other jobs he can be given or successfully land. But to remain the Johnson whisperer, his Svengali, is now untenable.

      U

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    3. Your para 2 says it all. People were 'quivering'; and that included Cummings. He was obviously panicking, trying to do the best for his wife and small son. He certainly wasn't alone!

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    4. If I didn't know differently I'd think Cummings your son as for an offspring's misdemeanours most of us will make any old excuse, find an explanation. As implausible as it may be.

      Let me reiterate. The British were given government guidelines which, indeed, at first impact and not knowing anything about the Virus, did make most "quiver" and OBEY. The streets were empty. Cummings didn't quiver. He didn't OBEY. Let's not forget, and that's what I mean by "principle" that he plays a considerable part in the regime that formulated the new RULES. Reminds me of the parent who lights a cigarette whilst telling their eighteen year old not to smoke.

      A man with as formidable an intellect as Cummings is supposed to have PANICs? Pull the other one. Maybe he is just as stupid as some who don't know what constitutes the two meter rule and therefore don't observe it. And, by decree, the ignorant shall not only be forgiven but inherit the earth.

      U

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    5. In his circumstances,which he's described, I would have done the same. If this pandemic had happened when my children were small, we would have been 350 miles away from family and there's no way on earth I'd have contemplated trying to arrange emergency childcare via Social Services!

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    6. All responsible people would have done the same, and I suspect thousands did. Cummings is just another ordinary bloke, and when it comes to his family's safety, I'm sure he didn't start thinking of his 'job'. Of course every good Corbyn supporter would have thought of 'principle' as a priority!!! Like bloody hell they would.

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    7. Both you and Mrs LH are missing the point.

      Sure, who knows, I'd have been tempted to decamp given the choice. But if you decide to go against the rules you do have to live with the consequences. So, say, I steal a loaf of bread, the explanation why I did so is simple: I (or, for tear jerking impact, my kids) going hungry. Whilst that is an explanation in the eyes of the law it's not an excuse. Either we obey the law or we don't. If Cummings had been Mr Nobody Joe Smith down the road being caught out he'd have had another thing coming. And a hefty fine. Minimum.

      U

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    8. As was explained yesterday, he DIDN'T break any law, he simply went against his own very good advice.

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    9. OK, let's not split hairs and forget "law". Let's use the more accurate term "rules". Rules imposed by the government. He broke the rules, Cro. Though, talking of law, it is the police (law enforcers by definition) to whom it falls to nail you when you break said rules. Unless you are Cummings.

      I am a pretty flexible, bendy type of person. Forgiving to a fault. What I object to and then I'll give up on this thread that there appears to be one RULE for most and another for the few. So, let's repeat the current mantra, to the tune of Corona and Cummings: We are all in this together.

      U

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    10. Ever since 'Lockdown' was announced people have been breaking the rules. Some have simply sat on the beach, others have travelled to see relatives. Some have tried to leave heavily affected areas to look after their children; and even one Labour MP went to a funeral and mingled with others. If you don't think this has been going on, and you think Cummings is alone, then think again. End of story.

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    11. An interesting aside..the beauty spot he went to is in the same place as a developing site of GSK...who signed a contract regarding vaccine with a French company two days later. Just saying....

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    12. I believe he sat by a river... are you suggesting undercover covert meetings, and dodgy dealings? I don't see him as that type.

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    13. Odd isn't how Cummings has felt the ire of the press when the very same press defended Stephen Kinnock MP for doing exactly the same thing. If an MP who voted for the laws isn't held to account then why should anyone else be. Pure hypocrisy to Sally forth against Cummings and not Kinnock.

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    14. Of course. This simply demonstrates how political this whole 'scandal' has become. The more I hear of it, the more I'm disgusted with the media as a whole.

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  2. I don't mind what you call waiting. In fact I would call it 'living'. There is always something to do, read a bit, craft a bit, get out a crossword when I'm stuck in the car and stave off the Alzheimer's, listen to the silence, enjoy the parade.
    One norm yesterday, another tomorrow and today is what it is.

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    1. I have too much to do anyway. It's not even 9-o-clock, and I've already done half a day's work.

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  3. You should have been a waiter - someone like Manuel in "Fawlty Towers" perhaps. I am sure you would have received many tips - advisory rather than financial.

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    1. I would have made the world's worst waiter; in Paris maybe (where rudeness is expected), but nowhere else.

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  4. I could do with some "waiting time" at the moment, seem to be even busier than usual.

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    1. Me too. I've got a mountain of jobs to do.

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  5. I don't like waiting, if I have a choice I don't wait. If forced to wait I find something else to do to fill in the time. I found it very frustrating to have to wait in line to get on a roller coaster. If I need to get my ears checked for a new hearing aid I sit in another room and tell them to come for me when they are ready, then I read a book. Can't be doing with waiting rooms. I want to arrive at a place five minutes before my appointment, then go in to see whoever.

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    1. I never make people wait for me; I think it's rude. It's only an occasional problem but it's always others who cause me to wait. However, I think a lot of people are simply 'waiting' at the moment, because they don't know what else to do.

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  6. I've had enough of waiting now. Thanks to a painful disability which doesn't like the cold, I spend most of the winter not going out anyway, and I can't actually remember the last time I got into our car to go anywhere - possibly before Christmas. My outlook has been restricted to what I can see from the windows and I just want a change of scene. I have no urge to go shopping, no urge to see people. I just want to go somewhere different!

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    1. I'm sure you're not alone. We have all waited too long (probably wisely), and we now need to stretch our legs a bit. I shan't be rushing off everywhere when restrictions are lifted, but there are certainly things I need to do, and places I need to visit.

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  7. I do tend to get impatient if I am waiting for a delivery of something, which is happening more these days for obvious reasons. I know it can't be helped, but I still restlessly watch out for the postman or delivery driver all the time!

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    1. Waiting for others cannot be helped; we must simply make sure that we don't make others wait for us!

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  8. I don't call it waiting...We are redirecting where we work and doing things that have been on the list to be done. There will be no all clear. We will have to change the way we live.

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    1. In this house things certainly will change a bit. I shall be going out less; I've realised it is totally unnecessary. I'm also now used to spending far less money; that will continue too.

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  9. When you get to my advanced age Cro the main thing you are waiting for is death I suppose but I try to keep cheerful and enjoy life to the best of my ability mobility-wise.

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    1. I think we're all waiting for that Weave;but I'm putting it off for as long as I can.

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  10. You could always take up smoking to pass the waiting time, or perhaps scrolling through your phone viewing your blog mates' brilliant bon mots. I see a discussion about Cummings kicked off. My take is not whether rules were broken or not, it is of appearances and public perception about a wealthy and privileged person, right at a time when children can't see their Covid dying mother in a nursing home. COVID-19 has been a disaster in the UK and it wholly down to the government. It did far too little too late.

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    1. Any excuse to have a go at either Boris, or Dominic, or any other Tory, is grasped as tightly as possible. As I repeat regularly; there's nothing the left hate more than success from the right. It drives them crazy.

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    2. Sorry, Cro, this has nothing to do with left of right. It's got to do with integrity.

      As an aside: Why do you call Johnson and Cummings by their first names? I am sure that even you, when you were at school, were called by your last. What's this over familiarity?

      U

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    3. I know you don't believe that, this is a classic case of having a go at the opposition. It couldn't be clearer. And before you tell me, many right wing people see him as 'opposition'.

      The use of first names in politics arrived with Boris.

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    4. And that isn't even his first name!

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  11. Most of us are not coping well with this waiting, however, our lives and the lives of our loved ones depend upon it. It is made harder, though, to see people who ignore all precautions and live life as they want, putting others in danger and making this horrible virus last longer.

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    1. Over on this side of The Pond things will start to change in early June. Many shops, cafés, and restaurants will open, and although certain restrictions will remain, life should be better for those who have itchy feet.

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  12. I hate waiting. I want everything done yesterday. I'm always on time for appointments or meetings and I get exasperated if people are late. I'm just an impatient sort of person I suppose.

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    1. I simply like to be doing things, so if others keep me waiting it annoys me; it is for this reason that I try never to keep others waiting.

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  13. I see Ursula has moved her blog here

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    1. It's called discussion, John. Exchange of ideas and opinions. You know, the sort of thing people do when gathered around a table. Cro's blog, and all credit to him, unlike some blogs which are just echo chambers.

      Anyway, thanks for the unnecessary mention. By the very man who only recently extolled the virtues of being "kind".

      U

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    2. No it's called taking over and not knowing when to stop

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    3. I note several times you tell cro that he is WRONG
      That's not debate, that's your own inflated ego

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    4. Come on, John. Leave it. Let's stick with facts.

      "Not knowing when to stop"? My, my, you barely ever start.

      Fact is, you don't like me. Neither do you don't have the intellectual capacity and/or patience to engage in discussion. There, I said what I have been thinking for a long time. The idiot here is myself. Why did I bother with you when everyone including someone you'd rather not know who told me I was wasting my time?

      You pride yourself on being "nice" and "kind"? If you say so.


      As to ego (yours) I am happy to lend you an air pump since your self esteem seems rather deflated.

      U

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    5. Ok facts
      "Not knowing it where to stop"

      You have been banned from three blogs I know of for monopolising the conversations...sonend of subject there.

      " I don't like you "
      I am , in fact rather ambivalent about you...I don't however like your behaviour of constantly arguing points of view just for the sake of it.

      I am certainly not the brightest intellectual on line for sure, ( you are so right Ursula there) but I am emotionally very bright and self aware and emotionally I will out gun you every time

      I've never prided myself of being kind
      Please quote me of saying anything similar

      You are right about my ego, it's taken a bashing the last 18 months
      I've never pretended any different.

      Perhaps our best course of action is to keep apart from each other. For the past two years I have asked you to keep away from Going Gently and after every request you have come back to comment
      Please just leave me and my blog alone

      You irritate me



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    6. For the record: Since you accuse me of telling Cro he is "wrong" I have gone over my copy again (what lovely prose). Not once, not once, did I say to him he was "wrong". It's not a wording I'd use. I argue my corner, I let others argue theirs. You on the other, so it appears, think you are being put in the "wrong" just because someone doesn't agree with you. Not so, John, not so. Think about it.

      U

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    7. It appears our last few messages have crossed.

      It's ok, John. You don't need to come to me with your begging bowl of "just leave me and my blog alone". I will leave you alone. As an aside: What a terrible phrase when you think about it.

      I'd say that one of my shortcomings that I never ever give up. On anyone once they have captured my imagination, and my affection. Still, never too old to learn the stark lesson that, sometimes, even I have to muster the strength to give up.

      Good luck, John. Hope you got something from our exchanges over the years. If not, just write it off.

      U

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  14. As for being kind, why can't you cope with some criticism ?
    You give yours so freely

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    1. Come off it, John. If there is one person in your hallowed circles who not only puts up with criticism, nay, abuse hurled at me, not least by you, it's me.

      Yes, I am critical. My intent is to be constructive in my criticism. However, I do accept that, to some, it may sound harsh. Still, there is that wonderful English maxime of giving others "the benefit of the doubt". Something I most certainly have not received at your hands.

      U

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    2. Unfortunately You are naturally rude
      It's something you are and you have no real awareness of...
      Which is sad because conflict will constantly follow u

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    3. Ok, John, ok. Matron John has spoken. I am "naturally rude". Fine. Whatever you say.

      Please don't give me "sad". There is nothing sad other than your reaction to me. No, even that isn't sad. It is what it is. Pathetic?

      U

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    4. You are rude
      Consistantly rude and for a couple of years I have eventually let you return to Going Gently after having a spat with you
      No longer will that happen
      You are a sad rude opinionated woman with a huge lack of self awareness despite an impressive intellect
      Dont goad me again.....I've nit even started

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  15. I think many are chomping on the bit for the all clear siren to sound. Where I am, we have very few cases, and yet are on a pretty strict lock down. That chafes many.

    As for me, my work continued as it always had, and a lot of my usual routine has been in tact. What's inconvenient for me at the moment is wanting to visit a friend who lives in another state and figuring out a way where we can meet. I have some things that I was going to give to her, things she can use right now, but to meet and even just do a quick exchange has not been possible. Things are easing up a little here, so I hope we can meet sooner rather than later.

    I am on holiday this week, and quelle surprise--it's a staycation. I've got a iist of house and garden things i'd like to work on, so i'll be busy enough. It would be nice to see my dear friend.

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    1. Things are becoming a little more relaxed over here next month. Whether this is a good idea or not remains to be seen. I'm afraid that so many people have totally ignored the lockdown suggestions, that it had become a mockery. We have mostly abided by the rules, but we stay put anyway.

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