America!! Relaxing lockdown here.

America seems to be exploding! Or should that be imploding? There’s a badly managed pandemic (is it even real? is it a plot by Democrats to undermine the Republican presidency? is it a nasty plot by China to take over the world? is it a warning from God to mend our evil ways? all theories!). There’s a tweeting president whose tweets are being criticised and even blocked by Twitter. There are riots and demonstrations in a number of cities because of the death of George Floyd, another black man killed by police action. And to top it all there’s a heatwave, which can’t be helping anybody’s mood.

From a Guardian article:-

“Even before the pandemic hit, heat was killing more Americans than all other natural disasters combined. People who live in cities are especially vulnerable to heatwaves because of a phenomenon called the “urban heat island effect” – cities with populations of 1m or more can be up to 5F hotter than surrounding areas due to high population density, a lack of greenery and shade, and because materials like steel, concrete and asphalt tend to absorb more heat.” 

And of course the poorer districts suffer most with more overcrowding, less air-conditioning or if they have it no spare funds to pay to run it!

We have just spoken to our son, the southern branch of the family down in Buckinghamshire. He had been in the park with his little girl and reported that it was packed. The centre of the smallish town where they live was almost at a normal Saturday morning rate of busyness. He is still able to work from home, fortunately. The prospect of returning to a daily ride into central London on the tube is not appealing.

And so we move into a new phase.

Our road, newly opened after all the roadworks have been cleared away, is busy again, not quite up to pre-roadwork levels but obviously a major thoroughfare once more. No more strolling down the middle of the road, although most people out walking will still veer out if someone approaches from the opposite direction.

The village was moderately busy when I was out for a run this morning, not up to pre-lockdown busy but no longer a ghost village. The coop has tweaked its opening times to allow for deliveries to the store first thing in the morning without customers - the only entrance for customers and supplies is the front door - and there was only a short queue to get in, keeping customers down to a minimum in the shop.

The cafe in the village, closed since just before lockdown, has opened again today for take-away only. How long before they set up tables on the pavement again? They had arranged some interesting street furniture outside the door, with supplies of hand sanitiser, and a bowl of water for passing dogs. I had to send a photo of the Singer treadle sewing machine, very much like the one my grandmother had, to my oldest granddaughter. She already has two hand operated Singer machines which she has lovingly refurbished. So I was quite glad this machine did not appear to be for sale. Otherwise she might have wanted me to put in a bid for her.

We shall wait and see how the relaxation of lockdown progresses. In South Korea meanwhile more than 200 schools have been forced to close once more just days after reopening, due to a new spike in virus cases. Here in the UK, we still have significantly more deaths per day than other European countries - yesterday Spain 2, Italy 87, France 52, Germany 24 ... UK 324. I think we still have a way to go.

But life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!