The barber’s shop in Uppermill was doing a roaring trade when I went past it this morning. A notice outside said that today was fully booked and gave a phone number to call for an appointment tomorrow... or the next day... or the next! One gentleman tried to do a walk-in but was politely turned away. He made an appointment for tomorrow, declaring that he desperately needed a haircut, which did not actually seem the case to me. In fact his maybe just a little longer than usual for a man of his age hair went quite well with the outfit he had opted for: smart jeans, obviously ironed, and a lightweight, possible linen, pinstriped dark blue jacket. Who says women don’t notice what men wear?
Uppermill is getting back to almost normal levels of being busy. Everywhere has orderly, properly distanced queues but not very many face masks. Coffee shops are opening up, mostly for takeaway but with some sitting outside. Some have notices saying that unfortunately toilet facilities are still closed. Maybe they need to do what bars and cafes in Spain used to do back in the 1960s and have a key available so that customers can be secure in their use of the facilities. In old Spain this only applied to the ladies’ toilets but now it could apply to both genders.
I was reading about museums and art galleries gradually reopening and arranging things so that they have hand-sanitiser available, one-way systems in place and inevitably a booking system so that numbers going in are restricted. I found myself thinking of the Sir John Soanes museum in London, a tiny little gem of a museum, basically a house filled with interesting stuff. It is so tiny that it will be really difficult to organise post-virus visits but no doubt a way will have to be found. In the meantime you can still do virtual visits to the Sir John Soanes Museum.
And what about circuses! The Association of Circus Proprietors has asked for help as they are in dire straits and have slipped through all kinds of aid systems. Companies in this apparently 250 year old tradition say they will go bust in just two weeks without help.
Martin Burton, the Association’s chairman said this:-
“The first circus was invented by Philip Astley. His circus building was on the other side of Westminster Bridge … Parliamentarians would cross the bridge and go to Astley’s amphitheatre and watch the circus.
It’s only in Britain – I’m sorry to tell you, considering that we invented [the circus] – that it’s looked down upon so much [today] … There’s a national circus in Hungary. The man who runs [it] is a cabinet minister. The national circus in Switzerland, Knie, are like royalty. The Pope in Italy goes to see circuses all the time. We don’t get that recognition here.”
Joking about clowns and politicians, he also said: “We have to be very careful about the abuse of the word ‘circus’ and the abuse of the word ‘clown’. Let’s not make it too derogatory because it upsets the real ones.”
I’ve just listened to Mr Sunak telling us what he is doing to help the tourism and hospitality industry, among other measures to boost the economy. Special measures are going to be in place to encourage us all to eat out next month: “Eat out to help out!”
No mention of circuses though. But then, most of us forget about the circus until it comes to town.
Warnings are being given by UK neurologists about people recovering from the coronavirus suffering from brain disorders in the weeks and months after being ill. Apparently there was an increase in brain disease following the 1918 flu pandemic, so it is not too surprising. This current alert might affect mostly people with mild symptoms. Now, President Bolsonara is reported to have tested positive but reckons to have mild symptoms. I would suggest he should be careful but ... it is quite possible he was already suffering from a brain disorder! Just a thought!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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