A bit of pessimism. But also looking at the brighter side of things.

 I just read this in the newspaper online:

“Britain has never felt more fearful or sad according to a survey that reveals a nation gripped by pessimism and despair. As the coronavirus pandemic shows little sign of slowing down while the impact on the economy accelerates, Britons are struggling to stay positive.

In a report to be published on Tuesday by BritainThinks, more than two-thirds of respondents report feeling pessimistic about the UK. Compared with its last survey in June 2019, happiness has dropped and an “optimism inequality” has taken hold, with the most affluent able to afford a sunnier outlook compared with those from the most deprived backgrounds, who reported feeling the most bleak.”

I suppose such findings are inevitable, given the current circumstances. Once again I feel fortunate not to be of working age any longer. We just get on with the usual sort of things that have occupied us for the last few years, but with considerably less face to face interaction. But there are quite a lot of things I miss being able to do. And when I look at the broader picture for the country and, indeed, for the world, I can fully understand the pessimism.

However, Honours have been given out. Is this a way of cheering us up? The young footballer Marcus Rashford gets an MBE for helping to ensure that children in deprived areas continued to be fed over the summer. Other folk get knighthoods for less obvious reasons but I suppose it was ever thus. 

A lot of NHS workers have been honoured, provoking this kind of response:

“WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE NURSES :

An MBE

An OBE

Warm words

A clap

WHAT THEY WON’T GIVE THEM:

A proper pay-rise”

There are also ironic comments on the proposed traffic-light system for lockdowns:

“Parody Boris Johnson

Next week I will be introducing a three-tier traffic light system for lockdowns:

Green: relax, you live in the South- East

Amber: careful now, this is the Midlands

Red: get back in the house you plague-infested Northerners”

Hey, ho! It does feel a little like that!

Still, it seems there are things to be cheerful about: 

“The White House doctor saysDonald Trump is no longer at risk of transmitting the coronavirus, but has not said whether the US president has tested negative for it.”

Well, I think the USA should share with the world this rapid-recovery-from-coronavirus system. Of course, some people are sceptical about it, including some American medical experts.

Looking at bleaker ideas again, some places in Wales, especially those towns close to the border with England who receive lots of visitors, are getting a bit concerned about balancing welcoming tourists and risking contagion. Maybe a wall should be built!

But getting back to accentuating the positive, today dawned fine and sunny. 

 For the first time in several days, I returned from my morning run with dry feet instead of wet ones, despite the ford quietly flooding. I did avoid the muddiest and puddliest places though. 

And this afternoon we managed a family walk up to Dobcross and back along a moderately muddy Donkey Line. It’s not the same as having the family round for a meal but it will do for the time being.

 

 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!