Easter weekend activities. And some thoughts on modern living.

 Well, I’ve sort of finished spring cleaning. No doubt I could find other decluttering jobs to do but … not right now. Some people have gone rushing off on holiday but not us. We did go and spend Easter i  Salamanca one year, a long time ago now. It was impressive. But this year we’ve stayed at home. If Granddaughter Number Two has her way tomorrow we might do a family hike up to Heights Church, up on the top of the hill, looking down on the valley between Delph and Denshaw. A walk round the local,beauty spot that is Dovestone reservoir would be equally good but I suspect it will,be more crowded. 

I could almost feel sorry for those who have been stuck in their cars trying to get on the ferry across to France. However, they probably should have thought about it before booking those holidays. Here’s an apt comparison I found on social media: 

“Imagine you’re at the supermarket …

Instead of scanning items at the checkout, the supermarket has imposed a new rule meaning every item code is keyed in.

And every item stamped.

… then imagine the supermarket telling you the long queues have nothing to do with the new rule.”

I do feel sorry, however, for the school parties in coaches stuck in those queues. I’ve done those journeys. There’s only so much communal singing you can do to keep a coachload of teenagers happy.

(And by the way, I remember when they opened the ALDI supermarket opposite my place of work back in the 1980s. The staff on the checkout did have to key in a code for each item. But they were expected to memorise all the codes and if they did not process things fast enough they did not get a permanent job. They did not have to stamp anything though! Those were the days)

I read this in today’s newspaper online: 

“French and German tourists are beginning to avoid the UK, tourism leaders fear, because of post-Brexit restrictions on travelling with identity cards.

Since anti-Covid measures ended across Europe last year, tourism has started to recover, but there are growing signs that significant numbers of French and Germans – two of the largest markets for UK tourism – are staying away.

Since October 2021, EU citizens have needed a passport to enter the UK. Previously they could use ID cards, but less than half the population of France and Germany hold a valid passport. People who run tourist attractions and businesses in the UK say that although Americans have returned in large numbers, the French and Germans have not.”

I guess nobody saw that coming either! 

For those of us staying at home, here is a bit of advice on simple exercises you can do to stay fit and healthy, or to “keep your body happy” as the writer says. 

I looked with wonder at the one about sitting on the floor, especially sitting cross-legged, as if we were back in primary school. I have no objection to sitting on the floor. The smallest grandchildren invite me to do so all the time. Sitting cross-legged is a different matter though. Maybe I need to work on it. 

Here’s another bit of social comment from someone called Nick Pettigrew, who I think is a writer and perhaps a stand-up comedian:

“The fact that in the last decade Martin Lewis has had to go from ‘The guy who tells you who’s doing two-for-one deals or how to get a good mortgage rate’ to ‘Here’s what you can do to get emergency help to stop starving / freezing to death’ speaks for itself.”

Hey! Ho!

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!