22 days and counting...

I got the message to self-isolate a week earlier than most (because I have pulmonary fibrosis) and enjoyed a final outing (not that I knew it at the time) with Judy Sleath, Chair of Beeston's Civic Society, enjoying a Leek Pastie followed by a slice of Orange & Cardamon Cake in Houlia's DoughMother artisan bakery on Central Avenue in Beeston Fields. I am already missing my weekly visits, where I get to write short stories on paper bags Houlia gives me with my coffee.

There are tens of thousands of others like me blogging and apping about Corvid 19 and how they are managing self-isolation (for the next three months at least in my case). My gut tells me I'll be lucky if I get to hug or kiss my close friends in person this side of October. Susan is self-isolating with me, so I do have good company and we have had years of spending lots of time together, so I won't go mad, of that I am sure.

I see little point in doing a running commentary on self-isolation, so I will limit myself to the occasional comment. Right now I want to share my 'NHS Rainbow' with you, which is up in our front room window:

What we need after this Cov 19 thing is over is a caring society which reflects the values of the NHS across all that we do as a society and a country. 

On Thursday just gone I was taken by the appearance of rainbows in windows and I had no idea as to their significance until they got a mention on the BBC News website, and that the rainbows began with children drawing them as a way of saying 'thank you' to the NHS.

Two of my neighbours had rainbows in their front windows (one a child, the other a grown-up), so I decided to join them with my own creation. I sent it to the Facebook Beeston Update website and they kindly posted it. I implied it wasn't political but of course it is because I have added the words 'A NHS Society' and if we got such a thing it would be as good as a revolutionary change from the corporate capitalist society we have now. I have been a Libertarian Socialist since 1958, when I was 14 and a class discussion, prompted by a book we were all given called Our Democracy. It was written by a Rowland W Purton, as he says in his Preface, 'primarily for the final year of the Secondary Modern School and (for) use as a basic text book for all streams'. Part history, part contemporary, part discussion, it was used to prepare those of us leaving school at 15 for the world outside.

TO BE CONTINUED...

I have decided there will be no continuation of this post. Other things to say instead...

For my 76th birthday I have to submit a new photo for my driving licence. I know one thing to be true in these troubled times. Our bathroom mirror does lie!

A P.S.

Susan wasn't happy with my selfie, so she took another picture of me. I have to admit I look less grumpy, perhaps more resigned to my fate.