The view from my window

The view from my window
The view from my window

Tuesday 24 March 2020

A closed casket!

The news about the virus isn't getting any better is it - no surprises there, I guess. Italy had a "relatively" improved day yesterday with a dip in the number of deaths but it soon went up again today, sadly, with Spain looking to be hot on their heels. I saw on the news tonight that they have actually taken over an ice rink in Madrid to use as a makeshift morgue now. It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better isn't it!

Later in the news broadcast they were showing the plight of people trapped overseas (Brits in this case) and desperately trying to get back, with flights being cancelled left, right and centre. One poor family were trying to get home from Thailand but having just spent the last 24 hours in Bangkok Airport trying to get on a replacement flight they were getting nowhere fast. They could get a flight in a couple of days' time at a cost of £12,000!!!!! but, as they said, they didn't have that kind of money. Eventually (and I would probably say provisionally because who knows if "confirmed" flights will be cancelled between now and then) they managed to get a flight out on Sunday at an additional cost of just £2,000! But today is only Tuesday so what are they going to do between now and then? I can only thank the heavens above that my kids managed to get out of there when they did, and on their already scheduled flights. Again, as I say, this is just another facet of what is already a nightmare situation!

In better news they announced on the British news tonight that so far 35,000 volunteers have come forward to help out the NHS. That number is made up of retired doctors and nurses of course, but also medical students and interns in their final year of medicine. That's an amazing number of volunteers and the number is still rising. In addition, a nationally-organized volunteer scheme has been set up where people can volunteer in areas outside the medical field but where there is still a need, so hopefully some kind of order is being brought to the current madness.

Then this afternoon Ireland announced stronger lockdown measures to deal with the crisis, in addition to relief measures to be undertaken. I didn't catch all of it but one thing that struck me was that they had come to an agreement with private medical facilities and their staff to step in and work with the public sector on a not-for-profit basis to get them through this. In addition, there was guaranteed coverage by the government of unemployment pay (up to what sounded like a pretty generous limit), as well as a ban on all rent increases and evictions "for the duration". Over here I was expecting to hear President Macron speak tonight but ultimately we got the Minister for Health giving information on what is going on and, I believe, softening us up in time for an extension of the current lockdown for up to a possible six weeks! While I'm not thrilled at the idea of a six week lockdown, if that's what it takes to defeat this thing then that's what it takes - which made me all the more horrified to hear that Trump is pushing to get people back to work after two weeks against the advice of his medical advisors! I suppose, ultimately, if that happens only time will tell whether the "two week" or the "six week" roll of the dice was the correct one, won't it!

As for me, I'm still jumping from one project to the next but enjoying getting odds and sods done.  Even if I'm not making huge headway on any one particular thing at the moment that's just the way I roll. When I get fed up of sewing I stop and go down to the basement to work. Then when I've had enough of that I go out to the garden for a bit. As today is my neighbour's birthday (the wife), I decided to make up for my appalling cookies intended for her husband's birthday and make a batch of my "no fail" brownies. When they were done I ran round to their front door and played "Thunder and Lightening"! You remember playing that as a little kid right? Knock on the door like thunder and then run like lightening? Or was that just me? Anyway, she was delighted that I had remembered her birthday so while I was out back working on my raised beds a while later she wandered over to thank me (our back gardens are all open) - stopping a good 10 metres away of course. I was "shit shovelling" at the time as I was trying to empty some of the sludgy compost onto my raised beds but somehow that stuff had taken on the consistency and smell of horse muck and I was having a hard time of it. But then from beyond the hedge over at my other neighbours we could hear them barking out orders to each other. She'd say "but the hole is right in front of you" and he'd say "well just grab it with both hands"! So she'd yell back "you're behaving like we've never done this before"! At which point I commented to my neighbour that they were apparently making a porn movie! Well she got a fit of the giggles and the game was up. Turns out they were trying to put a new cover on their outdoor parasol but weren't having much luck! It's amazing how your mind plays tricks on you when you've been kept in isolation though isn't it!

I decided to become a proper little old lady too today as I finally dragged a card table upstairs into my TV room in order to do a "wasgij" I've had sitting around for ages (that also sounds like it has "porn movie" connotations doesn't it, but not a bit of it)! A "wasgij" is a jigsaw puzzle where the finished jigsaw uses the same characters but looks only slightly like the picture on the box. We'll see how long it takes me I guess. Additionally, in the "pass time" arena, I picked up a freebie book in English at my pilates class the other week and I have to admit I'm quite enjoying it. It's an easy read and I like his style, even though I'd never heard of this author before. I'm not sure if it's the kind of book you might like but I would definitely give it a thumbs up!


And while I know there's nothing funny about the coronavirus, there have been a few black humour stories/events all the same. One guy was saying how ridiculous it was to have a sign saying "wash your hands" at the entrance to the motorway. I mean, can you imagine getting pulled over by the motorway cops with your hands in a bucket of water singing two verses of God Save The Queen! And I also spotted the "Italian mayors' rants" that is doing the rounds at the moment too. As I say, while there is nothing funny about this pandemic, some of the things these mayors came out with were hilarious - unintentionally maybe - but hilarious nonetheless! And here I would point out that while I am indeed learning Italian I'm not quite at the level of understanding these guys so I took the translation from the sub-titles - and apologize in advance for the language. Well one mayor was going absolutely ballistic about people not respecting lockdown and "no, having your hairdresser come to your home instead of going to the salon does not constitute an essential or urgent necessity! You'll be in a goddamn closed casket so nobody will be looking at your f....ing hair"! Again, sorry about the language, but somehow that just about sums it all up doesn't it!

20 comments:

  1. That last bit was funny and very appropriate for the situation. Thanks for keeping us informed. I yelled at the TV when Trump was on TV, telling us he cares more about the economy than people.

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    1. Sadly that's the truth of it though isn't it. He DOES care more about money than people - well with the exception of Ivanka of course!

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  2. Carl Hiassen is hilarious. Haven't read him for ages, and I'd forgotten him a bit.

    I'm strictly staying home, walking in solitary state, and doing the bare minimum of shopping. And living in hope.

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    1. I had never heard of Carl Hiassen but I'm really enjoying this one. Will have to look out for some others of his. And yep, all we can do is keep our heads down and keep on going through this misery isn't it! Stay safe!

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  3. Nothing funny, no, but sometimes you have to laugh.
    I saw an electronic sign on the highway telling me to wash my hands and asked Carlos if we had to pullover and do it before we continue on our way.

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  4. Price gauging on air tickets, much? I'm trying to keep a good mood, but we are bad stay at home people-and I was just at the call center Sunday. Card table is clear and a puzzle started. The college kid has her violin out now to pass the time.

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    1. I think the mood also depends a lot on the weather, whether or not you can get out in the fresh air and if the sun is out, so I understand people can get down. Either way we have no choice but to "tough it out" so good luck!

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  5. I said to hubby at the weekend we must dig out the Wasjigs from the attic to do! I used to love doing them. We usually took one on holiday with us when the children were younger and we stayed in caravans. They were brilliant for rainy days. I would prefer to stay in more than I'm able as I have to check up on my mum. However at long last I seem to have got through to her to stay home and not go shopping. I'm making her bread as we speak to keep her in!! I love that mayor. What a brilliant response! I have to admit though, my own hair is a bit birds nesty looking - I missed the window of opportunity to get it cut before this happened, I'm considering asking my sons girlfriend to give me a haircutting lesson on Skype!! This could go so wrong! lol. You've got to find a laugh in your days though so lets hope my hair isn't it lol. Take care.xx

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    1. We took caravan holidays when I was a kid (a step up from tent holidays after a while) and I loved them. As a kid you really didn't care too much about the rain as long as you found new mates did you. It's a simple pleasure. And I hope your mom does realize she has to stay home too, although like you said the other day loneliness after losing your dad can't be easy for her. And good luck with the hair cut - we've all been there haven't we!

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  6. I have several wasjigs that I've completed. Perhaps I'll be doing them again. Trump's rant about 'everything doesn't normally stop for the flu season' is just incredulous. He's certainly adding to the numbers of people who think they are invincible and believe it's their right to carry on as normal.

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    1. I think personally that Trump is getting even more scary now. I hope I'm proved wrong but if he won't even listen to the health experts I shudder to think what might happen!

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  7. Carl Hiassen is very funny, love those stories. I've read about 6 of his books, definitely worth the read. Trump is a lunatic....nothing more to say there. I have to go out tomorrow to pick up our grocery order and deposit company cheques so that is the big outing for the week, likely will take hubby along so we can both go for the ride but only 1 of us will go in to each place.

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    1. Oooohh how exciting - an outing! Do take pictures!

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  8. Carl Hiaasen is a Floridian and a journalist. Also, as you now know, an author. He's quite popular in the states and several movies have been made of his books. I'm glad you're enjoying it!
    I love your sense of humor. Porn film indeed!

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    1. I shall definitely look up more of his books because he is an amusing read. And oh you should have been there for the "porn film"! My (birthday) neighbour was doubled up!

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  9. In my neck of the woods (Connecticut) we called your “Thunder and Lightning” Ding Dong Ditch!

    I also started a 1000 piece puzzle. I put it on a table directly in front of my bay window so I can still watch the world go by.

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    1. Thanks for visiting my blog Bobbie. I haven't actually started my 1,000 wisjag as yet - I'm having more trouble trying to put together a 1,000 piece patchwork quilt! It's all over the living room floor at the moment and I'm having to crawl over it!

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  10. Jigsaw puzzles? My granny used to love those (wink, wink). And it is one of those days when multiple chores run together. We don't really have any black humor stories here in the states yet... well, that's not quite right, we do have the fool in the White House. Though the hair story was funny. I have an old clipper, so if it gets too long I'll just give myself a buzz cut.

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    1. Sadly you guys have got the biggest joke of all, but not for much longer I hope!

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