On Becoming a Hermit, Sort of ... Days 12 to 14

Days 12-14
(Saturday, 28th to Monday, 31st March 2020)

Two weeks! It’s now fourteen days since I started this blog series, since the day after the PM issued the first instruction about ‘Social Distancing’. Interesting that soon after our first hearing of that phrase I became aware that it was already being used World-wide. Is it possible to conceive that, in a few days, we’ve found the beginnings of a common language that we are now using that is capable of crossing boundaries, crossing cultures and letting through if only a chink of light, which is casting over a World in which we could begin to believe in the possibility of there truly being a  future for our quest for sustainable peace and social justice And this causes my thoughts to cast back into history.

It is a well documented Piece of history, which is being revived in the news by the current pandemic that, between 1665 and 1666, in a small Derbyshire village called Eyam, the Plague arrived. It was thought to have been brought to the village on a consignment of cloth that was delivered from London. In the ensuing months 260 of the village’s 700 inhabitants perished, but much worse was prevented in the wider countryside outside the village, because of one heroic act or, should I say 700 heroic acts. Self isolation. We understand this now. At this time, 360 years ago, there was no medicine in our modern understanding of that science, and social isolation was so much more devastating, because they didn’t have any means of communicating with the outside world. One can imagine how friends, families and even lovers will have been separated. Nearby villages will have been able to supply food to Eyam so they could feed themselves, but in every other way, they were completely on their own. 

One thing that we cannot complain about today, as the Corona Virus works its way through our communities, is that we are so isolated, so totally alone, so heroically, so philanthropically willing to sacrifice our freedom for the sake of others. It is a lesson we are all learning now. The people of Eyam in 1665 would have benefitted, certainly psychologically, from today's communications technology.

On Saturday morning it was my turn to have a lie in. Most times I’ll read or catch up up on social media, in particular Wrote a prose poem about ... well, to explain it, I'd have to say I woke early with famous playwright, Samuel Beckett, circulating in my head and in particular, two of his later and most famous plays, "Waiting for Godot" and "Happy Days", both of which I saw as a student whilst lived in London and was a friend of The Young Vic. Rather than explain it, it will be published in the BeZine Blog and the Poet By Day web sites in due course. 

Tai Chi Qi Gong at 10:30 as usual for half an hour, at the end of which B and I attempted to remember some of the 'form', but didn't get very far. More tomorrow. For those who are not familiar with Tai Chi, Qi (pronounced Chi) Gong is effectively the warm up in which all parts of the body's musculature is exercised in preparation for the actual form, the choreography that simulates the defensive art form that Tai Chi is. We have made contact with our old teacher, who is planning some on line conference group sessions. We are looking forward to that.

In other news, it seems at the end of last week, three members of the government's cabinet have gone down with the virus, including the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock and the PM, Boris Johnson himself. Boris is continuing to run meetings, we are assured.

Had a call from our most senior granddaughter, Jessica and a very welcome update on her activities this week it was. Included in which was an on line singing lesson, which she admitted felt a bit weird, but she was cheerful enough about everything. The Nicholson household is keeping their routines going well.

Bedtime story with the Anstie grandchildren completed our day, with B's reading of an old favourite in this house, "The Little Red Hen", a cautionary tale about how important it is to help others in their time of need. In fact we've managed bedtime stories with the Sheffield mob every night since, so far. It is a very welcome break to do this and experience some silliness, in spite of the pressure their NHS employee parents are under. Bless them all.

Isolated Bedtime Stories

Three day's Music Choices from Clemency Burton-Hill's "Year of Wonder" are
Saturday: In The Month of March by Toru Takemitsu 
Sunday: Ambre by Nils Frahm 
Monday: 'La Calinda' from Koanga by Frederick Delius   

[If you have been affected in any way by this journal and feel the need for support, please talk to a friend, a family member, someone who loves you ... or, if you'd like, leave a comment below]