It’s all getting closer to home.
Initially, it was a Chinese problem. Then it spread: through Asia, to the Middle East, to Iran. Eventually, it hit Europe.
Then it began to impact directly – the lockdown, cancelled flights.
Events were cancelled: The Premier League, Premiership Rugby, Glastonbury, Wimbledon (with a possible £100million payout, after changing their insurance to include pandemics after the SARS outbreak of 2003!)
Prince Charles caught it, as did Boris Johnson (and didn’t he look a bit rough last night, clapping the NHS to show his support!), Matt Hancock (the Health Secretary) and Chris Whitty (the Chief Medical Officer).
Then we heard about more royalty, politicians and celebrities catching it: Prince Albert of Monaco, Michel Barnier, Tom Hanks, Idris Elba, Linda Lusardi.
And then came the deaths.
The first death that really hit home was Eddie Large. Yes, he was 78, yes, he had heart failure, and yes, he was already in hospital and struggling, but we’re told that it was the coronavirus that finally ended his life – and with it another part of my youth…
And now it seems that it’s getting closer still. A member of my sister-in-law’s family has died as a result of the virus.
I think that before long, we will all know someone who has died during this awful period.
I contacted my brother this morning, and he told me that the whole family is now going into isolation.
His wife will be with her mother – who currently has a headache and slight temperature.
My brother’s going to stay with his children and dogs at home.
He reckons the rules are to isolate for 7 days, but he’s aiming for 14 (as per the suggestion of the World Health Organisation), with a food delivery due on the 13th.
Is it only 7 days of isolation In the UK? It must be 14 mustn’t it, like here in Portugal? Anyway…
The real problem now is my parents.
With one brother in isolation, one in South Wales, and myself here in Portugal, there isn’t a lot we can do.
We can phone, we can make recommendations, but whether they listen or not…
Mum hasn’t been out, but I know Dad has. At 85, I’m not so sure that’s a great idea.
Last week, my parents tried to organise a delivery from Sainsburys but were told that they weren’t on the list for preferential treatment. They’re 85 and 87 for God’s sake! Whether they’ve now managed to get on the list, I’m not sure. A question for today’s phone call I suppose. In the meantime, Dad’s been heading out to the shop when necessary.
I do know that they’ve now managed to organise a small delivery from the village store, so that’s something at least.
I also know that they like to shop at Fullers, a Farm Shop just outside of Tunbridge Wells. My brother is trying to get a stock list from there. They’re still doing deliveries but with only phone orders allowed, and not knowing what’s available, it’s all a bit difficult.
As is talking to my Mum on the phone sometimes.
When I spoke to her yesterday, she told me that she’d had trouble communicating with my older brother, the one in Wales, the day before.
“Why?” I asked
“It was your father’s fault! He handed me the phone upside down! I couldn’t hear Huw, and Huw couldn’t hear me!”
Mum is 87. She’s getting older. I suppose that not noticing which way up the phone is when you try to use it is one of the problems you encounter as you get older…
She also told me something that I never knew.
Apparently my Grandmother’s Grandmother died of the Spanish Flu back in 1918. I know it’s a long time ago, and I know that’s four generations back, but it’s still my bloodline.
That brings the whole situation closer still. You always think it will never happen to you. But now I know it’s happened to a member of my family in the past
What that means is that it can certainly happen again.
It’s a scary thought.
On a happier note, I’m out on parole tomorrow! Woohoo!
Tomorrow, my 14 days of isolation is up! It won’t be total freedom obviously, but at least I’ll be able to step outside of my front door and walk to the shop or take some exercise. I’m so looking forward to it.
And then I check the weather – rain is forecast for the next three days… great.
Just great.
If you want to read more about my experiences during the Coronavirus lockdown of 2020, click on the logo below – this will take you to viralchitchat.com
