Apprehension

It feels weird to say this, but I’m rather nervous about the fact that the next phase of lockdown-easing starts tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong – it’s great that The Great Government RoadMap To Normality is going to plan – but it’s also another big change to the way we live our daily lives, and the fact that it’s a change back to old ways, rather than a change into something new and worrying, doesn’t seem to help. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. We’ve got used to being told to stay in and to not do anything social and to keep away from everyone, and now restrictions are being lifted and there’s more emphasis on individual responsibilities, rather than understandably-Draconian rules being forced on us from above. And maybe that’s what’s troubling me. If we’ve learned nothing else from this whole year-long Ride on The CoronaCoaster, we’ve learned that most of the General Public are Absolutely Shit at controlling themselves and thinking of the safety of others and helping to stop the spread and doing what the experts advise them to do. I hate to sound negative and cynical and snobbish and aloof, but the reality of the past 12 months is that we ended up in a far worse situation than we needed to because people simply didn’t follow instructions. And so, maybe, my fear is that this will happen all over again, and next thing you know we’ll be plunged into Lockdown 4.
I hope I’m proved wrong.
It also feels a bit weird to be opening up like a flower while most of Europe seems to be in the grip of rising Covid cases and shutting down again, but I guess the point there is that they are miles behind us when it comes to vaccinations, and so the Continental Third Wave shouldn’t crash too harshly over Britain because most of our vulnerable people are jabbed up, and therefore enjoying at least partial, if not perfect, protection.
I guess all we can do is wait and see. And not rush headlong into our old way of life. And step forward cautiously the way we’re supposed to. And follow the current guidance rather than act as if everything is all right now. And get the vaccine when it’s offered. And keep wearing masks. And wash our hands 90 times a day.
And so on.
And so forth.

RC 11-4-21