Blank Holiday Monday

I didn't realise until it was mentioned on BBC Breakfast this morning that today was a Bank Holiday Monday. As the lockdown has continued, as I've mentioned before in these blog posts, each day seems to merge into one another and it's virtually impossible to know even which day of the week it is, let alone whether it's a public holiday. But, as I write, it's bright and sunny. Ironic, come to think of it, because of the fact we're supposed to stay at home and go nowhere. Under 'normal' circumstances it would probably be pouring with rain and we'd be sitting at home! As it is, I don't see this continuing much longer. I just feel really sorry for those businesses which rely on the weather to be pleasant so that the get customers, for example, beauty spots, National Trust and English Heritage properties which rely on visitors to survive.

Later. Really hot and sticky in the flat, even with the windows open.
Labour are real hypocrites regarding the Dominic Cummings affair because at least four of their MPs have disregarded the social distancing regulations, but we don't hear anything about that on the BBC or other mainstream media. Neither does the newly installed leader, Keir Starmer, make any comment about that or at least sack these shadow ministers. They include: Tahir Ali, MP for Birmingham Green who attended a funeral;  Vaughan Gething, MP and shadow Health Minister; Stephen Kinnock, MP for County Durham and Kevan Jones, MP who attended a birthday party.  Disgraceful. Dominic Cummings clearly  made a mistake, but he is now being hounded mercilessly and they want his head on a block. So what's the difference? There is none. Now leave it alone and lets get on with getting through the pandemic and returning life as near as possible to normal.

Later. I am currently reading 'Treasure Island' by Robert Louis Stevenson. I may have mentioned that we were developing a piece of theatre based on this book as part of the drama workshop at Camphill. (which is where I would be today if it wasn't for the pandemic lockdown.) It's a terrific, old-fashioned boys adventure, but knowing about diversity and political correctness, I don't expect you're allowed to say that these days. As part of the development of the Camphill project, we first watched a rather ancient film version with Orson Welles at Long John Silver, and the idea was that we didn't create a direct adaptation of the novel, but the group would come up with their own ideas for the play (and including support staff, myself included.) and from that a script would be created. I have since watched the National Theatre production which was shown a few weeks ago as part of the 'The Show Must Go On' project, where this production was free to view on YouTube. I loved the set, which was spectacular and utilised the drum revolve which is in the stage of the Olivier Theatre. The over-all atmosphere created by the design of the set, costumes, music and the way it was presented was brilliant, but I'm not so over enthusiastic about the adaptation which seemed to take out any sense of conflict or danger. But they did manage to avoid all the cliches, such as Long John Silver, probably inspired by the 1950's Disney version which had Robert Newton in the iconic central role. It casts a long shadow over any later adaptation. The original novel is feisty and full of danger and has to be one of the best 'boy's adventure' novels ever written and has to be the blueprint for later novels, such as 'The Thirty-Nine Steps' and many other stories.

Wednesday. I've been intrigued to know what the silver, canister-style objects are which have been thrown all over the ground in the carpark right next to Oldbrook Green as I have been walking Alfie around during our daily outings. I put a message on Next-door and immediately got an answer. They are containers for nitrous oxide and actually used in catering equipment, such as cream charges, but the contents used by people who get a 'buzz' out of inhaling this substance, much the same as glue-sniffers, as they get a 'high' from it, a light-headedness. Empty, the containers are not dangerous, but it's the littering that's unnecessary. As I've said in earlier posts, the litter around the estate is getting worse and worse. I can't all be down to the effects on the lockdown. People are just lazy when there are adequate rubbish bins dotted around Oldbrook Green. Later I noticed that these silver objects (canisters for want of a better word) had disappeared so it would appear someone has taken notice of my mentioning them on Next-door.

The Sainsbury Shuffle

I have attempted to avoid going out to shop too many times, but there comes a point where I simply need some basic items, such as milk, bread and potatoes. I did some washing this morning and had things back, dried and put away by around 9.30, so it seemed a good idea to go to Sainsbury's as early as possible. On arrival at the underground carpark, I found a space on the upper level and had to join the queue that had formed around the outer edge of the carpark. I had thought the end was part-way back from where I had parked the car, but I was wrong. I had to walk down the slope to the lower level and was shocked to see the end was a good way further back, where I stood with everyone else, with the recommended 2-metre (six feet) gap between myself and people in front of and behind me. The queue shuffled along, hence the term 'Sainsbury Shuffle' which I have used as this post's title. It makes me wonder what a docile nation we are in Great Britain. We seem to put up with a great deal, including queuing. But today people don't seem to have the patience. If the coronavirus pandemic is to be bought under control, people need to obey the social distancing advice in order to prevent the virus spreading. I think it's asking a great deal of people if the government expects everyone to just sit at home and do very little, even though the weather is fine. It is, as I write this. The sun is out and there's no wind. Let's just hope and pray that this situation improves or, better still, comes to an end.

My FitBit has been playing up. I can't get it to function, even though it appears to have a charge. My only real complaint about it is that it only keeps a full charged battery for a week. Why can't it be for longer? You never know exactly if it has started charging when you put it on the charging device. There are three metal pins (Brass? I'm not sure.) which are supposed to align with pins (prongs?) on the actual device. If it was a Apple device it would make a very decisive sound, which my MacBook does as it starts up, but the FitBit only makes a sort of shiver or vibrate which should denote it is charging, but the screen makes no sign of life. I haven't therefore been able to wear it when I take Alfie out for the past couple of days (more like, a week or so.) I emailed FitBit and got a response and have had the thing charging connected to the MacBook. It is now showing 99% charge, so something must be happening, so it would appear that all is well, or so I hope.

Later. The FitBit is back at full charge and is on my wrist and working as it should.

The sun is shining and we're stuck indoors. We're not supposed to go out. What? Indoors on a bright sunny day? That's awful. It may be to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus, but how long does the government honestly think the average person is going to endure this lockdown? Let's be perfectly honest, not long I would imagine.

Alfie can't seem to understand why we're cooped up indoors. I am sitting and watching a programme about Waitrose and he sits on the sofa next to me, staring. It's actually quite intimidating (how can a small Yorkshire Terrier be intimidating, you may ask? Well, when that dog stares and whenever you move, he follows.) In the end, once the programme was over, I just gave in and put him on his lead and took him out.

(Sunday) It's bright and sunny and we're still locked inside. We mustn't go out . . . But I hear the police, who have been given powers under new legislation which has recently been bought in by the government, to make sure people don't gather in groups, in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But I am hearing reports that the police have been somewhat heavy-handed over this.

We're now being told that the government may even prevent us going out to exercise. My goodness, we're slowly but surely becoming a police state! So, how on earth will this be policed? Doesn't bare thinking about. . .

(Monday) I've found it difficult to know what day of the week is is, as they are beginning to blur into one another. Having my Tuesday as a sort of focus of my week, and now that it's gone (but I quite intend continuing there as soon as things get back to normal, whatever 'normal' is now.) that focus has disappeared.

I have been out with Alfie, at around 7.15, and I found it quite over-cast and it would appear that it must have been raining, if only slightly, over night.

Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital, as he has tested positive with the coronavirus. We haven't been told what he's been admitted for, but he is still in charge of the government and presumably keeping in contact with the cabinet and other politicians.

Keir Starmer has now been elected as leader of the Labour Party. An improvement on Jeremy Corbyn, who, quite frankly, wasn't Prime Minister material. He had a sort of 'couldn't-care-less' sort of attitude, well, at least that's how he came across. Untidy. His scruffy appearance didn't help. Remember what happened to Michael Foot and his donkey jacket? Well, I do and it's similar with Corbyn. Also, his crazy financial policies didn't help, particularly as he had no idea how to pay for them. Tax those who make wealth, those who set up businesses which create jobs, not a particularly good move.

I'm getting on with my writing. I seem to have found a way forward and as I write this I'm doing some research and have done quite a few pages which I'm writing in pencil, as I usually do and it will eventually get transcribed into word processing.

It is reasonably sunny at the moment and I will make something to eat for lunch and probably watch 'Bargain Hunt' as I eat. I hope it's a new episode rather than a repeat, but I suspect they will have suspended production because of the pandemic.

Later still. We may be in what is being called 'unprecedented times,' which is becoming something of a cliche and, frankly, rather an annoying term to describe the lockdown, due to the coronavirus pandemic, but we may be able to watch free presentations of theatre productions as a result. Most have been recorded with the intention of them then being broadcast in cinemas, although some have been 'live' broadcast. As all theatres are closed due to the pandemic, this is a good chance to see many of these theatre productions, and this evening I am watching a production of 'Hamlet,' which is a recording made at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre.