It’s been a… tough month, it’s fair to say.
As I’m sure you’re aware, the world is in a bit of a state at the moment. Covid-19 has swept to almost every corner of the world, the news is full of negativity, and billions of people are being told to stay at home and go out as little as possible. It’s certainly one of the tougher periods the world has faced in my lifetime.
But I’m not going to be negative about it. I am determined not to get down about the situation, hence why I’m writing this, my first post in… months? Years? I don’t even know at this point. Countless times before I have gone to bed thinking ‘Yep, I’m going to write a blog about (insert subject here) tomorrow’. And then I’ve woken up, I’ve gone to work, and I haven’t been in the writing frame of mind. Well not this time. I might be writing this a few weeks after I’d originally intended but at least I am actually writing it (see, already looking on the bright side!).
I am, in all fairness, a naturally indoors-y person. As Sheldon Cooper once said, if outside is so good, why has man spent thousands of years perfecting inside? This period of isolation has probably not hit me as hard as it has hit others. I am fortunate enough to be in a position where I am able to work from home, so I can still do my job and I can still, at least for now, be paid 100% of my salary. I also live alone in a flat that I like spending time in, so although it would be nice to have some company, I also don’t have the drawbacks of being cooped up with someone for day, weeks, possibly months on end. If it comes to it, I won’t need to isolate myself for as long as I would if I was living with someone else. I am counting myself very lucky at the moment. Yes, I’ve been listening to Elbow’s My Trouble a lot recently, but that’s because it’s a good song and I enjoy it. It’s not a sad song – it’s a reminder to spend time with our loved ones, when we can. I’m sure we’ll all be doing that at the next available opportunity.
I have however had my moments where I’ve been quite literally in tears about the whole thing. Not so much the isolation (although I’d very much like to see my parents, especially as I was due to be going home this weekend – which obviously hasn’t happened) but the lack of food on the shelves. Even now, my local shops have barely any pasta/rice, very little toilet paper, no handsoap. Fortunately I do not yet have need of the latter two as I have some still at home, but I will need some eventually. It came as a massive shock, as I’m sure it has for everyone.
Of course those issues pale into insignificance against the (as it stands) 8-900 people dying in hospitals every day. It’s a terrible thing that we are going through, and I’m not going to deny that at all. Again though, I’m trying to look for the positives. Wuhan (and indeed China as a whole), where the story began, is now opening up. I’ve just this second looked on the BBC news website, and Spain’s daily infection rate and death toll are both reducing, with restrictions easing slightly. Over half of Coronavirus sufferers in Germany have recovered. Across the UK and the world, people have come together (metaphorically) in a shared effort to make sure healthcare systems are not overloaded, to make sure that doctors and nurses have the protective equipment they need, to make sure that nobody goes without food and other essentials, and to protect each other as much as possible from the virus. It has already been a tremendous global effort, which I’m sure will continue for however long we need to beat this thing.
The response to the virus really has been testament to what we can do as a species. It’s not often pointed out that in the entire known history of the universe, no species has been as capable of dealing with and defeating a pandemic as Homo sapiens, circa 2020. As the BBC pointed out, even 15 years ago it would have been a lot more difficult. Advances in technology since that time have enabled more people than ever before to work from home if necessary, to have multiple forms of entertainment streamed straight into your living space. Never before have we had access to as many boredom-relieving activities, as much free from food for those who have an intolerance, as much of an ability to keep spirits up and look after those around us.
The last truly global pandemic, just over 100 years ago, was the Spanish Flu; it infected around a quarter of the world’s population. But just this relatively short time later, we know far more about viruses, medical care has come on leaps and bounds. We are in a far better position than we have ever been in as a species to cope and be able to move on from a pandemic. What the likes of China and Spain are currently showing us is that there is a future, there is a time beyond the pandemic. I don’t know when that will be. Nobody knows that. But it will come. Just think about the day when we’re able to open up the shops, the restaurants, the museums. Planes will start taking off from airports, food will be back on the shelves, the global economy will grind into action once again. It will be a glorious time. We just need to do our best to keep safe until then. Human ingenuity can overcome almost anything, and we can certainly overcome this. We just need to keep doing what we’re doing and buy ourselves some time.
Make the most of what you have. Those of you with families, with gardens – for one, I’m quite jealous of you all, but for two, spend time with those people. For once this bank holiday weekend has been sunny, so I hope you’ve been making as much use of it as you currently can. Those of you who are like me, with no garden, no company; it’s ok. You are not alone, and now more than ever we can still stay in touch with people. I’ve decided to adopt a moth who flew in one day (his name is Martin). And although the original moth sadly passed away (apparently my bolognese smelled too good to resist), on this Easter weekend I’ve chosen to believe that Martin has been reincarnated into one of the other moths that I’ve seen fluttering about the place. It’s a little odd I know, but it helps.
A lot of people are currently unemployed or on furlough at the moment, and I know it’s easy for me to say this, but what this also means is that lots of people currently have far more free time than they could ever have dreamed of. Pick up a new hobby, learn a language, dig out that dusty old guitar in the corner. Listen to music, play games, read books. Just make the time as enjoyable as you can. If you can help people, then do so. Even though I’m still working during the week, I’m certainly making use of the extra hour I’m able to stay in bed in the mornings. Try to do whatever you can to stay healthy and stay positive.
You might think the world sucks right now. And you know what? It does. I completely agree. But it’s a temporary suck; it’s a long draw on a straw (paper, naturally), not a hoover on a thick carpet. This too shall pass. Wash your hands, distance yourself, take whatever measures the government has deemed necessary. We will get through this. It’s going to be ok. And just to cheer everyone up, I’ll finish by including what I’ve been listening to in the last few days.
So, without further ado, from last year’s Children in Need: Got It Covered, here’s Himesh Patel with his excellent rendition of All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers. Upbeat, fun to sing along to, and not a single mention of a pandemic. Probably what we all need right now (if you have the space, feel free to dance around your room/flat/house/barn conversion as you listen to it. Dance to your heart’s content, whatever helps to cheer yourself up and take your mind off everything. I know I do).
Good luck everyone, and see you in the future.
Stuart (and Martin the Moth)
The Last Nerd 