Glorious glorious weather for the first days of this week, though apparently on Friday it’s all change. We are now allowed to meet outside in groups of two households or up to eight people. When I was out and about today I’d say no one needed to be told twice.
However, thanks the marvel of Zoom, this evening I was chatting with people in Berlin, Vancouver and Berkeley, California, and was reminded that some people are heading into a stronger lockdown as we start thinking we’re free. It could all start up again. So I am not counting on being able to do anything yet.
A year on we know the ropes. What was strange last year is now familiar. It’s also different. In those heady days of the first lockdown we did not understand it would last so long. Like now, spring sprung and held us in a blossomed embrace. People rediscovered the joys of cycling as the streets emptied of cars. It was in some ways an adventure. If we were going to live a curtailed existence for a limited period of time we were going to find ways to enjoy it.
My personal therapies were walking, cycling and doing jigsaws. I became fascinated by the open spaces, the city streets usually full of people, now silent, shops shuttered. My stress showed itself in an inability to read, something I usually do voraciously. We talked a great deal about how this would change us fundamentally as we realised we could live quieter, happier, simpler lives. Then the shops reopened and people queued around the block for cheap clothes.
Time will tell what changes the pandemic has wrought to our societies. Individually I am guessing the changes will be subtle and observers may well not notice any differences. But I do think something has shifted for me in these twelve months. I am not quite sure what it is, but I am hoping it is positive.
And I still like jigsaws.
Stay safe. Keep well. Put the pieces together to make a picture.
Isobel (and Cat)'s Blog 
Yes I do hope people may have changed I know I have and like you love jigsaws! Perhaps it’s a bit about making order from chaos when you open a new puzzle with all the jumbled pieces?
Yes I realised during the first lockdown that that was exactly what drew me to doing jigsaw after jigsaw at that time. I haven’t done one for a while now though.
Starting Wednesday we enter a new lower tier of restrictions and the bars are going to open for the first time in over a year. Interestingly, several local bar owners won’t be taking advantage of the change in rules just yet. One hopes cautious optimism becomes a virtue in our new normal.
I, too, feel changed. I assume with time I will be able recognize what the change was or it will just fade away. It is hard to believe that this won’t have a lasting impact on us.
I wrote a really long reply to this but it seems to have vanished! It’s late now or I should try again. Very frustrating!
I hate it when I write a very long response and loose it. Ugh.