GOOD WILL

Saturday 19th December, 2020

The day dawned in its winter way but with watery sunshine. Tesco delivery arrived and the van driver had no mask. He told me that he was not allowed inside the building so I took the trays and emptied them on to the kitchen surfaces. He was full of bonhomie and I told him to stand in the hall if he wanted to as the rain suddenly came. With best wishes and farewells he was off as I tucked in to breakfast with my last jar of Seville orange marmalade made last year. It was delicious. Sadly I am greedy and take huge dollops for my toast. I await the new Seville oranges to arrive.

I dashed in the drizzle to Church. After Church a parishioner and I got talking. He is a Consultant at the local major hospital and an educated man. To my surprise he bemoaned the loss of President Trump. He extolled his virtues and told me how much he admired his acumen. I was a little flabbergasted as I am not a fan. Then he went on to say how good it would be if we had no agreement with Europe. He is an ardent Brexiteers. Sadly we did not go on to discuss independence for Scotland but I will next time we meet.

I hurried off to the library to return books. Then on to buy a newspaper. As I browsed the store so I came across my favourite sausages reduced from £3 to 90p. There were two packets. I left delighted. At home I read the paper and as ever noticed the opinions and supposedly expert views vying with each other and with no consensus. The only article I liked was the one on St Januarius. He was a fourth century martyr in Naples. The Cathedral has a large file of his blood which liquifies three times a year. If it does not the people of Naples go in to panic and depression. This liquification was supposedly this last week. The City was there in force including the front rows in the Cathedral of Mafia types and the women directly descended from the Saint, whose duty it is to pray and make the Saint do his job. The article was fascinating as to the forces around this happening, part pagan, very Neopolitan, non Vatican and much else. The City now awaits the disaster. The blood stayed dry.

Then as the sun began to look uneasy I went for a walk. I took my new litter grabber and picker with me and a large Tesco bag. Within a short time the bag was full. I emptied it and went on. At one point a car stopped and congratulated me. A couple stopped walking and looked at me oddly. On I went and another emptying of the plastic bottles, cans, masks, wipes, cigarette packets and general detritus. Coming to the fourth emptying of the bag I noticed it was split so I had to stop collecting. I had realised that with my litter picker I was very aware of the mess and throw away rubbish on the ground. In fact I realised I was hardly looking at all up at the trees and sky so I decided to stop and search and appreciate my surrounds.

As I sauntered back so I saw a friend from the local Probus Club. We had a chat. He is delighted by the side effects of the Covid. He is thrilled he does not have to socialise, go out, shop or even do anything with anyone. He seemed much relieved by it. Yet he attacked the SNP. He used to vote for them when they were a small party and could pressurise Westminster but now they are 'hell bent of Independence'. If that happens he is leaving Scotland.

Then back home I went off to look at Antonio Gaudi's houses in Barcelona. It was an excellent virtual tour. It seems a remarkable and beautiful City. Of course the people have been trying to be independent from Spain for some time and recently some of their politicians have been imprisoned for treachery at declaring their Independence.

It is a torn world with so many opinions and views. Today I have heard three people with very pronounced opinions as well as read them in the newspaper. Please God we can tolerate each other, live in acceptance of differing opinions and religions and be people of 'good will' and kindness. But I do not feel kindly or tolerant to the litter bugs!