Orders is orders!

Thursday 25th February, 2021

Another lovely spring day but with a strong wind whistling down the Tay from Perth. The white horses on the water were a sight to behold and the gulls almost paragliding and enjoying themselves.

After a breakfast of muesli and sourdough bread with MaMade home made marmalade, not as good as making it fully oneself with Seville oranges but better than nothing, I set out rapidly to the local Community Centre. I had promised to pop in and help with the food. Sadly there was a glut of bread....so many unwanted loaves of pre sliced bread which I dislike. I took four loaves rather than have them thrown in to the dustbin. I fed them to the birds but no bird has been tempted...the Tay birds have style and taste!!! I suppose the rats may come tonight. I await tomorrow to see if it is all there still. If not I will put more out. I just cannot bear the waste of throwing away, it deeply offends me yet what can we do?

After finishing three letters I went to Dundee. The car needs to be battery charged and I had to try to arrange some financing for a flat I want to buy. I have been lent some money but it is tight and the Covid lockdown does not make for easy access and viewing.

Any way I came across two different styles of business. Both were with Building Societies. One said that they could not hold any meetings face to face. They would only deal with telephone conversations, which are a problem for me. The other made an appointment for this afternoon. So I went to it and on the way passed the door of the other Society. It was open for business so I went in to explain my dilemma etc. To my amazement I could talk to the lady behind the screen across the counter and in fact did so and did my business. Why it could not be classified as a meeting I do not know. The other meeting was across a table but also with a screen. Masks, distance and gel all involved. Two different approaches but as a man who does not use the telephone nor online banking etc I had a dilemma. The world is focussed on the computer not on people or so I maintain. We lose post offices, banks and high street shops because we have gone 'online'. Is it a better society? Maybe but it is one I feel vaguely alien in. Interestingly my Landlady's daughter has been here all afternoon fixing electricity and water and gas suppliers and contracts...all online!

Anyway the other frustrating thing was the Marks and Spencer store. On my way back to my car I passed one. I decided to pop in to take a look. Outside the door was an employee who provided gel and cleaned the trolleys. I was nipping in when she turned to me and stopped me. She directed me to the official way in which was about 50 yards away barriered. No one was about. There were no customers using the door, there was no reason to go the 50 yards and then to return to where I was standing anyway. I pointed this out to her but she said it was her job to send people to the entrance way she had pointed out. It was illogical. I am sorry to say it reminded me of those unthinking people who do what they are told even though it may be nonsensical, wrong and foolish. " Orders is orders" as the saying goes. Ultimately that is the way Concentration camps work and dictatorships.....truly it is. We need to use Common Sense. That goes for the Covid lockdown also.

I did the washing of bed linen and put them out to blow in the gale...they have dried easily and smell so fresh.

I need to do the same so will have a bath and change my clothes for tomorrow.

As I write this there is yet another spectacular sunset. Awesome. Equally awesome had been the Mingyur Rinpoche book I have now finished. It so happens that I received a letter this morning from a very devout Roman Catholic friend to whom I have written of the book and the ideas. She responds with superb faith. " We have the way, the truth and the life in Jesus. They certainly have wisdom and remarkable experiences and philosophies but those will culminate in perfection when they meet Christ".

An interesting day with much to chew on, including superb chorizo for lunch! Apologies for being so mundane.