Spionza

Tuesday 13th April, 2021

I find the news and the comments and the gossip and the tell tales and the rest utterly extraordinary. The new tells me that lockdown is easing earlier than expected in Scotland. London and England were reported in glowing terms of freedom and at last back to some form of normality yesterday. The outdoors of pubs filled with drinking friends. People queueing at shops and all sorts of comments and happy statements. Now it seems we can travel in Scotland. All fine until someone then tells me there is panic. A new strain in Lambeth which will kill us all, was one innuendo. A growing movement of people saying it is all too soon, was another suggestion. A reaction against the easing of lockdown and comments as to politicians playing games with health for the sake of popularity. Hey ho and on it goes. I shall go on as before with mask, distance, gel and out of doors if possible. I think it was the philosopher Spinoza who said that he would never be surprised or shocked by the antics of human kind but just fascinated as to the reason behind what they did or said however good or bad. So why are people frightened of the loosening of the lockdown or indeed the opposite? I have no idea.

It was another glorious morning. The sun shone, the sky was azure and all looked well. By 10.45 I was off to the pharmacy in my car so as to charge the battery. The pharmacist was as gracious as ever and when I said I might need two months NHS supply of my blood pressure pills at the beginning of May he replied that I just had to ask.

Then on to see my artist friend. We had hoped to sit in the garden but the sun had gone in and a cold wind had begun to blow. So coffee, chat, goose liver pate, ripe cheese and a chocolate mousse to ease life. A short tour of the garden to notice the frost bitten magnolia but the stunning camellia . Spring is here but the frost can take the gloss off it fairly unexpectedly.

Then back home and a walk to try to minimise the effect of the calories. Two bags of litter, a few cheery comments and a feeling of well being. I am now engrossed in a novel of no worth but of exciting drama. I read it for an hour or so. Then my Landlady's daughter appeared and wanted me to help plan her Mother's 80th (a secret) this Thursday. I gave my ideas and then suddenly realised I need to buy a present...but where. The shops are not yet open in Scotland.

Any way the sun has gone, it has grown cold and I am going to read in bed for a while. So decadent. Spinoza would not be shocked!