16 March 2020

We Live in Interesting Times!




I think it rather prophetic that a Chinese Curse says, “May you live in interesting times”, especially as this COVID 19 pandemic originated in China. Most of my life has been in “interesting times” and right now I would wish for something less interesting.
This year I had hoped to finish the old Inner German Border walk that I had to give up on in 2016, but now since it would mean to get to the start I would have to travel by train right across Germany, I fear I will not be doing so in April as intended.
Last weekend I was due to take part in a Royal British Legion Management Seminar in Hannover. In fact I had travelled to Hameln, which is on the way, to visit with good friends, but in the light of School and University closures I decided not to and returned home. The course was not cancelled and I can only hope that those that did attend remain safe.
Many, many years ago and in a time when I was super fit, I had a bout of viral pneumonia! At the time I was well prepared to “give up the spoon” as the Germans would say. It took me over three months to regain the full capacity of my lungs. Now that I am over 70 I am sadly in the risk group and may not survive another such incident.
Consequently my little Patchwork Family are keeping away from me. It has created a huge hole in my life! Recently Petra came and merely placed some Chocolate Brownies in the lift for me. We never met at all! The chocolate brownies were welcome, but the love that flowed out of the lift when I collected them was deeply felt, and I knew I was not alone.
I have no idea when this pandemic will end and we can return to normal, but one think I can say is, that if I survive, as I fully intend to do, there will be some serious hugging of my family and friends that I miss so much at the moment.
Stay safe out there.