My week… well, those glasses look just like mine. Thank you Suzy Hazelwood for the lovely free image!
15th April
Not been feeling too good myself today. I had a strange stomach ache and the shivers. But good news a new review today from Willow about my poetry, prose, photography collection Mr. Sagittarius.
I felt a bit better later on in the day and wrote about two swans that my daughter Tasha and I had seen on the river yesterday. I wrote a short haiku poem about the swans for Colleen’s Chesebro’s poetry challenge.
Here’s Mr. Swan.
16th April 16, 2020
Across the UK, 12,868 people have died, up by 761 on Tuesday.
Such a shocking headline. In my heart I believe if we had locked down earlier the death toll would have been so much smaller. One has to look at Greece to see that their swift decision to lockdown early on resulted in very few deaths.
Coronavirus Cases: Greece 17th April
2,207
Deaths:
105
Recovered:
269
Sadly, we were not sensible in the UK. We should have paid attention to what was happening around the world.
Now, our lockdown in the UK is to be extended for another three weeks as we flatten the curve.
17th April
I slept badly, which I have been doing a lot. The lockdown is beginning to get to me. So, rather than lie in bed I dragged myself out of bed, started writing and drafted this blog post.
Coronavirus isn’t the first epidemic that the human race have suffered and sadly it won’t be the last. But for many, it is our first real experience of an epidemic and that in itself is frightening. I’ve been thinking about previous epidemics, particularly Polio which has been around for thousands of years. There are interesting comparisons between the two. Both are highly infectious, some Polio patients had no symptoms, most people did recover but a proportion died. Rather than mention all the statistics with regard to the two I’d just like to reiterate we’ve struggled through these trying times before and we will do so again. Most hospitals in the 1950s had limited access to iron lungs for Polio patients unable to breathe without mechanical assistance and now we have amazing advances in medicine but sadly there are shortages of equipment and PPE due to the vast numbers involved in some countries.
Polio struck at the young mainly. Can you imagine? Conversely, Coronavirus seems to be more dangerous for the elderly and those with underlying health issues. Which again is terrifying for people with elderly parents and relatives. One striking difference between the two epidemics is our modern ability to travel, allowing viruses to be transferred to different parts of the world. In the 1940’s outbreak of polio there were no cruise ships, or aircraft to take people to worldwide destinations.
It gives some comfort to know that there will be a solution and it should come quicker. Scientific research and expertise has advanced massively since the Polio epidemics. Intensive care medicine has its origin in the fight against polio.[145]The first polio vaccine was developed in the 1950s by Jonas Salk.[9] (Wikipedia.)
So sit tight, and stay safe. We will get through this. A vaccine will come.
In the meantime do check out this link regarding a breathing technique that helped J K Rowling recover from Coronavirus.
Links:
19th April
I am submitting a 300 word piece to Writer’s Unite see link below
In twenty years, what will you tell your children, grandchildren, or other loved ones about your experience during the COVID-19 pandemic? Submission deadline Midnight ET on Friday, April 24, 2020 – https://writersuniteweb.wordpress.com/2020/04/17/covid-19-reflections-on-quarantine-invitation-to-essay/
And some links I discovered on the Facebook group Book Connectors: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1466353170351020/
From Lisa Lowell – The World is Closed So Open A Book – https://magicinthelandlisalowell.wordpress.com/
From Kate Jayr – https://bubbitybooks.blogspot.com/2020/03/tips-from-natural-self-isolater.html/
This pandemic has been a learning experience for us and for our leaders. When President Trump locked down the travel from China, everyone was calling him a racist. Meanwhile, his quick thinking prevented hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Hopefully, this will never happen again, but if it does, a quick reaction will save thousands of lies.
Hope you are feeling better.
Stay safe. 🌹
I am well aware of the polio epidemic as my younger brother got it in 1953. He got very sick and was in a children’s hospital for 3 months, a 3-hour drive from our farm. It was a scary time. I was 5 at the time and I remember how frightened my parents were. I was given a shot and did not get it. His one foot stopped growing for those three months so he has a slight limp but otherwise is OK. Yes, we ave been through this before. I hope you are feeling better. xo
That must have been so stressful Darlene. Glad it wasn’t worse for him. I’m up and down Darlene. Not sure whether it is just stress.
It is a frightening time, but if we all follow our health professionals’ advice, I think we have the best chance for survival.
Too many become complacent and forget, or ignore, how important social distancing is- it’s frustrating!
Yes I agree. I can’t understand those who do so. It’s crazy. Hope you are feeling well now Jacquie?
Much better, thank you. Still sleeping a lot, but otherwise the symptoms have disappeared.
Take care of yourself!
So glad to hear Jacquie. I’ll do my best. We’re being sensible all of us including my two grown daughters who are with us at the moment.
I was upset to hear about people from the mainland taking the ferry to the island on Easter weekend. What is wrong with them??
Darlene some people act as if they are invincible and sadly they are not. It amazes me.
And it was overflowing! I understand people’s frustration with the situation, but ignoring health dictates is just stupid and irresponsible.
Yes isn’t it so ridiculously stupid and dangerous. We have similar here, sadly.