‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ The opening lines of Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities could be applied to the current nightmare we are living through. The ‘worst’ is obvious, and the grim daily mortality figures we hear at the Government press conferences each represents a real tragedy and the loss of a mother, father, son or daughter. Perhaps the most tragic of all has been the roll call of NHS and care staff who have not flinched from stepping up their public service to put themselves in harm’s way and in some cases paid the ultimate price.
Yet amidst the dark clouds there have been deeply uplifting moments and signs of better things emerging from our current forced experiences. That hope and optimism was characteristically so well summed up in the few minutes of wisdom from the Queen – a more unflappable and reassuring personification of the mantra ‘keep calm and carry on’ it would be hard to find. Even the most hardened republicans have been forced to agree as 24 million estimated viewers tuned in; the sort of figure not surpassed since the likes of the Morecombe and Wise Christmas special, well before the days of the internet and on demand entertainment.
Locally we have seen the community rallying round so well to the extent that I have had volunteers who have signed up with various local groups coming back to me to complain they have not been given enough to do. Hopefully that feeling of united purpose and togetherness will sustain beyond the immediate crisis and there are indications that lifestyles will never be the same again whether it be more flexible patterns of working from home or a realisation that food doesn’t necessarily have to come out of a packet.
One of the most sought-after commodities at the shops has been flour as we have witnessed a resurgence of home baking that even Mary Berry could not have achieved. It has been an unexpected joy to have all 3 of our children together at home (I say children though they are all in their twenties) for a longer period than since they were at school. They are all very accomplished and competitive cooks, so we have eaten well helped by last year’s glut of home-grown vegetables lurking in the freezer. And we have found new ways to keep us engaged and stimulated after working from home in the 5 improvised workstations we have around the house.
I say competitive because one of the coping mechanisms in the Loughton household has been a ‘Come Dine With Me’ re-creation, each of us taking it in turns to provide entertainment, exotic drinks and a three course meal all with a fancy dress theme. The scores are not yet in but my home-made Spanish style croquettes were a triumph on movie night!
Parliament is due to return on April 21st and the House of Commons authorities are working out how we can do this on a ‘virtual Parliament’ basis. However we appear, whether in person or by screen, it is highly likely to resemble a long haired ‘Cavalier Parliament’ such has been the effect of the closure of barbers and hairdressers on us all!
