One week in quarantine and all is well. We haven’t killed each other yet and I have been enjoying the rich variety of food that Catherine and Stuart have been making. A simple pastrami sandwich with strong Bega cheese, my contribution, has also hit the spot. Most nights there has been a lovely glass of red wine to accompany the meals followed by chocolate, so all in all I am enjoying MY quarantine.

I have technically broken my quarantine by going out for a walk to the end of the street but as their house is semi rural and the chances of bumping into someone is rather small and so I go out early in the morning or late afternoon. To get out the house for a short time each day is just enough to keep my sanity in check. I am also trying to improvise my exercise routine which has been a bit more difficult but I have come up with a few options.

I’ve been in quarantine mode for nearly three months now and my movements have been curtailed because I have been in China for the last two years and I am really surprised at the levels of panic and doom and gloom that I see on social media and on the news. It’s not that bad people, it could be worse, enjoy the experience of living through a pandemic because hopefully we will never see this again in our lifetime.

There are many things and situations that you will experience now that you will look back on in years to come just as many of the older generation remember the war, it wasn’t all bad. Through this we might learn a few valuable lessons on how to live a different more simple life. Maybe you will begin to read books again or draw or just talk and even maybe just maybe we may emerge like the butterfly as a more fascinating and respected creature.

In China more people seemed to be concerned with their health, the health of others and worried about the folk that did not want to stick to the rules of wearing a face mask or flouting the laws laid down to prevent the spread of the disease. In this regard the Chinese authorities didn’t fuck about and took drastic action at times, some of which was just downright dangerous to the occupants. I saw a video of them welding doors shut which is unthinkable. I’m not advocating anything like this but let’s put things into perspective and practice personal hygiene and protect yourself and others.

Most western countries will struggle with government directives because we are used to doing what we want and we certainly do not like to be told we can’t do this or that and many of us will say “I’ll do what I want, you can’t tell me” But to those people I say, “Shut the fuck up and just do what you are told, it’s only for a short time in the big scheme of things and if we all just calm down then we will be able to get on with life as best as we can in the current climate” Panic buying and hoarding is just being selfish and personally I hope that the folk that have a room full of toilet paper suddenly get a severe case of gastroenteritis along with Covid19 just for good measure. May their arse be on fire from now until eternity!