THOUGHTS FROM A DEVONSHIRE FARMHOUSE
CONTENTS
welcome
my thoughts
home news (on the book front)
two suggested reads
your help needed
Hello, and welcome to those lovely people who have recently joined my ‘I’ll remind you about this post’ e-mail service. I do hope these first-of-the-month emails are getting through to you? (If they are not I’m in trouble as you’ll not be reading this!)
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My theme this month: Recollections of Covid
It seems rather incredible that it is now five years since those days of Covid/Corona Virus lockdown. On one hand those weeks/months seem like yesterday, on the other hand, a long, long time ago.
I confess, apart from the worry of catching Covid I rather enjoyed the spring-early summer lockdown, but that's because our nearest neighbours are about 1/4 mile away, we live down a remote lane 1 mile or so from the village, and even the nearest town (6 or so miles away) is relatively small. Plus, I'm retired/self-employed and 'work' from home anyway. (If you can call writing books 'work' rather than an enjoyable not very profitable hobby.)
For us (me and my family) lockdown was OK, especially since the weather that spring was gorgeous - I remember sitting out on the veranda of an evening, overlooking next door's small lake, glass of wine in hand, soaking up the rays... Oh, and the silence! That was bliss. It's quiet here anyway, but we do occasionally hear the distant traffic on the A377. I don't recall the trains running either? (Were they?) so there was no noise from the railway filtering up from the valley.
Our postman came, but the box for delivered letters is outside by our garden gate - I propped the lid open so all he had to do was pop the letters in. The lid is still propped open :-), I never bothered to close it. I regularly wiped the gate handle with bleach on a cloth, and of course, we had hand sanitiser bottles in strategic places. Neither my husband, myself or daughter caught Covid. Was that because we were careful, wore our masks, had the jabs when they were offered - or were we just healthy and lucky?
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| South Molton |
Our first essential venture out during that first week of total lockdown, was me and my husband off to South Molton to buy fruit, milk and bread. (I don't recall mandatory masks that early on? Just Stay At Home / Keep Your Distance.) I stayed in the car while Husband went into the shops ... or rather, for the fruit, stood at the grocer's door and asked for what we wanted. On the way back home we were pulled over by the police.
Now, that is something of an adventure here in our rural part of North Devon for you very rarely see a police car or a policeman. We were asked to explain the reason for our journey - but it was obvious as we'd put the shopping on the back seat. (I asked the policeman if he wanted a banana. He declined - but laughed and said thank you for the offer.)
Some of the (ridiculous) conspiracy theories, alas, still exist - the main one being the anti-vac nonsense. Yes, some people did have a reaction. Most of us didn't. Most were not serious reactions - feeling unwell for a couple of days, a sore arm etc. Frankly, better than having Covid! Put it into perspective: Some people have reactions against eating nuts. It doesn't mean Governments are deliberately tampering with nuts. (Or are they?)
The conspiracy theories that still linger are mainly:
The virus was engineered in a laboratory in China.
Intelligence agencies have categorically denied the possibility that the virus was engineered in a lab, it might be (and seems probable) that the virus did escape - totally by accident through a lack of biosecurity. These sort of labs do store dangerous things - our own Porton Down has the Smallpox virus I believe because research is essential. But deliberate release? No.
COVID-19 is no worse than the flu.
This was widely believed at the beginning of the pandemic. Turned out to be a false belief. Flu is dangerous especially where there are also breathing or heart-related problems, but unlike the huge outbreak after WWI we now have antibiotics. and unlike Covid the Flu virus does not attack other body organs like the liver or brain.
You don’t need to wear a mask.
Despite a strong consensus among public health authorities that masks limit transmission of ANY virus or spread of germs, many people refused to wear one. No, I didn't like wearing a mask, but surely, even the biggest idiot can understand that 'coughs and sneezes spread diseases'. The transmission of the common cold was hugely decreased during those Covid months. And even if someone is so selfish to not care about making other people ill - don't they care about stopping themselves from catching a virus... any virus? The main thing about wearing a mask? It showed you cared about others. (And your own well-being!)
Wealthy elites used the virus to profit from vaccines.
No comment. This one is too stupid to warrant one.
5G
It is biologically impossible for viruses to spread using a mobile phone network. Covid spread just as rapidly in countries that do not have mobile networks.
Tracking
It was said that a tracking device was included with the vaccine so 'The Government' could track your movements. This one is a definite head shaker and eye-roller. Er... this completely disregards the tracker that almost everyone (voluntarily) has on their mobile phone. Like I said: 'eye roll'.
COVID doesn’t exist
According to professional conspiracy theorists Covid didn’t exist, but was a plot by the globalist elite to take away our freedoms. Well if that was the plot it was pretty elaborate, and not very practical.
COVID death rates were inflated
A far-right meme was the idea that Covid death rates were inflated and therefore there was no reason for lockdown regulations or other social distancing measures.
This insistence had no basis in fact. More likely the death toll was a serious under-count.
It is important to combat harmful misinformation and conspiracist narratives, whether on Covid or climate change or anything else. Everyone is entitled to an opinion; by all means query something, ask questions, read fors and againsts and come to a personal conclusion - but there are too many who do not include coherent debate as part of valid disagreement, and too many who are so belligerent that they insist they are right and everyone else is wrong.
The matter of meat eating for example. By all means be a vegetarian or vegan, that is your choice - your rightful choice - but it is also my rightful choice to eat meat. I very much resent finding on a public Facebook page where a respected local rural butcher, selling well reared, quality meat and advertising 'treat Mum to a roast lamb lunch this Mothering Sunday' had highly abusive comments added which were along the line of, "Yes ... murder a sentient life for Mother's Day - kill something innocent!"
Far more interesting would have been adding a comment something like, "Or how about trying this recipe for a nut roast [or whatever] instead?"
There was an incident recently where one vegetarian (vegan?) person tried to insist that all local council events must provide only vegetarian/vegan food if catering was included. The proposal was firmly thrown out - with the caveat that there should always be vegetarian/vegan alternatives provided... which there always were anyway.
I respect vegetarians, but equally I feel vegetarians should respect my preference.
But where these more ridiculous - or harmful - conspiracies are concerned, idiots are idiots, narcissists are narcissists, racists are racists, misogynists are misogynists.
Freedom of speech is essential, the opposite is Russia, China, Turkey at the moment and countries where women are repressed. But there's a big difference between saying something as personal opinion as opposed to spouting vitriol against others. Hurtful, cruel, racist, unfactual speech is not free speech. It is acceptable to say that wearing a mask impinges on personal liberty, it isn't acceptable to deliberately not wear one and cough and splutter over others to make your rather stupid point.
Nor is it acceptable to humiliate in public the leader of a country that is fighting for its freedom against an aggressive dictator, or to insult an entire country's population by insisting it becomes an American state.
I'm with Canada and Greenland and the Panama Canal. I agree, MAGA is a good slogan, let's all adopt it...
And I wonder, today, how comfortable Republicans are feeling now that Trump has publicly announced (which many of us suspected) that he wants to change the Constitution in order to serve a third term. And probably a fourth, and a fifth... I think that's called 'dictatorship' isn't it? On the other hand if that was brought in maybe Obama wold run again? (Or wh oelse would be a good choice?)
Funny how those who insist on 'Free Speech' (you know who I'm referring to) are quite happy with spouting rubbish when it's about others, but go all red-faced and throw their teddies out the cot when it's something said that they don't like. But then these are usually psychopath narcissists who cannot tolerate debate or anything that contradicts their own warped opinions.
In brief:
1) did you know that Flat Earthers claim their society is a Global belief?)
(Think about it...LOL!)
2) Jo Biden's government did not deliberately create the Florida Hurricanes.
3) There was no such thing as cat litter trays put into USA school classrooms.
(In fact, they were sand-filled fire buckets)
4) The world (whether flat or round) was not made in six days.
Apart from all that, Covid had different impacts on different people. But most of us (apart from those suffering with Long Covid - which is NOT a theory but an actuality) came through it and are absolutely fine. Yes, there are still a lot of mental health issues but I think some are excuses ... Much worse things have happened in history to cause lasting trauma: war, famine, invasion and conquest. 1066, the English Civil War - WWI, WWII ... the US Civil War. Slavery. There was no counselling for these horrors.
Personally, I think part of the blame for people today losing personal confidence, a lack of wanting to go out, poor social skills etc is exacerbated by social media. Too many prefer to stare at their phones rather than actually talking face to face, or going out or being 'social'. SM was a godsend during lockdown - Zoom especially - because it enabled safe contact but Social Media has become addictive and the skill of talking has become redundant. I think schools banning smartphones during school hours is a good thing. Banning under 16s completely from using it I'm not so sure. For the disabled (dyslexics for instance) 'text speak' is wonderful. For anyone being bullied online... not so wonderful.
Are mental health issues made worse because there's still a taboo about talking openly, or is there still too much of a 'pull yourself together' attitude? Do we expect too much, perhaps, and then get disillusioned and depressed? Several author friends of mine (and myself) are finding it difficult to concentrate and get on with writing, alongside feeling the isolation of having a job/hobby that is a solitary one.
And all this five years after Covid - so is it the aftermath of Covid causing issues or something else entirely?
There's a lot of talk about not enough mental health counselling available - which for the UK NHS there isn't, but a lot of people could afford private sessions - my daughter is a qualified EFT practitioner, yet she is struggling to find clients. Doesn't make sense does it?
She also specialises in Centre 10 equine sports coaching, particularly helping riders (or horses) who have confidence issues. Confidentiality guaranteed.
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| Kathy Hollick: https://www.white-owl.co.uk/ |
Which is another positive from Lockdown. Kathy did her online training for the above qualifications during those months. I'm so proud of her.
And for myself? I have a large thank you for lockdown. (Saved a lot of expenditure on petrol!) because I decided to write something different during those months - the result is my Jan Christopher Murder Mystery Series which is going from strength to strength.(Although I could do with a lot more positive reviews please!) No 6 is well on the way, with an idea for no 7 also planned out. (See below!)
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| https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick |
Of course, I might have written the first Jan Christopher, A Mirror Murder, anyway, but there again, I might not.
I realise I'm fortunate. I wasn't separated from family, I wasn't stuck in a flat, I didn't lose a loved one... but mindless and selfish hindsight whinging about things that could (maybe should) have been done different is not helpful to anyone. Yes students were isolated. Yes maybe schools should have remained open. Carehomes should have been managed differently, but until we had the vaccine, was there really any choice? Maybe we should have not isolated and just left Covid to spread...? If we had, how many more lives would have been disrupted or ended? I'd rather have lockdown, not a coffin.
And I do have to say this: maybe we would have been better off here in the UK without Mr Johnson and his cronies. He/they did let us all down in various ways BUT I'd rather have Johnson not Farage or Trump or Corbyn. Keir Starmer? Jury's still out...
Covid was a terrible time, and something similar will come again, but some good things came out of it, appreciating what we do have - the delight of hearing the Dawn Chorus, caring for others less fortunate, and the advance in vaccine and scientific research among them. I'm aware, though, that there's a twist for a well-known quote here:
'What did the Romans Covid ever do for us...?' LOL :-)
(What are your memories? Feel free to leave a comment below.)
Stay safe.
scroll down for my 'News'
or to the bottom of the page to leave a comment
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| News From Home |
On the Book News front:
Ghost Encounters has now been published as an e-book and in paperback. It's cheaper on Amazon but you should be able to order it from any good bookstore.
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| Buy the book |
I also have a dedicated Ghost Encounters Blog
I'm currently writing the sixth Jan Christopher Mystery.
It's called A Mischief of Murder
is set in Devon, July 1973
and is based around the shenanigans that occur prior to the annual village flower and vegetable show.
(warning: snails are involved!)
I hope to publish it in early July 2025
To learn about the real 2025 show
view our village blog here
and the seventh Jan Christopher is being planned:
A Matter of Murder...
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| a gypsy caravan |
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| swans on a river |
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| A Mirror Dinghy |
so some tantalising hints about the plot!
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Goodbye until next month
lege feliciter (read happily)
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| https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick |
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two suggested reads:
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What does a woman do after she’s booted out her husband for being unfaithful?
Living in a remote house in beautiful countryside, how does she defend herself against the property developer up the lane the who is terrorising her and her dog Honey? Turn to the authorities? They’re operated by the crooks who are supporting this neighbour from hell.
Alice decides to reinvent herself as new, decisive, and available. She’s not going to play the victim anymore but will fight back. A tragic accident, inadvertently caused by three people who are equally to blame, shatters her confidence.
Alice’s therapy is forgiveness. Her combination of generosity, assertiveness, and determination attracts some unlikely allies, but with so much corruption around, who can be trusted?
Buy Links:
Moscow, 1958. At the height of the Cold War, MI6 secretary Lois Vale is on a deep cover mission to identify a diplomatic traitor. She can trust only one man: Johann, a German journalist also working covertly for the British secret service. As the trail leads to Vienna and the Black Sea, Lois and Johann begin an affair but as love grows, so does the danger to Lois.
A tense Cold War spy story told from the perspective of a bright young working class woman recruited to MI6 at a time when men were in charge of making history and women were expendable.
Authentic and historical details are provided by the 1958 diary kept in Moscow by the author’s own mother, who worked for British intelligence.
Purchase Links
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for any book you've read and enjoyed
