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Saturday, April 17, 2021

(Probably) The Last View from the Apocalypse

Not that I’m going anywhere – but I think the zombies are slowly dying out around here. With more than 50% of the population having their first jab and with numbers for infections, hospitalisations and deaths dropping month on month it’s starting to look like things are approaching an end point. Not only is the light at the end of the tunnel on, we can actually see it. We came out of what I do hope is our last lockdown on Monday 12th. Just walking around in my local area it’s starting to seem more ‘normal’. You still see lots of people wearing masks and they’re still required in shops and stores but there’s definitely more traffic on the roads and air pollution is getting back to pre-apocalypse levels – a sure sign things are getting back to normality!

Both my Mum and older brother have now had both of their shots and I’m due for my second next month. I think all of my gaming friends have now had their first shot too and a few will be having their second in the next few weeks. Much more importantly, of course, is that book shops are now open again [does Snoopy dance!] so there’s a Mall trip in my near future – super fuelled by the fact that I haven’t been able to shop for my birthday yet except on-line. I’ll also now be able to physically shop for shoes – I like to see and touch what I’m getting [old fashioned I know but I’m ‘built’ that way] – as well as some tools & things for future projects in and around the house.

Longer term I’ll actually be able to go ‘Up North’ later in the year and see my family for the first time in around 18 months or more. I wonder just how tall the kids are by now and if they still remember who I am [lol]. Prior to that I expect pretty much all travel restrictions – at least inside the country – to be lifted so day trips etc will be featuring more which is good news with summer almost upon us. My ex-work colleagues have also been in touch regarding my [very] late/rescheduled retirement drinks which will be happening when the pubs fully reopen. It’ll be nice to see them again and find out what’s been happening to everyone in the last year since I left [crazy to think that I’ve already been retired a whole year].

So, over all things are (generally) looking positive for a change. No doubt in years ahead we’ll look back on these days and laugh – not. It’s definitely been a strange and often difficult 12 months all round. But I think, for many of us, it’s finally coming to an end. Covid-19 is still going to be in the news for some time to come though. A lot of the world still needs fully vaccinating and there will be, no doubt, investigations into what went wrong and what we can learn from the pandemic because, sure as God made little green apples, there will be others. Let’s hope that lessons are learnt and we’re far better prepared next time.    

6 comments:

mudpuddle said...

i worry about variants and booster shots. i had an awful reaction to the second Moderna; i really thought death was paying me a visit but it was all gone in 24 hours or maybe 36. i guess it's worth it to not get the disease, but i haven't been that sick ever! well shingles was almost as bad but not quite. good luck with the familia...

CyberKitten said...

@ Mudpuddle: The existing vaccines are still pretty good against the variants - just not as good. I hear what you say about the concern though. I was pretty much OK with my first shot (AstraZenica) although I did feel slightly rough. My brother (Pfizer I think) was ill for about 24 hours as was, of course, young Sarah. But better than the full Covid though...

Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are Taken said...

Yep! The Johnson and Johnson shot kicked my ass for about 28 hours, but I will take those side effects over that actual virus any day. I hope the UK is in a better position than we are. I was getting groceries earlier and even though shops require them still, this dude was just walking around without a mask shopping. it is incredibly frustrating to me that people here think we are out of the woods. The light at the end of the tunnel is definitely there, but keeping our masks on for a while longer should still be happening I feel. Once the majority of people are vaccinated, we can ease up. Still miles to go, but the light is there!

CyberKitten said...

@ Sarah: I think both the UK & US are 'getting there'. I think you have more vaccine deniers etc than we do so there's always going to be a (presumably shrinking) reservoir for the virus plus variants to play in... But I guess you can't have everything, right?

James said...

I got my second dose (Pfizer) a week ago and am feeling fine. But still remain masked and distanced when out and about.

CyberKitten said...

@ James: I think both the US and UK are doing pretty well with the vaccine roll-out. The EU isn't very well organised at all, which does surprise me. A LONG way still to go globally but the vaccinated numbers are moving in the right direction at least.