August 17th, 2020

Where do you go when the world is closed?  Plans for vacations, lovely long sea voyages, visits to family, all cancelled without even a rain check or the promise of a postponement.  Quarantine restrictions on Brits coming back from many parts of Europe make it impractical to go abroad when the law is that you are required to stay home for two weeks on return.  The covid 19 infection figures rise and fall in different parts of the world and it has become a morbid game to see which country has more infections or deaths than do we; who will be the next to go into the red zone and be named and shamed as being against government advice to travel to thereby invalidating travel insurance?  
Will refunds for curtailed cruises, cancelled flights, deposits paid, ever make their way back onto our bank accounts?  No wonder the mental health of the country is threatening to cause another national crisis as the uncertainly around the global pandemic continues to impact every area of our lives.  
The anticipation of a lovely summer holiday or visit to the theatre or cultural or family event, is half the fun.  Now every day we need to be prepared to accept that plans are subject to change at the last minute.  Will the kids ever go back to school, will partners ever go back to work, even if they have a job to go to, will non emergency medical procedures become a priority?  
Remaining positive is crucial as the alternative of letting ourselves sink into a well of despair and disappointment is not going to help us cope in the current 'unprecedented' times.  But, I have to admit that my heart sank when I read that America's chief cheer leader, the motivational Michelle Obama had admitted to a 'low grade depression'.  Full marks for honesty, Michelle, but if you are suffering mental heath issues what hope is there for the rest of us whose Superpower never was being a First Lady, of the most powerful nation on earth and helping her husband to rule the world while being a truly inspirational human being?  
Today I am reminded of the Carpenters' song, 'Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.'  It's Monday, it's raining, roll on Happy Tuesday.