A buzzard glides overhead. The beryl sky, white washed by April clouds. Fresh appreciation. For these omens of summer. For this wooden and red brick structure I call home. For my latest, offbeat ventures: the furthest I've been venturing these past few weeks would be between rooms and zooms, even cycling a few miles into Cheshire's rolling hills and hedgerows. But all with fresh gratitude and renewed perspective.
It's about three weeks since the beginning of the UK's corona virus lock-down. A little longer since schools were shut indefinitely and exams which I've been preparing for for two years were cancelled. 2020's not going the way I, or anyone, had planned. Having said this, I can't complain: with a global pandemic, thousands losing loved ones and economies floundering, my cancelled exams and a few months of confinement are nothing to moan about. In fact, this has helped me to gain some fresh, raw perspective. I've suddenly got a lot of time on my hands, and whilst neither the global nor the local situations are looking good, I think despite the darkness there's a silver lining to be found. This cloud will pass, and it makes sense to seize this confinement like an opportunity rather than a curse. I recognize the gravity of this virus, but above all believe the big man above is holding us in his hands and can even use something initially worrying to bring some good stuff out of what may seem now like an impasse.
So among other things, I'm going to make the most of this time-out to do things I've been wanting to for ages: more reading, ukulele-playing, cooking, skating, cycling (photo above)and of course, writing this blog! I'm also enjoying embracing whatever weird trends the internet regurgitates: I already got a buzz-cut the other day and have made too many Dalgona whipped coffees, who knows what's next? The next few months presumably won't involve much travelling far afield but I will hopefully get some long put-off guides, reviews and tips out, ready for when the world of travel opens its gates again. Once it does, long-awaited bike trips and Workaways in France, Greece and the USA are on my to-travel-to list. Also, I would like to get some mini-interviews published, conducted with friends and family around the world. The idea behind this couch travelling would be to find out not only about how Covid 19 has affected your area and community, but generally to discover more about different places and different countries in a travel sense, for when world opens up again. Stay tuned for these coming out soon and please get in touch if you'd be interested in participating, wherever you live.
Fresh perspective has also emerged as I've become more grateful for the ability to travel, now that it is so restricted. I've also been reminded of the preciousness and the fragility of life, of our perceived 'normality', and of each other. In the face of adversity, I feel something loosely resembling unity: as a race, as a global species against a global threat...let's help each other out, stay in touch and get through this together. I wish you God's peace and strength wherever you are reading this from, and can't wait to get travelling again and to see everyone on the other side!
Cerys
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