WHEN we set off on our South African adventure in mid-February, we had no idea what lay ahead of us on our return to England.
The COVID-19 virus is a truly shocking and life-changing experience for the whole world—and absolutely devastating for the families who are losing loved ones everyday.
Now, of course, is not the time to start pointing the finger or laying blame at governments around the world. But, in the future, questions will have to be asked and responsibility taken for what can only be described as, in my opinion, a global catastrophe.
When you are fighting a war against an enemy you know, it’s brutal. But with a silent and invisible enemy like COVID-19, it’s like fighting a battle wearing a blindfold.
Going forward when, eventually, there will be a vaccine and life can restart, what will we have learned about humanity, ourselves and the natural world around us?
Many people are saying, and I agree with them, that the world was spinning out of control. Losing sight of the destruction of the planet, the gap between the rich and the poor getting wider and wider, and the materialistic environment we had come to accept as normal, was always going to have consequences.
Some thought it would result in World War III, but in the end nature has taken control and is showing us that we are simply cogs in a large wheel—and that nature has the ultimate power.
However, for all the horrific things that COVID-19 has bestowed upon us, humans have also shown how incredible and selfless they can be. Those amazing people working around the clock in all the key areas, health, food, communications, transport, and the many other areas we don’t see, keeping all our countries functioning.
For the rest of us, who’ve been confined to our homes and may be struggling to maintain a level of sanity, we can only do what we are doing to show our massive appreciation for the thousands putting their lives on the line everyday.
There are no appropriate words to describe how fantastically proud every single one of them should feel for what they are doing. And when the battle is finally won and the virus defeated, life has to change and all of these amazing people must be valued for the work they do and the professionalism they have shown in taking responsibility in a time of crisis. Without them where would we be?
The world owes them a huge debt of gratitude, most certainly, but going forward it’s high time they were all paid realistically for the work they do. It’s an absolute must.
Then there are the many people from every walk of life who have come forward to volunteer and help their communities in so many different ways. Taking on challenges to raise money for the NHS in England, and a multitude of other charities across the globe has all been more than inspiring—and hopefully helping us all realise that when push-comes-to-shove, it’s just people that matter.
If you’re craving something positive and uplifting, just go outside or open a window and listen to the birds singing. See the clear blue skies and all the new life that comes with spring.
There is much talk about signs we are seeing that the planet is starting to recover, led by the huge numbers of birds and animals coming into gardens and towns where traffic once filled the streets.
It’s incredible and exciting, but must go hand-in-hand with digesting the giant collective lesson that we need to learn—that we have to make big changes to the way we have lived pre-COVID-19.
Finishing on a shining note, on Easter Monday we walked through our local woods and this was the sight that greeted us:
Nature at its best!
Stay safe everyone!
‘Til next time,
GrannyflapjaX
GRANNY FLAPJAX 