Another day of quiet roads, the occasional car, the occasional dog walker. It hasn't rained like it did the previous two days, light and intermittent. but clouds are slowly, and it seems like reluctantly clearing from the sky. I prayed, reflected, emailed and chatted with an assortment of people here and at home, especially Roy over in Alicante. I am writing material of his blog 'Redefine Religion' now, after registering myself with WordPress today.
Most of my daily quote of exercise has been walking around the outside of the house, until I found that I could step into the meadow next to off road space used by cars parking at the chaplaincy. It's about 300 metres long, full of flowers and blossoming trees - apple, almond or cherry, I may have to stay here long enough to find out. It's lovely, though easier in stout shoes than sandals.
The number of deaths and virus infected people globally continues un-halted, except China, where it has slowed right down, thanks to their containment measures. Chinese and American researchers say the are making positive progress in finding effective anti-viral compounds which can mitigate the symptoms. Making a vaccine is still a work in progress however.
Spain is heading up towards peak spread of the virus. Italy is there, with devastating consequences for not having acting earlier with urgency and forceful measure. Britain is still a couple of weeks behind. Schools are now going to close. Restrictions on movement are still rather slack, more of an advisory nature than an imposition, reliant on common sense.
I'm afraid Britain may pay dearly for this, being more than ever a polarised self indulgent society, not all appeals to reason and good-ill are going to heard, less people are co-operative, so more compliance is required at many levels. Sure, this is an opportunity for people to change, to recover lost virtues, but some will simply feel they have lost 'their freedom, their rights', because caring for others doesn't come naturally to many any longer. The coronavirus crisis is a real wake up call to change our ways.
Standing outside in the darkness, before bed, looking at the heavens on a clearish night, in the absence of street lights or the obvious glow of a nearby town, I realised how few stars I could see, compared to being out in the country or at sea years ago. Sadly so much diffused light pollution coupled with other atmospheric conditions means you can usually see only the brightest stars and planets, even on a Mediterranean island. How much capacity for awe and wonder has been lost. It's like living with a cataract on the eye. You notice if one is more developed than the other.
Spain is heading up towards peak spread of the virus. Italy is there, with devastating consequences for not having acting earlier with urgency and forceful measure. Britain is still a couple of weeks behind. Schools are now going to close. Restrictions on movement are still rather slack, more of an advisory nature than an imposition, reliant on common sense.
I'm afraid Britain may pay dearly for this, being more than ever a polarised self indulgent society, not all appeals to reason and good-ill are going to heard, less people are co-operative, so more compliance is required at many levels. Sure, this is an opportunity for people to change, to recover lost virtues, but some will simply feel they have lost 'their freedom, their rights', because caring for others doesn't come naturally to many any longer. The coronavirus crisis is a real wake up call to change our ways.
Standing outside in the darkness, before bed, looking at the heavens on a clearish night, in the absence of street lights or the obvious glow of a nearby town, I realised how few stars I could see, compared to being out in the country or at sea years ago. Sadly so much diffused light pollution coupled with other atmospheric conditions means you can usually see only the brightest stars and planets, even on a Mediterranean island. How much capacity for awe and wonder has been lost. It's like living with a cataract on the eye. You notice if one is more developed than the other.
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