It feels like there is only one thing going on in the world at the moment, Brexit is a distant memory, that one thing of course is Coronavirus.
I sort of knew about it a few weeks ago, I am working on a large building site in Manchester at the moment spraying out a load of apartments, so I have been wrapped up in that. I get there early to avoid the traffic and I have my breakfast in McDonalds that is inside an Asda in Hulme.
I was sat eating my sausage and egg McMuffin (single sausage) and I could see a small queue at the Asda checkout from where I was sat. In their trolley a person seemed to just have toilet rolls, packs and packs of them. Then I noticed that the person behind them was the same.
People are strange I thought.
In actual fact I have started to realise that people are scared. It didn’t bother me at first. “I will be ok” I thought, “I’m safe”. Then I saw decorators posting on the forum, saying that they have had work cancelled and people didn’t want them in their homes while this was going on, I saw real fear that they were worried how they were going to pay the bills and feed their families.
Then the pubs closed.
The road to Manchester that Monday was empty. Unbelievable. The site was empty and the few people that where there were milling about outside. The canteen had closed. People were unsure if the site was going to close.
The site closed.
I have been sat at home with my wife and her daughter. We are in lockdown. I am scared if I am honest. I like routine and this is not very routine.
This has been the negative side of what has been going on. The side that the media focus on. Then I noticed something else. I rang my boss who I have I have been working for on this site and at the end of the conversation we both said “Stay safe” to each other. Do you know…..? We meant it too, he did, and I did.
Imagine that.
I noticed that at the end of emails, people signed off with “stay safe” and people say it to each other too. The thing is though, it’s not like “have a nice day” people actually mean it, because they are scared.
Then I noticed something else. The Government are talking to us, every night. They are worried, you can see it in Boris Johnsons eyes. They are trying to do the best for all of us, not just themselves. Party politics and all the pointless bickering has fallen away, and they are trying to do their best for us.
Imagine that.
Bill Hicks (google him) used to have something that he said at the end of his comedy show each night. It was called “Just a ride” and as part of that he said that there were two ways of looking at the world.
Fear and Love.
The eyes of fear put bigger locks on our doors, buy guns and close yourself off. The eyes of love instead see us all as one.
I think that because we are all in the same boat, we are starting to realise that maybe we should appreciate what we have and each other. I hope so.
Stay safe guys and girls.
Stay safe – by Pete Wilkinson
Not working not know find that hard iam a glass 1/2 full type always look on the bright side this i have to say knocked me never been out of work the years books where looking great .
Then a bug just a bug can bring this first world country to it knees and not just us makes you sit back and look around you and to see little people looking out for each other like the old days even the Thursday clap for the nsh we get though this we will be back and as you said the new good bye is stay safe
Well written Pete,and I can identify with everything you stated. I have only got one thing to add , don’t watch too much of the news it will only bring you down eventually. Keep busy in the home, laughter is deffo the best medicine, and what will be in years to come a memory jerk, STAY SAFE!
Well said.
Look after yourself & see you both soon
So works gone for prob 3-6 months ….I guess this is my gap year . Spend some time with the family, breathe clean air , not dust and paint fumes and not feel like my back is breaking at the end of the day.
I might be skint but I think I might end up happier!
Stay safe .
Mr Fast and Flawless