Day 377 – Reflections on Lockdown

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Today it has been super windy all day, the canal has been really choppy and the boats all have been rocking about loads!  With the strong cold wind it has felt a lot colder than it has over the last few days, which has resulted in me not doing much outside.  The canal has been super quiet with hardly any walkers – it has not felt like Easter Sunday at all!

This morning I had my fortnightly meditation group on Zoom, so an early start this morning.  As soon as that was finished, as the computer was still on, I put the structure together for today’s blog, putting in all the sections that could be written earlier.

After that, I did some more sorting of my things on Discovery and then Honey and I pottered around outside with Helen, whilst she was doing some outdoor boat jobs.

A short walk along the canal, it was very quiet and then lit the fire!

Last night I used a ‘coffee log‘ for the first time – Helen had picked some up for me from B&Q yesterday (Day 376).  Coffee Logs are small compressed recycle waste coffee in a log form – they burn slowly (about an hour) but don’t give off loads of heat – they are great!  This evening I have another one lined up before I go to bed.  Perhaps coffee logs are the way forward for next winter instead of coal – better for the environment, burns slowly and not so much heat?

In an attempt to find a ‘new’ photo for the blog cover photo, I lifted Honey on top of Fiona’s shed – she didn’t look so happy, but hey it’s another photo 🙂

 

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On This Day In History

A year ago today was Day 12

 

Here’s some extracts from that blog from Day 12

“A day of no energy and little inspiration to write this blog.  I was tempted not to write it, but I have made a commitment to myself, so I have grudgingly, fired up my computer.  As I listen to Sam Lupton’s Saturday night radio show on OTC (Off the Chart Radio) in an attempt to give me some motivation.

Last day I felt like this was on Tuesday (Day 8).

Saturday’s are usually my most active day of the week – catching up with friends and performing at magic gigs!

But instead, today, I have spent most the day watching films on Disney Channel.  Fiona, told me you can get free 7 day trial, so I signed up this morning.

I have also spent a lot of the day eating food!  It’s only until I sat down to write this blog, that I realised that my constant eating food, has to been fill that empty space in me.  My friend, Helen pointed out on Wednesday (Day 9), we often try and fill that empty space with something or someone.  As I am in lock-down and lacking energy, the simplest thing to fill it, has been eating.”.

 

 

This is what I wrote in my diary on Day 12

• • • Sooo tired today, spent most of day in bed, like I had a hangover!
    • No energy or motivation to do anything or write this diary.
    • Bed at 23:05.

 

Covid News Headlines on Day 12

• • • Yesterday Nightingale Hospital opened in ExCel Conference Centre, London – 4000 beds.  The first NHS temporary hospital opened for Covid turned into a hospital in 9 days!
    • Not yet known when virus will peak.

 

TOTAL Covid Cases and Deaths on Day 12

 

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Lockdown Restrictions Corner

England

England begins a series of Pilots, which include Covid Passports to allow for the safe return of sports matches, events and nightclubs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56625307

The Pilots will last until the middle of May and will include the FA Cup Final and other events across the country.

Checks will include –

• Vaccination
• Negative Test
• Natural Immunity Test (from getting the virus)

There seems to be a split in opinion on these measures being rolled out throughout the rest of the country, with fears it is one step closer to taking more control of us all, with many moral and ethical dilemmas. Then sectors seem in favour of them.

 

France

France enters its ‘third’ national lockdown for 4 weeks as cases increase and hospitals become overwhelmed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56622471

• All schools – closed.
• Non-essential shops – closed.
• Curfew – 7pm to 6am.

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Readers Corner

A few sharing’s today.

 

Danny

Danny sent me a message today after reading yesterday’s blog (Day 376) saying:

“Hiya I really enjoyed your blog today and am so glad to see you practicing magic.  I also really enjoyed your quote from the Tibetan Book of the dead…The face mask is a bit Stephen King.  Glad you hoovered.”

 

Thanks Danny – glad you enjoyed the blog 🙂

 

 

Doreen

Doreen posted a Facebook comment on yesterday’s blog (Day 376) saying:

“Well done for taking your magic to people Jim. Happy Easter”.

Cheers!  Happy Easter 🙂 x

 

Hannah

Hannah  sent me a message today after reading yesterday’s blog (Day 376) saying:

“Good to see your plan of stopping the daily blog on the 26th!  Makes sense and will have been a great achievement!”.

Cheers Hannah – I definitely feels right to stop the daily blog then and enough time for people to prepare for blog withdrawls 😉

 

Pat

Pat posted a Facebook comment on yesterday’s blog (Day 376) saying:

“Hi Jim.. Loving The Blog But You Have To Decide What Is Right For You.Stay Safe And Stay Well Mate…“.

Glad you love the blog Pat – me too.  Gonna miss writing it every day, but will enjoy the freedom!!

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As I come to the end of this blog, Discovery is being buffered around a lot at the moment with the wind.  The bow doors are rattling away as the wind whips under the covering to the door.  With my nifty writing most of the blog earlier today, it’s only taken 30 minutes to write the rest it this evening, so I will be in bed by not long after 10pm 🙂

I hope to continue this way of writing the blog until it finishes, so I can reclaim some of my evenings!

I finished Day 12, with a story, so I am going to share the story again here.  I have also recorded it on put on YouTube, if you want to listen to me telling you the story rather than reading it.  It’s taken from the book Illusions by Richard Bach.

 

 

 

So get yourself comfortable and I will tell you story….

Once upon a time, there lived a village of creatures along the bottom of a great crystal river.  The current of the river swept silently over them all – young and old, rich and poor, good and evil, the current going its own way, knowing only its own crystal self.

Each creature in it’s own manner clung tightly to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and resisting the current what each had learned from birth.

But one creature said at last, “I am tired of clinging.  Though I cannot see it with my eyes, I trust that the current knows where it is going.  I shall let go, and let it take me where it will.  Clinging, I shall die of boredom.”.

The other creatures laughed and said, “Fool !  Let go, and that current you worship will throw you tumbled and smashed across the rocks, and you will die quicker than boredom!”.

But the one heeded them not, and taking a breath did let go, and at once was tumbled and smashed by the current across the rocks.  Yet in time, as the creature refused to cling again, the current lifted him free from the bottom, and he was bruised and hurt no more.

And the creatures downstream, to whom he was a stranger, cried, “See a miracle!  A creature like ourselves, yet he flies!  See the Messiah, come to save us all!”.

And the one carried in the current said, “I am no more Messiah than you, the river delights to lift us free, if only we dare let go.  Our true work is this voyage, this adventure.”.

But they cried the more “Saviour!”, all the while clinging to the rocks…and when they looked again he was gone and they were left alone making legends of a Saviour.

 

 

Good Night.

 

Jim xx

 

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