Covid-19 is officially a pandemic now. It started in China as an *exaggerated flu* and a few months later the whole of Italy is in lockdown. European countries and the USA are closing their borders one by one. UK seems to be the last one to properly respond to the evolving situation. I am feeling half panicked. Everyone is told to self-isolate (well if you have a cough or fever) but nothing's been cancelled yet by the government and the nation is in uproar, but still going to cafes and castles etc. Although obviously not as much as before. Very slow response, meanwhile other countries are declaring a state of emergency and closing all schools and banning events. At the same time life here goes on as normal. Just a feeling of doom and anxiety has rooted itself in me. And I'm also thinking about all the little businesses. Can they survive this time? If they're forced to shut down either due to the lack of customers or due to government forcing everyone to stay at home just like in Italy.
I should be in Japan at this moment of time. We finally managed to sort a trip after 2 years of trying and here I am sitting at home doing nothing... Feels so wrong! Luckily they cancelled so we'll get the money back. Half of me wishes though that we would've been able to go. If only everything had unfolded a week later... I'll go visit Emma in London soon. But that also fills me with dread. Is it safe? well yeah, millions of people live and work there everyday duh. BUUUUUUUTTTT What if!? You never know if you're a carrier or not, especially if you have a strong immune system. And I do. So I'm very rarely ill. There is only one confirmed case in the county at the moment but they're not really testing anyone anymore. Mr. Special has a chest infection and he wasn't even given any antibiotics or anything! You're young and strong, you can fight it off yourself. Since when has that ever happened?
I'm not self isolating because of any medical reason, just by having nowhere to go. How can I show my face in town when I know work is struggling a little bit. But if I do go in I won't have had a rest since September! My December trip was ruined because people phoned in sick and I went in. Not happening again, plus I can't just take my holiday days later because they'll disappear end of April and new ones start in May. Excuses excuses I know but can I be selfish just for once? Please? Just in a strange limbo feeling at the moment. Probably made worse by the fact I haven't left the house in a couple of days and all I do is read the news and stories about others panicking and panic buying to the point where huge supermarkets are running out of stuff. Not because there's an actual shortage of something but because all of the sudden the demand has taken a huuuuuge hike and they just can't keep up with deliveries and restocking.
At the moment I am trying to upload photos to my Greece post (trying to be a little bit productive and write posts from last year). But the mac doesn't want to cooperate...
Also thinking about finally applying for my Masters course. How long will I waste my life away here?
Toodalooo,
