Month: March 2020

Lockdown – Day Whatever

~ Linda ~ Leave a comment

In Belgium we changed over to Daylight Savings Time last night.  (Back to a six hour time difference, Mom). A colleague of my daughter sent out a text yesterday saying, “Remember to change your clocks.  You don’t want to be late for sitting in your living room!”  That made me chuckle every time I thought of it. Got to find your pleasures in small things.

Friday the prime minister, Sophie Wilmès, updated the country to say the lockdown has been extended to April 19th and may well last longer.  For me that means that spring break will be spent very much as the last two weeks have been. And to be honest, very much like my previous spring breaks. Introverts unite!!

 Credit: Pikrepo, The Brussels Times

Wilmès also clarified what was meant by exercising in the proximity of your home. Police felt the rules were unclear. As quoted in The Brussels Times: “For outdoor activities, the aim is to keep moving. Meeting in a park and sitting there for a while is not allowed. People can only leave their homes for the duration of their physical activity and have to return home immediately after. Going to the Ardennes or to the coast for a day is not allowed.”  (emphasis mine)

Even for Belgians, taking day trips to the country or the coast while ‘staying at home’ is stretching proximity in a small country a bit far.

Lockdown – Grocery Shopping

~ Linda ~ Leave a comment

As a friend mentioned last night in a video chat, so much has happened in the last week that last week feels like a month ago.

And yet a month ago measures such as canceling school trips seemed a bit extreme and the thought of closing school didn’t even cross my mind.

And yet here we are.

Today I went to my beloved, smallish grocery store to do a big shop.  We’ve been going to the corner store for little things but it was time to stock up (NOT hoard).  I like to go when the store opens because the small parking lot quickly fills up. Today I was there a bit before 8:30 and waited in a line that went out right out of lot.  I counted and there were only 20 people ahead of me, but everyone respected the distancing rule so the line stretched out.  When the doors opened, a fellow in a yellow jacket let people in in groups. It probably wasn’t even five minutes before I was inside, but if I hadn’t come prepared with a book to read while I waited, I bet it would have been longer.

Inside all was as normal.  I could not find raisins (humph!) and the cheap whole milk was gone, but there was plenty of every other kind. I got what I needed and headed out, thanking the somewhat harried looking cashier for being there. She broke into a huge smile and said, “Oh, we all do what we can!” and smiled me out of the store.

Lockdown Reads

~ Linda ~ Leave a comment

Im Reading.. | Living, Loving, Laughing

I just finished The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, which I picked up at our school library before we were all sent home.  It tells the story of William Kamkwamba’s desire to learn, and his amazing resourcefulness and resilience in the face of poverty and famine.

Even though he was barred from school due to lack of funds, and at one point schools were closed due to widespread famine, he continued to learn. At his primary school library, he happened upon some second hand science and physics books in English, a language he did not know well. Using diagrams and dictionaries, and lots of trial and error, he taught himself to build a windmill that provided electricity for his home. But that was just a beginning.

This book is a testament not only to intellect, but perseverence.  William was given the nickname Noah by his family, saying that everyone laughed at Noah and his ark, but Noah saved his family from destruction. William was mocked and suspected for his bizarre inventions, but in the end he provided electricity and water for his family and also shared his inventions and good fortune with his village.

This was not the best book I’ve ever read, but it was an inspiring story.

 

Lockdown Belgium – Day 1

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Should you be aiming for 10,000 steps a day? - CNN

Hello All!

As of noon today Belgium will be in a lockdown in an attempt to slow the outbreak of COVID-19.  According to the prime minister last night, this means everyone is expected to work at home if they can.  Children do schoolwork at home. Non-essential travel is discouraged (saw several people at the tram stop with suitcases this morning, making their escape while they still could!). Only essential businesses are open such as grocery stores, banks, post offices, pharmacies.  I feel for the self-employed and small business owners. This is going to be tough.

For me and my family, things will be relatively easy. We were already told to work from home and practice social distancing. We can go out for exercise either individually or with one other person. So my husband is happy- he can still go for bike rides, but no more coffees with his buddy down the road. As for me, I can still take walks in the woods, which I anticipate will be needed more and more as our time of enforced togetherness continues!

On the positive side, for the moment the sun in shining. Hopefully all will act responsibly and the virus will not take a toll on lives, healthcare workers and services. Here’s hoping this will just be a brief temporary measure and things can get back to normal soon.