My Lockdown to do list

So were aren't in complete lock down in Australia - it is a strange situation. Only go out for essential things - but for many it is business as usual and the government just keeps throwing money at people to try to keep the economy from tanking.

For many small (and large) businesses it is too late, thousands have joined the queues at Centrelink. Other businesses have been innovative and changed their whole business plan in an attempt to keep going. Hopefully this innovation will carry them through - and carry on into our post Covid-19 world, whenever that might start.

I have a list of things I'd like to achieve with this enforced time at home - it seems most of us do. This is mine:

• Blog regularly
• Tidy up sources in Family Tree Maker
• Tidy up place names in Family Tree Maker
• Sort out my filing; bits of paper, photos, implement an organised electronic filing system
• Catch up on Netflix
• Read some books
• Keep applying for jobs - because, why break the habit ?
• Sort out some of the yet to be unpacked boxes
• Make a task list of things yet to be tackled in the ongoing family history search
• Make a business plan, or brainstorm some ideas at least

What are you doing ?

I miss the planes

Life is slowing down all over the planet. People everywhere are being discouraged – even banned from congregating en masse. No going to the footy, no going to movies or the gym, no going out for dinner or out unnecessarily.

Many people are beginning to work from home. Wouldn’t that be great ! I have no job, so I feel like I’m always home lately. My heart goes out to those working in essential services (medicine, health, police, couriers, banking, retail) who can’t work from home. They have to keep going; to take care of us should we need them.

I am concerned that many people are not taking “social distancing” seriously. Going out and about; doing the things we all did without a thought until a few weeks ago. Not just people in the at risk age groups, but young people too.

Remember, you might be taking all the precautions – it doesn’t mean you are invincible. None of us are immune. You might not have any symptoms, but you could still be infected and give it to your grandparent or a friend from BINGO.

The other day I was messaging my niece. Her family, spanning FIVE generations, have agreed to not see each other for at least a month. They don’t even live too far apart from each other in the scheme of things, but they have made this choice to protect each other.

For me, well we share a house so we see each other all the time, but one of us works in health – where exposure to already immune-compromised people makes our hygiene habits critical. But a lot of thought goes into planning a trip to the supermarket to replenish essential supplies (if you can get them – no thanks to the idiot panic buyers and hoarders).

Our borders are closed; only citizens can enter the country. It is the same in many other countries too. I can leave – but I can’t come back. Even if I did leave I would need to go into “self isolation” for 14 days on arrival.

Aside from the measures our governments have made all across the planet in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, and the public service announcements we see online, tv and billboards and hear on radio reminding us to wash our hands (still amazed we need to be reminded about this)…what else can we learn ?

We are a social bunch, so some of us will struggle with these new rules. We can still be social though. There are online options for staying in touch with people – you can even PHONE people. Remember when we used to do that all the time; without a thought ?

Being mindful and taking time to reflect have been messages promoted by “alternate” health practitioners to help people take control and help them reclaim some calm amidst the crazy busy lives many of us live. But mindfulness and reflection aren’t “new fangled” things. They have been around forever. You can practice mindfulness yourself. You don’t need to pay someone. It is all about slowing down, taking time, being in the moment, reflecting, relaxing.

While you are working from home, just at home or trying to keep the kids amused, take a few moments for yourself. Listen to the birds, admire the flowers, be transfixed by butterflies dancing, watch the leaves as the breeze tickles them. You can do other things too – go for a walk (fresh air and open spaces are good – even now), bake; but take your time and enjoy the process – it will taste better ! knit, craft, read a book, PLAY with your kids, read to your kids.

Take time to write down and record some of the things which are going on in what seems to be a crazy situation. The world is slowing down, we all have time and we should take advantage. It’s what I am doing – you could just write it in a notebook, a diary, in a word document (like a digital journal) or blog. The problem with our digital online world is that none of us are really sure how anything will be archived, or how information might be accessed in the future. We can go to libraries either in person or online and read old newspapers, some of us are lucky enough to have diaries, journals and letters written by our ancestors. We can glean information from these about how past events like this affected our families. Spanish Flu, World War One, rationing, World War Two, industrialisation, fashion, education, the Depression, exploration across the planet and into space, mining disasters, shipwrecks – it’s all there, but what will we leave ?

All of my genealogy buddies are revelling in this enforced time at home to get on top of filing, tidying resources, checking facts have been correctly cited with source information, RESEARCHING, contacting DNA matches (because we all have time to reply to message now – right ?).

What’s going on in our home ? A spot of gardening, a jigsaw or two, genealogy (duh !) extreme cleaning, reading, baking, catching up on all those tv programmes and movies that we haven’t been able to cram in, applying for jobs (because - never give up), the occasional walk and a bit of just sitting, taking stock and watching the world go by; albeit more slowly now.

What do I hope is going to come out of this ? That we will be better people, that we will care more for each other and our planet. Look at how quickly pollution has decreased – even disappeared – as countries have slowed down and workplaces have closed down; hear the birds now that that industrial noise is quietening, see the water clearing in canals and the sea life once more visible.  The virus is threatening us, but at the same time healing our planet.

I do miss the planes though as our world slows down. It was a bit mindful for me watching them flying overhead returning from a journey or just beginning a new adventure. The sky is empty. The world is getting quieter.

We can do this. Take care of yourself, distance yourself from your loved ones and friends, cherish life, help the planet heal and we will heal too.

STAY HOME.

STAY SAFE.

WASH YOUR HANDS

DON’T GO TO THE SHOPS EVERYDAY.

DON’T HUG or SHAKE HANDS.

PROTECT OUR ELDERLY POPULATION.

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH COMPROMISED HEALTH.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

Pandemic and an irrational obsession with toilet paper

A couple of months ago news started to trickle out of China of a virus spreading throughout a community at great speed. Other countries began to put measures in place to limit travel to and from China, specifically from the affected province. China enforced quarantine and built hospitals in record time.

Day by day, week by week the numbers of patients grew and sadly deaths began to occur. No-one was clear on the cause or the path of transmission. Other countries noticed increased numbers of cases and travel sanctions were placed on them too. Travel advisory information updated recommending citizens did not travel to the affected regions.

The nay-sayers in countries across the globe complained their governments had not done enough. Governments weighed up their options; keeping their citizens safe vs protecting the economy.

Markets fell dramatically. People, even those you would least suspect, became doomsday preppers. Panic buying ensued. Worldwide toilet paper of all things became the most sought after item on the shelves. Only problem – there wasn’t any on the shelves because the irrational buying behaviour of a few was contagious. Perhaps more contagious than the virus itself.

How did toilet paper even become the “must have” product ? If you had to self isolate for 14 days maximum – does your household truly need 36 (or more) rolls for that length of time ? I think not. If you do, you likely have bigger problems than COVID-19.

Soon enough, in a matter of days, other staples started disappearing from shelves as quickly as they were refilled. Flour, rice, pasta, hand sanitiser, meat, eggs, tinned and frozen vegetables and fruit. The rest of us, shook our heads in disbelief. The elderly and regular shoppers bewildered, unable to buy the basics, let alone do a weekly shop.

Still today, six weeks after the first rumours of a virus, shelves are empty and our understanding of the behaviour of the virus is only slightly clearer. Media outlets feed the panic with their sensationalist reporting, always looking for a new angle to strike fear into the hearts of global citizens. Social media perpetuates the panic “Does anyone know if there is toilet paper at <insert name here> ?”

Self-isolation and social distancing have become catchphrases. Re-educating people to wash your hands, with soap, properly has been paramount. It beggars belief though – do people seriously NOT know how to do this ? It is basic hygiene.

Coronavirus; COVID-19 sounds pretty nasty – and there is a lot of anxiety surrounding the unknown. For us at this end of the planet it seems like something happening far far away. But we are still feeling its repercussions, seeing the number of cases begin to climb. Markets are in disarray, travel plans cancelled, large gatherings (festivals, sports fixtures, concerts, markets) cancelled, weddings and other celebrations postponed, jobs are on the line. Entire countries are in “lock-down”. Millions of people all over the world will “catch” the virus – 80-90% will survive. Many of the 80% could be asymptomatic; not showing symptoms but still contagious.

Potentially most of us we will hardly notice it. Some of us may be get really sick, or know someone who does. Some of us might even lose people we love. The elderly and those with underlying health issues are most at risk.

If you need to self isolate, or your suburb, town, city, state or country is locked down, take heart from the people of Italy.

This is not the first pandemic to threaten global health. It is the first to occur since social media became a thing. A platform that brings us news, updates, lies and propaganda straight into our lives. Instantly. Mainstream media; television, radio and newspapers continue to do their fair share too. There are many articles trying to educate us; to explain the measures we and our governments must take, the importance of flattening the curve and the dangers of not heeding the warnings. 

In the scheme of things this pandemic is one of the smaller threats our race has faced. SARS, Bird-Flu, Swine Flu, Asian Flu, Hong Kong Flu, Spanish Flu, Russian Flu, HIV/AIDS, Cholera, Smallpox even Measles. Most of these now have effective vaccinations widely available to prevent the spread of infection. Pandemics in History

Panic buying isn’t new either – just enter those two words into the search bar on Trove or PapersPast – you will be surprised. Financial crises, disease and war have all contributed to them in the past. Sugar, butter, cotton sheets, soap, tobacco and meat. Panic buying during WW2 and after led to governments introducing extensive rationing. None of them seem to be ridiculous as toilet paper though.

What a thing to go down in history for our descendants to read about.

“How we survived the COVID-19 pandemic and toilet paper panic of 2020.”

How much of this media driven mass hysteria has put the world on the precipice of a global recession potentially larger than the Great Depression 100 years ago ? Chaos in the financial markets was always going to happen, but could we have done anything different ?

«  Let’s stop being dumb.

«  Let’s just wash our hands, make sure we live and work in clean environments. 
«  Let’s remember not to shake hands and touch our faces.

«  Let’s be responsible citizens and stay home if we are sick, distance ourselves from the vulnerable.

«  Let’s be innovative.

«  Let’s be positive.

«  Let’s be kind.

Maybe this our chance to take back our resources, to manufacture what we need in our own countries, to live more sustainably.

These are just my thoughts and an attempt to document what is happening right now. Check back in a few months to see how we are all getting on.

May the force be with us all.