Feest Isolation Days –23 April 2021
What a week! A beginning! Friends in the garden for lunch, visiting a friend for lunch, walks in the warm spring sunshine, plans being made for family visits! We are lucky people indeed. This Sunday we will travel to see grandkids and their parents. We haven’t seen them since the summer. Wonderful to look forward to.
I must admit, having friends round felt so normal. As we are all of an age, and all of us long vaccinated, hugs, though not part of the rules were given out. There is something about a hug isn’t there? Shhh! Don’t tell the Covid police! When did hugs become such a no no? If we very careful vaccinated people can’t hug it seems quite wrong. We sat in the garden, and there was plenty of fresh air! Maskless hugs…how divine!!
The garden remains magnificent and as it changes so much at this time of year, another little video seemed in order. This week, I invited my postman in for a peek, and he didn’t want to leave! It truly is a magical place to be. Exquisite is the word I keep hearing myself say. Thank you to my gardener and his wonderful ability. And thank you also to the maker of the bulbs.
It is strange getting out and about. Driving is a weird experience. Not only am I not used to it ( I have filled my petrol tank no more than two times since last March), but the roads are different. There are bike lanes everywhere, not to mention bikes, and dozens of potholes.
We now have scooters to contend with as well. These things have popped up everywhere and their riders seem to think passing bikers and getting in to traffic lanes without looking is totally okay. Just as well that we have a twenty mile an hour zone in almost all of Bristol! This doesn’t, however, seem to apply to some bikers and most scooterers! These vehicles seem to have become a new urban look. They take up room on the pavement and it is impossible to go far without running into some. Perhaps they have the makings of a new art installation?
It would be difficult not to discuss the court case in America this week. The murder of George Floyd by serving policeman Derick Chauvin captured on a mobile phone began the Black Lives Matter movement last year around the world. Mr. Chauvin’s trial, which was difficult to watch, came to its conclusion on Tuesday evening. The jury of five men and seven women took eleven hours to find Chauvin guilty on all three charges. Following the reading of the verdict, he was handcuffed and taken to prison. There are many heroes in this story. The prosecuting team were outstanding. The jury were outstanding in their swift and unanimous decision. But the real hero was seventeen-year-old Darnella Frazier who was with her nine year old cousin out at Cup foods buying snacks when Chauvin had Floyd pinned to the ground with his knee on his neck. Despite Chauvin telling Darnella and the rest of the people who stood across the street telling the policeman to take his leg off of Floyds neck, that if they didn’t stand back he’d mace them. Darnella stood her ground. The video was the most powerful evidence offered in court. The world was watching thanks to Darnella. She testified, as did her nine year old. It was difficult for both of them. She still has nightmares and wishes she’d intervened. She didn’t save George Floyd, but her actions meant that justice was served. America has a long way to go. A sixteen year old teenager in Ohio was shot dead by police the same day the Floyd verdict was handed down. But as President Biden says, “this can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America, but we can’t stop here.” The giant step wouldn’t have happened without a seventeen-year-old, her mobile and her innate humanity.
A little light relief is always a good thing and this little video made me laugh. Enjoy!
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=5552666234773787&id=217293018312810
Take care, stay safe and see you next week!
With love
Kathy x
