Life in the Time of COVID, Part 4

Another four weeks have gone by. Summer arrived recently, with temperatures almost at 30 (before the humidity). Right now, it’s hard to believe that on Mother’s Day, we had snow! But this is Southern Ontario, and that is what happens here. We have moved quickly from closing up the house to keep the cold out, to closing it to keep the cool in and the heat out.

Ontario continues to open. And that is a bit scary. I went with Richard to try a bike ride down by Hamilton Harbour. The day was sunny and a bit warm (low 20’s). And it was Saturday. The park was jammed with people, very little attempt (it seemed) to maintain distances, We left without biking, and went to the rail trail some distance out of town. I am worried that we are in for a rise in illnesses, likely in a few weeks. Ontario’s cases, while not as bad a those in Quebec, are rising slowly. Two weeks ago was Mother’s Day, so this might be the consequence of that day. Doug Ford wants to test more people, so is making it clear that anyone who wishes to be tested will get it done. We watch and wait, holding our breath a bit. Some (many) parts of the province are now in “Stage 2” of re-opening, where the barber shops and pools are open, and stores can partially open - including restaurant patios. Toronto is the odd city out, as well as Windsor. Their rates of infections are still high, whereas the rest of Ontario is settling down.

And Doug Ford’s government has begun to get back to its old tricks. They have proposed a new bill for LTC, which goes in all the wrong directions: more privatisation, less supervision, less democratic control. Don’t they ever learn?

Otherwise, life goes on. I have now had a few meetings over Skype or Zoom, and they seem to go well. But it’s just not the same as an in-person meeting, and I miss those. I find myself being less involved with my friends by and large, less interested in what they are up to. I am doing a bit of gardening, which I sometimes enjoy. And there are now renovations starting across the road, which I find really interesting. We are getting the bathroom and the kitchen renovated, so there are new cabinets, some new appliances, new electrical and plumbing. And of course new paint. Right now it’s a mess, but it is beginning to look like a house again, and it is very exciting.

Biked with William the other day. And have been out myself a few times. Walking most mornings. Still getting up quite early (about six),and heading to bed about ten. This is quite a shift for me, but seems to be working.

Enough for now: let’s get this online.