Change {part two}

 Hello Friends!

In a recent blog entry I wrote about change, and went a little deep; change has always been a part of our existence; we may not like change, for we are creatures of habit, at least I am, and some change is for the good, but it is all around us and, for better or worse, change is mostly unavoidable.  

Change is the one constant force in all our lives.

I know several of you will know what I am talking about when I say Facebook Daily Memories.  They're something from the archives that pop up daily.  I always enjoyed them, but no longer. I used to look back fondly at the days out with family or friends; or time spent at a crowded theatre or concert; events in public places; going to a café for lunch, or a coffee and cake break; a day out on a packed bus; and I would smile, laugh, and reminisce;  but now, underlying the happy emotions of the reminders lurks a deep sense of sadness and longing, the hiraeth for what may never be the same again.  Will we ever be able to do some of those things in complete safety, or will there now always be risk attached, and some things we took for granted we may just have to let go? Even once we've all been fully vaccinated; even now as our third lockdown is slowly eased another wave appears on the horizon from Europe. Will we have to learn to live with the current, unwelcome changes for ever?  I cannot dwell on this, I have to try and change my mindset, or be engulfed by darkness, yet I think I may be doing nothing more than saying what many of us are thinking in these days of unfamiliar life. 

Like many now, I have had my first vaccine, and hope it will help me look forward to some changes that will allow me a little more freedom.  Despite the vaccine, I think the change of Hands, Face, Space is set to be with us for a very, very long time to come.  At least with Summer coming, we can have socially responsible garden meet ups.  I don't even think meeting up indoors with people outside your Bubble is a consideration yet, and I know I am not alone with my fear that many will think the vaccine makes them invincible and give the green light for socialising at close quarters.

Quoting from a BBC News article:

The link between infections and serious illness or death has been "severely weakened", says diseases expert Prof Mark Woolhouse, of Edinburgh University.

But if infection levels rise high enough the virus "will find those" who are unvaccinated and those for whom the vaccine hasn't worked, he says.

We must not forget that the virus is constantly changing, mutating, too.  Hands; Face; Space  is set to be with us for a long, long time to come.

A very positive thing to counterbalance the changes brought by the virus is that Hands, Face, Space has caused seasonal 'flu cases in Wales plummet from 1657 last 'flu season, to just 18, so far, this 'flu season.  I am not undermining the severity of Covid 19, and none of us asked for it to happen, but if we take these figures we can see how important some simple changes can be.

An interesting read.

As creatures of habit, how many of us actually welcome change? I think it probably depends on what it is that is changing, and what those changes are.  Three words that put fear into my heart are "New and Improved" or "New Recipe" on a favourite, often much loved product I am accustomed to, and want it to remain exactly as it is.  I recall when Galaxy chocolate said it was now a new, even smoother, bar.  I bought one, half went in the bin.  I have not bought it since.

This is a little gem of a quaint and curious film made in 1958 by the Esso Refinery to promote Pembrokeshire reflects some of the many changes over sixty years to an ancient shire.  Charming in it's vintage style, the music at times reminiscent of an old movie, it epitomises a time gone by ~~~ changed forever ~~~ and many of the industries portrayed within are now no longer practised, or have been mechanised, or become a rare craft or skill practised only by a small minority, whereas once they were the skills by which every day life was made possible ~~~

* it is about 30 minutes, so go and make a pot of tea, raid your cake tin, and settle into a comfy chair ~~~

Change is everywhere in my village these days, even without the virus which has brought challenges of it's own, and little of it for the better, as the Post Office, banks, newsagents, community facilities, and several shops close their doors forever. It saddens me to watch the thriving local community that once had such heart and purpose, shrivel and wither at the hands of people who do not even live in the county. I will speak no more on this.

I have lived most of my life in this one, small village, and I must now put up my hand and say I am guilty of taking it for granted.  Who amongst us ever thought to take photographs of the streets, houses and hostelries, the green fields that surround us, that wall over there, or the gate at the end of the path closed off, a front garden turned into off road parking space? Small, and little by little, some of these things have changed, nibble by unnoticeable nibble, but now a different landscape sits before me, forever different, forever changed.  Who remembers what they looked like ten, twenty, or fifty years ago?

One change I wish had happened decades ago is the advent of digital photography.  Since going digital I have hundreds of thousands of photos, but something else has changed.  I hardly ever print them off.

Even this simple and beautiful view along my drive is now changed, for the neighbours on both sides, to whom the trees belonged, have cut the branches right back, even removing the trees completely. It makes me sad to see such butchered branches, but I have immense joy and gratitude that I captured their beauty before the changes took place ~~~

“Not forever does the bulbul sing

In balmy shades of bowers,

Not forever lasts the spring

Nor ever blossom the flowers.

Not forever reigneth joy,

Sets the sun on days of bliss,

Friendships not forever last,

They know not life, who know not this.”

 Khushwant Singh, Train to Pakistan

Even the seeming constancy of the sun and moon changes  ~~~ Did you know that the reason we see a perfectly aligned solar eclipse is because, right now, the moon is the perfect distance between the Earth and the Earth is just the right distance from the sun, and that the sun's diameter is just right at the current distance to create a perfectly aligned, total eclipse?  Come back in a few thousand years and the distances will all be changed and the moon will no longer block out the sun, but make a smaller, dark circle within the blinding light of the sun.  

The night was clear and cold and the light of the moon was bright and bold

Magical clouds created a magical backdrop

Spooky branches and scudding clouds that change the scene again

Something else has changed, very gradually, over more than forty years since my first grey hair appeared.  More than a few trips to the salon, and more than a few home disasters, my hair is now changed completely from blonde, by way of mouse, and salt and pepper, to grey, or silver as I prefer to call it.

That is actually one change welcomed with open arms!

When I wrote about change in my last blog, it's triggered a huge avalanche of thought and idea in this poor old Pooh Bear brain of mine.  Acceptance of change, reflecting on change and looking back at how change makes us what we are.  Not all change is bad, and maybe we just need to learn to be more embracing of change, less ready to reject it simply because we are creatures of habit, and we don't like to adjust?  Maybe this is a lesson we can learn, to behove, for our improvement, from the pandemic? I know that my habits of a lifetime are now changed forever, and I will move on more quickly if I agree with myself to accept the changes over which I have no control.

Oh, and ugh! The clocks spring forward this weekend, one change I don't like at all, although once my body clock gets over it, I will welcome that extra hour of daylight in the evening for gardening, and sitting out if the weather ever improves!

I think I have rambled on enough for one blog.  Next time, all change, back to the garden!

 

Until next time

Stay safe, stay well