The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Who hasn’t had Covid?

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On Boxing Day evening The Light and I headed to a local pub to meet with a group of old friends. There were about 10 of us, but a couple of others couldn’t make it as they were either suffering or just recovering from Covid.

I spent most of the evening chatting to Margaret as we hadn’t had a catch up for a while. For 90 minutes or so we sat haunch to haunch on a pub bench as we chatted, laughed and occasionally burst into song. Two days later Margaret messaged to warn me that having felt ropy on the 27th (she doesn’t drink alcohol so it wasn’t the after effects of the pub) she had tested positive for Covid on the 28th.

So far I’ve had no sign of the slightest cough or ache. I realise I’m possibly in the incubation stage, though from what I’ve read people with Omicron variants typically know about it within a few days. Indeed, to the best of my knowledge I’ve never had Covid. It’s possible I’ve been infected but asymptomatic and spreading disease like a mid-Essex Typhoid Mary but if so it’s entirely unknowingly.

I wore masks and so on when » Continue Reading.

It’s Been a Year …

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Since @twang innocently enquired ‘Going out this weekend?’ (link at end) My own response was rather more bullish the the reality. I mentioned gigs that night and a few days later, both of which we went to, and a short break in Edinburgh after, which we cancelled after a sleepless night thinking about it.

So what have learned from a year unlike any other we have ever experienced and hopefully never will again? Some of my bullet point takes, and I’d be interested to see yours (or of course longer discussion).

Humans are extraordinarily adaptable creatures given the basics such as utilities and retail.

Retail workers seem to have been the forgotten heroes, and lets not leave out the supply chain which by and large kept shelves stocked.

Although the last 12 months have been ball-achingly dull they have, for someone like me lucky enough to stay well and stay in full time employment, not been personally unpleasant.

Speaking of work it’s plain that working from home, at least most of the time, if far better for a great many people and should have been introduced years ago.

My opinion of the government, never high, » Continue Reading.

A survey about music festivals & the apocalypse for a friend’s degree

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My good pal ‘Uncle Spike’ has an entrepreneurial offspring called Dave, who’s doing a degree in event management (I know, I know…). Still, we are where we are.

Dave’s dissertation involves a survey about the reopening of music festivals after Covid. The more responses he gets the better. If you’re interested, have a look.

Long version: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIQye0W7eT9rPamWvoJT3PTqWuFlwwKYUQEajZSrbnyyIcrQ/viewform

Short version: https://tinyurl.com/1psctkbe