Life in lockdown

There wasn’t a VE day party on my street yesterday, but many other streets had really got into the spirit. On my daily walk to the park I passed streets decorated with flags and bunting, music spilling out from open windows, families and neighbours chatting and drinking together, the sunshine helping the good feelings along. It looked like some of the rules of social distancing were being bent if not completely broken, and there was not a face mask in sight, which surprised me. Since lockdown began I have been astounded at how compliant people have been with the restrictions imposed on our freedom. There have been some small rebellions, but mostly people have stayed home. It also seems that wearing some sort of face covering has become a must have accessory quicker than any designer handbag, but I guess it’s a bit difficult with a glass of rosé.
Is everyone anticipating the relaxation of some of the restrictions, and just starting a bit early? The signals have been leaking out over the past few days. I can imagine Boris working on his speech, trying to emulate his hero Churchill. Being surrounded by the VE day anniversary in the street and on the tv makes the comparisons even more vivid.
We hear the language of war every day. It would seem that all we need to win this particular battle is good old British pluck, a bit of pulling together, our fighting spirit and tenacity. There is little talk of strategies or plans, nor how resources are being organised and allocated. That’s all a bit tedious and boring, not very British, that isn’t how we won the war!. We prefer stirring speeches and armies of ordinary people tearing up their old sheets to make PPE.

In Germany it seems that their approach also conforms to national stereotypes. They appear organised and strategic. Having a good plan and sticking to it does not make for a great dramatic twist when success is grasped from the jaws of failure, but I’m betting on Angela not Boris emerging as the staring role in this movie.

Perhaps this time victory will not take six years, perhaps this really will be all over by Christmas.