Thursday 17th June 2021 – Feeling down in the mouth
I went to the dentist today. My NHS dentist has not responded to an e-mail sent during lockdown, when I should have been in the surgery, when I asked how patients would be notified when normal service is resumed. As it happened, it was a further 10 months before normal service was resumed. A few years ago my wife was treated by a local private dentist, and I waited for her in the nicely furnished waiting room, with sofas and cushions instead of plastic chairs, up to date magazines instead of 20 year old copies of Readers Digest, walls adorned with pictures, and glass cabinets with tasteful ornaments. My wife was impressed by the dentist and treatment. I decided to give him a try.
As instructed, I put on a surgical mask, knocked at the door to be allowed entry, and was directed to a hand sanitiser before being invited across the threshold. The only other patient was called to the surgery as I arrived, leaving me alone in the bare waiting room. The sofas were still there, but no cushions, the glass cabinets were bare, and on the table, instead of magazines, there were plastic boxes in which patients were instructed to place items such as bags and coats, which were not permitted to enter the surgery. The bare walls echoed my footsteps on the laminate flooring. Covid precautions had removed all traces of a welcoming atmosphere. The dentist duly announced that my teeth, which have caused me no problems over lockdown, were mostly rubbish. All but the front ones should be removed and replaced by implants. The fee quoted would buy a nice new car. I didn’t even get a quick polish. Maybe I’ll contact my NHS dentist.
Friday 18th June 2021 – A nice reception
After yesterday’s visit to a private dentist, today I called my nice NHS dentist to make an appointment. The waiting room, which has always been easy-clean and minimally furnished, will seem normal, and I wont wince in the slightest when paying the NHS fee. The receptionist on the phone was friendly, welcoming and seemed very pleased to welcome me back. I’ll miss the 20-year-old Readers Digests though.
Saturday 21st June 2021 – Back to Yorkshire
We are back in North Yorkshire, staying in a cottage where we stayed for a few days last year, and plan to visit the same places, although with more time to explore. Our previous visit coincided with the first full week of relaxation of the first lock-down in Summer 2020, which at the time we all thought it was the first and last lock-down. It will be interesting to compare current Life Under Covid with the situation last year.
The cottage welcome was less minimalist than last year, with fresh bread, eggs and milk left for us this time. The cottage instructions no longer state that in the event of Covid symptoms we must self-isolate, and be charged if this extends beyond our booking. The only Covid-related guidance was a suggestion that we make liberal use of the gels, wipes and sprays provided. The request to place bedding and towels in the provided zip-up bag at the end of our stay, as was also the case last year, may be to allow linen to be put aside for 72 hours, or maybe this arrangements put into place as a Covid precaution last year, may have proved more convenient for the cleaners.
Monday 23rd June 2021 – Revised pub etiquette
During last year’s Yorkshire holiday queuing to enter a pub was standard. Not so this year, probably thanks to the ongoing requirement for table service. No customers, even socially distanced, are allowed to wait at the bar. The first task when visiting a pub or café last year was to work out the covid-safe rules of that particular establishment, whereas now in all cases customers find a table, sit and wait to be served, the only variation being the occasional request that customers wait at the door to be directed to a table. Checking the one-way arrangement on arrival has become as automatic as checking whether food is being served. In 2020 we always opted to dine outdoors, although often had to order at the bar. This year we were comfortable eating inside if the weather suggested that this was wise.
Tuesday 24th June 2021 – Revised shop etiquette
Wearing masks was not yet compulsory last year, resulting in some dithering while determining what was expected in a shop, pub or café. The problem this year was remembering to take a mask, required inside shops, but no longer a novelty and so pushed to the back of the mind when we leave our holiday cottage. Small shops are struggling with managing social distancing. With no options for one-way systems, and limited capacity, shop owners have also become door staff, managing a queue and being a gate-keeper to socially separate those entering and leaving.
Wednesday 25th June 2021 – Remembering that first post lockdown pint
We revisited the pub where last year I enjoyed my first draught ale in months. We ordered a meal, as we did last year, and I recalled staff placing food at the end of the table and stepping back as we reached for it. This year food was brought to the table, but then place in front of whoever had ordered the dish in question, pre-Covid style. We have visited another pub this year, but which we didn’t visit last year. This other pub has maintained table separation with 2m wide strips of clear plastic suspended from the roof between tables, which looked odd in this almost-post-Covid times.
Thursday 26th June 2021 – Revised town and village etiquette
In villages and towns people are much less likely to consciously step aside to ensure 2-meter separation, and are much more relaxed about stopping for a chat – chatting is a regular occurrence when you have two dogs in tow and a wife carrying a telephoto lens. This was a pleasurable return to normality, and in general the potential risk from Covid never occurred to us. In any case, since we were on holiday during term time, with mostly holiday makers of a certain age, there is little doubt that almost everyone that we met had been double-vaccinated for weeks. The risk was low.
Friday 27th June 2021 – Crowded Whitby
A visit to Whitby, where we found an exception to the relaxed atmosphere and natural social distancing that we’ve found elsewhere. We had hoped that the town would be less busy than during our visit in 2020, which was during school holidays. It wasn’t, at least not in the main commercial centre. Social distancing was not an option, and the one-way system for pedestrians crossing the narrow harbour bridge was ignored. Whitby was the only place where we did not feel comfortable, which was sad, since in normal circumstances the bustling crowds in the attractive town would have contributed to a holiday atmosphere.
Sunday 29th June 2021 – Surplus to requirements
We have spent a couple of days with my sister in West Yorkshire on the way home. She is risk-averse, and has avoided shops, cafes and her church for fear of contagion. She has never felt the need to self -test for Covid, but obtained lateral flow tests from her local pharmacy in preparation for our visit. Having never opened a test kit, and assuming that each box contained a single test, she requested, and was given, three packs, one for each of us. That is 21 tests. Since we had taken the precaution of testing ourselves before leaving the cottage, none of the packs were opened. We took two home with us. I suspect that the third pack will remain unopened until it’s use-by date.
CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO JULY 2021 DIARY
At last all official restrictions end after a 16 month journey, but in practice it is a gradual return to normality
CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO LOCKDOWN DIARY HOME PAGE
Life in the UK changed for everyone in March 2020.