Chaos!

Is it me, or does the World just seem crazy at the moment. Rain just keeps on coming down here in the UK, as we brace for yet more storms and another deluge, the hot summer of 2018 seems a long way away, and I am looking back to Spain with fondness, more and more every single day. The cold inclement weather is beginning to take its toll on me and my general sense of well-being needs a boost. My mood is low and the aches and pains from arthritis, IBS and Diverticulitis seems to get worse every day. The reality is, I am not enjoying Britain at the moment and am badly in need of a break, which may or may not happen anytime soon!

Of course Coronavirus is at the forefront of every ones mind and people are beginning to panic, not only here in the UK but also elsewhere in the World. In Britain a public information campaign has been launched as the Government tries to get to grips with this virus. Listening to politicians and scientists one could be forgiven for thinking the end of the World is nigh and maybe, just maybe those in charge aren't actually telling us the full truth. It does seem a little absurd that there are only ninety cases of Coronavirus in the UK, yet the measures being put in place would suggest a much larger crisis looming on the horizon. Of course people like you and I are always the last to know what's really going on, and we either believe our Government or we don't. As for me, well I remain nervous and confused about the whole thing, baffled, like all of you.

My biggest fear is the holiday to Asia we have booked in May. I am being told on one hand not to worry about the Coronavirus and continue with my plans, and warned to avoid going altogether by others. All I can do is listen and take on board what other people are saying, but ultimately my travel plans are in the lap of the Gods. As an observer looking in at this ever-changing situation, I am truly amazed by what I am witnessing on the television. Panic buying of hand gel, face masks and absurdly, toilet roll across the World by selfish people who have little or no understanding of the virus and would probably do the same in any situation, that affects their perfect little lives. This is not a time to run around like headless chickens, this is a time to pull together and work with one another for the good of mankind.

Today is my one and only day off a week and I have a lot to do as usual. I have just got off the phone to my travel agent, trying to rearrange flights to no avail. Having cancelled my flight to China and Japan, I have been unable to change the rest of my itinerary; we are still scheduled to fly to Phuket and Hong Kong. It does seem likely that we will continue with our plans, unless the Coronavirus situation changes dramatically between now and then. One would imagine that the disease would have spread widely by our date of departure;  in any case the World isn't going to stop flying because of a virus!

On top of all this doom and gloom, yet more trouble, with airline Flybe collapsing this morning. Darrell and I used this carrier for many years, from its base at Southampton Airport. We flew to and from our home in Spain as well as many holiday destinations throughout the World. This is yet another blow brought about by the Coronavirus and is just the beginning of an economic downturn that will see all of us suffer. Only today I checked my pension and shares portfolio, where I discovered twenty percent had been wiped off their value in just a few days. This doesn't bode well for the future and like everyone else, I will have to take this financial hit on the chin.

The World really isn't a nice place at the moment for a variety of reasons and all I want to do is run away and hibernate, or rather self isolate, until this ghastly situation is over. Sadly like us all, I have to get on with life and the old adage, 'What will be, will be' will forever be my mantra, at least for now. There is nothing I can do to alter what is happening. Of course any anxiety and stress does play havoc with my constitution, especially with my IBS, so I have to learn to deal with the ups and downs of life in a more relaxed way. I am sure everything will turn out OK in the end and all of us can once again live a relatively normal life, until then, it's time to batten down the hatches and enjoy the bumpy ride!

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