Thursday 27 August
Ten days ago I visited Mum in the care home. It feels less than that, which is good. I will see her again next week hopefully, or the week after that. We are having to limit our visits to one person and one visit a week at the moment, whilst they try to minimise the risk of infection from the outside. Obviously, if COVID19 hets into a residence of the elderly and frail it can be devastating.
I was reflecting today on things we like and dislike. I refuse to say ‘hate’ as I feel that word is over used and is too strong for such things. So, for example, we went to Lakeside shopping mall. I really dislike malls.
Firstly, at a base level, I cannot stand the name. ‘Mall’. Its one of those words that has multiple pronunciations. Make the ‘a’ short or long, even make it sound like ‘morl’? But getting over that, they are massive hubs where people go to consume unnecessarily. Clothes they don’t really want, stuff they don’t need, food they could do without.
They’re a trap. I got partially snared myself today. I’ve heard them compared to an ant colony with thousands of little workers scurrying here and there. But, ants are doing important stuff in their nest, each one has a responsibility. It was interesting to see quite a few people there, but not many were carrying bags. People are looking, but not buying. A crude sign, perhaps, that the economy is struggling to recover?
Then we got home and I went and refereed a football match. Another pre-season friendly. It was great. Fresh air, rain, wind, and the smell of a grass pitch that has just been gained on. And floodlights! My first under lights. I like refereeing football matches alot. I also liked driving up our bumpy lane when we got back.
I used to make occasional journeys into London and I always noticed the smell when I got off the train after travelling home. A day of man-made smells numbs your senses, then you step off the train and take that first deep breath of fresh air. Pause. And the senses are awakened again. I like that.
This past year I feel I have grown up and understand fully what I like and what I dislike. It sounds almost to simple to make a pointbof, let alone a blog post. But it is really important for me to know these things and make a mental note of them. It helps, amongst other things, to help me know what to avoid and what to seek more of. The walking, the outdoors, the natural world around me, the ones I love; I like those things and I want more of these in my life than yhe things I dislike. Sounds obvious.
The Bald Birder 