Bark Properly

I am not a Dr Doolittle type. I don't talk to animals any more than I am likely to talk to trees or rocks. I must admit that I roll my eyes in disbelief when I hear grown humans talking to and about their animals. 'Who's Mummy's good boy then?' 'Give Mummy (or Daddy) a kiss.' Look at my little Arthur. Isn't he just so beautiful?' If I called my friend a bitch, she would be offended but she says to a dog, 'Come to Mummy.' Just what is a dog's mother called?

So, I couldn't believe my ears when I heard myself yell to the dog next door. 'Bark properly, you stupid animal!' When there is nobody at home, the dog barks - soft, pause, loud, short pause, short woof, over and over. There is only so much a neighbor can endure on a sleepless night!                woof .....WOOF ..oo.....woof .....WOOF ..oo

Not only that, I am talking to ants. I have a constant stream of them in my kitchen. I can watch for hours as they run up and down the wall.There seem to be protocols they all observe. Those going up, pause and seem to touch those who are going down. It seems a task is assigned to a certain number of ants. There might be a dozen carrying a crumb up the wall. No more join them, though they may slip back and make negative progress over a long period of time. Others just scurry past and leave them to their effort. I often tell them that I admire their tenacity. However, if they gather on a plate waiting to be washed, I have no qualms about washing them down the plug hole with hot soapy water. I do extend my condolences, though, as I send them on their way.

I suppose we all respond to the enforced isolation of Coronavirus in different ways. For those who spend most or all of their year on the road, it may be particularly stressful. The internet is awash with memes.  I have taken a few onboard. I like the reminder given in: You are not stuck at home; you are safe at home. I have also embraced the fact that language influences our reactions. I tell myself that I am not isolated, I am enjoying solitude.

We are being brainwashed into thinking we should be busy and productive all the time we are confined to our homes. We are bombarded with suggestions for filling our time - classes, dance parties, exercise groups, movies, new hobbies. We have to go, go, go!

As Solo travellers, we know that it not true. While we travel, we are experts at doing nothing. We can sit by our motorhomes and watch clouds drifting by, listen to the call of birds, and dream of places to go and people to see. We know that doing nothing is often exactly what our souls and bodies need, and we do it well. We can do it just as well at home.

My recommendation to my fellow Solos is, don’t let the world, the media, your neighbours and friends convince you that have to be constantly active. Just remember that times of quiet and reflection also refresh the body and the soul. And besides, we have earned the right not to listen to other people, not to follow their suggestions and not to do even one thing that we don’t want to. So, go ahead. Do as much or as little as you feel like. Be slothful if that’s what you want – and call it communing with your inner self! That is being productive, in my book.

Just to stay in touch with those who are spending more time at home than they want to, I asked for ideas of how to fill the long days. I was bombarded with suggestions and am including some but, remember, these are only for those who feel compelled to do something. 

• ·         Put your camera onto video mode and take friends on a guided tour of your garden, or your pantry or your make-up cupboard.
• ·         Choose a theme and dress for the occasion each day.
• ·         Play Naughts and Crosses with your teddy bear or an imaginary friend. Don’t cheat.
• ·         Freeze your car keys into a block of ice so you are not tempted to go out. (Maybe freeze your snacks as well.)
• ·         Register with AA and WW in preparation for the end of isolation.
• ·         Clean the pockets of the driver’s door of your motorhome. If you find a box of matches, check the tread depth in your tyres. Make a collage from chocolate wrappers found there.
• ·         Take photos of the interior of your MH, print them out and display them around your house.
• ·         Take a list like this and add to it daily. When you get to 50 items, post it on Facebook.

I have cheated a bit and taken photos of what I might have done if I had been stirred to action.Don't believe everything you see - technology is a wonderful thing!

Dressing up or my normal persona?
Note the white wig

Registering for AA and WW
Note the ginger wig

Playing naughts and crosses with Teddy.
Note the grey wig

Arranging my hair products in optimistic anticipation
Note the absence of wig

Going Viral

I love the way people put a post or a picture on Facebook and ask others to share it so that it goes viral. This year, with Coronavirus spreading at an incredible rate through the world, the idea of anything going viral really concerns us.

Last six months have not been the most encouraging in my life. Since last September, I have been treated for a Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Because the chemotherapy sent my sugar levels into the stratosphere, I spent six days out of every 21 in hospital. Then, when I expected tests to show an all-clear, I had to have another month of radiotherapy. All the time I have felt and looked well so I am not complaining but the light at the end of the tunnel was the thought of getting into my little motorhome and setting our. I finished my treatments just in time for community lock-downs.

I was fortunate, I realise, to be still at home as Australia closed down.  Overseas travel was banned, international tourism was halted, homecoming residents were placed into quarantine, schools and most of the shops closed and state borders were closed. Phrases like social distancing and self-isolation became part of our lexicon. The previous political buzzword  'going forward' was replaced by 'on the other side of this situation.' As our Prime Minister and state Premiers gave press conferences ever day, we stayed at home. I believe our authorities reacted quickly to the situation as our infection and death rate, though serious, are minuscule in comparison to those in similar sized countries.

One of the very positive outcomes of this virus, though, is the increased emphasis on our neighbourhoods.  I love the fact that our particular suburb has a flourishing Facebook page where ideas and suggestions for staying sane are posted regularly. Another positive aspect is the increased interaction with our neighbours, even as we experience social distancing. People we have never met before give an encouraging wave as they pass on their evening walks. A banner has been put up in the park saying, 'Smiles are contagious too.'

Kids are using chalk to draw pictures and write encouraging messages on the driveways. We've been going on a Bear Hunt, looking for the teddy bears people are hiding in plain sight for passers-by. In terms of neighbourhood interaction, we have stepped back 50 years to the days where we knew our neighbours and offered help when it was needed.

Recently, street libraries were set up. There is one, just a little box on the fence, about 150 metres from my home. My other regular one (before social distancing) was in the local shopping centre. This week, I have gone on a brisk walk (my daily exercise) to the street library. There have been times when the only books there have been the ones I had returned. This week, I think everyone is reading! I took six books down and brought back 8. Tomorrow I will return another 5 from the van which I finished ages ago. I am fortunate that I read almost anything, except romance and fantasy (which are probably the same thing for me). I had so much choice today that I realise that I have neighbours with the same taste in books. There is also a tub of kids books, DVDs and games which seem to have a quick turnover as well. I hope, as a teacher and bookaholic, that this is a sign of a resurgence in reading, especially of tree-books as distinct from e-books. E-books are fine if you can't get the real thing but there is nothing like the feel of a book in your hands.

Another very positive outcome of the coronavirus has been the increased traffic on social media sites. I am on a few which I check almost daily where the emphasis seems to be on lifting our spirits with lots of jokes, stories and memes to balance out the grim news around us. Most of my Facebook sites are for travellers - the Solos Network, Solos Cruising Oz and similar. I used to check to see where my fellow travellers were, now I check to see how they are keeping themselves occupied in isolation. Such a dramatic change in a very short time!

I have also gone online with Toastmasters. One of my Pathways projects was all about online activities. I have this blog and others but was unsure how to fill the other projects. Now I am online with club meetings and meetings for specific purposes - daily impromptu sessions, regular educational presentations and wider multi-club meetings. I have learnt to run an online meeting, do a long multi-media presentation, and master many of the intricacies of communication from a distance. Much of this would be familiar to those whose work involves digital communication but for the average person like me, used to face-to-face interactions, this time at home has been a real learning experience. There is a bit of a down side here, though. Instead of slopping around in my pyjamas, I have to get dressed, put on make up, draw in the eyebrows lost through chemotherapy, decide on a wig or turban, and sit smiling in front of a screen.

Life has changed.  I am well aware that for many this will be a very stressful time and will put incredible pressure on family relationships especially where job-losses are included in the mix.  I know I am resilient enough to emerge 'on the other side' with more technical skills and knowledge and with my health and mental health intact. I am fortunate to have close family and caring friends to see me through.