welcome to my blog
The idea for setting it up arose directly from the effects of the pandemic with its enforced isolation. Being cut off from normal, chatty socialisation left me with loads of ideas swilling around, but with nowhere to go and nothing to do except get themselves wound up more tightly. Unravelling them to make something coherent might even help me to lighten up a bit. We shall see...
It's the not knowing....
I live in the middle of a pleasant, friendly former council estate built in the 1930's. During my time here lots of houses have been rebuilt or extended, and the area's appearance has changed quite a bit, along with the demographic. But a community spirit has survived. Locals pause for a quick chat in the street or over the front gate, share a bit of gossip, help each other out. Neighours are familiar with each other's routines, and if I'm concerned about an individual I haven't seen for a while I can generally check with someone who knows them.
There's a wider circle of people I encounter fairly regularly, usually on the morning towpath. We exchange greetings, news about wildlife sightings, wry comments about the weather and the state of the nation. They add a warm glow to my day – but I know nothing about them, often not even a name. So if I don't see one of these regulars for a while, there's no way to find out if they're ok.
