Guided by Hope.

Steps walked: 1,578.

Furthest point travelled to: Half a mile – took the boys cycling to a local park.

Face to face non-household interactions: 0.

Track of the day: ‘Things can only get better’ – D:Ream.

 

            By happy chance, masks that I’d ordered several weeks ago, finally arrived this morning – the day when it was announced that in some circumstances we’d be expected to wear them. I wonder when I’ll first have to wear mine? It’s a development I understand the need for, but don’t greatly welcome. On the plus side, the wearing of facial coverings is quite widespread locally; in some cases as an expression of someone’s religious identity, and in others, to reduce the risk of being identified by the girls and boys in blue.

 

            In the background the radio was playing, and the news was covering the Prime Minister’s statement in the House of Commons earlier in the day. I was getting the boys’ supper ready at the time, and as the successful preparation of chicken nuggets and potato waffles places quite a heavy load on a mind like mine, I wasn’t completely following every word. However, one phrase in particular really caught my attention, as he said something along the lines of, ‘We won’t be guided by hope.’

            We won’t be guided by hope. The words felt tremendously bleak. In context, what he was saying made complete sense; he was stressing that the gradual lifting of restrictions on people would only proceed on the basis of solid evidence, specifically that the reproduction rate of the coronavirus was staying below one; the restrictions wouldn’t be lifted out of a misplaced sense of sunny optimism that things can only get better – we won’t be guided by hope.

            I don’t know if I’m guided by hope, but I’m certainly sustained by it day by day.

 

            Today would have been my first day back in London after a month away walking across Scotland. Instead of the great excitement of seeing Susie and the boys again after weeks apart, we’re in the middle of some long months of being together almost constantly. We’re doing okay on the whole, I think. I think we’ve got hope.