A week has passed since the announcement from Boris Johnson that the country is to be on lockdown. I have so far had two online tutorials, one via sms, the other was a video chat. The latter being rather easier! I was feeling on top of all my work and doing my utmost best to keep up with my written work too. For some reason all areas of my work have suffered since this disruption. I have managed to paint a little since my housemate moved out and I could use his room as an emergency studio space. Painting inside rented accommodation really has its pitfalls. I have to be a lot more careful with how I paint and move soaking wet paintings around the room without spraying oil paints all over the wall and carpet. Ventilation is also a key concern as the living environment is important to be kept with clean air – free from thinners. This in some ways has been easier than in the studio which amazingly didn’t have opening windows! It was however not very air tight so there was often a breeze coming through the seams of the room. I have never felt more at home in my Aberystwyth residence. Shortly before all this madness Dot and I bought a couple of home furnishings which was rather fortuitous! Dot has a lovely way of making homely touches to rooms. Temporary homes can sometimes feel like prison cells, as was the case in halls with their cinder block walls painted white. I am very pleased that the only items I panic bought are canvas and stretcher bars in the hopes that they might keep me occupied over however long a period we may have to isolate ourselves for.
Today I needed to take a trip to the doctor’s surgery for check up. I have not left the house much recently and it was strange to get into a walking pace for again. The outdoors seems like a very hostile place at the moment, even in Aberystwyth. The doctor’s have locked their door and only accept entry after triage via telephone. It took me over a week to see someone. Once inside my hands were sanitised and my temperature was taken. Masks are mandatory for anyone entering the building and they’re handed to you immediately. For a medically stressful time, it all seems quite relaxed in there. On my way home via the supermarket I witnessed drunk man fight a blind man to the ground. Luckily there was a security guard on hand with plenty of other witnesses/helpers. In these situations there’s always people videoing. bearing in mind all these onlookers seemed to appear from nowhere and were not keeping the 2m distance rule. I only hope the blind man and his dog are okay.
Tesco restricted access to customers. 2m distance must be kept between people at all times and only a limited number of people are allowed to be in the shop at one time. I bumped into a few friends while I was in there but this whole situation has made chance meetings like this quite difficult. I continued to wear my mask the whole time I was shopping just as a precaution. I was clearly laughed at by some people but I am fairly used to that being 6’6” sometimes rocking 2’ long liberty spikes. One of the large supermarkets in town has throughout the majority of the store sectioned off the floor area into 2m segments to aid peoples social distancing. This combined with shelves being poorly stocked and massive palettes of tinned tomatoes has made the whole environment seem somewhat pre-apocalyptic. The stores in Zombieland were better stocked – apart from the Twinkies! Maybe the saving grace of the current situation is that there were many reduced items including flowers which Dot is so greatly pleased with she bought three bouquets!
The whole experience today has made me feel very dirty and I could definitely understand how someone like the famous business magnate Howard Hughes suffered from OCD for the rest of his life after the outbreak of the Spanish Flu. I have thought much about the reality of the problem and decided that in all things, moderation is key.
jonathanretallick.art 