We live in a large close of 48 houses, subdivided into a number of smaller, five house closes.Being on the entrance corner we have a good view of all that passes in and out.
A number of inhabitants, us included, are old and retired, some are widows/widowers.
We have tended to nucleate with neighbours immediately surrounding us and our neighbour on the opposite side of the road came up with the idea of all keeping in touch during these unusual, self isolated times. He (and others) is using the "Whatsapp" smartphone app to do this, but some of us old Luddites do not have smartphones.
So we have all have initiated a system whereby, if OK and in good health, a green paper is displayed in a window. If needing help with anything one changes this to a red paper and a passing neighbour will get in contact.
It takes me back to the village where I was a boy. Everyone knew everybody else and if you needed anything you stood in the doorway to hail a passer by. Since there were only 10 cars in the village (mostly owned by farmers) everybody walked past to get to the one shop.
Fortunately no "red cards" have been displayed yet in our close...........
8 comments:
Those papers are a good idea. I have heard some rumours of fears that villains may strike at any house displaying a red paper though. Keep your shotgun handy...
We too have had offers of help from younger neighbours which is very nice and although we are fit and healthy at the moment you never know.
Another thing that I have noticed is the drawn rainbows displayed in windows, puzzled by this I asked my daughter and its a childrens project....there's always light at the end of a rainbow.
Tom's comment is interesting as I have read that gun sales in America has gone up during this pandemic.
All the best.
Tom:
I haven't got a shot gun, but if I am displaying red paper it will mean that I have got "it". I shall cough aggressively over any intruder!
Dave:
I am old enough (just) to remember the "blitz spirit" of WW 2. Everyone in our village looked out for and helped everyone else. I went shopping this morning to our local baker's. They were serving us at the door, one at a time. There was a small queue in the street, all at 2 metre separation, but cheerful repartee was being exchanged. Adversity is bringing people together, which can't be bad.
Without undermining the traffic-light system, why not a bit of added gaiety? Unexplained colours and colour combinations ("maillot à pois rouges" for instance) with a small prize for those who work it out. It's not just our bodies that need exercise, lassitude leading to inertia leading to hopelessness are even more insidious menaces. Skype (with video) is a huge improvement on a conventional phone call; no cost however long the call. Seeing the person you're talking to encourages relaxation and tenderness; one may even allow periods of silence which would become awkward when it's audio only.
We see our neighbors regularly, because like you, we live on a little 6 house street, and the neighbors walk to the store, walk their dogs, walk up and down the street for exercise, and when it's nice out we hang out in our driveways and yell (speak loudly enough to be heard) at our neighbors. Our daughter insists we stay home and let her know whatever we need, and she drops it by when she has time. Except for the flowers her boyfriend bought for us and left on their front stoop. Now that it's April, we want flowers in our hanging baskets. Deer ate our tulips, which we just little buds at the time. Poor things. Lovely to hear from you!
Oh! How I do go on! I'm reading The Artist's Gift, which is third in the Emma Batten trilogy I ordered right from her. It's set on Romney Marsh, of course, and lasts through WWII. Since the library is closed, I am trying to make it last, so read 1/2 to 1 chapter a night. Right now it's 1942, and makes what we're experiencing in 2020 seem like a lark. I'm reading biographies and just subscribed to New Yorker Magazine. I'm going to stop now. Stop going on, I mean. Bye.
RR:
The local, housebound and forced off school, children must have got into "home projects". As your idea seems to have taken off. Many are the windows of those with young families which exhibit variations of rainbow drawings. One I saw even had a large arrow pointing to its pot of gold at the end and a small drawing of a house next to it, presumably theirs.
Vita:
Good to hear from you and how you are coping. Emma Batten seems to be coming in handy. How do you like her work? If favourable, I am sure she would appreciate a comment on her blog/website from the USofA. I have sent a couple of her books(But First Maintain the Wall and What the Monk Did Not See) to my daughter in Oz as she, too is a Romney Marsh fan.
Emma lives almost on The Wall, just outside Dymchurch.
I read 3 books and have just today ordered 4 more. Since the libraries are closed, I thought it was a good excuse to spend a lot on shipping to get her books. I'll be able to read those same stories you sent to your daughter in Oz. Thank you so much for telling me about her!
I played duets on Skype with a friend in Montreal. It was a little pathetic, but fun nevertheless, and I got to see and talk with her family, so a semi-success.
Vita:
Glad you are enjoying Emma's books. I now have all of them on my Kindle and am also enjoying them. I dropped a note to her at her website and received the following reply yesterday:
Hello Michael,
Its good to hear from you again. Jinny had been in touch and ordered the other four books! How exciting to be sending them to the USA!
I appreciate your support. It's a busy time now as I'm expecting delivery of The Pendant Cross. Did you know it is on kindle? When they arrive tomorrow I'll be putting books in envelopes and delivering/posting them.
I hope you are keeping well at this difficult time. I'll look forward to going to the Cosy Kettle again, they have good cake!
Best wishes,
Emma
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