Contagion

    So strange...... half our dance group didn't come to class last night. I'm not sure why but think it may be fear of contracting the coronavirus. There is quite a lot of hand contact in the dances. This is despite the fact that in this city of over 3 million, there have only been 3 cases of people testing positive for the virus and all are in self-imposed quarantine at home. 

   Here is one of the more difficult dances we learned last night, not danced by us, obviously.

   There was the usual number of Bridge players this afternoon so no fear of cantagion there - a healthy bunch!

Food and a Book (2)

      Saturday is grocery shopping day but I usually go after breakfast. Yesterday I changed things up a bit and went first thing, The store was considerably quieter but there were only two cashiers so I didn't save any time. Also, shopping on an empty stomach is not advised - I came home with a batch of chicken wings, something I rarely buy, but they were delicious grilled in BBQ sauce. 

    The rest of the day (the weekend, in fact) has been spent reading "Bring Up the Bodies" by Hilary Mantel. It is the second in a trilogy set in the 16th century and told through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's master Secretary. I read the first book, "Wolf Hall", some time ago, and am now waiting for the final one, "The Mirror and the Light" which should hit the shelves soon. 

    This evening I am binge-watching "Howard's End" on PBS. It is a Masterpiece production full of magnificent views of the English countryside and fabulous costumes. There's another book I should request from the library.

The BBQ wings ready to eat.

Food and Book Talk

Corona Virus

   It would seem that this topic has replaced the weather in our everyday conversations. Should you be wearing a mask (seemingly not, unless you are already sick and want to protect your fellow humans)? Is your hand sanitizer alcohol based (I think they all are now)?

   In my opinion the media is upping the anxiety level and people are quite too worried. There have only been two cases identified in this city of 3 million, so why are parent keeping kids home from school and getting up petitions to ostrasize East Asian members of their communities. That is outright racism!

   I'm sure we will have more cases in the next few weeks but as long as the general public follows a few basic health and safety measures, such as regular hand washing and coughing into your sleeve rather than hand, (which we should be doing anyway during 'flu season) the contagion shouldn't spread into the general population.

   I may eat my words before the epidemic is over but nothing will be gained from becoming hysterical.