damp saturday

**Damp Days and Distant Days**

It’s been a rotten day weather-wise, which makes it even harder to cope with the pandemic restrictions. Everything’s closed, and now the weather’s locking us inside as well. There’s no live sport to go and see—only what’s on TV, played in empty stadiums. Professional sport without crowds just doesn’t feel right.

They say there’s a vaccine on the way and that it’ll be here by April—well, I hope so. I’m heading to the pub later to see someone I haven’t seen in weeks. So much has happened in that time: a new lockdown was introduced, the vaccine was announced, and now the English lockdown has begun too.

Once all this is over, life might even feel *boring* again—if it ever returns to how it was. But maybe it won’t. I suppose we’ll see. It would be difficult to explain this whole experience to someone who hadn’t lived through it. I watched a programme earlier that chronicled the beginning of the pandemic in Britain. It already feels like a lifetime ago.

How things might chage ater the pandemic

### 1. **Work and Daily Life**

Remote work, once a fringe option, has become deeply woven into daily life. Some companies may stay hybrid or remote, changing not just office culture but how cities function, where people choose to live, and the rhythms of daily life.

### 2. **Social Interactions**

There’s a newfound appreciation for hugs, pub chats, and even the buzz of a crowded café. But there’s also more awareness of personal space and public hygiene—things like hand sanitiser in every shop might stick around, not just as precaution but habit.

### 3. **Healthcare and Mental Health**

Public health has taken centre stage. The experience of mass illness and isolation made many people more aware of mental health struggles. That could lead to stronger advocacy and more accessible care.

### 4. **Technology and Accessibility**

From virtual doctor visits to online theatre and gigs, tech has stretched our possibilities. And for people with disabilities—something you've reflected on—there's hope that society holds onto these flexible formats rather than snapping back to inflexible "normal."

### 5. **Grief and Perspective**

So many experienced loss—of loved ones, of plans, of time. That collective grief might lead to more empathy and a greater willingness to speak openly about mortality, memory, and what we value most.

### 6. **Community and Resilience**

We saw food banks thrive on mutual aid, neighbours looking out for one another, and quiet acts of kindness. There’s potential for more grassroots power—community over convenience.

Of course, change doesn’t always come quickly or evenly. But like lichen slowly reshaping a mountainside, the pandemic left cracks that new ways of being might grow from.

Would you want to include this reflection in your blog as a follow-up to your post on the lockdown? I could help shape it into a concluding thought or even a standalone post.