I’m in a queue. The council have arranged a rubbish collection in an adjoining village and we’ve seized the opportunity as our wheelie bin is full to the brim. Being in lockdown means more food consumption and general waste. The queue itself is very orderly. Us Northern Irish are good at waiting in line. Everybody observes social distancing and follows the instructions of the council workers to the letter.
The council worker supervising my line informs me that currently ‘every day is like Christmas’ due to the unprecedented demand for their services. More Groundhog Day, than Christmas, I think grimly. But before long I’m dumping my mandatory six black bags into the back of the bin lorry and driving off the site. In and out within five minutes. Not bad as I had been expecting half the county to descend en masse with a tonne of garbage.
Waste. The coronavirus is overflowing with it, and I’m not just referring to the smelly variety. Everywhere I see waste. Our time, the economy, and human life itself. The global death toll rises every day until the numbers threaten to lose all meaning and relevance. 250,000 dead, 260,000 dead. It’s just numbers and I struggle to digest the enormity of grief and trauma behind those bare statistics. My mind is boggled, blown, baffled by the casual senselessness of it.
The Americans blame the Chinese. The Chinese blame the Americans. The Russian government isn’t telling the truth. The British government is, and being slaughtered by its media for doing so. In a few days the U.K. death toll will have overtaken Italy as the highest in Europe. Many are terrified to step over the threshold of their front doors for fear of infecting a loved one, while others don’t care as long as they get their hair cut or a day at the beach.
Waste. But can we turn the tide and make something of this enforced hiatus in our lives? What can we do to fill the void as the hands of the clock drag interminably on another tedious circle? Well, there’s plenty to do around the house, all those tasks and chores we had been putting off forever. Rooms are being decorated, gardens tidied up and work surfaces gleaming. Boredom isn’t an option when you have a to do list as long as your arm.
We are exercising as never before. When I’m out on my daily run I see others walking, running and cycling along the country roads outside the village. Inside many are hitting treadmills and exercise mats, lifting weights and burning calories. When all this is over the streets will be flooded with a nation of fitness fanatics. Pilates and yoga YouTube sites are seeing unprecedented numbers of hits. We are stretching and sweating away the lockdown blues.
Then there are us bloggers and writers. Documenting our new way of living, sharing our experiences and reaching out to others through the online communities we have immersed ourselves within. I am reading, writing and researching; working on book cover designs with my publisher, reducing my TBR list and getting back into a daily routine while starting research on my third novel. This is time well spent, not wasted. My creative juices are flowing and filling the void of boredom and inactivity.
So, yes these are days of waste and despair, but they also offer opportunity and hope. We stand on a precipice and the choice is ours. Succumb to inertia and the voice telling you no more, or rise and seize the sliver of inspiration and innovation shining its light onto your upturned face. What do you choose? To curl into a foetal form and wait until it’s all over or stride towards the horizon, no longer a victim of circumstance? I know you will choose wisely.
Black Thoughts 
Our council are planning to re-open the refuse tip however, to avoid congestion certain days only people with an even number car registration can attend, the following day only odd numbered one and so on. You also have to bring proof of your address. This will cause chaos of the highest order, people will genuinely not know others will try it on. Where the tip is situated is on a narrow industrial estate and there is often little room to drive down, can you imagine all the cars having to turn around because they chose the wrong day? Bedlam.
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Hi Bob. Yes, I saw that on Sky News. Queues have been forming from 7:30am. I think it’s to combat the fly tipping which apparently has quadrupled in some areas. I have to say the one I attended earlier was well organised.
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Correction, The Current American Government blames the Chinese. Not all Americans are alike. I’m offended by that generalization.
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You’re very easily offended then.
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No, i just don’t much care for wide generalizations in general, the same goes for saying The Chinese blame Americans. Countries are made up of people of varying opinions is the point I am making.
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Wonderful post! This will resonate with so many. I choose to rise and grow from it.
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Thank you. I’m glad you liked it. I’ll rise alongside you 😊
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⭐️👌🏻🙏🏻
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Well, maybe this is a good opportunity to re-asses our understanding of things.
The way I see it, too much of the waste we throw away is the consequence of economy being ‘biased’ towards making profit rather than efficiently fulfilling our needs.
https://nicichiarasa.com/2020/04/26/economy-profit-banking-system/
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Thank you for the link. That’s an interesting premise 🙂
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Please to hear y’all are surviving. Here in central Ohio, USA, I plod along at my insignificant day job at a local hospital before going home to work on my stories. I hope at least a few of those updates have offered you some entertainment in these unnecessarily calamitous times.
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Thank you Clayton. I’m certain your job is not insignificant. Hope you continue to keep safe & well 🙂
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I have done everything I can to keep hubby safe. My granddaughter is improving, and I am doing my 3 hours of exercise as usual.
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That’s impressive Susie. Glad to hear things are improving 🙂
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I am working out with my cast on, so the only thing I can’t do is boxing.
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Currently feeling like curling into that foetal form but I will try to resist.
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Please do. For me 😐
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Stay safe! We are too!
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Thank you 😊
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Great post! You’ve exactly nailed the dilemma of the day. I see a lot of people making positive strides during this lockdown, but I am sure there are a lot more I don’t see doing exactly the opposite. And for what it’s worth, you are exactly correct: the Americans ARE blaming the Chinese and the Chinese ARE blaming the Americans.
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Thank you. I think I was misinterpreted with that comment. I didn’t mean any offence to anyone 😐
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Really nice post. Good writing about all the negative aspects of this current time but then choosing to rise above apathy or detachment and doing positive things with family/taking up writing again. We had been doing a lot of to do list projects around the household. Then we were both called back to work two weeks ago. Now work is super busy and occasionally I find time here and there to come online and read from WordPress or write some short stories. Glad to hear you are working on your third book. Best of luck to you!
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Thank you for your kind words. Stay safe.
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Great post! Well written and captures the essence of this time well.
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Thank you Melissa 🙂
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Besides getting lots done around the house I am getting fat.
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Tell me about it 😂
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Here in my part of Florida we have our normal trash and recycle pickup twice a week. I’ve been staying home, however, my grandpa went to the beach yesterday. Our state is opening up in stages. I’ve been writing and doing chores to keep me busy. I miss my friends though.
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Great post, here in Bury Lancashire our bins are being picked up as usual. Thank goodness as my general waist bin has been getting fuller than normal as I’ve been doing a bit of decluttering in my craft room.
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Hi. Ours is overflowing again lol
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