BS: Pandemic: a sense of community

Subject: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 03:08 PM

I want to start this thread for positive reasons.

Lately I have noticed so much squabbling about politics and other things, and so many personal attacks in some of the recent Mudcat threads.

We are a virtual community and we need to build each other up, not try to cut each other down. There is enough sad and bad news all around us. We need to celebrate the positives in this community.

As responsible adult members of this community I think it is time to put hands on hearts and pledge to be nice, civil, courteous and uplifting towards each other during this pandemic.

So to start this thread off, I want to acknowledge the unsung heroes of Mudcat. Starting of course with our esteemed MC (Mudcat Creator) Max, sine qua non/without which not. Heartfelt thanks Max for creating Mudcat all those years ago. It has brought me joy, comfort, laughs, friendship, information, expansive musical awareness and much much more over more than 20 years.

Then there are the quiet achievers, the moderators. The people who lurk behind the scenes ensuring that we all behave like responsible mature adults and not behave like the relatively few bullies in the playground stealing each other's toys.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your measured responses to potential problems. The quiet but strong presence which steps in as needed and then steps back again, while still contributing as a member of Mudcat. The volunteer spirit. The unsung heroes.

And of course there are the members of Mudcat who contribute not just knowledge but also camaraderie and humour and support in times of need.

In the words of a famous Australian indigenous boxer, Jeff Fenech, "I love youse all".

So I invite you to contribute positive, supportive, uplifting comments in this thread to help us all to see the brighter side of life

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 03:33 PM

Thank YOU, Helen, for being one of the community contributors;
you have shown me solidarity many a time here, and I am grateful.

The computer where I sit is before a window,
and the snow is pelting down outside.
It's the kind of snowfall that is picture-pretty:
NOT a blizzard, as there is no wind to speak of;
and not the kind of storm that is lowering and dark-grey and miserable.
The sky is the opaque white of the big snowflakes,
which, because they are warm and heavy, are falling straight down.
A light coating of white covering everything.
And yet it is on the warmish side of freezing in temperature,
and it will be a while before the sun goes down.

I don't envy the snowplow drivers -- just saw a plow being driven past the window --
nor the drivers on "essential" errands or work travels just now;
but it's a lovely scene to watch from behind a picture window,
indoors, where it is warm, dry, and well-lit.

Being late in the winter, and
the equinox having already come and gone,
I doubt the snow will last long.
But for now it is the most picturesque blanket covering all in white,
bare trees and grass alike.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 03:33 PM

Oh Helen what an absolutely lovely idea for a thread! I agree with everything you say. No more of that squabbling, point-scoring, political posturing and insulting remarks.
Let's all support each other during this appalling crisis.
Good for you!

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 03:41 PM

Thanks for your description of that beautiful scene, keberoxu. I have only seen snow once in my life, but I've never seen falling snow.

And thank you Senoufou. I sincerely hope we can increase the positive support and edge out the negativity.

A good news story that I saw on TV yesterday.

NSW Fires: Baby koalas and joey released into the bush following recovery from bushfires

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 03:48 PM

So, Helen, the bushfires are under control more or less?
That's good news right there.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 03:55 PM

”I have only seen snow once in my life, but I've never seen falling snow”

Wow! It’s so easy to forget that we live in the same world, yet our worlds are not the same. When my sister returned to live in the UK after living in Oz for many years, she said that snow was one of the things she’d missed the most.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 04:10 PM

Chronicling the brighter side of a pandemic is a fine idea. History tends to get fragmented over time but also equalizing.

It will be tough to always be positive, supportive, uplifting and ideal but in other historic examples of civil war letters from women it is vital have a true picture of events.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 04:11 PM

Ha! You should have seen my husband's reaction to his first experience of snow. I'd bought him all the winter clothes he needed (thermal underwear, jumper, thick tracksuit, puffa jacket, big gloves and a huge scarf, plus woolly hat), and he couldn't get over how 'trussed up' and heavy he felt.
We have lots of photos of him standing out in a heavy snowfall gazing up at the sky, clutching a snowball in each hand. He was totally enchanted!

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 04:24 PM

Yes keberoxu, the bushfires have been under control for a while now, then we had some good rain which helped with the years-long drought and started to fill up the water supplies but then some of the areas had floods.

So some good news, some not so good, but even with the floods people were so happy to see the rain, which also helped to put out some of the fires and deposits silt onto the parched land. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Experiencing the Australian outback has been inspirational for me, so that is the flipside to not having seen snow falling.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 04:26 PM

For the first time I experienced a winter of no snow'
Now I will have a summer of no summer beach.
A pool will do. Small blessings will be grand.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: robomatic
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 04:26 PM

Got a backyard full of the stuff. And I'm happy with it, other than hanging out at home mostly indoors while I've got kinfolk at points south actually gardening on their property neath the shade of huge tall trees, which does cause me to pause and reflect before going back to my copy of The Man Who Ate His Boots.

People have been mostly quite neighborly in attitudes. Alaskans have a sense of "We're all in this together" although I'm sure it's a bit more ready to go Darwinian in the city. But we're nowhere near that in the neighborhoods I've been through. Nor on the trails, which are getting a lot of use by mankind, womankind, and dogkind. In fact I'm heading out for some dogtrail socializing.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: robomatic
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 04:30 PM

Oh, by the way, this has come up in Alaska, and may be a good idea elsewhere, but if you're well situated and in good health, it may be a good time to consider donating blood. I've been a regular donor since college, and the recommended now enforced isolation affords some easy recuperative time, the recuperation being that after losing some red corpuscles, one might get tired more easily than normal, and for me it is noticeable for up to a couple of weeks after the draining.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 04:43 PM

Yes, good point robomatic. I'm booked in for this Friday to give plasma, which I have been doing every two weeks for the last few months. My last donation of whole blood was a month ago so I had to wait a month to start donating plasma again.

With the health crisis blood products might become scarce so healthy people can help out others in need.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 23 Mar 20 - 05:38 PM

One of my favourite songs:

Alan Parsons Project - "Old and Wise"

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 07:04 AM

I'm sick with worry. My sister just managed to send me an email saying she thinks she's got the virus. She's coughing incessantly, has a fever, can hardly breathe. Her daughter had it a week or two ago, but she lives in Edinburgh whereas my sister lives near Perth. My niece doesn't drive and trains are cancelled, so she can't get to her mother's house.
My poor sister lives alone. A nurse she knows said she might be eligible for a priority bed in Ninewells Hospital. Let's hope that can happen.
I'm so shocked and worried.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Iains
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 07:34 AM

Our thoughts are with you Senefou.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 07:42 AM

Heart breaking as it is, you can not visit her. Perhaps your best communication is by computer.
Stay safe

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 07:54 AM

Thank you so much. We feel so helpless down here in Norfolk. There are no flights to Edinburgh and no transport, so it's true, we can't get to her. Luckily she lives in a village, and is a good member of her local church, so maybe people will rally round with supplies and keep an eye on her from a safe distance.
Her age is a consideration, but she is normally physically very fit and strong.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 08:13 AM

Most assuredly she will get a bed if necessary. It's early.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: fat B****rd
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 09:05 AM

Sending best thoughts and good wishes, Eliza.
Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 09:23 AM

..., clutching a snowball in each hand.

That must have been a big snowman!

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 09:40 AM

Yes, community also means that
we unite in support of members
whose loved ones are in dire straits.
Hoping for a positive, healing outcome.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 10:10 AM

So kind of you, thank you all for your good wishes.
I daren't phone her as if she's bedridden and finding breathing difficult, she won't be able to talk.
Husband has been told not to go into his school to clean for three weeks. (He will get paid however) so he is in the house with me.
There are only two pupils apparently (children of key workers) and many of the cleaning ladies are over sixty and self-isolating. They will contact him on Monday for an update.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 01:03 PM

Never miss an opportunity to post another great song Helen.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 01:12 PM

Yeah, thanks Max, mods, mudelves and pleasant posters! Senoufou, bonne guérison à ta sœur!

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 24 Mar 20 - 01:19 PM

Senoufou, I hope your sister gets better soon. She is lucky to live in a village with good people around her. My thoughts and prayers are with her and with you.

My Hubby works as an IT Coordinator at a high school. He was working from home on Monday but had to go in to work yesterday. He self-isolated in his office as far as possible. He'll be back home from today.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Mar 20 - 04:20 AM

I contacted my sister's daughter Sybil, who had also been ill and coughing blood, but is now completely well again (isolating herself and working from home in Edinburgh) She told me her mum is poorly but keeping afloat, and studying various Masterclass bridge stuff online.
I shan't keep ringing her as it will be tiring, but we feel very reassured.
As you say Helen, living in a village is lucky (for us too!) and the support is wonderful.
Stay safe everyone! And thanks again for your kind wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Mrrzy
Date: 25 Mar 20 - 08:12 AM

Went to check my mailbox and found something scotchtaped to my door with a long list of organizations that could use healthy volunteers. I have registered and hope to be called upon. Love my town.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Mar 20 - 06:42 PM

Still have snow on the ground here.

Eliza/Senoufou, hope your sister continues to get stronger and healthier.

It's so easy for something as long-drawn-out as this to test any community, shortening tempers and exposing weak links. I'm seeing it where I am now, everyone is feeling the restrictions.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: mg
Date: 25 Mar 20 - 07:00 PM

I go to the drive through at mcdonald's on foot and today a man asked if he could help me and i said if you could please put in my order for me so he said sure and when i went to get it he had paid for it and threw in some french fries.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Mar 20 - 02:32 PM

I am looking at photos of people waiting outside a hospital. They are all wearing a kind of mask, most with gloves and a hoodie tightly around their head.

WHAT I DID NOT SEE was ski goggles or other eye proctection. The mucosa all around the eyes is a known route of infection. A word to the wise.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Mar 20 - 07:27 PM

I had a dream last night.

I dreamt the morning had come, after a long night indoors.
I stepped outside into an unfamiliar landscape, onto solid ground;
there had been a major flood, and the flood had crested.
As I walked around the edge of the floodwaters,
they were so high that the ground beneath them was completely submerged,
and trees stuck out above the water.
It was an overcast gloomy dawn.
Then the sun came out and rose, brightening and clearing the sky.
And before my eyes,
the floodwaters receded.
I could see the ground around the trees.
The streets were flowing with water,
but at least the streets could be seen now.
And other people came out, walking about in the sunshine and calm air.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Mar 20 - 08:05 PM

an excellent thread, Helen thank for starting it.

best wishes to all & (virtual) hugs all around

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 05:34 AM

There were more families than usual out walking with their kids and dogs under sunny 60 degree skies among the hyacynths and daffodils in full bloom. The sound of kids echoed everywhere. Social distancing showdowns were evident. It was a real vitamin D party.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 06:50 AM

I agree with you Sandra - a lovely idea for a thread Helen.
And please may I add my hugs to the Communal Hug Bank?

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: JHW
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 06:59 AM

I too live in a village. I hope its going to help but would report how graciously folks cross the street to avoid each other 'in case' and greet, from a distance, as freinds though might never have before.
A bike was coming towards me on a narrow road. Then a car came behind him and I thought it would overtake and the bike would be right next to me. No, the car slowed to bike speed, let him pass me on the other side, then did the same.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: mg
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 07:43 AM

Good news. My handicapped brother does not have corona virus but had a very bad flu. He was able to get tested and is recovering. He was high risk because he works in downtown Seattle in housing for formerly homeless. I had thought he worked in an actual shelter. He likes the work and is way old enough to retire. I am very grateful and will try to get something to his tenants..pizza or something.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 08:07 AM

mg I'm so glad that your brother has only had the 'flu. Pretty debilitating, but not as serious as The Lurgy! I'm sure his tenants would be very touched by your kind gesture of some pizza.
Sadly my sister has deteriorated somewhat. She managed to send me an email this morning to say she is very weak and feels extremely ill. She can only lie on her sofa and watch rubbish daytime TV with her little cat Mela. We're more worried now - it must be awful to be alone and so poorly. Oh dear.
The lady vicar of her village is conducting funerals today at the crematorium, and no mourners are allowed, so people have to follow the service online.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: fat B****rd
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 10:04 AM

Best thoughts always, Eliza.
Charlie x

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 01:35 PM

Thank you so much Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 03:44 PM

mg, that's good news about your brother. And Eliza, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your sister.

There is a neighbourhood feel-good story here about putting a teddy bear somewhere on the outside of your home or in a window so that little kids walking around outside can go teddy-spotting when they are getting some fresh air and exercise with their parents. Obviously the kids shouldn't be able to touch the teddy bears for hygiene reasons.

Thanks everyone for your appreciation for this positive, uplifting thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 03:52 PM

Thank you Helen.
My teddy is very old. I was given him when I was 2. When I was six, I knitted him a little pair of knickers in pink wool (the only colour my mother had to spare at the time) My sister trimmed his fur with nail scissors when she was six (she's younger than me) but he's presentable, and the knickers are a bit faded but still in one piece.
Even now I think of him as 'alive' and every morning I sit him in our front window so he can see out and watch goings-on.
I'm quite mad, I know.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 04:23 PM

A few months ago I saw an old friend for the first time in years. We know each through the music session group because her husband played music with us sometimes. We exchanged phone numbers and she said she would like to come to our session group when she could and that she would try to learn an instrument.

For various reasons she hasn't made it to more than a couple of sessions but last week she asked via email whether I knew of anyone who could lend her a different type of instrument which she thinks she might be able to play because her late husband had begun to teach her many years ago.

One of the other members of our session group brought along an instrument he had and said that she could borrow it to see whether it suits her and if so, she can have it.

Our mutual friend couldn't make it to the session that week so I contacted her and arranged for her to pick up the instrument from my place. She stopped her car out the front and we had a lovely chat through the car window so that she wouldn't have to unload her wheelchair, and also so that we would be able to keep a proper, safe distance due to the virus.

I'm constantly amazed by the generosity of people. And the resilience.

I just don't know whether we can work out an alternate arrangement for the sessions so that we can still play music together while maintaining the required social distance. It will be strange not have sessions twice a week. I think we might have to bite the bullet and work out how to use video contact on our computers and each play in the safety of our own homes. That might be a steep learning curve for people who have been blissfully unaware so far of all that technology.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Helen
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 04:28 PM

My Teddy started life as a boy, except that I took him to the dentist and he asked what the Teddy's name was. I said Bob, and he said, "That's my name!" so after some thought at home I promptly changed my Teddy's gender to female and her name to Tessie.

She sits in my sitting room in her two piece cerise coloured outfit surveying my world.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 04:39 PM

With a few exceptions we are all becoming the dali lama

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 27 Mar 20 - 05:06 PM

I had to go out to post one of my card model kits today and noticed that people were crossing the street to maximise the distance between them, whilst smiling and nodding to show good will.
Perhaps I will have a surge in sales as folks look for new hobbies:)

One thing that we have noticed the last couple of days is how few aircraft are going over, just like when Iceland decided to clear its throat. We have been gardening in the bright weather as we are surrounded by fields, but there are footpaths alongside two of the garden boundaries and there are far more walkers than normal (ie. some when there are usually none).

There seem to be more birds about than normal including a goldcrest today, and I've not seen one of those for years.

One of our locals has started a what's app group in case anyone has an emergency. There are twenty-odd properties on our lane but most are about a field apart. We hardly ever see anyone who lives here except to wave as we pass in cars on our single track lane. Perhaps we will have more community afterwards.

Keep safe,

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: leeneia
Date: 28 Mar 20 - 09:42 PM

I believe you are right. Unusual birds spotted in our urban neighborhood recently:

barred owl (heard, not seen)
flicker
Carolina wren

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: keberoxu
Date: 29 Mar 20 - 06:09 PM

How many musicians will die of this?
See the Obit thread in the music section:
country music singer Joe Diffie
(songwriter as well??)

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Apr 20 - 01:21 PM

Thinking of Eliza/Senoufou
regarding her sister's health.
Supportive thoughts during the anguish of
an unknown outcome.

Subject: RE: BS: Pandemic: a sense of community
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Apr 20 - 03:24 PM

Thank you so much keberoxu. We still haven't heard anything, and we're considering getting in touch with her daughter, my niece. However,if things are now serious (or worse than that) we're hesitating to trouble her.
All my husband's family in Africa are concerned too (my sister has helped so many of them over the years and they think of her as their much-loved benefactress) but as yet we have no more news to give.