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Tag Archives: coronavirus

the fauci factor

24 Wednesday Feb 2021

Posted by azahar in coronavirus, covid, sevilla

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

coronavirus, covid-19, dr fauci, masks, sevilla

fauci mask

So I just saw this article about Dr Fauci predicting that people will be wearing masks well into 2022 and all I can say is…

DUHHH?

Because of course we will. And should. And for possibly forever. At least during the usual “cold and flu season” from October – March. I mean, why wouldn’t we? It’s been shown that mask-wearing prevents not only coronavirus contagion, but also regular flu and the good ol’ common cold.

This has been the first year ever that I haven’t had my annual Christmas Cold. And anything that would help with not contracting ANY kind of flu is pretty much okey-dokey with me.

Meanwhile we have some government officials saying that we will be “back to normal” by April, others still trying to “save summer” tourism (because “saving Christmas” went so well?)… but Dr. Fauci maintains we will see nothing close to “normal” again until next year. How do you feel about that? I find it’s almost reassuring to have a more realistic “end” in sight, even though it’s going to be tough going.

another year?? srsly???

10 Wednesday Feb 2021

Posted by azahar in andalucia, coronavirus, covid, sevilla

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

coronavirus, covid-19, sevilla

another year

Remember the good old days (last March) when we thought this would all be over by the summer? Well yesterday I checked back in with my GP to ask if there was any update about the Covid vaccinations in Sevilla. As in WHEN THE FUCK WERE WE GOING TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN WE’D BE GETTING THEM. And he said, nope. Nobody knows nuthin. Not even him. There is no programme in place for letting the public know when they will be able to get vaccinated.

This is so disheartening. Especially when it seems like our government, while totally fucking up vaccine distribution, is probably going to be promoting tourism – and more contagion – this summer. Because you know the whole Let’s Save Christmas thing went so well, with a (predictable) massive spike in new cases and deaths mid-January. Why not Save Summer and kill more disposable people too? Honestly, I despair.

It truly looks at this point that there will be nothing even closely resembling “our old lives” until next spring. Because, a bit like painting the Forth Bridge, once everyone is vaccinated, they are going to have to start all over again with the next round (which will hopefully run more smoothly).

Meanwhile? Well, do you have any plans? Other than NOT going on holiday?

the schedule

25 Monday Jan 2021

Posted by azahar in casa azahar, home

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

casa azahar, coronavirus, covid-19, home, life stuff, pandemic, self isolation

the schedule

So this happened. I thought it was high time I got myself organised, especially as it seems I’m going to be in perpetual self-isolation for another year. At the moment they are saying they hope to have approximately 50% of people in Andalucía vaccinated BY NEXT OCTOBER. Like wtf? As previously discussed here, I am not only in a high-risk category for catching the virus, my age and other health issues make it very likely I wouldn’t survive Covid. So yeah, staying Covid-free is pretty important. But so is my mental health, and I have to say the past couple of weeks have been much harder on me than the previous year (well, so far). And so I’ve decided to give my days some structure by setting up a daily schedule of Things To Do.

Why didn’t I do this back in March? Who knows. I mean, back in March we all thought this would be over by the summer and drifting for awhile didn’t seem like a bad idea. In fact, it was a way of coping, just allowing myself to “go with the flow”. But now I just feel adrift, and that’s not good. I look around me and everything feels out of control, so it’s time to take back some of that. It may sound simplistic but just making sure I have something to do each day is already making me feel better. Will I stick to it? Guess we’ll find out. Have to say I’m looking forward to having a tidy apartment again.  🙂

What ways have you found to help ride out the pandemic?

overwhelmed by laundry

13 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by azahar in coronavirus, covid, life stuff

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

coronavirus, covid, sevilla, work

laundry

It’s not always easy, coordinating loads of laundry when you live alone. I usually have 2-3 loads a week. Two of sheets and towels, pyjamas and light coloured clothing, then one of darks. The darks don’t happen every week because those are mostly my outdoor clothes and I only go out maybe twice a week. But today I got overwhelmed by laundry.

It turned out I had to do an extra load thanks to Loki making a mess on my duvet cover (and I only have one of those, so it had to get washed and dried in the sun same day) and suddenly I had to time all this washing and drying, and sheet changing, which now included wrangling with the duvet cover, with… well, nothing at all really. Because I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO. But it still felt like my whole day was consumed by this to the point that I had to ask myself how I ever ran my own business and worked full time. Answer? No fucking idea. Though I am a firm believer in the more you do, the more you do. If you know what I mean.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Casa Román having some tapas and it was only me and Peter inside, plus maybe 2-3 other tables outside. Predictably the usually attentive waiters were not paying any attention at all. And because I know them so well I said something to that effect, complaining about how the service had really gone downhill, blah blah, joking with them. But it’s true, and Inma said the same to me, that when it’s busy they all switch into high gear and everything runs super efficiently. But when there is next to nothing to do, motivation dwindles. I remember that very well from when I worked in restaurants.

But it’s the same in just day to day life. When you have a full schedule you get all that done and then some. It’s because you have so much to do that you are already geared up to do a bit more. The energy is already there. I’m not talking about being so busy there’s no time for anything else, just a healthy amount of work to keep you feeling challenged and interested. And guess what? Somehow the laundry gets done too!

Since last March I’ve had one writing assignment and a short stint as community manager for a small group of restaurants here. Other than that, I just get up in the morning and wonder what the fuck I am going to do that day other than make lunch. Thing is, although I miss the money from those two jobs I had, what I miss more is the sense of purpose I had when I got up, that I had STUFF TO DO. I don’t know why I find it so hard to self-motivate, because I’m sure there are plenty of things I could be working on (other than lunch). Okay, maybe not true that I don’t know why. The thing is that I’m scared. Sometimes scared out of my wits. When someone gives me a job to do I HAVE to snap out of it and get it done. And what a relief that is. Or was.

So I don’t know. I realise many people are suffering much more than me. On the other hand, others are complaining about the contents of their gourmet organic vegetable delivery… my online friends are all over the map.  😉  Which is fair enough because we all have different lives. I know I have to make some very big decisions about mine. And yet I can’t seem to… oh, guess I wasn’t overwhelmed by laundry after all.

covid christmas

23 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by azahar in christmas, coronavirus, covid

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

christmas, coronavirus, covid-19

covid christmas eve

This photo by Associated Press photographer Emilio Morenatti @emilio_morenatti, who is based in Barcelona, just ripped straight through me. It encapsulates so many of my feelings about the pandemic, this very difficult year we’ve gone through, and especially about how people have responded to it. Because this is the reality of the coronavirus. This photo shows hope and courage, as well as tragedy and indifference. I know I go on about this but how could anyone risk doing this to someone else? For all of those who have gone away on a Christmas holiday or who just couldn’t stay away from friends and family – just this one fucking time – THIS is what you have put at risk. Not just yourself, and your own loved ones, but also someone you will probably never meet. It’s truly heartbreaking, witnessing so much callous selfishness.

But I am also left in awe of the frontline essential workers who are still at it, in spite of not being shown the respect and consideration they deserve. It’s because of them that I haven’t totally given up on humankind. As you know, I’ve been on my own since March, haven’t left the city (heck I still barely leave my house), I don’t have friends over to visit and I’m extra careful whenever I’m out. So it’s unlikely that I am a carrier. But since I don’t know that for sure, I’m being careful not just for myself (because if I catch this thing that’ll be me in a body bag) but for all of us. Hopefully there will be a return of social conscience in 2021, though I wonder what it’s going to take to make that happen or if it’s even possible. What do you think? And how are you feeling?

Mortuary workers take off their protective clothing at the entrance of a building decorated with a Christmas tree, after removing the body of person who allegedly died of COVID-19 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 ~ Emilio Morenatti

 

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