Do you notice remnants of the pandemic and wonder how long they will stay with us?  For example the floor stickers in shops and at bus stops reminding us to stay 2 metres apart – but now we queue in an almost normal way – but it’s a new normal – just slightly more aware – slightly hesitant of being close up.

Like the perspex barriers at the tills. Still there but slightly annoying, so you have to talk round them. Like the hand gel at every station – but they are often empty.

You used to carry a face cover/mask with you at all times – and now you get caught out when you visit hospital/medical places where it is still a requirement and you realise you don’t have one with you. And it’s still recommended on trains and buses – but rarely seen in place.

And yet Covid is  apparently much more widespread now. Yes, we are less likely to suffer dire consequences of it, thanks to our vaccine, but we are more likely to catch and spread it – and not even know we have it as we no longer have to test for it (although we should, I’m sure)

I started with a dreadful cold a couple of weeks ago. I tested Negative for Covid (I still have Test pots due to imuno-suppression issues) but  I was quite poorly. (see poem – Common Cold)

Watching TV is more interesting. I enjoy examining the actions of the actors – or reporters in documentories – to see if I can evidence a level of distancing. Sometimes it looks like they are trying to disguise it. After all, it will date the show quite specifically down to Covid times. Then sometimes, you might just spot a person in the background with a face mask/cover. and people will be on opposite sofas or chairs, when they would normally be seen sitting together. And the screens between game show contestants add some humour. On Antique road trip, there was even a screen between the two people in the car, (and windows open) and they had to view auctions on tablet screens, sitting on seperate benches. And the auctions were terrible, because there was no-one attending – it was all on line. The whole thing was filmed as though there was no problem – but it was so obvious. At one point they even had the experts riding bicycles and scooters.

But that’s what it was all about, wasn’t it. Trying to get on with things as best we could. I’m glad that during the height of the pandemic and the lock-downs that I was not *a teenager *a new mum *on a hospital waiting list *a covid inpatient * a relative of a covid inpatient… and many more scenarios, Basically I am fortunate to have been at home writing poetry!

In the aftermath – in this New Normal – there are some specific differences. We shop on line more. We work from home more. We are more hesitant about driving longer distances ( not just because of the ridiculous fuel prices) We are not making the same social contact we used to. And there is still an uncertanty about holiday travel.

So New Normal is here – still in flux, but working on it.

And New Normal – my new booklet, which I had said I would not physically publish, might actually get done soon.