Hello in There Over There

Hello in There · Bette Midler - John Prine

Looking out into the day

Life in the city presents a window of observation both literally and figuratively. If I cranked my neck looking out to the right, I would see the main road, full of traffic, the missing Venetian blinds pulled down by those who are not gentle of touch might offer a spectacle in flagrante delicto of things better kept out of view.

On occasions, where I have been asked about the weather, a predilection to Miss Havisham’s shunning of the public might suggest that one is unaware of where the sun or the clouds might have come to an agreement about what day they want to show.

Left to my own devices, I will know nothing of what happens in my city until after the event. A hermit untouched and unknown, yet conversant and connected in isolation from sensual interaction.

A part of apartment life

Then, so much information filters in like sunrays on a brilliantly sunny day. From the fourth floor of the apartment block opposite and across the street, I know they are in because they open the window that reflects a blast of light into my living room. Should I wave to them?

For the past two days, the first-floor apartment across from mine had the blinds drawn. They are on holiday one must presume for nothing in the weather of the past couple of days supports the need to shelter from enjoying the elements. They appear to be a partying lot, not that I might haphazardly identify them on the street. They are a function of the apartment in which they live, as I might have been an operatic revue of the unspeakable that excites chortles and giggles.

Old people maybe not lonesome

To the left on the second floor, at the breaking of the dawn, an old man sits at the window looking at a world that his youth once participated in with verve and vigour. The lady who sometimes sits with him might be the wife of decades of marital bliss, a companion of life and experience, with whom living out the rest of their days might stretch to a time beyond record.

The stories in those faces, the memories that fetch fresh waters from wells of existence we could not begin to fathom. They could be parents, likely grandparents, never doubt them being great grandparents, but no little girl’s face has replaced the visage that has met my gaze.

Maybe they see me when I see them, if they ever noticed; for I have watched that window from my desk for years, I could wave at them to say, “Hello! In there”.

Coronavirus streets in Manchester - XLI

Hermitude becomes I

Despite being fully vaccinated, I hear tales of people who have contracted the Coronavirus. It is possible they would not be hospitalised but finding out that you are CoVID-19 positive is not the kind of news you want to receive at any time.

It is strange that the last time I was out of my apartment block was 8 days ago. Not that I was in quarantine, but I was in one of my usual bouts of being a hermit. I did step out of my apartment to check my mailbox, met up with my neighbours for a drinks night and then my friend who sometimes comes into town was here a few times and on one occasion tidied up my living room and kitchen. I am always grateful for his ordering touch.

For fridge on dead freezer

Having emptied my freezer of all the defrosted food much of which I could not use that it unfortunately ended up in the bin, I logged a maintenance call with the letting agents to have someone give the freezer a look before it is decided whether it should be repaired or replaced.

Stepping out after work to the local supermarket to get some fruit and drinks, I had my mask on from home, you cannot be too careful. Most of the customers were donning face masks apart from one who was yapping away on his phone until he had to pay with the same phone, hence, terminating the call.

The theatre of fear

Opposite the supermarket is the legendary Palace Theatre, which first opened in 1891 and on my way to the shop there was a uniformed crowd outside that had disappeared after I finished shopping. Then I noticed there was a show on, The Woman Is Back, opening tonight for 4 nights. This is a sign of things coming back into a kind of normalcy, for the last show advertised, The Phantom of the Opera, to start on the 26^th of March 2020 to the 30^th of May 2020, never opened because of the pandemic lockdown and the theatre has been closed to audiences since then.

I also noticed that the theatre box office is not open to the public which I think means all tickets will be processed online alone with them presented as printouts or mobile phone scannable codes. Though I worry as friends have indicated on visiting theatres in London recently, CoVID-19 precautions are not that adhered to. That simply means I would be avoiding those enclosed entertainment places for a little while yet. However, we must celebrate the little changes we see around us.

I would rather be in Cape Town

Comfortable in my stride

One cannot say that the Coronavirus pandemic has given one the opportunity to be a hermit for I am quite predisposed to that kind of living if alone. I could remember times when I lived in Amsterdam that I may not leave my apartment for a week without thinking anything of it.

My apartment then had large windows and a vista from the 7^th floor that looked over two old harbours. There was no fear of obstruction except in nightmarish dreams where the harbours became reclaimed land. It was a wonderful 10 and a half years of my story.

Here in Manchester, I can easily sequester myself like Miss Havisham from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, the clocks, however, are still ticking away, though the window blinds are down. I do wonder if my friends who call when asking what the weather is like are doing that to break me out of my comfortable sense of seclusion to force me to interact with the world.

A view to social distancing

Yet, one must be careful to take cognisance of what is happening out there, having a clear awareness of my vulnerability, I have to review my social requirements, visit a restaurant, the possibility of going to the cinema or attending a theatre show requires more planning or none at all.

I sent a tweet to my church yesterday asking about their arrangement for social distancing. We have adopted the Hindu greeting stance of clasping hands prayerfully and bowing to each other saying Namaste, and a notice has been placed on the church website removing wine from the communion. With certain other places closing places of worship, I do wonder if I should overcome my desire to be in church tomorrow and just take a walk around my block.

Take in your arms, Cape Town

Brian suggested, we find a bunker together to quarantine ourselves and enjoy our own crazy, accompanied with pictures of me pulling his ears and one where I am apparently wearing his underwear on my head. The silly things we get up to.

It has put South Africa on my mind, the truth is, my heart is there, in Cape Town, the pictures playing back in the film studio of my imagination; the walk from our apartment to the V&A Waterfront. Cape Town is synonymous with our relationship, we see ourselves there, together, and thriving.

Then, I step out to get my mail to find that my South African Airways Voyager card has arrived. To think that I applied for this in May last year, the letter is dated the 22^nd of October and it arrived on the 14^th of March in the UK. I have many adjustments to make to understand, appreciate, and settle down in Africa.

Ultimately, that is where I want to be with Brian whilst keeping open the options to do many other things around the world. The most important thing, for now, is to avoid being perturbed by the situation out there, we have much to live for and I am doing my best with what I have.