Swings and Roundabouts
Mar. 22nd, 2020 02:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tealinI went out today for the first time since Monday. It's a fantastically sunny day and very nearly warm, and I wanted to see if the Polish shop had some yeast, as the last time I went searching for live yeast locally I was told to try there. No yeast. I also stopped by the Asian shop for some gochujiang (the shop says it's Chinese but I think it's Korean) and found the whole front covered with plywood. I think it may have been the subject of a racist attack, but it's possible they shut up shop and put up the plywood in case of a racist attack. There was a slot cut in the plywood to reach the mail flap in the door. That was disappointing in several ways.
Not knowing when they might shut the parks, I went down to the green by the river and tried to soak up some of the sunny day. Quite a few people were out walking, not just the ones with dogs. To my great surprise I saw three whole airplanes passing overhead, two ostensibly domestic (small, low elevation) but one probably international – a mystery. Also a buzzard, two swans, and several woodpigeons. As I lay there getting a face full of pollen I reflected on how this whole thing is liable to set me back several years in my efforts to be able to talk to people, get on with them, and not go through the world behind a brick wall, as if I was only watching and wasn't actually there. There are people in this city who have helped me a lot with that, but I may as well be in Canada for how much we can do with each other now. I have, for once in my life, found a community I can really be part of, but with the people I am actually allowed to see every day, I feel like quite the odd duck, and a barely tolerated one most of the time. Maybe that is all in my head. I don't know.
On my way back I passed my favourite pub in this neighbourhood. Pubs were ordered to close a few days ago (or was it only yesterday?) but I noticed people turning in to where the door is. As I approached I saw there was a window open on the side. They had a takeaway menu and various signs outside, and were running a jug & bottle service, i.e. you bring a bottle, they fill it, you pay, everyone's happy. When I asked as to the technicalities of this, they said that aside from the takeaway options they would also fill orders for eggs, milk, and other produce from their local providers. So! I look forward to keeping this place in business. I bought a bottle of the beer I usually get while I'm there and have been enjoying it in the sunlight at my desk. Things are looking ever so slightly brighter.
Not knowing when they might shut the parks, I went down to the green by the river and tried to soak up some of the sunny day. Quite a few people were out walking, not just the ones with dogs. To my great surprise I saw three whole airplanes passing overhead, two ostensibly domestic (small, low elevation) but one probably international – a mystery. Also a buzzard, two swans, and several woodpigeons. As I lay there getting a face full of pollen I reflected on how this whole thing is liable to set me back several years in my efforts to be able to talk to people, get on with them, and not go through the world behind a brick wall, as if I was only watching and wasn't actually there. There are people in this city who have helped me a lot with that, but I may as well be in Canada for how much we can do with each other now. I have, for once in my life, found a community I can really be part of, but with the people I am actually allowed to see every day, I feel like quite the odd duck, and a barely tolerated one most of the time. Maybe that is all in my head. I don't know.
On my way back I passed my favourite pub in this neighbourhood. Pubs were ordered to close a few days ago (or was it only yesterday?) but I noticed people turning in to where the door is. As I approached I saw there was a window open on the side. They had a takeaway menu and various signs outside, and were running a jug & bottle service, i.e. you bring a bottle, they fill it, you pay, everyone's happy. When I asked as to the technicalities of this, they said that aside from the takeaway options they would also fill orders for eggs, milk, and other produce from their local providers. So! I look forward to keeping this place in business. I bought a bottle of the beer I usually get while I'm there and have been enjoying it in the sunlight at my desk. Things are looking ever so slightly brighter.
