I am further along the 'more careful' line re Covid than just about anyone I know. My friends are going to restaurants and bars, and into each others' houses, even in groups of three or four, none of whom live together. They would literally be having quiet drinks, definitely not involved in any of the raucous behaviour. I haven't been anywhere, though I have met with friends outdoors, and had a friend to visit tonight for the first time.
I haven't been back to my family in Dublin since the start of the year, and I spoke with my brother and sister tonight to say I might fly over for a couple of days this week, mainly with a view to having a window-visit with my mother. To say they weren't keen is an understatement. My brother just went quiet, so I could tell he didn't approve, and then he just said I should wait a few more weeks. He didn't offer for me to stay, which he always does. My sister said I could stay with her, but I would have to go straight to a bedroom when I arrive and stay there, and she would bring meals to my room. She also said I have to hire a car, as I mustn't travel on public transport. When I suggested that it would be okay to use the sitting room if we kept apart, and that I might use a bus, she said it's not negotiable.
Ireland has had few Covid deaths lately (though infections have started increasing again) - 5 Covid deaths in the last two weeks, 14 in the two weeks before that and 46 in the month before that. Pubs and restaurants are still closed. It has divided the world into Red and Green countries, though countries can move up or down - five countries were demoted to Red last week. The UK is Red, which means people arriving from this high-risk country have to quarantine for two weeks.
I was taken aback by how the mind-sets are so different. My family is completely persuaded of the requirement to still be ultra-cautious, despite being in a lower-death country, whereas people here who I regard as sensible have slipped into fairly casual habits, without any visible adverse reaction. Portsmouth, where I live (pop 238,000), has had no Covid deaths for over two months. Both groups can't be right, can they? My family's attitude seems excessive to me, but I assume it's representative of the population in Ireland, and I suspect I have been drawn along with the general relaxation in attitudes here, without realising it, even if I haven't been participating. If my family is right, then I definitely shouldn't be allowing anyone into my house here, and going to a pub or restaurant should remain out of the question. I feel like I don't agree with either group, yet I can see how their position looks reasonable from their perspective.
I could tell that my brother and sister thought my attitude was reckless, while I know people here who think I am being excessively cautious. I suspect that people reading this in the UK will be surprised at how my family sees it and would side with my friends. But how do reasonable people in one country mostly come to one conclusion and those in another country think the opposite? Is it that we are so suggestible that we can be made to think whatever our government wants, while thinking that we are making our own decisions? I don't know what I think any more.
Sorry mate, we actually just don’t like you very much and this was a good excuse to bat you away.......see you in 2022 maybe.
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