For understandable reasons the government is loosening rapidly a series of restrictions on movement and contact which were put in place to combat the Covid outbreak. Quite explicitly they have been betting on the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign, which one has to admit has been managed pretty effectively. Yesterday my eye was caught by notice of a large retrospective exhibition of the work of Paula Rego, in London, and it occurred to me that there is a real possibility that I might be able to see it. Then, this morning ….
I drove over to Keighley to see a new exhibition of work by my friend Bill Parker. It would have been the first exhibition I have seen in eighteen months, and I was full of expectation. (I think I’ve not seen Bill for two years.) Arriving at the gallery, however, I was puzzled to find the doors locked. A notice on the door explained that the staff of the gallery had been made to isolate because they had been in contact with a Covid case. The opening has been postponed until Saturday. I do wonder for how long we will have to glance over our metaphorical shoulder every time we plan any activity. I fear that it could well be for some long time yet.
A piece of good news, however, and unexpected. I discovered that our red currants are actually producing a reasonable crop, after I had written them off. The berries are concealed under leaves I had not taken the trouble to lift.