The UK took a big step on Saturday. Most businesses were allowed to open up again, albeit with strict social distancing measures. Pubs reopening was undoubtedly a big thing for many people, although I’m sure half the people there were tabloid reporters waiting to take photos of the anticipated carnage. Whilst there were issues, it does seem like most people behaved sensibly and followed the rules. For myself, I’m not eager to rush back. I’m watching to see if infections rise again in the coming weeks. Besides, since lockdown, I’ve discovered you can drink at home ’til you fall over, for a fraction of the cost and without waking up next morning with a half-eaten kebab on your pillow. Why didn’t someone tell me this years ago?
Popping out for a sandwich today, I was surprised to find myself quite emotional at the sight of people in the cafes again. But for me, as the restrictions slowly loosen, the big thing is that I get to spend a lot more time with the dogs again. And Jane, of course. And I’m not just saying that because she sometimes reads this. Really.
Coco The Spaniel / Polaroid SX-70 Sonar / Polaroid Originals SX-70 Black & White Film
You know you’re at the chewing your own arm off stage of the Apocalypse when you have to resort to taking pictures of your own cameras.
This is the Yashica Electro 35CC, smaller sibling (and all the better for it) of Yaschica’s Electro series of 60/70’s rangefinders. Aperture priority auto-exposure, 35mm focal length, f/2.8 lens. Nice.
Yashica Electro 35 CC / Polaroid SX-70 Sonar / Polaroid Originals SX-70 Black & White Film
Prior to this pandemic, thanks to Brexit and the ensuing culture war, Britain has been engulfed in political turmoil for three years. Each day seemed to bring a new political calamity, which was then promptly forgotten when the next one happened 24 hours later. Weeks felt like months, months felt like years. I really regret not keeping a simple note of events as they happened, just so I could look back and try and make some sense of it all.
So during this period I’ve decided to sum up the weekly events that have struck me the most, from the deadly serious to the absurdly ridiculous. If my tone seems flippant at times…well, we all have our own way of getting through this horror.
‘UK likely to be the worst affected country in Europe’ – Government advisor
PM Boris Johnson leaves hospital & releases video praising immigrant NHS nurses who saved his life. The same ones who now wouldn’t meet the criteria under the Government’s new immigration policy
Queen gives Easter message of hope
Malaysian scientists create robot on wheels to make hospital rounds to check on coronavirus patients
Italy records lowest number of new infections for a month
Trump suspends WHO funding
UK economy could shrink by 35% with 2m job losses, warns OBR
EU’s medicine regulator estimates it could take one year before coronavirus vaccine available for widespread use
107th Tour de France postponed until August
99-year-old war veteran, Captain Tom Moore, raises £1000, £1M, £10M, £15M, £21M £25M for NHS staff after reaching goal of walking 100 laps of his garden
Romanians fly in to help pick British fruit
UK Lockdown extended by a least another three weeks
Some European countries begin to ease lockdown restrictions
Iran announces invention of device that can detect coronavirus at a distance of 100 metres, using a magnetic field and “bipolar virus”.
Egged on by Tweeting Trump, 1000’s of protesters armed with MAGA flags and …er… actual arms, defy social distancing and swarm the steps of Michigan’s state capitol to demand end to stay at home orders
I came across this beautiful and friendly chap on one of my recent expeditions to that dark and mysterious territory known as The Outside.
Chertsey / Polaroid SX-70 Sonar / Polaroid Originals SX-70 Black & White Film
Prior to this pandemic, thanks to Brexit and the ensuing culture war, Britain has been engulfed in political turmoil for three years. Each day seemed to bring a new political calamity, which was then promptly forgotten when the next one happened 24 hours later. Weeks felt like months, months felt like years. I really regret not keeping a simple note of events as they happened, just so I could look back and try and make some sense of it all.
So during this period I’ve decided to sum up the weekly events that have struck me the most, from the deadly serious to the absurdly ridiculous. If my tone seems flippant at times…well, we all have our own way of getting through this horror.
And on my latest day release exercise, I swung by……. the cemetery. Again.
I’ve no idea what sort of meter the SX-70 has. But with this very white monument and the bushes behind, I was kind of hoping the meter would tone down the whites and render the background completely black. And it so very nearly did.
Chertsey Cemetery / Polaroid SX-70 Sonar / Polaroid Originals SX-70 Black & White Film
Prior to this pandemic, thanks to Brexit and the ensuing culture war, Britain has been engulfed in political turmoil for three years. Each day seemed to bring a new political calamity, which was then promptly forgotten when the next one happened 24 hours later. Weeks felt like months, months felt like years. I really regret not keeping a simple note of events as they happened, just so I could look back and try and make some sense of it all.
So during this period I’ve decided to sum up the weekly events that have struck me the most, from the deadly serious to the absurdly ridiculous. If my tone seems flippant at times…well, we all have our own way of getting through this horror.
Eleven days into lockdown, and I’m safe, well, and still have a job. At least for the moment. However, I am supremely sick of the idiot I’m forced to spend every waking hour with. Which is a shame really, as I live alone.
Today’s daily exercise Polaroid was taken at the local cemetery. I pressed the shutter and got that wonderfully evocative Polaroid ejection sound. But no picture. So I pressed it again and got a nice double exposure.
Three things The Coronapocalypse has taught us:
We need to properly fund the National Health Service
We’ve learnt the value of those people previously dismissed as ‘unskilled’
With a bit of effort, we can get the homeless off the streets
Let’s try not to go back, please.
Polaroid SX-70 Sonar / Polaroid Originals SX-70 Black & White Film
