Life is what happens to you


' Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans'. These words by John Lennon have always resonated with me. Many times  over  the years my plans have been changed by events. Now in 2020 the plans of much of the world are having to be delayed, postponed, rescheduled or abandoned completely.

The  restrictions put on our movements by governments around the world prevent us from travelling any distance. Inter country  journeys  have become almost impossible. How can it be that only a month ago people were getting onto trains, planes, ferries and cruise ships without any impediment ? We just didn't see  that the pandemic was drawing ever closer and that everything would change.

My own plans for this coming easter were to travel by car and ferry to Ireland  with my husband and son to visit my granddaughter. I had considered flying then hiring a car but opted for the ferry from West Wales to Ireland instead. Shortly after I made the ferry  booking the airline that I could have used went into administration. Lucky escape I thought. Of course the ferry trip is now not going to happen but it was announced yesterday that the ferry company is on the brink of collapse. How will I travel to Ireland when that becomes possible again? Well the options are certainly narrowing.I just don't  know when I will get  to Fermanagh again. All I can do is look at photographs of this beautiful area online.

Belle Isle Fermanagh 
With so many people wanting refunds for holidays they can no longer take  the whole travel industry is in danger of collapse. There will probably never be a return to gigantic cruise ships offering cheap stays aboard and increasingly crowded ports of call. People will no  longer fly abroad for short breaks or commute at will to second homes.
Cinemas, theatres and arts centres which are now closed for the duration of the coronavirus lock down will hopefully see their clientele return once their doors are open again but it is not certain if people will have the surplus funds anymore to enjoy such entertainment.
On the positive side we are enjoying more community spirit and maybe we will learn to be kinder and more forgiving to each other as a result of this pandemic .This lock down  has certainly given us all time to think about what we really want from this life. 



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