Dear Reader - Tricky trying to 'social distance' in Harrogate

A personal column by the Harrogate Advertiser's Graham Chalmers
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

I spotted one of my neighbours at the top of his path the other day sanitising his giant wheelie bin after the dustbin men had done the business and left the street.

Less than a month ago, I would have thought the act a little eccentric, to say the least.

Now my instant reaction was “good idea.”

Lockdown - A deserted Cambridge Street in Harrogate. (Picture Gerard Binks)Lockdown - A deserted Cambridge Street in Harrogate. (Picture Gerard Binks)
Lockdown - A deserted Cambridge Street in Harrogate. (Picture Gerard Binks)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Looking back, I think I was a bit too chipper when coronavirus turned into our new reality, even a little foolish, perhaps.

That mood has passed.

The emptier the streets of Harrogate have grown, the more difficult it has become not to take it all very seriously, indeed.

My last visit to the town centre to check on things was a week ago when I trudged there on foot.

The sight of deserted streets and darkened shops fronts was too depressing to repeat the experience, over-ruling any lingering sense of curiosity.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Since then, I have concentrated on working at home in the crampled confines of the spare room where I seem to have accumulated mountains of books, CDs, DVDs, magazines and framed prints over the years.

I haven’t driven the car for what feels like an eternity but, in reality, is probably only seven or eight days.

If I’m not at my laptop working or eating or sleeping, I’m walking or running, sticking, like a good boy, to the area where I live.

On paper, putting on my walking boots or running shoes is a win-win situation - a boost for the body, a boost for the soul.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In practice, it’s a tense and bizarrely nerve-wracking business.

I’ve been surprised by how difficult it is to follow the rules of social distancing, even in the context of a desolate-looking landscape.

The small number of people still venturing out for exercise, which they are entitled to do, always seem to do so in groups of twos or threes or fours.

Or perhaps I’m just unlucky?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Either way, without intending to, I’ve learned to tread carefully and acquired the habit of crossing the road when I see anyone else coming towards me.

And don’t talk to me about leaving the house to do the weekly grocery shop in person at the nearest supermarket...

Keeping our spirits up in the new world we find ourselves in is going to be essential in the weeks and, possibly, months to come.

Much of life is moving online, where people’s sense of humour - and the rest - seems firmly intact.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But the reason we should all make an effort in our real interactions with other people isn’t to make a gesture of solidarity.

It’s not a matter of sentiment, it’s a matter of necessity.

At the end of the day, we only really have one job until the crisis blows over - not to get the virus.

That way we won’t be an additional burden on the people who have no choice but to put themselves potentially in harm’s way, all those heroes of the hour, doctors and nurses, care workers and pharmacists, firemen and policemen, shop workers and dustbin men.

That way they can get on with their jobs. And they will be able to do so in greater safety.

By Graham Chalmers

A message from the Editor

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Related topics: