Star date: 12th December 2020

ALICE TO BE FREED FROM ISOLATIONLAND

Since March, elderly Salfordian, Alice Searle, has been more or less shielding, but now she sees freedom in sight with the vaccine. Here, she reflects on those lonely months and urges fellow citizens to get the jab... "I can see a silver lining and feel optimistic" she says...

Full details here... 

Ten months ago I started to share my experiences and feelings about the impact of COVID-19 on my life, in the series Alice In Isolationland.* These experiences were, like yours, frustrating, miserable and depressing.  What a dreadful time we have had.

We all tried to dispel our misery by being creative, or using the media to talk to others and cheer ourselves up. In my weekly writing, I relieved my impatience by speaking of my irritation and disappointment with those who had the power to change things. I was critical of their mistakes to sort out issues.

Meanwhile, in praise of the NHS staff, having to wear uncomfortable PPE as they faced the risk of death every day, I banged on a pan with a wooden spoon, every Thursday. This community action was an expression of our appreciation but also of our inability to really do anything positive.    

So I am writing again because I want to share my thoughts now, as I see a light at the end of this dark, sad tunnel.  We have all been longing for an escape. We have been lonely and missed physical contact. Living by myself I waited eagerly for Sunday, when my son delivered my groceries and we had a short chat, about our empty lives. 

My skin missed the touch of caring fingers and I swallowed hard and said, 'I am managing; please don't worry'.  We all know how untrue those brave words were. Actually we were weeping inside and needed a hug from our sons, our daughters, grandchildren or friends. 

Many people, who could not manage without company, ignored the safety rules.  Although we understood, we were angry with this selfish behaviour. When our children were sent back to school, we had mixed feelings. This released parents to resume work but left them anxious about the risk to their children, especially as they heard of whole year groups being sent home. The teachers were vulnerable too and, as two of my close family are teachers, I felt anxious for them.    
 
We read with optimism of scientists working to develop a vaccine which would open up a pathway to the world we once knew, and on 2nd December we heard of the successful development of this; the result of  cooperative research between two research companies Pfizer and BioNTech, plus the input of generous funds.

I cheered and may have cried. I recognised that cooperation rather than competition had led to this successful result. Now we would need managers with logistical skills to be able to organise a system of allocation which would be efficient and above all fair.

Because of the particular nature of this virus it has to be usually administered from hospitals and, again, the pressure this will put on tired staff. We clapped when the first 'over eighty year old' left a hospital having received an injection. She had passed into 'the sunlight' of a new world. She literally received 'a shot in the arm!'.

As I wait patiently for my letter or telephone call with an appointment, I reflect on what I have learnt from this year of stress. I remember how wonderful it was to have fewer cars on the roads and a cleaner and quieter environment. Damaging carbon dioxide has been reduced from the sky and this all has a good effect on our other big problem, climate change.  

I felt good about the kindness of people who went out of their way to help those being shielded or without food - but I have many criticisms of the Government, which failed to recognise the skills of public services and by-passed them in favour of unskilled, inexperienced private companies which has led to a loss of public funds.  

The public call for an increase in pay for health workers has been ignored. This is a disappointment. Public money, from our taxes, needs to be used to support the areas and the people who make life better for us all.

Finally, I want to encourage all of you to go for the vaccine. COVID-19 is still there and waiting to attack you. We must get rid of it and the vaccine is the way to do this.  Think of the illnesses which have been defeated by scientific research and vaccines.  Diphtheria, smallpox, measles and polio vaccines are some you will have experienced. During our grandparents' time, people died from these illnesses. It was vaccines which saved our generation.

Please do get the injection when it is offered to you. A little pin prick is nothing and can save your life and, if we all have the vaccine, we will eventually rid the world of COVID-19 and save many lives.

Best wishes, stay safe and thanks to all those working to improve our world...

* To read Alice in Isolationland the introduction – click here 

Part 1- click here

Part 2 - click here  

Part 3 - click here

Part 4 - click here

Part 5 - click here

Part 6 - click here

Part 7 - click here

Part 8 - click here

Part 9 - click here

Part 10 - click here

Part 11 - click here

Part 12 - click here

Part 13 - click here

Words by Alice Searle