#TwoBits: Enduring the induced coma

The Day the World Stopped. That could be the title of a global apocalypse novel or a Hollywood movie, but stuff that we would expect to find only in the realm of science fiction has actually come true these past three weeks.

The lockdown has been a particular shock to our generation because we have known nothing but peace and growth. It’s 75 years since the end of WW2, and before that there was the Great Depression, Spanish Flu, WW1, the Anglo-Boer War . . . the turmoil just went on and on.

If you want an education, and to lose your sleep, watch the documentary on the Spanish Flu on YouTube – it’s terrifying! As Johan Rupert told the Financial Times last week, this Covid-19 lockdown is not just a pause, it’s going to be a reset of the world economy.

Perhaps it was long overdue and might even present opportunities for innovation in the long run, but the sore point right now is that this induced coma is going to put a lot of people out of work, losing their jobs or businesses.

There is going to be an almighty scramble to find new ways of earning a living.

It’s plain to see that it will not be business as usual.

The big retailers, finance houses, banks, insurance etc might find their feet quicker, but the little guys at the bottom, in small towns and communities across the world are going to be pushed hard.

The Courier was fortunate to be classed an essential service so we have continued publishing, albeit smaller papers, thanks to the support of supermarkets and bigger players who are still operating and need to get their messages to the community.

A skeleton staff came into the office to make up the paper, but journalists, salespeople and admin staff worked from their homes with technology hastily installed on their laptops before lockdown.

Our own experience proved that much work can be done without the need for big offices.

I think most businesses will still need a base to operate from and for staff to interact face-to-face, but the experience is very likely to accelerate changes in work practices across the world.

In spite of the hardships being experienced by the lockdown, I am impressed with the way Ramaphosa and most of his team have been handling the crisis.

He is also receiving support across the political and business spectrum.

Of course there are always those who find fault, but they are very few.

I am interested in the way the places of worship have tackled the problem.

I don’t know why, but there are acres of them on the North Coast .

It’s likely that Christian services have been conducted in the traditional manner, in front of congregations, continuously in this country since 1652 with the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck.

Lockdown stopped that, though of course they (and congregations of other religions) have continued remotely though video streaming.

As one priest remarked to me, ‘the church has left the building!’

However, we must remember that the above applies only to the community that is Internet connected.

The majority of our North Coast communities are not. It is they who have borne the brunt of the closure of churches, trains and, more importantly, schools and feeding schemes that cater for the less fortunate.

While we can reach into the deep freeze for a steak, many more do not know where their next meal is coming from.

The North Coast has rallied in the very special way that it does, in pulling together to provide food and clothing for the worst-hit communities.

Vision 153, Docrra, the Orphan Fund, Brettenwood, Cllr Privi Makhan, Barry Chapman and friends and so many more, have been working tirelessly to help where they can.

The police have been particularly helpful in allowing this work to be done.

It is this thought and deed to help others that defines our humanity.

On a lighter note, Rose and I have kept exercising by following daily online pilates classes with Tash Barnard and Karen Erasmus.

I have fixed everything in the house that needs fixing (and some that did not) and watched enough TV to make me ill. I have re-read a lot of books.

Rose has baked non-stop, as well as making litres of soup.

I have cleaned the garage and have even watched some of the idiotic things people have posted on TikTok to keep themselves busy.

I might contribute.

Two weeks to go – here’s to holding onto our sanity!

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