Tag: shutdown

Heathr-no

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Like the airport, but with a different ending.

Amazing Covid-esque like scenes at Europe’s busiest airport this morning, as a fire at a nearby substation crashed the power to the whole place, necessitating its closure for the day.

It’s like a plane-free ghost town there at the moment:

Especially when you compare it to other normally-running European airports like Schiphol:

or Frankfurt:

The later local flights from Cape Town, which set off yesterday evening, but then found that they had nowhere to land, have diverted to Barcelona and Madrid.

Buenos días, señor.

I mean, lucky them. The other flight ended up at Gatwick.

Eww.

The flights that were due to come down from LHR to Cape Town made it out before the whole gemors, and – if all goes well – should be able to leave on time tonight. But obviously, the flights which were due to depart from Heathrow to Cape Town this evening will now, not.

We’re not going to have a lot of influence on the global repositioning of the planes from the 1,400 flights that will be affected. But the knock-on effect for tourists wanting to EsCape Town tomorrow will be tangible.

Oh no. We’re going to have to stay another day or two rather than going back to London.

Heartbreaking for them.

Advice

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There’s more to this pandemic than just virology and epidemiology.

There are the huge economic consequences, the social and psychological effects of worry, panic and a future unknown. And then there is the sheer logistical challenge of just trying to live your daily life (or something close to it), educating your kids, buying your food, looking after your family.

I know what’s going on with the science stuff, but the rest of it is as new to me as the next guy (a safe social distance from me) on the street.

The situation is grave, especially in SA given our existing problems of unemployment, poverty, crumbling economy and social division, but I have some hope.  I’m noticing a willingness among the majority to unite and try and get through this. And without wanting to be all doe-eyed and sentimental, things really do work on the odd occasions when this country pulls together.

There will always be the idiots out there who will not get involved or even try to derail these processes, but there are definitely the first signs of cooperation and unity beginning to show through.

I’m doing my bit, trying to help coordinate schoolwork for the shutdown, offering assistance to neighbours and volunteering my (surprisingly still quite professional) services where appropriate.

The rest of the time, I’m washing my hands, watching funny TV (because argh! no sport…), getting some fresh air and trying to keep fit and healthy. We will get through this. It’s going to be difficult and it’s going to be ugly, but if we do choose to look after ourselves and each other, we will prevail.

Stay safe, stay sensible. And now… wash your hands.