Hello friends!
By Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23473)
United Kingdom
June 11, 2020 2:53am CST
Well I am back after taking a break from Mylot. What a very different world we live in compared to when I took a break. So much has happened in the past month that has changed our world.
The Covid-19 has caused absolute horrible consequences for most of us. Unable to mix with our loved ones. Recently my aunt died of covid and we had the funeral this week under very strange new restrictions. I did not go to the funeral but was able to watch the service on- line from home. How clever and I am grateful that I was at least able to be there albeit whilst not even leaving my house. Not all doom and gloom though as my nephew who contracted it after three weeks in Intensive care recovered and has been discharged home.
So for us things are very different social distancing is the order of the day. Thankfully the moronic panic buying of toilet rolls and other essentials has stopped however there are still some shortages of certain items namely Hand get, flour. I had to laugh my head off when I read about an Australian woman who had greedily bought hundreds of packets of toilet rolls with the idea she would sell them at a profit. It back fired as she could not sell any of them. The cheeky selfish woman returned the packs back to the shop. The manager refused to change take them back. I give my highest praise for this sensible store manager and salute him. As for the woman I award her the coveted Darwin award.
So I am now perhaps regarded as a senior as I turned 60 in the middle of the month. It was a very different day in comparison to the partying we did for my 50th when we had a massive party for over 100 people on the Saturday and took over a restaurant for a banquet on the Sunday the actual day of my birthday.
So Saturday arrived the day before my birthday not a single birthday card came through the door. Yes I was disappointed as I was expecting quite a few. Not a single card. I thought oh well never mind they will come Monday. Monday came Nada, nothing, zilch. To say I was disappointed was an understatement although I knew that they had been sent. I was reminded that the post office do not deliver on a Saturday since covid started. They all turned up on Tuesday. Some had been sent two weeks previously.
So Sunday arrived and yep I had turned 60. I got up at 5:30 had a shower and then sat gathering my thoughts with a cup of coffee I then thought what the hell are you doing up at this time of the day when the rest of the world is sensibly still in bed sleeping. Nothing special is going to happen today.So I went back to bed.I had already spoken to my sister who was also up at that ungodly time. Two hours later my wife said your sister is outside I jumped out of bed threw some water on my face and went and stood outside chatting at a distance and she dropped some gifts for me. I told her that she should not have come all the way here just for that. She told me she was not going to let the occasion go without seeing me. Sad we were not able to hug just to say thank you.
In the afternoon my daughter and grandchildren turned up with gifts and a massive birthday cake. The kids played on the lawn, my son in law and daughter sat at the table and my wife and I sat near the door. We got some candles and the two eldest kids blew the candles and made a wish. Devil child flatly refused and said NO. I love that kid I am sure she is doing it to wind me up. Last weekend they came again we were sitting in the garden and Devil child fell. She howled and looked at me and began to run towards me. My daughter moved quickly and grabbed her. How unfair is that when you can not even cuddle your own grandkids. So I think that she does really like me she just likes to make me laugh. Probably my fault because when she says no I howl with laughter.
More has happened but I think that is enough for the moment. It is nice to be back and will be nice to have a catch up with my mylot friends. No hand shakes today, not even a hug. What a very different world.
34 people like this
32 responses

@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 20
@JudyEv Let them give you flack your lives are more important!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
That is good to hear. I understand that OZ and NZ may create a travel bubble. The likelihood is once they open the borders again the virus will creep in though especially from asymptomatic people.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (358058)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 20
@garymarsh6 WA is copping flack because we're refusing to open our borders just yet.
2 people like this

@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Thank you Dianne. I wish us all and your family and loved ones good health and hopefully light at the end of this horrible tunnel!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 20
@DianneN Well we always knew there would be a possibility one day and lived in hope that we never actually witnessed it. Sadly too late now it is here!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247157)
• United States
11 Jun 20
@garymarsh6 Thanks, Gary, and the same to you and your family. Who could have imagined this happening?



2 people like this

@changjiangzhibin89 (16988)
• China
11 Jun 20
Happy birthday to you ! Even though your sixtieth birthday couldn't hold a candle to your 50th birthday in terms of scenes and atmosphere,but everyone did their best to celebrate it in the special period .
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Yes Thank you Changjiangzhibin89. Some happy memories!
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44987)
• Preston, England
11 Jun 20
happy belated birthday - sorry you got no cards there
3 people like this

@arthurchappell (44987)
• Preston, England
12 Jun 20
@garymarsh6 the post is very messed up now
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 20
@arthurchappell Like most things. Stay safe Arthur there will be better times ahead.
1 person likes this

@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
It certainly is very different indeed. Many thanks Judy! Nice to see you!
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
11 Jun 20
i am sorry about your aunt. the disease is terrible. Sounds like your family is there for you though!
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Oh yes I am very fortunate that our family is very close thankfully. Hope all is fine with you!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 20
@DocAndersen Yes it is slowly coming out here too! Very slowly and cautiously!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
11 Jun 20
@garymarsh6 all is fine thanks for asking. we are slowly coming out of lockdown here!
2 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (49980)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Jun 20
Welcome back, nice to see you again, and a belated birthday wish. Here's a virtual hug 

3 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (49980)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Jun 20
@garymarsh6 I don't socialise much anyway, so it hasn't been much of an inconvenience for me. What I missed most was going into second hand stores to look for books but some are opening up again now.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Bless you and thank you. It has been quite strange with so many things going on around us. I hope you are bearing up with these strange times.
2 people like this

@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Oh bless you thank you very much. I hope you and your family are well?
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (54135)
• Canada
12 Jun 20
@garymarsh6 Thanks Gary.
Yes we are all well, that is sweet of you to ask.
Our province is going into phase 2 of reopening tomorrow, it is a very slow process as so many of the places about to open need to be inspected first.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 20
@Juliaacv We are about to open non essential shops like clothes books etc from Monday. Not that I am one for shopping so It won't worry me to be honest.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (478543)
• Italy
11 Jun 20
Oh my goodness Gary, I am so sorry for your aunt, but I am glad that nephew recovered. A not so sad birthday as your sister surely made your day, I am glad she did not want to let a special day pass without wishing a Happy Birthday in person.
Gary, little Devil loves you, I know she does, she just wants to make you laugh, but when in need she wants to be comforted by you.
Nothing for the moment is as it used to be. We almost do not go out from our home, we meet no one, we are both "seniors" and we do our best to avoid to get contaminated.
I wish you a Belated Happy Birthday and a BIG virtual HUG to you.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Thank you Anna and the same right back to you too. It is for the best at the moment we will get our lives back to some semblance of a new normality. What that will look like no one knows yet. You are wise to stay home and isolate from others.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (478543)
• Italy
11 Jun 20
@garymarsh6 Things are getting better here, but some people seem brainless, I judge better not to go out if not necessary.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
@LadyDuck Absolutely we have our own morons here too who think it all a joke and is just a conspiracy !
2 people like this

@Tampa_girl7 (52879)
• United States
11 Jun 20
It’s nice to see you here Gary.
Yes, life is very different. I’m glad that your birthday wishes eventually got to you and that you spent some time with your family on your birthday.

3 people like this

@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Funny so near and yet so far. Hope all is well with you and your family!
2 people like this

@Marilynda1225 (85253)
• United States
11 Jun 20
I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt. Thankfully your nephew recovered.
Wishing you a very happy birthday
Life has become quite different living with pandemic restrictions but the social distancing has been the hardest for me too and not being able to see my family. Last week was the first time I saw my daughter and grandkids but we weren't able to hug. It's just plain weird how life has changed.
Hopefully we'll all be able to get back to human contact at some point.
Good to see you back Gary 


3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Thank you Marilyn I am glad to be back. I have popped my head in from time to time but I am back now. Physical contact or rather the lack of it is horrible. Not being able to hug your own children and others. I can see the future of handshaking going right out of fashion not to mention kissing on the cheeks as in Europe.Perhaps we will see more Nameste greetings or touching the heart would be good!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
OH yes doesn't it just. I hope you are keeping well and safe?
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Very true indeed and there is much hurt! Stay safe!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Hi Carol thank you. Yes you take care and stay safe too. I am glad to see you here as well!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (164671)
• United States
11 Jun 20
Some things are opening up here, but some are still restricted and I think I am basically being careful. Your unique birthday will be one for the books, I guess.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Yes afraid so. I am not alone I have heard of many people all in the same boat so we will just have to have a deferred celebration!
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58470)
• Germany
11 Jun 20
Yes it is so sad to think about the world today
I still believe that there will come a time that everything will be back to normal 


2 people like this

@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
It won't be for sometime yet but it will do! Stay safe!
2 people like this

@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Yes 60 although I teased everyone that I was really 50
but with a mental age of an 8 year old still!

1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
11 Jun 20
Hi, Happy Birthday I'm glad you had a good one under the circumstances. I'm sad though that you couldn't hug your grandchild. I do miss hugging people. Hopefully there's some movement there now, as they said on the news that from Sunday single adult families can form a bubble with another household. Sorry to hear about your aunt.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Thank you Frances yes we are quite tactile people and I think it has been very difficult not being able to give hugs. I think something like a heart tap or Nameste will symbolise the new way of greeting people.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (17229)
• Raurkela, India
12 Jun 20
The pendemic has forced all of us change our behaviour with which we are not satisfied and aren't feeling comfortable.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 20
Hi Thelma thank you for the welcome back and the birthday wishes. Yes many things have been happening. I hope you are keeping well!
2 people like this
@thelme55 (77703)
• Germany
11 Jun 20
@garymarsh6 you are very welcome. I am feeling well now.
1 person likes this
