Lockdown - How Are You Doing?

Hi everyone. I just wanted to say that I hope you are all doing okay. These are scary times indeed. I am pretty much staying in completely now, and have been for about the last three weeks or so. I have only walked my dog twice since this all started (we have done loads in the garden and he is getting plenty of exercise and stimulation that way, don't worry. I am very aware and love my dog to bits!)  I am asthmatic and have a compromised immune system to boot. Why increase the possibility of infection needlessly? I am fortunate to have a garden to keep me busy, and where I can sit and enjoy the warmer weather, and watch the birds and nature in general. A real tonic to soothe the mind.

My husband on the other hand, is out working 12 hour shifts, six days a week as he runs a shopping centre and market, both of which have to stay open as they sell fresh vegetables and fruit, fresh meat, and there is a post office, Boots and food store on the mall. He has come into contact (2 metres distance!) with some individuals these past three weeks, who could only be described as mindless morons. But maybe that's enough said about that. They are not my stories to tell, but even hearing about certain attitudes and behaviours second-hand makes me irate! I worry about him, of course.

He is no different to so many others at the moment. People who have to go out into this very frightening and potentially very dangerous world, day in, day out, because their job roles are vital to the day to day lives of the millions of people in this country, and the world further afield. Then there are our health professionals and care workers, who must be exhausted to their very bones as well as frightened at what they have to face every day, heartbroken at what they have witnessed. I can't imagine what they are feeling and so I am not going to pretend to know. All I can say is that they have my endless respect, gratitude and thanks for what they do.

There may well be someone reading this who has already lost a friend or loved one to this awful, lethal virus. To you all I can say is that I am sincerely, deeply sorry, and that I wish you love and strength,

I won't stray into politics. I have my opinions and doubtless you have yours, but personally, I don't feel now is the right time for all that. We have to do the best with what we have got. Once this is over, when we all feel safer and hopefully there is a vaccine and a more effective treatment available to all, then will be the time for finger-pointing, apportioning blame (if that helps) and working out what we did right and what we can do better next time, should there ever be a next time, which no one wants. Besides, this is not a political blog and my site is not a political site.

Some people may wonder why read or write horror now, when the world is in itself an ongoing horror story. Whoever would have imagined we could really come this close to an apocalypse? Since I am a horror writer as well as a lover of horror fiction, this is something I have had cause to think deeply about, recently.

For me, the answer to 'Why horror?' is much the same as it ever was. perhaps magnified now. It is to an extent a reflection of real life. Except, when I am writing it, I am in charge of it. How far the horror goes, who it affects, how and when it ends, are all factors under my control. Yours too, as a reader. You can simply close the book and it all goes away.

It is also a means of venting; fear, anger, doubt, as well as celebrating all that is good and noble about the human spirit: hope, courage and determination. Not to say I absolutely wallow in horror fiction to the exclusion of all else. Those of you who follow me and who have read some of my other writing, know that is not the case. But certainly, the horror genre is to me not only compelling and absorbing, but also something of a release both as a writer and a reader. 

So if you were wondering why horror now, of all times and of all things - there's your answer. If you want to ask me any more questions, if you want to share your experiences, tell me how you feel, what you are doing, where you are, feel free. Now more than ever we need to talk, to share and to support one another, friends and strangers all. All I ask is that we don't do the politics thing.

Take care of yourselves and of each other. Stay Safe, Stay at Home, Save the (wonderful) NHS. Now is the ideal time to do some reading. Whatever book you pick up, whichever book you download to your reader, whichever author wrote it, I hope you enjoy it. I hope you lose yourself in it, forget the world for a little while.

S P Oldham.