Claps on Thursday

How many of you go outside or through an open window and clap for the NHS and keyworkers on a Thursday evening at 8:00? Some streets have virtually everyone out clapping and banging their saucepans etc. Neighbours shout to each other and there is a frenzy of excitment as folk wave madly up and down the roads. I think also as we are deprived of social contact in these days of lockdown, it is also a social gathering we give thanks and remember, all the easier when we are in the company of others and like minded people. We have heard and seen the whoosh and pops of fireworks each Thursday evening despite the cries against it. We have waved and whistled each week from the landing window or from the front garden here at The Rectory. but there are not so many out in Rectory Drive as there were. Is this because thankfulness is waning or for other reasons?

I think that people are still very grateful, but are not sure about where waving, clapping banging our pots and pans actually gets us, or more importantly, gets the NHS and keyworkers. We have seen such difficulties, pain and so many deaths amongst the NHS and keyworkers. We have seen insufficient PPE or dwindling supplies, both in and outside hospitals and places of care and heard of crowded hospital wards and corridors. We have seen the creation of new, but temporary hospitals out of temporarily redundant buidings. We have seen these hard working keyworkers offered discounts, freebies and lovely meals and sweet goodies, provided for their rare, free moments. We can feel helpless in wanting to express our gratitude.

We are trying our best to support NHS and keyworkers with volunteers making scrubs, masks, scub bags etc, as we thought about yesterday. I know of people who cook meals and treats for the hospital staff each week as a support and to say thank you. These are huge endeavours, costly in all manner of ways and much appreciated. These members of the NHS and keyworkers remain in our prayers and thoughts, many times a day in different forms. On Tuesday we stood still and for a minute of our time remembered all those NHS and keyworkers who have died from Covid-19. A minute of our time, for the whole of their time.

I am hugely grateful to share this picture created by Alice Beetlestone, Sue's talented daughter, which some of you might have seen, but it serves as a poignant reminder of all the workers in the NHS and keyworkers beyond. Sue works for RNLI and is presently furloughed.

So, I think we clap and cheer for many reasons, one is that it is something we can actually do, that we are very supportive for all they are doing and remembering their working situations. It is a social happening which is good to be apart of and we all reap the benefits of this actions for our own well-being. Some might be a bit lethargic about things, because this is all so vast and beyond our understanding and some maybe want to do something more practical which will actually help these folk. We can all do something, we can pray, remember, make meals, cakes, sew, post a card to someone who lives near you and is a keyworker or NHS worker. We can lobby our MP for more action, equipment etc. We can support them by our social isolating and following the rules.There is always something we can do and in the meanwhile, clap, sing out, wave, cheer, bang our pots and gather to give our thanks and appreciation. It is so encouraging and meaningful, to these folk who risk so much to care and meet our needs .