Tag: coronavirus

Squalor (Part VI)

For almost everyone, Covid was a time of dread but from Meredith’ perspective, rarely had life been so good. To feel the drops of warm water splashing against her face as she had a shower felt like pure luxury. That and the fact that she didn’t need to worry where her next meal was coming from, at least for now. It had taken some doing to readjust to sleeping in a bed, it was just so soft. In fact, she couldn’t sleep at all till she tried the floor on her first night there. Hopefully, she’d get back to sleeping in a bed for the full night at some stage.

Two days had now passed since he had taken her in and it had been pure bliss. She still had no idea what Aaron did for a living, just that it used words such as “leverage”, “call” and “put”. He had insisted on buying her some new clothes.

“I can’t have you going round the apartment in rags. It just wouldn’t be right.”

She didn’t argue.

The apartment was the ideal size for them. She got to see plenty of him during the day, but there was still somewhere for them to go if they wanted some alone time, which was never for her but she knew that he needed to work.

She loved the time she got to spend with him, he was quirky but they shared the same sense of humour and that made the days fly-by,

“Wow”

Aaron looked shocked when she entered the living area after the shower and putting on some of her new clothes.

“What?”

“You look amazing Meredith. You really do spruce up well.”

Mededith suddenly felt herself hotting up. It had been so long since anybody had paid her a compliment, not to mention from a handsome man her own age, part of her just wanted to cry. It didn’t matter to her that he used a wheelchair, she wanted to run her hands through his hair, to touch those thin arms. To get lost in those brown eyes. She quickly went to the couch to regain her composure.

Aaron suggested they watch a film for the rest of the evening. It was at best only somewhat entertaining. Parts of it, a terrible bore.

“I think I’ll let you pick the film next time.”

“Yes, I think so,” she laughed.

But all she really wanted to do was to snuggle up to him.

(If you enjoy my writing, don’t forget to follow me on my blog, my twitter @markahern2000 or on facebook – markswritingcorner.)

Lauren and James Pt 1 (romance)

Lauren was never quite sure what she wanted to do with her life. But she knew one thing for certain, her days working at a supermarket were over. She was just sick of it, the long hours, the rude customers and the back stabbing co-workers. The coronavirus was the final nail in the coffin. It just wasn’t a job worth dying for and the weeks of stress had taken its toll.

Her mother was not impressed.

“What are you going to do now? And you with no education.”

But Laura didn’t care. After all, she was in her mid-thirties now, old enough to make her own decisions. There would be no change of heart.

The lack of education was something of a problem though. She had regretted leaving school early for quite some time, but there was little she could do about it now.

She had a plan, check the local papers each day and a few key websites. She was sure she would find something although she knew it might take some time.

But the days, then weeks passed. This really wasn’t the kind of economy to be looking for a job in. No jobs were advertised most days. Eventually though, she saw something that piqued her interest.

Personal Assistant required for weekend word for physically disabled man. No prior experience necessary. Please contact…

It wouldn’t have been the kind of job that she had thought about doing previously but she might as well look into it. After all, she had nothing to lose. Later that day she rang the contact number, trying to make sure to sound enthusiastic on the phone.

“Hello! I’m ringing about the job advertisement in the papers.”

An aged voice spoke back to her.

“Oh yes, it’s for my son you see. He needs assistance on Saturdays/Sundays. It would be private work for a number of hours each day. Ten euro per hour. If you are interested we’re looking for someone to start straight away.”

Laura was caught off guard and unsure what to say next.

“Yes, I can start straight away.”

There was a palpable sense of relief coming from the other side of the phone.

“Good! You can start this Saturday afternoon.”

He then gave her a complex set of directions, which she hastily tried to write down on a small piece of paper. Then, before she knew it it, he put down the phone.

For the next few days, she wondered if she was doing the right thing but in the end she decided that she might as well give it a try. Before she knew it Saturday had arrived and she was trying to follow the haphazard directions. The house was in a very rural location. The greenery made a nice change for Lauren, but she wished that there were people around to seek directions from. Eventually, she was pretty sure that she had located the correct house and she tried to steady her nerves as she parked in front of what was a large, imposing house. It had a beautiful, wooded area toward the front and Lauren found herself wondering what the back was like.

She had just managed to put on her mask, when an old man, probably in his seventies gingerly walked towards her car.

“This must be Lauren,” he said with a wide smile as she got out of the car.

In truth, she could barely get a word in as he showed her in through the front door.

****

James hadn’t expected to feel so down but he was. Martha had been one of the rocks that he had come to depend on. For five years, she had been by his side. Like clockwork, she had shown up each day and helped him with the little things. Ever since that faithful day, he had finally managed to make it home. But now she was gone to what he had to admit was a well deserved retirement.

Now, he had to get used to “new people” as his father called it.

There would be a new carer coming Saturday, he wasn’t to worry. All James knew was that it was another woman. Probably another old woman, he thought to himself.

Saturday arrived and if he hadn’t already known, he would have by his excited father. Talkative at the best of times, he had notched it up a gear. The poor woman better like to chat, he thought to himself as he heard the sound of a car pulling up.

The new University Experience

Well readers, I do hope you are all keeping in good form. I’m just after reading that universities are going to start moving to a hybrid method of operation. Yes you’ve guessed it, they want to reduce to the risk due to the coronavirus and they now want to keep students off campus as much as possible and instead go online as if they are an inconvenience rather than the central plank of the whole thing.

It got me thinking. Like, have these people never heard of youtube. This part of the market is already cornered. And the main problem for the universities is it is for free. Want to learn advanced Maths? It’s all there. Universities always had “college life” on their side. But what insane kind of individual is going to sign up to four years of drudgery, with no sex or alcohol and large debt afterward , rather than go elsewhere and learn it faster. I know that I wouldn’t anyway.

As for teachers and their precious existence, it’s like they want to show the world that they can done without. Even the slightest risk is too high a price to pay. Perhaps the government should just fire them all to keep them permanently happy.

But the worst reaction to the virus has surely has to be from the main Churches in Ireland, which allegedly still believe in an afterlife. That both seems to have long sailed. They couldn’t shut fast enough, long ago having becoming more concerned with flesh than souls. No doubt they’ll be last to reopen too, when they are sure there is no longer a threat to their earthly existence.

The first part of my latest novel will be put up over the weekend. Don’t forget to like, comment and share. Till next time..

Pandemic of Crime (comedy)

My dear readers, today I have to inform you about something very serious in these awful Covid-19 times.  There is a much greater pandemic that you need to fear – it is a pandemic of crime.  But not of drugs and illicit sex.

I think we can still all remember the good old days.  Remember, when all you had to worry about was getting high or maybe being robbed or knifed on your way to get some groceries.

But now the world is beset by a plague of social distancing crime.  All you have to do is look out your window to see the horror of people walking too close together or too far from their homes.  The worst is the little kiddies or what I like to call “germ grenades”.  Honestly, what way are they being raised to not know to come within two metres of anyone.

Things have gotten so bad I had to report my own parents yesterday.  They told me where they were going for their “walk” and when I did the calculation after they left, it was 2.05km away.  You can only imagine my shock.  Talk about setting their impressionable 40 year-old son a bad example.  Well being the good citizen that I am, I immediately rang the local Garda Station.

“You want to report your parents, really?”

“Yes Sir,” I replied with conviction, “and you should fine them.  They knew what they were doing.”

Things haven’t really been the same in the house since.  The parents keep saying that they don’t want me there anymore.  Eh, haven’t they learned anything?  That would just be another breach.  I told them not to worry,  I won’t leave them alone during the crisis.

That’s it for now readers.  Stay safe everyone.

Covid-19 Survival Guide #3 (Comedy)

Well hello, readers!  I’m still here.  Hey, I’m as surprised as anyone.  This crisis we’re going through is shockingly boring though.  I don’t know, I think I was expecting more excitement.  Like if there was a nuclear war we could go outside and see the fireworks.  Whereas this crisis is all about shutting yourself off from everything.  Quite frankly, I would have prepared to read about it in the history books.

No sport too – what a disaster.  At this stage, I’d be happy to watch two ants climbing a wall.  But just my luck, I can’t find any.  There is a spider but where’s the competition?  Life is so cruel.  Maybe what we need is a transfer market.  So people can buy/sell their spiders and form teams.  Then we could have a league.  Maybe it’s the delirium but I feel it could work.  To remember the olden times we could call it The Premiership.

So these days I’m working from home.  Probably just as well, my hair is a mess.  Honestly, next time I must get it cut before the world goes to hell.  I get to look into a computer screen all day but at least I can turn on some music and wear my pajamas (so comfy).  Guess things could be worse.

So, it looks like this evil coronavirus is going to long overstay its welcome.  Remember everyone, wash your hands and coronavirus, please go away!

 

 

Covid-19 Survival Guide #2 (comedy)

Well readers, I am sure your all just as happy as me to hear that I’m still alive and kicking, well alive anyway.

I am here hunkered down in front of my computer typing away.  Much like every other Saturday I guess, but now with a new found sense of doing my duty, even if I had feck all else to do anyway.  If only it was always so easy to serve my country.

This crisis is having many profound effects on my psychology though and it may prove disastrous for my writing.  Usually I thoroughly enjoy writing about misery and death, but recently it has not been the same.  It’s like my heart’s not in it anymore.  I’m even thinking about writing something happy instead, maybe even a romance novel or something.  Ew!  Maybe I have that infection already..

During these times of crisis I’m trying to keep my mind focused on the important things in life like house prices and what is happening to the ISEQ.  Of course, making sure Ihave adequate tvs and working broadband to see me through any potential quarantine is also vital.  So many things to worry about.

I am also worried about you my dear readers.  Hopefully none of yous kick the bucket.  That would be really bad for my site statistics.

Till next time.  Remember to wash your hands!

Coronvirus Covid 19 Survival Guide (comedy)

My dear readers, I know that you are looking for leadership at this time of crisis and I feel that I with no medical knowledge or experience whatsoever should offer some advice.  Afterall, if Trump is doing it, it must be grand.

Sure really it’s all a bit of common sense.

We all know that the best way to get better from something is to pass it on.  This should be really easy in the open plan offices we have these days (don’t worry, I’m sorted).  So god forbid you become infected, make sure to have a good cough here, there and everywhere.  I’m sure you’ll get lucky.  If there’s people you don’t like now would be time to spend some time with them.

Very important – remember the three second rule.  Otherwise, I guess you really should think about washing things.

Don’t drink water.  Only drink “living” water from fruit.  Eh, you want to die being fashionable, don’t you?  And everyone know germs need water to survive.

Make sure you have Netflix.  Sometimes the apocalypse can be a tad slow and boring.  You may have to spend a lot of time indoors.

Watch the Walking Dead and remember things could always be worse.  Mmm scratch that one.  It could teach you useful survival tips though.

Don’t plan for the future.  There’s simply no point.  No more studying or saving for trips that are now impossible.

Don’t panic.  Only joking, of course you should!  We’re all going to die.

(The writer accepts no responsibility for this article.)