Rory Gibson: I miss my sons, spontaneity and the local pub 

Rory Gibson says he’s surprised by the things he misses during this time of social distancing and home isolation.

It’s interesting, don’t you think, how being deprived of just about everything makes you take stock of what is really important to you?

I believed, for example, I’d really miss the footy. And I do, but nowhere near as much as I reckoned. There’s plenty of great content to take its place. We’re lucky we live in a digital streaming age, though - can you imagine surviving lockdown with only free-to-air television for company?

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I’m missing my sons. Or more accurately, I’m agitated that seeing them on a whim is hugely problematic, requiring a border crossing and two weeks’ isolation. I want to hug them, for no particular reason, but can’t.

Australia is a big, open continent where people think nothing of travelling vast distances to see friends, family or lovers, and borders have always seemed notional - except at State of Origin time, obviously. Now they are real barriers, just like in other more tricky countries. Who would have thought?

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Spontaneity. It’s a big loss. Not just for me but everyone I imagine. It’s tedious having to consider every single activity within a framework of such tight (but understandable) restrictions. But there is opportunity in adversity, and this is a great time for those who yearn for the demise of Western civilisation and democracy. This is what Stalinist Russia was like, minus the death squads. Lap it up, comrades.

In my little hamlet on the coast it’s hard to complain about anything, because we are privileged with beaches and a river and these are available for use because the population is small and social distancing is manageable. But what is difficult is walking past the pub each day and seeing its doors shut.

When I was looking for a house to buy the only stipulation I gave the agent was it had to be within walking distance of the pub. In country towns, pubs are more than just places in which you can buy a beer and a burger. There are always familiar faces, meat tray raffles for the local teams, the Salvos wandering about wanting your change, the bar staff who know what you like to drink, lots of people to have a chat with.

I really miss that.