No way out of Covid’s trap
The pandemic has brought about a new syndrome, and it has me in its icy grip.
We’ve been through FOF (fear of failure), FOMO (fear of missing out) and some of you may have been to Fogo Island in Newfoundland, a province that’s top of my must-visit list after seeing Come From Away at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre. Getting to the production required me to overcome temporary FOGO (fear of going out), a newish syndrome brought about by working from home during the pandemic and forgetting to change out of one’s nightwear, remove hair rollers and so forth. Going out means being fully clothed, alert and engaged, and holding in one’s stomach, which was half as round and squashy this time last year.
Yes, I have been wearing rollers at all hours, having turned into a scary latter-day version of Coronation Street’s Hilda Ogden. Recently, I ventured out for a coffee with S, a neighbour, and something round and spiky slipped down my back. It was a small roller that had been nesting in a curly mess on my neck until it slid inside my jumper. I put up a fight until it landed on the cafe floor.
FOGO has me in its icy grip. The weather doesn’t help, with record lows and days that end so swiftly and far too early as if a blackout blind just descends and, whoosh, all is dead dark but at least you can find your dressing gown and slippers, because you’ve had them on all day. Going to the theatre involved an overnight stay at a city hotel and I decided not to check in with an overnight bag but my new Nespresso tote, which I like because it was “free” and I only had to buy 4000 capsules to be eligible for the giveaway. The porter looked at me askance but I didn’t want him anywhere near it as my Best & Less nightie was folded on top, complete with yogurt smears on the sleeves. In the depths were six capsules, just in case, like most hotels, there would be only two provided, displayed like a pair of drop earrings next to the machine.
As it turned out, said hotel had a coffee-maker that took completely different capsules. Which is why next day at lunch in a fancy-trousers restaurant with my friend P, as I fossicked in my bag for my purse, out rolled those tiny coffee containers, rollers of three sizes with bits of my hair attached, bath gel miniatures I’d nicked from the guestroom and an emergency pair of industrial-strength knickers (laundered) because there are days when one layer of elastic is barely enough.
On a more uplifting note, Come From Away is a delightful production based on the true tale of the townsfolk of Gander, Newfoundland, who took in planeloads of passengers stranded during the 9/11 disaster of 2001. A tote bag fits neatly under the theatre seats, too. Consider this a public service announcement.
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