Ratios

Virus Tales.  :   Ratios 

15:1

Our pilot and co- pilot sat waiting to fly our Boeing 777 eastwards towards sun and warmth . The 350 excited ( well we were ) passengers were looking forward to join them . Then I noticed another 24 Emirates staff who would be looking after us . Their role was to turn this aircraft into a flying canteen , complete with the latest movies. We were not disappointed . 

4:1

The Maldives has been called ( by “ the Island President “ ; he of underwater cabinet fame ) ..”paradise crossed with paradise”  . “ Your life jacket is …” ; but no body listens to the rest . Normally the chance of crashing , and then on water , is infinitesimal . The Maldives may be 1000 odd islands , but is 99.something water. So if our sea plane was going to come down early , then is would be on water . Now where is that life jacket . We were reassured by the presence of two pilots again , ( one of whom was our grand daughters uncle ! ) ; but this time there were only 8 passengers . 

1:1

The’ terminal’ was a 3*6 metre pontoon , fortunately the sea was calm  and  , we were quickly met with our personal speed boat . With four crew for the now remaining four of us ; this was indeed personal attention for our 10 minute transfer from the runway lagoon to the island .

 1:2

We had indeed  arrived in paradise . Isolated in our own personal beach shack ;….actually a 150m2 villa with …well everything ; which included its very own gym, sauna and outside bathrooms ,bigger than most peoples garden !We were PCR’ed to ensure the resort remained Covid free. This  island is covered in greenery , totally separating us from the other 200 residents . This time we were being looked after more staff than there were passengers on our first flight . For the few , paradise needs the support of the many.

Is it running yet ?

 Is it running yet ? well it ought to be . It hasn’t for months , it was sometime earlier this year ; so long ago that I can’t remember . Strange that time is now measured in Covid events . Was it before or after the last restrictions ? Well that is not relevant to today . We are now liberated ; can eat and drink at out favourite places . But is it running yet ?

For over a day now it has been dark, cold and the rain lashing . More like the north of England than  the south of France . The heating, and lighting, have been switched on throughout the day . We remain huddled indoors , the outside looks very unfriendly . This unforgotten phenomenon  of continuous rain has forced (me)  to check that the house is still watertight . Suitable clad in waterproof ..everything ..I ventured forth. Drains were clear , rainwater harvesting in full-bore . But it still wasn’t running.

The second day off rain it finally started . The thirst of the hills and fields had  been quenched and rain was finally running-off into our river valley ; resurrecting our very own stream . Well we wouldn’t what to lay claim to that ! After a prolonged dry spell , the heavy rain  was washing off vegetation detritus and uncollected farm waste. The river was exhibiting  a very polluted brown colour,  which the mediterranean would have to deal with .

 It took a further day for the stream  to clear ; but then less than a week for it to disappear again. We must hope for further rainfall events to replenish water resources, or should we assume that the climate has permanently changed , and plan accordingly . Something it seems all governments are failing to to do with sufficient urgency. They too are not yet running !