Do you have any post-pandemic plans?
Don’t you just miss making weekend or holiday plans? I definitely miss all that.
The whole world is in a fix right now with travel bans, lockdowns and various other restrictions being a staple. We are all in one giant prison. Covid-19 has made sure of that.
By this time last year, or any other year before that, many people would already be making plans for the festive holidays.
I, for one, am a Vic Falls Carnival addict and by now would have already booked my accommodation and will probably be in the process of making travel arrangements.
While this event is usually held at the end of December into the New Year, bookings are always made earlier with affordable accommodation selling out months before.
Now that this event is most likely not to take place this year, I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do with my festive holiday.
The worst part is that I can’t even make any solid plan because the pandemic and its effects are still the major determining factors.
Right now in Zimbabwe we are under lockdown and the restrictions make it even hard for domestic travel. We also have a curfew on top of all that.
March 22 was the last day that I enjoyed my last outing (at Motor Action Sports Club) as events and large gatherings were banned a few days later, with a 21-day total lockdown coming into effect on the 30th of that month.
For the past five months, our homes have become normal drinking holes. Of late there has been a spike of house parties as people look for alternatives to quench their clubbing thirsts (I have never been to one).
While I wouldn’t stand up to be counted among alcoholics, I sure do love my drinks. But these days I can go for days on end without taking a sip of the wise waters.
Drinking at home has never been my thing and while I tried readjusting my habits, I just don’t get the essence of drinking alone. Some people do it all the time, but personally, I don’t see the point.
I have heard some saying drinking at home is a waste of alcohol, and I agree with them.
“Drinking at home is a waste of alcohol. I need a place where I can promise people jobs, tenders and connections,” wrote someone on social media.
I sometimes just look at my white Converse kicks and reminisce on the Mondays when they would be so dirty from being stepped on during weekend escapades. They have been super clean for months.
I have seen some people filling up their cooler boxes, not to go anywhere special, but just to chill by their lawns or by the roadside, so as to have that feeling of drinking in the outdoors.
We need to be out there in the club or other interesting social outings (speaking on behalf of hardcore merrymakers, not casual fun seekers). But I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Not at this rate at least.
I was having a conversation with one promoter a few months back and he was confident that showbiz would be back on track by September. Well, so much for being optimistic but I just don’t see that happening.
However, this whole phase will pass at some point. Either that or we are just going to accept that the virus is not going anywhere and we find ways to reopen the world and live with it.
My question is, when that day comes, what are you planning on doing?
Some of the people I have had conversations with have highlighted that they will take a chill pill for a bit as they don’t want to ‘rush’ out when the virus is still a threat.
Personally, I have also had the same thoughts at one point, but right now, I am sure I will jump out the first opportunity I get. Maybe I am just getting used to the idea that Covid-19 is here to stay and the sooner we learn to live with it, the better.
When lockdown restrictions are lifted, clubs reopen and concerts are given the greenlight, I am going hard on all that from the word go.
Hopefully club owners and show promoters are already planning ahead to ensure that measures are put in place to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.
We want to have fun, but at the same time we want to do it in safe environments so efforts should be made to try and protect patrons and concert goers (good luck trying tell drunk people to observe social distancing).
There is a need to come up with new concepts that are compatible with the current situation that we are in.
The Virgin Money Unity Arena in Newcastle, England, has taken the lead by introducing a socially distanced concert venue.
The first gig held at the venue headlined by English indie-rock act Sam Fender attracted about 2 500 fans spread out across the horse-track-turned-arena in socially distanced pods.
Many local events can take a leaf from this concept when we are finally allowed to host such.
There are many other areas that should be looked at including provision of sanitizers, disinfecting venues, sanitization of glassware, controlling the traffic at bar areas and toilets among other things.
Drunk people are a bit difficult to control, but hopefully we will all comply with whatever regulations that are going to be put in place.
I just pray and hope that we manage to overcome this pandemic so that we can get back to normalcy.
These are my personal thoughts and not necessarily a representation of the other bloggers on this platform. I am the wild one, the lost sheep if you may say and judge me in my personal capacity.
I would also want to hear your thoughts and post-pandemic plans. Hit the comment section, share this with your friends so that we get a conversation going.
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