We humans are ever so fond of experiences – looking forward to them, getting the most out of them, nattering about them afterwards.

During lockdown proper (as opposed to lockdown imminent, this Philosopher-In-Residence writes with a furrowed brow), I trundled my way through all the standard experiential approaches to spending 24/7 on one’s tod.

I pretended for a while to be interested in gardening and developing green fingers (this even progressed as far as a friend creating a planting plan for my garden, researching planting months and adding seeds to a shopping list that never got bought).

I reacquainted myself with hanging washing on the line instead of tumbledrying, and saw it my laundry-maiden’s duty to recline in the sun in the vicinity of the washing line in order to properly supervise its drying progress.

I got REALLY interested in TV movies, since my cinematic favourite experience of the corny horror movie was out of reach.

I sorted through some things I didn’t need, and left them out by my gate for passers-by to take, in a covid-safe fashion.

I read more books in 3 months than I’d probably read in the past 3 years, and they went back into the neighbourly economy down at the local book swap box.

I watched a kids TV programme at the same time as my sister and baby niece in the mornings to make up for not being able to see them. (Small Potatoes, since you asked).

I revisited lots of recipes I hadn’t made for ages, and enjoyed them.

I tried out lots of recipes I hadn’t made before, for things I don’t normally eat, and didn’t enjoy many of them (nothing ventured…)

Not completely last, nor least, I found an old book that had been a birthday gift from my Great Aunty Thora to my Great Uncle Joe in September 1959, The Cheerful Day. They would have been around the age I am now at the time.

Written by H.L. Gee, it’s a thought for the day genre and the October 1^st entry, well, I couldn’t reflect On Experiences much better than this:

“FIRST THINGS”

“This is the first day of the month. Wonderful things are first times. Do you remember the first time you whistled? Glorious it is to do things for the first time – to go to school, to begin work, to see her and feel your heart beat faster, to paint your first picture, or make your first speech. Wonderful!

Then the wonder and the glory fade.

Wretched indeed are the people who have lost the spirit of first things – the spirit of wonder and of eagerness and intense joy. Pray that at the last you may have the youthful spirit you had at the first.”

Puts this peculiar year into a fitting perspective, so this Philosopher-In-Residence reckons.

Next fortnight, I’ll be musing On Menopause. Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this topic you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning