07.04.2020

Markets opened strongly this morning on news of Boris Johnson’s immanent death. That’s a strange sentence, felt wrong. Let me try again. Markets opened strongly this morning on news of Boris Johnson’s immanent death.

At the time of writing, about half an hour after the markets opened at 8am, the FTSE 250 is up over 4% and the FTSE 100 up at 3%. The 250 is a more accurate representation of the UK economy because the 100 is mostly international companies, whereas the 250 is the biggest UK PLCs. So what do these messages from the oracle tell us? Are the gods appeased by Boris’ offer of the ultimate sacrifice? Perhaps. Perhaps.

Over night news broke that the prime minister had been moved into intensive care. He was already in hospital on oxygen, so presumably he’s now on a ventilator (Michael Gove denies this). I’ve read only 50% of patients survive once they get into intensive care. I don’t wish death on anyone, but it will be intolerable if he survives. He’ll be the embodiment of British exceptionalism, bull dog spirit, spitfires, Tudor roses, lions, unicorns, and racism. On the other hand, if he dies, he’ll be a martyr to the far right. I can imagine a royal epitaph on his grave, something like the Prince of Wales’ motto, ich dien (I serve), and a fawning state funeral. At least he’s at an NHS hospital.

Dominic Raab seems to already have assumed control. It’s going to be an absolute disaster.

It’s wrong to dehumanise anyone, but it’s hard to have compassion for someone who’s showed so little themselves. I can only imagine how much of a laughing stock Britain must be around the world. Only a few weeks ago our journalists were mocking the Iranians for the death of several government ministers, suggesting it implied they were incompetent, or in disarray. At that time Boris was boasting about shaking hands with coronavirus victims and saying we should ‘take it on the chin.’ Fool.

Tonight will be my last shift at the pizza place. I’m done. I walked out after about half an hour yesterday. One of the stricken showed up again. The guy who doesn’t speak English, he lives with the cougher who was sent home two weeks ago. When he showed up I asked him how he was, he made the so so, gesture with his hands. Over google translate I asked him when the coughing stopped, he said two days ago. With that I was out.

There are a lot of studies about how people are infectious for two weeks after they get better, but the government’s advice is that people can return to work either after 7 days after first showing symptoms, or when symptoms finish. I argued with the boss about this, but I’m not risking it, there’s no space for social distance, and there’s a good chance the guy is still spreading. If I get it, three more people will probably get it, and on and on. So, why take the risk?

So I stuck the bike back in the lock up and took the train home, unsure if I would come back. There’s evidence our borrower Christopher is back. Must be doing some writing because he left a copy of Roget’s Thesaurus in there.

On the subject of risk, what I said to the boss was ‘I’m sorry I can’t take unnecessary risks.’ But I will take necessary ones. The huge NHS field hospital I applied to work at got back to me. I’ve been invited in for an induction day, either Thursday or Friday, not been assigned yet. Working there is a risk, but so is delivering pizza, I think any work outside is. The difference is these wankers who keep ordering pizzas don’t need them, but the work in the hospital has to get done. I may be a porter or I may be driving, or something called tea point, I don’t know. I’m also not sure if I will be working in a red zone, where the patients are, or if I’ll be support staff outside (hopefully only medics will be allowed in with the patients, I really want to avoid this virus).

I actually think working at that hospital will be less dangerous because the employer will understand about safety and risk, and won’t put lives on the line for profit. And if I did get sick, I know I’d be looked after and get sick pay. The pay is also much better. You get time and a half on Saturdays and double time on Sundays, more again if you work nights and you get holiday pay. The shift pattern is also better. You work long days, 12.5 hours, but it’s four on four off, so you’re guaranteed to get the better paying weekends, and get a good four-day break between. They also put you up at a hotel near by if you want, which I may do on my on days. I can drive there too if I want, and I get protective gear, and I know everything will be cleaned constantly. They’ve asked that you come clean shaven so the mask can seal properly.

I’m sure it will be exhausting and scary, but we’re living in an exhausting scary time. I would much rather be out doing what I can to help, than sat at home getting into worse debt than I already am, or doing meaningless toil like delivering pizzas with no end in sight. I won’t be spending any money either, they give you travel and food allowance on top of the already good pay. Maybe I’ll earn enough to buy a little motorbike or save it and put it towards a university course.

I'm young enough to be low risk (although among the several nurses and doctors who have died, some were my age), but old enough to get on with a serious job like this. So who else should do it? 10 London bus drivers have died. It's terrible. 

Let’s see what happens. If it’s truly like a war zone and I can’t do it, I won’t. I have no illusions about serving my country, I wouldn’t want to, but I will serve the people. But I have to keep in mind the people includes myself, if the risks are too great, I'll stop. Just go home, sit it out on the dole till I get another job.