Thank You NHS?

Maybe it's a sign of confidence. Or perhaps, suddenly, as the number of deaths in the UK have reverted to seasonal levels, we no longer feel so obliged to the NHS. It could also be that as business gradually returns to normal, so our view of front line care staff is shifting back to the pre-March 2020 position. Or, some may have assumed it was 8p.m. like it used to be.

Whatever the reason, tonight's clap for carers was wetter than a  damp squib. It certainly didn't meet expectations. No ripple of applause marching through the air as a Mexican wave, house to house, street to street. No echoes caught against buildings and topography. No pots. No pans. No sound at all, actually.

Our governments had asked us to do one final round of applause for carers on the 72nd anniversary of the NHS, today at 5p.m. It seemed we couldn't care less.

Of the 15 houses immediately around us, other than us, only two came out. One scuttled in almost straight away when she realised there was no other responses. She gave a brief clap, as did we, before returning to the comfort of our own living room to ponder why exactly our hearts had so suddenly hardened.

But remember the second wave cometh. And that Denbighshire is a Welsh covid-19 hotspot, with some 700 confirmed cases to date.

Clap for Carers began on March 26th and lasted till May 28th, inclusive. And today. Though not round here, it seems.

Update @ 9p.m. There was actually a weak rainbow in the sky over Rhuthun/Ruthin this evening.