"The irony is you can’t use real rain to make movies."
Greg Kinnear
Irony (n) - defined by the Oxford Dictionary Online as “happening in a way contrary to what is expected, and typically causing wry amusement because of this.”
This blog features a classic example of irony, unlike the questionable version portrayed in the 1995 Alanis Morrisette hit “irony” with lyrics including “it’s like rain on your wedding day” – unlucky yes – ironic no.
"To me the biggest irony of this lifetime that I'm living is that for someone who thrives in the public eye in the creative ways that I do, I actually don't enjoy being in the public eye."
Alanis Morrisette
So what makes my ironic situation a cast-iron example? I have written previously of my concerns particularly during the early days of the Covid pandemic, of my unwillingness to visit crowded indoor places, and my continued mask-wearing on rare excursions, despite contradictory evidence around their effectiveness.
Flash back to 3 weeks ago, and I was getting ready for a return visit to the Glasgow Science Centre with my daughter and grandson. This was one exception I had made in the spring (blog #93) and we had had an enjoyable trip, so I was genuinely looking forward to going again.
A hasty dash from the tumble dryer in the garage resulted in a freak accident. I caught my heel in the back door and ended up with a deep open gash around my achilles tendon...the hinge that opens and closes every time you move your foot!
The irony? Having avoided any trips which I considered unnecessary (including hospitality, retail and entertainment venues) the only places I have visited in the past month are the vaccine centre and twice-weekly trips to my local health centre to have the wound dressed. At the time of writing, healing is slow and pain is fluctuating, but those are nothing compared to my frustration and bewilderment that simply catching my foot in the door could have such consequences.
"Life is that perfect fine line between ironies."
Serj Tankian
Suffice to say I was unable to go to the Science Centre and had to make do with photos and videos as Fraser soaked up the fun and atmosphere.
My new car (blog #103) is sitting idly in the drive and giving me dirty looks! An automatic, it only requires my right foot! Guess which foot is injured? Oh the irony!
But there must be an upside? I’ve had plenty of time for rest and relaxation – and experienced little change to my working routine, given it is all done from home and over Zoom/Teams.
I found a great shower aid to cover bandages/casts etc on the lower leg. Someone obviously had a sense of humour, or perhaps irony, when they named it StrideOn.
I’ve sought out new recipes – and particularly tried to focus on healthy ingredients to boost my immune system and aid healing. So the freezer has a stock of broccoli and cauliflower soup, sweet potato, lentil and apple soup and I had my first go at making hummus. I’m on first-name terms with the supermarket delivery drivers and home delivery is once again an essential service for me.
A fan of the Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club series, I devoured his third book, "The Bullet that Missed" on audio, and powered my way through Lionel Shriver’s “Should we Stay or Should we Go?” and Alex Gray's "Glasgow Kiss." The latter two offer yet more examples of irony.
I am attempting to bring some balance to my Covid angst by reading "A State of Fear: How the UK government weaponised fear during the Covid-19 pandemic" by Laura Dodsworth. I’m part-way through the book, and it’s too soon to form a firm conclusion, but elements of it are disconcerting to say the least. Although mask-wearing is still mandatory in the health centre.
"It's no small irony that the government inevitably and invariably ends up promoting precisely that which they would most like to repress."
Jock Sturgess
I was given the opportunity to embark on an 8 week mindfulness course, which I gratefully accepted and recognised as a very welcome example of serendipity. I am already benefitting from the practices I have grasped so far, and even managed to adopt a sitting version of “movement for mindfulness.”
My next blog will be due in a month, and I sincerely hope to be much more mobile, less home-bound and free of irony! Watch this space. Although… is irony such a bad thing?...
"The problem with Google is you have 360 degrees of omnidirectional information on a linear basis, but the algorithms for irony and ambiguity are not there. And those are the algorithms of wisdom."
William Hurt
Take care, lead well
Lesley