Jun 25

Jun 25 Life in the Time of Corona Part 16 - A Brave New World?

Challenges, Corona Virus, Granada Concierge, Spain, Summer

We have been locked away for over 3 months and suddenly our doors have been opened a crack and we are allowed to venture out into a dazzling, bright, sun-filled world once again. It is a very strange sensation, almost as if we are returning to a country from where we have been absent for a generation. What will have changed, we ask ourselves, and what will this so-called new normal feel like? The truth is that none of us knows and we think that the long-term effects will only reveal themselves gradually as gaps appear in what was our life before Covid-19.

We also feel as though we have spent the past 3 months on a flimsy raft, bound together with other flimsy rafts and set adrift on a choppy ocean, clinging to each other as best we can in these threatening and uncharted waters. Now, suddenly, the ties binding us together have frayed and we are on our own again wondering where dry land might be. We have to pick up where we left off and hope that people follow us, so there is much talk in the press about how life might have changed, particularly in our various travel ventures. Strangely, though, so much seems as though we are all on our little rafts, all trying to shout out that we know the best way to dry land and yet all we can see is the vast, featureless ocean extending beyond the horizon.

That doesn’t dilute our optimism, and we find ourselves getting very excited about our future. We’ve got good sea-legs and rather than just drift, we’d sooner get paddling like demented ducks until we find a beach.

So much has happened since 14th March, we are still trying to assimilate everything we have achieved and what best to do with the results.

Firstly, the #MyTravelPledge campaign is coming to a natural conclusion. Most of our generous accommodation providers have allocated their free stays for some time in the future, once guests feel more comfortable about travelling. Despite still working on the campaign every day, it is strange that we already feel slightly detached from it; it was something that happened when we had lost our liberty for a while and now that we are free to return to a normal life, it seems part of something else. What we achieved was quite remarkable given that we started with our own home and simply thought it might help to give away a couple of free short breaks.

We were joined by 100 property owners and collectively we have given away over 155 free holidays to healthcare workers from around the world, ranging from a few nights in duration to two weeks. Allocations continue so ultimately we hope we will eventually have given away over 200 holidays. Bearing in mind that many of our hosts found themselves without bookings, income or the prospect of any business yet still offered up their homes or businesses as a thank you to those people needing a break, this has been a wonderful project. We are so grateful to have been joined by so many lovely people in all sorts of locations, and we hope beyond anything else that the recipients of these gifts are able to relax and unwind for a while, away from the ongoing maelstrom that still rages around Covid-19.

As we tentatively step out into the world, it is still strange to think that the virus has not gone away. That part of the world remains. The landscapes haven’t changed, the environments that shelter us haven’t changed. It is us who have been forced to change. The virus, cruel and ravaging in its vast sweep, drove us into hiding and the effects on all of us are only just starting to be seen.

As countries around the world wrestle with the battle between controlling infection rates, igniting economies, safeguarding individuals, the most telling threads are from the lone voices appearing on social media. Voices that tell of a fear of going out of their homes again; fear of the increase in social interaction; fear of resuming whatever was considered to be normality. There are people, like us, who have lost family members and friends and the circumstances in which we now find ourselves provide some coarse covering of our wounds; a temporary dressing that we know will drop off to reveal unhealed gashes.

Yet we still have to move forward. We can’t think too hard about the threat around every corner, otherwise we are in danger of ceasing to exist, being ever fearful of venturing beyond the front door.

We are planning for the future; our home is open to guests. Knowing the risks makes us careful. We would love to believe that the past three months have given everybody a moment in time to think about what is important to them, and it is interesting and encouraging that, everyday, we read a story about the way the world has changed. This morning, for example, I read of a large charity that is disposing of its central London offices, allowing staff to work from home and attend a much smaller office solely for meetings. One of my English language students is being called to a meeting with his company CEO on Friday to talk about the plans for the future that might involve the downsizing of office space and a move towards flexible and home working. In my time in London, I often despaired of this compulsion to have huge offices, filled with staff staring at computer screens for far too long in some misguided attempt to appear productive. If any good comes of this slap in the face it will be the reassessment of what makes individuals productive, and how employees effectively manage their time for their own sanity and health. It might also force employees to really consider the needs, health and aspirations of their valuable employees.

Unleashed now, Spain has seen a surge in the number property buyers making enquiries to buy homes here before the end of this year. Despite everything that has happened, the UK marches on relentlessly towards a future outside of the EU and many people consider that they have to make the move now in order to benefit from residency opportunities. This has produced encouraging levels of activity for our own little venture marketing properties for sale in and around Granada.

In all the turmoil of the past three or four months, there has been a constant seam of positivity in the form of Andrew’s involvement in TA-DA! Language Productions, a start-up publishing company forging a new direction in language-learning books. The CEO, Michelle Glorieux, has, with doughty determination, never allowed Covid-19 to so much as shake a stick at her determination, conviction and commitment to this exciting project. There is something gratifying about finding consistency when every other aspect of life is shaken and upset.

We’ve all been through the mill, but we are rather excited about the ideas and opportunities that refuse to be quashed by fear and doubt. We have never once doubted that we are in the right place, and it seems that we have been supported by our environment, by our neighbours, friends and distant family. Sadness, for us, comes when we see the trickle of casualties; people and businesses we hoped would survive but that are suddenly no longer there. That said, perhaps this crisis has forced their own particular reassessments for the better.

We would hate to think that so many people remain afraid, and their lives are diminished by the traumas of the first half of this year. Everyone has been affected in so many different ways, and our own approach to our business ventures here have undoubtedly been tweaked accordingly, and for the better we hope. We love our lives here; we would love nothing more than to have our families here with us. It has always been our aim to share our passion for this place with guests and visitors, so this remains undimmed. In fact, it has taken on more importance, as we collectively strive for a healthier, more sustainable, more sympathetic and considerate way of life.

Personal emotional wounds, grief and loss remain and as yet we don’t know how to deal with these. Time will tell, we have no doubt.

In the meantime, it makes sense to draw a line under our own writing about Time in the Life of Corona as life is far more than that period defined by the last 3 months. Life is to be lived and it would almost seem to be disrespectful to all those people who are no longer here to allow this period leaving us all weaker, without hope and full of fear. Does it sound too unrealistic to hope that we will change for the better? There would be no better memorial.

As for the immediate future? We have guests to cater for. Time to make jam, and compôte, bake cakes and brush up recipes. We have people to show around houses, and books to publish. We have journalists to delight with trips around our glorious adopted country, and we have lots more Spanish to learn!

MORE INFORMATION

Property consultants

If you are thinking of buying a house in Spain and would like to discuss how we can help you find the right property, then do get in touch. Likewise, if you are selling a property, find out how we reach clients who are looking to buy in Andalucia through our own unique channels. We are not estate agents; we find creative ways to market a small portfolio of property:. www.gcpropertyconsultants.com

Granada Concierge

Our CELEBRATION of SPAIN courses (Flamenco and Andalucian Cookery) will be running concurrently from September 19th - 26th September 2020. To find out more and to reserve your place visit www.granadaconcierge.com/celebrating-spain.

Casa Higueras Bed & Breakfast

If you would like to experience the beauty of Moclín and Granada province, book into our B&B and we can show you around. Visit www.casa-higueras.com to book your stay.