Impact of restrictions on life

FOLLOWING my letter of March 26th 2021 Alex Summers asks how I would react to draconian restrictions on my liberty etc? Post war rationing dictated much of what we could buy or do and that lasted for the first seven years of my life until 1954. Few under the age of 60 understand the extent to which it curtailed everything you did or not as the case may be. Television in those days was in its infancy, restricted to one black and white channel, and where you lived also dictated the strength of the signal received. Those who had telephones often had to share their lines with others. Eavesdropping by some was a daily hazard for intimate interludes. Data protection was unheard of in those days. During the fifties and sixties clubs were the thing to be a part of. YMCA, YWCA, Ramblers and Youth Hosteling, Boys Brigade, Scouts and Guides, youth clubs were ten a penny. There was always plenty to occupy even the most wayward individuals. We didn't have smartphones, internet or social media, we made our own entertainment. Forward now to employment at fifteen. Three years full time work, day release and four nights night school to be ready for college at eighteen. The nearest thing to the recent lockdown was Foot and Mouth in 1967 where we were confined to the college campus for nearly three months. I suppose you could deam those draconian restrictions on my liberty. But restrictions for a purpose to stop the virus spreading. Having worked as a youth leader over forty years ago in York and Ilkley I can assure you I am not without knowledge of what our young folk need in times like these. However the smoking of an illegal substance is not the way to go about it. That is but a small part of my seventy four years, Alex Summers, I'm willing to share with you and the rest of the folk. The cure for boredom is curiosity, there's no cure for curiosity. Take care and support our independent traders.