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Playing by ear

My father could play the piano.  Not an unusual skill but he was deaf.  He lost his  hearing fighting in the army in India in the 30s so he was an adult when he lost it and therefore remembered tunes, even though he couldn't hear him.  However he didn't have the skill to learn anything new so  either you liked the old music or you didn't.  He used to say that he played by ear and then would roar with laughter.  He would have struggled in many ways with modern living but most of all during the pandemic, he would have lost his ability to communicate as he always lip read.  There must be thousands of people like him today who still rely on reading lips to understand,  in fact all of us do it to some extent, so please be patient if someone is struggling to communicate while you are wearing a mask.

I went to the supermarket today and at the check out, the cashier asked me to move the trolley into a particular position.  As I manoeuvred it as instructed, I asked her why I had to it.  'So I can help you pack your shopping and put it into the trolley,' she replied.  So why did she let the shopping pile up on the counter, while the queue behind me got longer, and sat there for five minutes watching me pack my shopping?

I hate wearing a mask, they are hot, but if it means getting to the end of this pandemic then I shall continue to stick to the rules.  Are you listening Mr Trump?

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