- Publisher: Roqueta Magazine
- Editor: Angie Wade-Smith
- Edition: 341
- Published: 1st May 2020
We are all having to adjust to the current environment, and specifically to being confined to our homes. It is tough. And with the borders closed for the foreseeable future, the island is presumably quiet. Who knows as we can’t go and see for ourselves?
Living in the centre of Mahón, I have been really warmed by the reaction of those living about me. The streets are basically empty; no one seems to be trying it on. And every night at 8pm, we are out clapping our support for the emergency services whose vehicles travel through the streets, lights flashing and sirens wailing. The only time we see anyone out is queuing at the post office, but all in a most respectful way with plenty of social distancing.
We have made new friends of our immediate neighbours, and every night check on each other. Positive outcome.
We are all wondering what happens post virus. Here on the island we are nervous about the local economy as it is so reliant on tourism. It must be a very trying time for our political leaders too, deciding when to relax lockdown with two terrible potential consequences. Move too early and there’s a greater risk of a resurgence of the virus, whilst waiting only builds domestic tensions and risks mass unemployment and a broken economy.
In this edition we have tried to stay away from reporting on the situation regarding the virus for two reasons: you probably will welcome a break, and, as a monthly publication, we can’t keep up with the news as it unfolds.
The May magazine is slimmed down, mainly because many of the local groups have not met and so have nothing to report. But there’s still plenty to keep you entertained for part of the long days that we all face. It may help keep you away from the box sets we are all speeding through or the coronavirus news on a perpetual loop on TV.
We have had to make some tough decisions. We could not justify printing the magazine as usual and asking people to risk their health by delivering it to all the outlets across the island. But we were anxious to continue to support our loyal readers and perhaps in a small way bring some comfortable familiarity to our revolutionised lives.
And so, this May magazine is available only online. That is certainly a first in the 340 issues so far. But the upside of this is that the digital copy is free.
We are really interested in your feedback on the digital option, so let us know what you think – good and bad: duncan@roquetamagazine.net. I hasten to add we intend returning to a printed version as soon as we can.
The weather is picking up, so it is great to hear we are now going to be allowed out for walks and exercise as the deescalation of the lockdown begins.
Good luck to you all and keep well. What a party there will be once friends and family can all meet again.