Lamentations 2

Are some places enticing or beguiling?

When I first thought about writing this I had some serious misgivings about sticking my head up against the parapet. I might end up feeling better for saying it, though. So, here goes...

Originally, I thought about calling this blog post beguiling, but that's a bit too strong a word to say. Enticing is far better word to use? In life, you get to know a place that is enticing. You want to live there. It is, on the surface, a good place to live. I live in a place that is enticing. The beautiful beaches, the clear water, the charming nature of the place. It is something that get under your skin. You fall in love with the place. I suppose I have fallen in love with this place. But is it actually beguiling? Is this place to be trusted? Does it play tricks with your mind? Is it a fickle ‘lover’? Yes, it is, I think. At the moment it has a truly enticing nature. Why? Because of the social effects of the virus, and the fact that people are realising that it is possible to work from home. This place is becoming all the more enticing for many people living in big towns and cities. This is good news.

Sometimes though I think the place I live in should come with a warning? Some of the lyrics to the classic song Hotel California by The Eagles, could describe my town. The lyrics say: are we 'prisoners here of our own device'? Indeed my hometown is a place: 'where you can check out any time you like but can never leave.' So be advised.

Many towns and villages in the Deep South West of England are becoming unviable. Many young people have had to move away from their place of birth to find work. The ‘hubs’ of many villages, the Pub, the Post Office and the General Stores have closed, and we have an ageing population to contend with. So, hopefully, the possible influx of families seeking a better life might be a good thing, for our schools and other places that are finding it difficult to survive?

Many local economies rely completely on the tourist industry to survive. A bad tourist season can have a major impact on their macroeconomic situation. I sincerely hope that this year has been a good one for many of these local economies, including the one where I live. I was concerned at the time that the ‘influx’ of visitors might have a serious impact on the amount of Covid-19 cases in our area. Luckily, it didn't. I was wrong. Using a cliché, we have dodged a bullet, and we survived an extremely difficult and dangerous situation. We still need to be careful and vigilant. So let's be careful out there. And beware of the captivating. You might get stuck...