‘As we rediscover family life, we must end Sunday shopping’

IN these strange and unpredictable times, it can be difficult to see what positive outcomes could come out of it all.

Many families are having enforced time together, which will be unusual. As the lockdown restrictions continue, I wonder whether having to spend time together with one or both parents, or the wider family group, and without the normal range of activities, is showing many that they can enjoy being together. I also wonder whether the consequential slower pace of life that we have all experienced is something we should be taking forward from this.

I think the time is right to call for all retail outlets to be closed on Sundays, to allow for many more people to step off the fast-paced treadmill of life to spend a day with family, friends and in their locality.

I would allow cafes, pubs and restaurants to open, but even these should be operated on the basis of a maximum number of hours, so having to choose whether they are catering for the lunch or dinner only.

The consequences from this could be enormous, with improved family life and more time for communities to come together.

However another side effect may be greatest benefit.

In order to help our NHS over the longer term, we need to see many more people improving their lifestyle choices, and a day when people could have the
time for some real exercise, coupled with some home 
cooking, would provide many physical and mental health benefits.

The huge ticking timebomb of obesity in this country is not being addressed, and over time will cost the country ever more. So this might allow us to start taking steps in the right direction.

I hope this is a reflection that many people can see as a positive legacy of the current crisis.

From: Christine McDade, Morton on Swale.

THANK you for the April 17 edition of The Yorkshire Post with a rainbow in support of our wonderful NHS workers.

I placed it on my window immediately, with some 
relief, as I had been unable to draw one being 80-plus and
self-isolating from before it became a requirement, with no coloured pencil or paints in the house.

My neighbour two doors away is working 12-hour shifts, wearing the very hot restrictive clothing, and I see the exhaustion on her face when she returns home.

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