Keeping up a sunny outlook on life

WHEN lockdown slammed the door in our face, we were allowed to exercise once a day, indeed much has subsequently been said about how important open-air exercise is to body and soul.

One expert emphasised how critical Vitamin D is to boosting our immune system, which comes compliments of measured exposure to the sun.

Perhaps that explains why doctors around the world have observed that children brought up on farms hardly ever suffer allergies.

Also, humour and the need to keep cheery is often declared an essential part of our defences. “In an unsettling reversal of my teenage years, I am now yelling at my parents for going out,” says Brigid Delaney, 46, an Australian journalist and former lawyer, offering up some infectious humour, but at a safe distance.

Incidentally, my diary and website smile of the day for last Wednesday, April Fool’s Day, is the Western Mail front page headline to accompany the photo of the Kashmiri goats wandering the deserted streets and holy grounds of Llandudno: “Silly Billies ignore the flockdown.”

There is a marvellous photo doing the rounds of one elegant and handsome goat in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church pondering a quick 40 winks while in repose against a parking notice declaring “Reserved Rev. Andrew”. Sadly the caption did not read: “Rev. Andrew was unavailable for a rebuttal.”

“Never approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back, and a fool from any side.” You may substitute Donald Trump in a certain place if you wish to update the old proverb.

Despite all the gloom and doom, keep on the sunny side of the street wherever possible.

Huw Beynon Llandeilo