THE BIG CLAP!

Very quiet in the Cul de Sac, we are on the edge of town so didn’t hear anything, but looked on our local site there were
many out in the town and a thank you from two First Responders and several nurses.

I thought it was a lovely gesture.
Our end of the winding road was alive with the clapping, whooping, whistling etc, quite emotional.
So nice to see folk on their doorsteps, some we haven't seen for days, especially the children.
A car went past the end of the road and tooted along with us.

Our whole street came out. It is not silly. It is bringing an isolated community together with a common aim - to thank those who are risking their lives to care for us. Okay a clap is not enough but it is a start.
I found it very moving.

Some may think it's virtue signalling, some may think it's childish, but apart from a show of support, this little act got everyone in our close of 10 houses outside at the same time, smiling, waving and talking to each other (from the recommended distance) for the first time in days.

People taking the opportunity to check up on each other (in the best possible way) offering support and practical help.

So if that's what childish and virtue signalling behaviour achieves, then I'm all for it!

Yes we all clapped in Inverness too ! I didn’t think our small cul de sac would join in as it’s usually very quiet but I was wrong - enthusiastic clapping, cheering and waving from most houses
Emotional

We live on our High Street, neighbours all out clapping, cars tooting bringing the community together at a very troubled time.

Our street came out too. I found it so emotional I had to stop clapping while I wiped away the tears . Someone in the distance shouted “Hip hip” and we all shouted “hurrah” . When it was all over a couple of the young families from across the road shouted to ask after DH and I could barely answer I was so choked up .

Disagree grandma 70s all of our little cul de sac did it. We never know when we might need the nhs and life is so deepressing and uncertain at the moment to support the nhs tonight was lovely!

We're on quite a long road. Several of us came out to clap and cheer at our end of the road - not so many further up the road, but cars and motorbikes tooted. I know, from my virtual choir session, that all our members went out on their own streets to join the applause.

I do find it slightly ironic though that this country voted for a government that espoused the most draconian and harmful austerity policies. It ignored warnings from the medical profession which said the NHS would be overwhelmed were there to be a flu epidemic - yet many of the general public appeared equally uninterested in the difficulties faced by those working for the NHS.

This seems to be worse than a flu epidemic and, of course, any government would find the current situation massively difficult to deal with, but it can't help that the NHS has been severely under resourced for the last ten years.

But I am grateful (as I'm sure everybody is) to all our doctors, nurses and support staff for their courage and professionalism. They are used to working under pressure but the current situation must be the most stressful, exhausting and upsetting they have ever had to deal with.

Our street clapped and cheered and we could hear our neighbourhood doing it too.
When I was a student nurse I did my first xmas day shift on the wards. As I was walking into work a small group of people applauded me and my friend. I've NEVER forgotten that feeling EVER.
It's important to let our key workers know they are valued and tonight was such a gesture
They must be exhausted and they know what's coming ??

I clapped and cheered and people were shouting thank you I waved to my neighbours who I haven’t spoken to for a week I came in wishing it had lasted longer, with a big lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.
To anyone thinking it’s virtue signaling or childish you must have a heart of steel
My NHS daughter told me it lifted her spirits and she felt emotional and proud

I live in a cul de sac and the houses are spread out but I would have clapped anyway in recognition of the work of the NHS, carers and indeed all essential workers who are risking their lives. I was pleased to see some neighbours out and could hear the rest of the village too. I think that in our isolation we need to feel part of something positive. There are not many of us who have not had cause to be personally grateful for the care given by our NHS at some time in our lives.

It wasn’t silly or childish. Neither was it time to think of the politics.
It was a gesture of Thanks and support for many wonderful people.
Most people found it uniting and uplifting.

It was lovely but it is far more important that we protect the nhs workers by staying at home.
Many people not getting it, sadly quite a lot are older people.

Lucca Those who came out onto their doorsteps are probably also those who have stayed inside to limit the spread, so the gesture was partly a demonstration of how many people DO understand what is involved. Perhaps those who so far don't seem to have got the message will learn something by seeing it?

Lucca
I totally agree Re sadley quite a lot are older people
I'm in daily contact ( by phone) with a friend who lives in a supported living complex.
I'm horrified at what she's telling me and the evidence that that she sends me by video.
From the moment the lockdown was issued they were left to their own devices. The CSO's ( the staff employed to 'look' after them were told to stay at home and just phone the residents.
Many of the residents are vunlerable and confused to what's going on. There are friends and families going in and out every day.
Added to this there is no cleaning what so ever being done.

Only two of us in our close, sadly, but we made as much noise as we could. We could hear lots of shouting and cheering coming from the surrounding area.

It was a sign of many many people's appreciation for what the medical staff are going through. I hope they do know how we feel. But, I also know that what they truly want is for everybody to do as they are asked and keep away from each other. That would really show our gratitude.

I also want the families of medical staff, and all others who are still having to put themselves at risk, to know that we also remember them. It's scary having your husband, wife, son or daughter going into a high-risk environment every day.

Grandma70s
You think it's rather silly and childish Its lovely to see that our nurses and care workers disagree with you.
Those of us who did chear them put a big smile on their faces.

If you want to support your NHS but don’t want to “virtue signal” you can give you local one a donation quietly and without fuss.

Or do both???

That's right Whitewave I have done that as my daughter is a nurse. I was a bit cynical too at first but on reflection the show of support not only cheered the NHS staff but gave people a reason to come together figuratively and do something heartening.

I went outside feeling a bit odd clapping on my own but then a wave of clapping, whooping, bell ringing, pot banging and shouting whooshed up my lane from the village. Very moving. A lot of us have resurrected our Christmas lights as a show of solidarity within the village.
I’ve heard that this will happen every Thursday. Is this true? If so, I’ll have my big cattle bell at the ready?

A cattlebell Marmight that will sound good. No reason why we don't do this every Thursday a chance too for us to have social connection in times of isolation

Yes it was lovely. Even our quiet suburb heard this background of clapping probably never heard before.

Yes lovely. I didn't expect so many of my neighbours to join in as usually most people keep themselves to themselves. Well done to all those who joined in and perhaps a byproduct will be a better community spirit.