It is a hot, but quiet, tranquil and relaxing Sunday afternoon in June 2020 Roses and COVID-19.
I am walking in Valentine’s Park in Ilford, just opposite one of Mont Rose College’s campuses – Shakespeare House. Amongst our three gorgeous campuses, this is our most beloved and cherished campus, because this is where it all started. Mont Rose College opened the front gate fourteen years ago to meet and welcome the enthusiastic, lovely, and eager to study students from all over the world.
I can still hear and “see” the majority of our students after school, rushing to the park, where I am now, tired, but happy and full of knowledge they got from their classes. They used to chat a lot in a lively way, sharing their feelings, worries, hopes Roses and COVID-19 . But here comes the sad moment… The college is closed because of COVID 19 and even the park is empty and lonely… Lockdown… Moments like this make you reconsider the values of life, relationships between people and the way people treat the Mother Earth – what happened, why did it happen, where did we go wrong and when would we be back to our normal life? What did this virus do to the whole mankind – separated us, made us be scared of talking to each other, getting close to each other… Although, in my opinion, more dangerous “viruses” roaming around us are actually malice, envy and stupidity. Nature shows us the right way – wisdom, harmony and balance. Why cannot we live just following the laws of nature?
I am contemplating the magnificent flowers and plants in the park – luxuriant lavender, modest primroses, amicable peonies, considerate chestnut trees, offering their shelter, and especially roses, as they are my favourite. I breathe their fragrance, admiring the perfection of their silken petals and the magnificence of Nature as a whole. Nature. One word comprising all aspects of our essence.
This lockdown situation is a lesson for us to give a new meaning to the way we treat Nature – our source of life.