Paul Lysek

Hopefully the height of “society in hiding” has passed for the Czech Republic and with summer launching into full swing, there is a pent-up need for fresh air and outdoors activities. Anything to get the kids energy spent. If you are looking for something fun and active to do with the kids, read the following, we had a great time.About 30 minutes drive from the centre of Prague is a farm-like paradise which is made for children and parents alike. The rolling hills and paved pathways, combined with fenced in animals and a wide array of children’s playgrounds and activities, provide the ideal setting for everything which is missed in city-life. One does not need to own a cottage, travelContinue Reading

The quarantine is coming to an end slowly. For those who have children of school age it will continue for a couple more weeks, but for the most part things are really getting moving, naturally pending no “second wave” of virus infections, which at this stage remains undefined. Will governments really be able to afford to close us down again? Will the aftermath of the precautions not be greater than the actual risks from infections? There will be a lot of opinions on these things in coming weeks and months, and a lot of difficult choices to be made. I have been back at work and my experience is mixed. It is difficult to accept the world as we knowContinue Reading

The city is coming back to life and so are we. This morning was even harder to wake up then Monday. I am already thankful for the upcoming long weekend. For years I read about the long-term unemployment problem; people who are out of work for more than a year have a nearly impossible time returning to the grind. I never stopped working but being stranded at home office and having the freedom to sleep a little more, wear less and have more frequent breaks has seemingly had a similar effect. Today I had some errands outside of the office. I needed to get a document notarized which I didn’t look forward to during these limited office hour times. ContraryContinue Reading

It has been seven weeks. For years we have heard everyone discuss their busy lives and the need for a break. We all got what we asked for. For us the lock-down was a giant simplification of life on one side, and a scary abyss of information on the other. The work behind all the outsourced things we take for granted was tremendous. What have we learned? I learned that being locked up in an apartment with your family is fine for a little while, but after a week or two the nerves frail. There are limitations to the amount of time one can spend with the same people, all day everyday, regardless of how much you love them. EvenContinue Reading

As week seven of the lock-down comes to an end it is starting to feel like the end of a long vacation. Don’t misunderstand the analogy. I am aware of the mass suffering, the sick, the exhausted medical staff and first response folks. But all these things are around us all the time, we have just highlighted the tip of the iceberg due to a new virus variation circulating that has scared the hell out of us. But for those who remain unaffected by the actual virus, which is the vast majority of us, we are starting to worry about menial things again. Things like our work, bills, and the fact that our favorite pub may close forever. The realityContinue Reading

Week six is here and if things go according to plan this will be my next to last post weekend update. Things have gotten better fast and the pace of change is as unbelievable as the slide into lock-down. Several of my friends have noted that they are planning to return back to work at the beginning of May. We are feeling very encouraged and have even left our house as a family. Taking the right precautions, I feel increasingly comfortable in the outside world again. It’s as if we are in the final minutes of an American epidemic film. The zombies have all but disappeared, we understand the consequences of the virus more, the information flow is constant, andContinue Reading

Today we continued our slow reopening to the world. I had to head out and meet a colleague so I took full advantage and stopped for some fresh groceries and to look for a bicycle for one of the boys. The truth is that living in an apartment, with your family, and being used to a certain amount of freedom and travel, makes the sudden transition to “lock-down” very difficult. In short, people are going nuts and this will end the lock-down before anyone gives the official green light. I left my apartment in the morning and found it very normal to cover my face, ensure I have disinfectant, use a cloth to open doors etc. A few weeks agoContinue Reading

I am starting to feel like I am keeping a diary because our lock-down has turned routine. With my recent participation in open society, for myself, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. The task is daunting for many. Healthcare workers have been working at stress levels not seen in generations. Business people have had to deal with unprecedented barriers to existence. Production elements are under stress to reopen, while not being able to secure all the necessary inputs. Any person in a position of managing anything has been left without any process, plan or guidance for any individual decision. Anyone who had any relation to travel has been left in limbo. Many have been forgotten, elsewhereContinue Reading

This morning I had a hard time moving my legs out of bed. Yesterday’s run had a more dramatic effect on my muscles than I had planned. Rolling out and trying to push myself up with my arms did not produce the results I hoped for as I nearly fell over. A bit of light stretching helped and I was off to breakfast. The children have adjusted well. The routine is perhaps more timely than in the past. In fact I feel that I am the only member of our family having a hard time with being locked-down. I am not much for routines nor repetitive tasks or sitting in one place for too long. As the situation races on,Continue Reading

It is hardly an understatement by contending that I have had enough lock-down. Thirty days have passed and I have left our apartment area twice, my family zero. There is nobody we can legally visit. I want to support the efforts to minimize the spread of the new Coronavirus, I support our vulnerable population which possibly includes me. Even Boris went into intensive care and he looks decent compared to some of us, not to mention being surrounded by the best care the taxpayer’s money can buy. The taxing effective of being lock-in with a lovely wife and kids is just too high: I NEED OUT! Today the depression has set in. I don’t know if it is the realizationContinue Reading