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Going Batty: The Lockdown Chronicles, Part 2
Just when Frank thought it couldn’t happen again. It did. Twice.
It's Christmas Eve 2020. Frank and Madge are facing a third lockdown; the lockdown to end all lockdowns. Not only has Boris Johnson cancelled Christmas, but there’s the prospect of six months of privation from the gym, the cinema, and anything else associated with social mixing. 'Months more lockdown?' Frank complains to Madge. 'It was okay in spring with its endless sunshine, and even okay in autumn when we had the second lockdown. But now it's dark and blimmin' freezing!'
On the bright side, Frank's best mate Dave has managed to get a goose for Christmas. And the vaccines are on their way. Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and others are offering the hope that Covid-19 might finally be defeated. Will normality ever return? And will Dave’s goose be cooked?
It's Christmas Eve 2020. Frank and Madge are facing a third lockdown; the lockdown to end all lockdowns. Not only has Boris Johnson cancelled Christmas, but there’s the prospect of six months of privation from the gym, the cinema, and anything else associated with social mixing. 'Months more lockdown?' Frank complains to Madge. 'It was okay in spring with its endless sunshine, and even okay in autumn when we had the second lockdown. But now it's dark and blimmin' freezing!'
On the bright side, Frank's best mate Dave has managed to get a goose for Christmas. And the vaccines are on their way. Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and others are offering the hope that Covid-19 might finally be defeated. Will normality ever return? And will Dave’s goose be cooked?
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2023
7 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Frank Kusy
25 books83 followersBorn and raised in the fog-shrouded streets of 1960s London, and with more than 30 years of travel writing experience under his belt, aspiring Buddhist and incorrigible cat-lover Frank Kusy is a SUNDAY TRIBUNE RECOMMENDED AUTHOR and a four-time Gold Medal Winner on the Harper Collins Authonomy site. He has been awarded the AIA Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence for his flagship book 'Rupee Millionaires', and has been a featured author on several promotional sites, including BookBub, Pixel of Ink, Indie Book Bargains and FreeBooksy. His books have received international press acclaim, and have made the Kindle Top 100 List several times, his first published book, 'Kevin and I in India', climbing as high as #5. In April 2015 his children's book 'Ginger the Gangster Cat' won a Gold medal on the prestigious Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards for 6 to 8 year olds, though this and the sequel 'Ginger the Buddha Cat' appeal as much to adults as to children.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 8, 2023
Going Batty or Getting Fatty?
I've enjoyed all Frank's books. I've travelled to India with him and Kevin, and to Barcelona with Ginger the Gangster cat. And many more exotic places. So what does an ex travel writer do when a global pandemic forces him to lock down? I loved this book, the second of Frank's lockdown chronicles. It's difficult to remember how bad things were just a couple of short years ago, before we had vaccines, and couldn't leave the house without a mask. But Frank brings it all back. Told in his inimitable, warts and all style, and with his trademark humor, this is how two pensioners lived out the pandemic. From cheating at online bridge, learning to speak German, bike rides, and oh so many takeaways (and how to find a vacant bench to eat them on!) to worrying if Madge will ever get to Germany to see her mum, and if they will ever get vaccinated, this book is a joy to read. I loved the supporting characters, especially his eccentric blind lady, and the wacky gym instructor. I chuckled at the covideos and the cartoons and memes. An entertaining book, but also an important historic record of the period from the point of view of an ordinary person. Step aside Samuel Pepys, I give you Frank Kusy.
I've enjoyed all Frank's books. I've travelled to India with him and Kevin, and to Barcelona with Ginger the Gangster cat. And many more exotic places. So what does an ex travel writer do when a global pandemic forces him to lock down? I loved this book, the second of Frank's lockdown chronicles. It's difficult to remember how bad things were just a couple of short years ago, before we had vaccines, and couldn't leave the house without a mask. But Frank brings it all back. Told in his inimitable, warts and all style, and with his trademark humor, this is how two pensioners lived out the pandemic. From cheating at online bridge, learning to speak German, bike rides, and oh so many takeaways (and how to find a vacant bench to eat them on!) to worrying if Madge will ever get to Germany to see her mum, and if they will ever get vaccinated, this book is a joy to read. I loved the supporting characters, especially his eccentric blind lady, and the wacky gym instructor. I chuckled at the covideos and the cartoons and memes. An entertaining book, but also an important historic record of the period from the point of view of an ordinary person. Step aside Samuel Pepys, I give you Frank Kusy.
January 6, 2024
The book blurb says it all really.
Frank Kusy’s usual good humoured take on things. I got this one of Frank’s memoirs whilst it was on promotion. I’ve enjoyed other memoirs by him, wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one, given lockdown wasn’t the best of times for quite a few folk!!. I needn’t have worried - it made me realise I wasn’t the only one ‘hating’ lockdowns & trying to stay sane - thank goodness Frank was able to bring his ‘witty way with words’ to the fore. Loved the pics, links etc, too.
Frank Kusy’s usual good humoured take on things. I got this one of Frank’s memoirs whilst it was on promotion. I’ve enjoyed other memoirs by him, wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one, given lockdown wasn’t the best of times for quite a few folk!!. I needn’t have worried - it made me realise I wasn’t the only one ‘hating’ lockdowns & trying to stay sane - thank goodness Frank was able to bring his ‘witty way with words’ to the fore. Loved the pics, links etc, too.
April 26, 2023
My memories of the Covid Lockdowns and restrictions have gradually faded. The whole thing seems a bit fantastical really. The frustrations, the anxiety, the confusion over all the different rules and restrictions - stay six feet apart - only travel within a five mile radius of your home -Tiers 1, 2 & 3 etc no wonder Frank thought he was going Batty. I'm certain most people felt the same. However he was savvy enough to keep a regular diary of events as they unfolded and how the restrictions affected them. It was interesting to read Franks comments on the daily LBC radio programmes, the political updates on the number of Covid deaths and the race to produce a vaccine. Of course Frank manages to find the humour in all this and at times I was almost crying with laughter at his comments on the more ridiculous of the rules. Frank and Madge make the most of things, with Zoom meetings, online bridge, outdoor gym, trips to local parks which became the dreaded 'new normal' How I hated that!
It's a fascinating, honest and witty commentary on the way things were. I loved the memes, cartoons and funny little YouTube clips which entertained us and can still make us laugh now. Well done Frank.
It's a fascinating, honest and witty commentary on the way things were. I loved the memes, cartoons and funny little YouTube clips which entertained us and can still make us laugh now. Well done Frank.
December 12, 2023
It’s been a while since I read Frank Kusy’s Lockdown Chronicles Part One, which I enjoyed immensely. However, I couldn’t help wondering if Part 2 would just be more of the same. I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and was just as entertained by Frank and Madge’s special way of enduring the awful swings and roundabouts of the chaotic pandemic regulations they were subjected to in England. Frank is completely honest about their opinions on the way the pandemic and the vaccination rollouts were handled, but he somehow manages to reveal the madness without being cutting or bitter and his humour overrides it all. I loved all the memes and social media jokes; I enjoyed their daily trips out, often in sensible defiance of the rule to stay indoors; and I laughed at their interactions with the various people who coloured their lives during this taxing period. Above all, I felt as if I got to know this lovely couple as I shared their daily lives for the duration. It seems hard to imagine it was only two years ago, but it’s even more important that he has written these books as a result. Well done, Mr Kusy. This is a great read and a brilliant record of the time.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews