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Going Batty: The Lockdown Chronicles
Known for his travel memoirs, Frank Kusy is used to going places at the drop of a hat. But this time he's going nowhere.
In March 2020 Frank Kusy and his wife Madge are trying to make sense of a world gone mad. A world that has been locked down against a disease that threatens every human life on the planet – Covid 19.
Three weeks into lockdown and a large part of the UK is going batty. Confined to their homes, people are being driven slowly crazy by the horrors of home-schooling, interminable Zoom calls, lack of genuine social contact, and wall-to-wall boredom. Not to mention having to watch Boris Johnson every evening.
‘I’m finding this hard,’ complains Frank. ‘No cinemas, no power showers at the gym, and no escape from Kingston to see friends. I feel grounded!’
‘Oh, look on the bright side,’ Madge admonishes him. ‘We’ve been discovering new ways of killing time: home cooking, online bridge, long walks in the local parks, and watching daft YouTube videos. Plus we’re enjoying the sunniest spring on record!’
But then Madge develops a nasty cough and goes off her food...
In March 2020 Frank Kusy and his wife Madge are trying to make sense of a world gone mad. A world that has been locked down against a disease that threatens every human life on the planet – Covid 19.
Three weeks into lockdown and a large part of the UK is going batty. Confined to their homes, people are being driven slowly crazy by the horrors of home-schooling, interminable Zoom calls, lack of genuine social contact, and wall-to-wall boredom. Not to mention having to watch Boris Johnson every evening.
‘I’m finding this hard,’ complains Frank. ‘No cinemas, no power showers at the gym, and no escape from Kingston to see friends. I feel grounded!’
‘Oh, look on the bright side,’ Madge admonishes him. ‘We’ve been discovering new ways of killing time: home cooking, online bridge, long walks in the local parks, and watching daft YouTube videos. Plus we’re enjoying the sunniest spring on record!’
But then Madge develops a nasty cough and goes off her food...
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2022
13 people are currently reading
4 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 21, 2022
Looking back I find it had to believe what we went through during the pandemic and subsequent Lockdowns. Fortunately Frank has provided us with this gem of a book 'Going Batty'. I think most of us were a little batty as time went on. Its a brilliant mix of diary entries, conversations and reflections of that bonkers time, the fear, the confusion, the frenzy of buying and the challenge of it all. It's written in Frank's wonderful unique style and at times had me laughing aloud and at other times bringing a real lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. It's a real social commentary on how people in the UK had to cope with the restrictions imposed on them and the anger when they discovered that those in power were flouting the rules. I remember feeling so desperately upset that I couldn't attend a family funeral in England because of Lockdown. A feeling experienced by thousands. It brought out the best in people too as we learned to Zoom and discover new ways of keeping in touch. I particularly enjoyed the various links to articles and YouTube clips - it brought all those memories flooding back! The clapping for the NHS, having an hour a day to go outside etc! I can't recommend this highly enough.
December 17, 2022
In years to come, people will read Frank Kusy’s Lockdown Chronicles and be amazed at what everyone endured during the pandemic. It’s not even two years ago and I had already forgotten so much, but Frank reminded me in both an amusing and poignant way. I loved the way the book is written with a mixture of diary entries, news items and entertaining narrative that contains some very funny dialogue between the author and his wife, Madge. It’s a great record of a strange, awful and unique period in the 21st century and, like Samual Pepys’ diaries, I think it will come to be seen as an important record of the time. Highly recommended!
July 28, 2022
Going Batty: The Lockdown Chronicles, by Frank Kusy, had me laughing out loud. They say laughter is the best medicine and it was much needed as I remembered the lockdown here in the States in 2020. Though he gave a daily account of what was happening on the other side of the pond in the UK, the experiences were almost identical.
He designed the book like a journal starting with the daily news filled with scary stats and the number of deaths from Covid and then shared how he and his wife, Madge spent each day as they tried to follow the new rules. He added many colorful pictures and hilarious You Tube video clips to drive the point home with people singing quarantine songs and even a picture of Julie Andrews being carted off by the police for breathing fresh air on the top of the mountains.
Going Batty starts with a clip of Boris Johnson telling them that they were on immediate lockdown after which they scrambled to the store to fill up on items such as milk, toilet tissue, hand sanitizer or whatever was available. He and his wife kept themselves busy by exercising or taking Zoom classes such as Yoga, chanting as a Buddhist, German classes or even playing Bridge online.
It makes the reader recall the recent frenzy when people ate, drank, overindulged, gained weight and home schooled their children while many were pushed to the brink. We see pictures of empty streets, vacant train stations and remember the not too distant past of 2020. Pick up a copy of Going Batty and for it will surely tickle your funny bone!
He designed the book like a journal starting with the daily news filled with scary stats and the number of deaths from Covid and then shared how he and his wife, Madge spent each day as they tried to follow the new rules. He added many colorful pictures and hilarious You Tube video clips to drive the point home with people singing quarantine songs and even a picture of Julie Andrews being carted off by the police for breathing fresh air on the top of the mountains.
Going Batty starts with a clip of Boris Johnson telling them that they were on immediate lockdown after which they scrambled to the store to fill up on items such as milk, toilet tissue, hand sanitizer or whatever was available. He and his wife kept themselves busy by exercising or taking Zoom classes such as Yoga, chanting as a Buddhist, German classes or even playing Bridge online.
It makes the reader recall the recent frenzy when people ate, drank, overindulged, gained weight and home schooled their children while many were pushed to the brink. We see pictures of empty streets, vacant train stations and remember the not too distant past of 2020. Pick up a copy of Going Batty and for it will surely tickle your funny bone!
November 13, 2023
Laughter really is the best medicine. It’s been proven to increase germ-fighting cells in the body. And all around the world we now have something in common: a history of some measure of Covid 19 lockdowns. See the similarities and differences in England’s response to the pandemic and your own country if you’re not from England. Learn how much we have in common regardless of geography, gender, age, vocation, and theology.
The best of humor entails elements of truth and wisdom and the ability to laugh, not only at others, but also at oneself. As Frank voices his embarrassing thoughts and worries I recognized my own similar but unvoiced thoughts and this embodies the finest element of humor: the humor that connects.
In addition, learn the following: Why did Frank miss his gym so much? What were the identifying characteristics of countries who did well during the pandemic and those who failed miserably? And why did everyone order the same meal in restaurants across England when lockdown lifted?
Are people coughing all around you? Then what you need is a healthy dose of humor. And when you finish this one, Frank not only has a sequel, but also a number of other books to keep you laughing!
The best of humor entails elements of truth and wisdom and the ability to laugh, not only at others, but also at oneself. As Frank voices his embarrassing thoughts and worries I recognized my own similar but unvoiced thoughts and this embodies the finest element of humor: the humor that connects.
In addition, learn the following: Why did Frank miss his gym so much? What were the identifying characteristics of countries who did well during the pandemic and those who failed miserably? And why did everyone order the same meal in restaurants across England when lockdown lifted?
Are people coughing all around you? Then what you need is a healthy dose of humor. And when you finish this one, Frank not only has a sequel, but also a number of other books to keep you laughing!
July 17, 2022
Batty Lockdown - How we survived Covid's First Lockdown
I've been a Frank Kusy fan for years. I've read all his books. Now okay, this isn't a travel memoir (how far can you go in Covid lockdown?) but as ever, Frank's witty prose had me laughing out loud. Interspersed with comic videos and cartoons, Frank's description of the Covid pandemic and the resultant lockdown, as experienced by two semi retired Brits is inspired. I chuckled at the mental picture of Frank exercising while his cat licks his fingers, so he has to hide in the bathroom to get out of the cat's way. And apparently riding a bike after many years ISN'T as easy as riding a bike.... Frank and his wife Madge are fabulously funny characters and this book is a delight. I hope it's not too long before we get book 2. Definitely recommended.
I've been a Frank Kusy fan for years. I've read all his books. Now okay, this isn't a travel memoir (how far can you go in Covid lockdown?) but as ever, Frank's witty prose had me laughing out loud. Interspersed with comic videos and cartoons, Frank's description of the Covid pandemic and the resultant lockdown, as experienced by two semi retired Brits is inspired. I chuckled at the mental picture of Frank exercising while his cat licks his fingers, so he has to hide in the bathroom to get out of the cat's way. And apparently riding a bike after many years ISN'T as easy as riding a bike.... Frank and his wife Madge are fabulously funny characters and this book is a delight. I hope it's not too long before we get book 2. Definitely recommended.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews