NOTES FROM A GILDED CAGE

It’s rough for all shooters at this time, being unable to get out doing what we love, but Phil Moorsom believes we need to focus on creating the best season we can for 2020

- Phil Moorsom

Every morning when I wake up, I have to remind myself that the global pandemic is an extraordinary, unbelievable reality, which is going to get worse before we can consider getting back to a semblance of normality. The daily mortality count is a chilling reminder of why we must all adhere to the ‘lockdown’ and support those who are working on the frontline, particularly those in the NHS. When we eventually get to the end of this, hopefully we can come out of it closer and more sensitive in both families, communities and as a country.

The widespread damage COVID-19 continues to wreak upon businesses all over the country, including mine, will probably ensure many of us will be entering a period of financial uncertainty. As cabinet makers, we have had many orders postponed or cancelled and cannot fit or deliver the completed jobs. Normally, this is our busiest time of year, building gun boxes and gun cabinets in the run up to the shooting season. To ensure we keep our social distance, we have a one in, one out policy at the workshops so the three of us get only two days a week each. Hopefully, those that need it will receive government help, sooner rather than later. There does seem to be an assumption that we should be austere and miserable during this ordeal, but it is at times like this that we need to keep our chins up. Quiet, good-humoured resolve was the Queen’s suggested approach.

I am afraid that I cannot help but see the forced isolation as a tremendous opportunity that we shall (hopefully) never see the like of again. That opportunity is time and there are, of course, good and bad sides. We, as a family of four, usually spend the odd weekend together as both my kids (19 and 22) are away from home.