March 2020 - Staying at Home

I am writing this during what is being called ‘Lockdown’. As I look out of the window over the garden everything just seems so normal. Spring has come with the warm weather, trees and bushes are budding, birds are singing their little hearts out and our resident wren has been bobbing along his usual route across the fence and all seems right with the world.

But it’s not and this unprecedented situation we all find ourselves in is very real.

Covid-19 has turned our world upside down. Our previous life is on hold and we don’t know when or if we will get it completely back again. Garry and I have been social distancing for what seems like an age, but in reality it has only been just over a week. So it is early days to understand what impact this new lifestyle will have on our mental well-being, but strangely with this new Stay at Home Order from the Government, for me has come a sense of freedom. Perverse isn’t it?

I feel free now to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. I am free to be in the moment and this has re-kindled my love of nature and the simple things in life that give me pleasure. It has made me grateful for my relationship with our daughter, son in law and wonderful grandson, who facetimes us at 7am unbeknown to his parents, his smiling little face so beautiful and welcome. My sister and brother, who we don’t see that often, have been in regular contact since this began. I am grateful for our house, it isn’t a mansion, but we have a lovely garden we have explored with our grandson over the years, catching frogs and toads, examining slugs, prodding worms and running from huge spiders. We are not great gardeners but watching the early daffodils, primroses and muscari blooming has been a treat.

We have a wonderful nature park literally at the top of the road and we are exploring this during our one permitted exercise of the day. We have met and chatted to more people (from a 2 metre distance), than we have ever interacted with before. People who are alone and already feeling isolated and simply want human conversation. People without gardens, balconies or any outside space whatsoever now stuck indoors and only benefiting from the glorious outside once a day.

We consider ourselves so lucky. We have each other and we are currently healthy.

It seems unbelievable that our wonderful NHS meanwhile is battling against this terrible disease. People are succumbing to its awful grip, being hospitalised in their thousands and dying in their hundreds and it’s probably going to get a lot worse before it starts to get better. I can’t deny it is all a bit scary.

Garry and I both need regular medication and check-ups and our health service is still there supporting us. Our Gp’s, Nurses and Reception Staff, have turned up for work regardless of the possible danger to themselves. Our Pharmacy is still dispensing our medication, it may take a day or two longer, but they are still there for us.

Our Supermarkets have remained open and although some selfish people have disrupted their attempts to provide a safe and equitable shopping experience for all, the staff have continued to stack shelves, take deliveries and remain open to feed us all.

The NHS called for 250,000 volunteers to help out during this time of need. As soon as the website went live they were inundated and received 405,000 applications in the first day. This alone restored my faith in human nature.

I feel I have a lot to be grateful for and I realise I don’t say Thank You enough. I am guilty of taking many things for granted. I am proud of our liberal and open democracy. I am free to make my own choices, criticise my government if I want to and live my life to the full and although the current situation has put a hold on some of my freedoms, I still feel very lucky.

And I have started to say Thank You more often and that makes me feel good too.

A simple gesture that greeted walkers this morning

During this time I will continue to post under our Minds Eye Blog, sharing stories, thoughts and ideas. Perhaps posting some happier times and travel adventures from previous years too.

We hope you are all staying safe and well and thank you for supporting our blogs and vlogs.

I hope to put on a blog shortly and ask for contributions from you on your favourite novel, or film that you hope to re-read or watch again over the next fews weeks and why you chose them.

Bye for now

Caroline