My last post Strange Times was a bit of a mind dump. I think I need this blog more than ever right now. It's been so neglected the past year with not wanting to write too much about what went on in our lives in 2019 for privacy, then wanting to give the children more privacy (they tell me they're fine with being on here but I prefer to scale it back a lot now because I'm sure they won't always be!)
Since I last wrote things have happened so fast with this virus that has spread globally. We're in a kind of lock down in the UK, joining many countries around the world. It was so, so strange watching Boris Johnson announce that we would not be allowed out of our homes unless we had to go to work, or exercise once a day. No more gatherings or meeting loved ones. This had been in effect as advice for several weeks but after thousands all across the country decided to ignore it it has all become a 'must do.'
I live in a small close so have not seen much going on here in Kent. I already avoid going out unless absolutely necessary because you just don't know who has 'the sickness' (I'm determined to make its name!) My parents have reported police presence and other counties have said they've noticed an increase, they're all making sure the shops that are not essential are indeed closed and that people are in groups of no more than 2.
I'm finding myself on a continuous roller coaster of emotions. One moment I feel okay, I am reminded that I am safe with my family and I know my loved ones are too. Other times I feel angry that people are not listening and continue to make decisions with no care for the lives of others. Sometimes I feel totally normal. I'll put the bins out or wash my dishes like normal and then it hits me: there's a horrible virus out there killing thousands of people and we haven no idea when this will end.
When I last wrote we were all still going about things fairly normally but being more vigilant. The infection numbers were lower, the death rate lower (now both standing at over 1000 and over 400) I attended my one to one meeting with my counsellor, I was still taking my children to school, myself walking to and from and still stopping in the local store for some extras I needed.
2 weeks later and schools have been shut to all bar the vulnerable and key workers. We must not leave our homes unless absolutely necessary. People who are high risk and the over 70's have been told not to leave their homes at all for the next 12 weeks. I now have my therapy appointments over the phone and make people leave packages outside my door!
There are some positives though. These actions are important and I am happy to live by them. Although I don't know what will happen to our food supply near April I hope the supermarkets will have more control back from panic buyers. We have a new temporary hospital being set up in London, companies are mostly being supportive to their hard working employees (and those that are not are being called out left, right and centre) Thousands of ventilators have been made and thousands of people are signing up to help the NHS as volunteers in this awful time.
I don't write this to scare people or make others anxious. I am simply writing this for myself. I could sit there with a pen and a piece of paper but this blog has documented so much of our family life and this is pretty major. One day people in the future will learn about the great sickness of 2020. I don't want it to be all about how amazing our leaders were and all the positives. It should also be about those on the front line, the people losing their jobs, the people struggling to find food, the raw emotions of us 'simple folk' left to lock ourselves in, wait for a daily news bulletin, ration our food, work from home and teach our children and all for on God knows how long.
