Coronavirus diary

Day 55, oh dear, will this ever bloody end? All in all for me it’s been a good day. I stayed up stupidly late messaging with someone, and yes, I drank wine, and gin. I’m feeling relaxed and a little groggy. I’ve managed 3 short walks, perhaps another one later. Little of what I meant to do has gotten done but the weather is glorious so that’s OK. A few moments of loneliness which is still an odd sensation for me, and unique to lockdown. I miss hugs. I miss being around people. It is what it is. I’ll be […]

This morning I was bouncing around like Tigger. I was off to meet I friend. I headed out to walk up to the Horniman Museum gardens. I walked along mainly back streets where there are fewer people out and it’s easier to jump onto the road to get an appropriate distance from them. I’ve learned to be patient when out walking. I arrived at the main gates where my friend joined me. She’s as serious on the social distancing stuff as I am. We went up to the small animal farm. The area you can walk through is closed off […]

I managed to go on four short walks near my home today lasting for all of 15 minutes each. Well, one was a little longer as I stopped and chatted to a neighbour. A friend was visiting at an appropriate social distance. And I learned a new word that I’ve not heard before, ‘jellyfishing’. It’s when someone gives a compliment with a sting, something along the lines of ‘I love your dress. I have the same one, only in Size 6.’ And then they swim away. You get the idea. With the new lockdown rule that we can go out […]

I’m at the stage of lockdown that it feels normal. So it’s a very different normal, but normal all the same. Perhaps it’s because I can pop out a few times a day, go for a quick wander around the block. Grocery shopping was again a little like running the gauntlet with people still not understanding direction arrows, but somehow that’s now feeling normal too. I have a buff that I wear as a mask when shopping. I do need to buy some masks. I’m looking at some handmade ones. They’re not N95, can be washed and will at least […]

Here’s a surprise – some media outlets are reporting on the huge increase in public transport use today. Some are saying that people are using public transport despite government advice. Queue the moral outrage. Yes, we have been advised as part of the easing of lockdown to only use public transport if absolutely necessary. We’ve been told where possible, to drive, walk, or cycle to limit the risk of infection. People in some industries such as building and manufacturing will be going into work today for the first time since lockdown began, as per government advice. Many essential workers will […]

I’m at that stage of lockdown where the highlight of the day was managing to find tofu, and lentils, when out shopping. Perhaps it’s why I feel a little flat today. Perhaps because we’ve reached a milestone, 50 days, in lockdown. There still remains confusion, and some incredulity, of the guidance of what the easing of lockdown looks like in England. Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland are doing their own thing. Maybe it’s the social bubble I’m in but I’ve not spoken to anyone who thinks it makes sense. From tomorrow, yes, you can have your nanny in your house, […]

Chaotic. Farcical. Astonishing. Ill-timed. Disturbing. Confusing. Ridiculous. Incoherent. Dangerous. Insert expletives here…. And of course here I’m referring to the Prime Minister’s address to the nation last night. Even very mild mannered British morning TV hosts are reacting with incredulity. ‘Just tell us what we need to do’ said one. I feel like we’re living in a Monty Python sketch. Or an episode of Yes Minister. And yes, some of the points in this post may not make much sense but nor does the government’s advice to Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives. There’s a clear shift in language […]

Stay Alert – Control the Virus – Save Lives, the new government slogan. Or at least the new government slogan for England. It seems like Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are sticking to the original – Stay Home – Protect the NHS – Save Lives. Simple. Stay Alert to what? A virus I can’t see? Someone invading my social distancing bubble? Someone coughing or sneezing anywhere near me? Yep, that’s me. Bad hayfever. The existential weirdness we’re all currently living with? Control the virus? I carry hand sanitiser everywhere. My shoes now sit on my staircase so I’m not brining […]

It’s sunny. It’s warm. And judging from what I’ve seen over the last couple of days, in about two to three weeks we’re due another spike in those getting ill, hospitalisations, and deaths. I haven’t seen too many 60+ folks out and about. Perhaps they were more sensible than me and either stayed indoors or went for walks early morning or in the evening. Yes, I’m becoming on of those people. Muttering under my breath at a middle aged man walking with his partner and child. He remained in the middle of the footpath. I walked as far onto the […]

The chatter continues on what a loosening of current lockdown restrictions might look like. Many people including myself, don’t think we’re there yet, particularly when it comes to more people needing to be on public transport and in various workplaces where it’s not possible to work from home. There’s also a lot of concern about how this chatter might influence behaviour. And all of this is a challenge given today is VE Day, a Bank Holiday, and the weather is good. I headed up to the Horniman Museum gardens again today. I can get there while easily maintaining social distancing. […]

I remain confused about what day of the week it is. This is despite the fact I regularly look at my diary (electronic and paper) to make sure I’ve haven’t missed anything. Time continues to bend and stretch and mutate in strange ways. A good day all in all. A couple of good video work chats. A walk through Dulwich Park which was remarkably quiet given how sunny and warm it is. I went to M&S. It seems that many shoppers still do not understand the concept of direction arrows. A catch up with a friend. I did have a […]

Will this never end…though these days I’m used the quiet and my daily walks which involve much jumping onto roads to get social distancing right. Some walks are more anxiety inducing than others. It’s been a good day, though tiring. Working on a grant application, watching a couple of webinars, going for a walk*. My brain hurts! But this is a good thing. It doesn’t give me time to dwell. I did have a moment when I began to dwell. I didn’t want another day like yesterday so I refocused. If only I was able to do this every time. […]