Lockdown Diaries (Mar – Jun 20)
Lockdown diary #1 – MARCH 29th 2020
A weekend for taking stock and preparing for the months ahead.
Like many of us, I spent time in the garden doing the things that needed to be done after a long, dark and wet winter… And of course clearing my head during the daily lockdown exercise regime, contemplating the changes to daily life.
I’m lucky enough to be holed up in the West Country, in a quaint little village called Bishops Lydeard on the edge of the Quantock Hills, so no car needed to stretch my legs and burn off some energy. Simply walk out of the front door, turn left and left again – head up the hill and just keep walking!
Great for physical and mental health.
No cars on the road today and hardly a soul so be seen. The views were breathtaking as usual.
I know I am really lucky to have all of this on my doorstep, but I am already missing my routine and weekend contact with Nathaniel and Emma. I daren’t head back to Southampton on weekends on two counts, the first is that Natty’s mum has pretty bad asthma, we decided a few weeks ago not to risk it. The second is that my M-F SpareRoom guest now needs a more permanent “home” in order to bunker up for the duration of the crisis. So I can’t come back now even if I wanted. Emma’s is in lockdown in south London with Hannah, who returned from Uni last week from Manchester. And her two sons are with their dad, a mile or so away, but they might as well be 1000 miles I guess under the new rules.
Who would have contemplated this a month or two ago!?
But we are all in the same boat!
I still need to go to work and have a piece of paper to wave at the police if challenged on my commute. That said, I’m trying to work from home as much as possible to keep out of harms way.
It is a scary time for everyone I know, and we will all have our stories to tell. I am aware of at least two of of FB buddies who have already lost family or friends to the pandemic – absolutely heartbreaking. And like many, I know of countless more who have picked up the virus in the past few weeks.
For me, and unless things change dramatically, I’ll be here for a while now. But I am counting my blessings, I still have my health and a job for the time being. My thoughts are also with those who are struggling financially given the speed of change that many could not have foreseen.
Anyway, Loz will be with Andy’s parents near Bristol and Sarah is in her place in Hemel Hempstead. Thank God for Zoom, Hangouts and other methods of keeping in contact.
Thank you to all of my buddies in the NHS and other front line critical services and suppliers. I take my hat off to you. As we all do!
Lockdown diary #2 – APR 2020
In between the horrors and heartbreaking news, it’s also been uplifting at times with stories which truly warm the heart. This is a bizarre situation we’re all facing.
For the first time, I found myself on a “Zoom” call on Friday evening with all of the “grown ups” in my family. It was so unusual to see my nephew and his partner in their place in Greece at the same time as my parents , sister and my two daughters. All in isolation, at separate locations and most with a glass of wine in their hands. We spoke for well over an hour, perhaps two. Of course, and as you’d expect, we shared our personal fears and anxieties over the current situation, but we also laughed and joked and made fun of each other in only the way families can. We are miles apart, but brought together for the first time for something other than for a wedding or funeral. Watching everyones facial expressions made it so much more interactive than a phone call. Emma also joined us for a while before heading off for her Friday night schedule with Hannah. It was a wonderful moment.
I’d like to think that one of the outcomes of this awful experience will be refreshed relationships and a re-setting of the compass. Perhaps too many of us have got caught up in the pressures of daily life, work, duty and expectation. Time for a major rethink on a personal level. Perhaps even societal. The fragility of life and the huge divide between wealth and fairness has come to the surface with a brutality none of us expected. I fear for India and Africa and those corners of the planet who don’t have the options and relative luxury that we do. Many lessons will be learned when we unpick this on a global scale. Many lessons locally too.
I’ve noticed how people are becoming more friendly. On my walks to the local village shops, striking up a conversation has become very easy – even at the mandated two metre distance. I’ve always been chatty, but its nice to see people being equally chatty back!
Geoff was behind the counter at my local butcher. I’ve known him for a couple of years now and as usual he was full of beans. I still pop in here from time to time despite the influence from my eldest daughter to eat less meat!
There was huge selection of fresh local produce on display and Sue’s special eggs were in stock from the butcher’s wife’s own brood. The eggs are simply named after her. No date stamp, no sell by date, all different shapes and sizes and no factory endorsed quality control stamp! Just be careful to wash off the feathers and muck before you crack them open. Beautiful…
The paper shop was open too. Those who have visited me down here will know that it is more than a paper shop! On top of a good selection of food and essentials, if you want a kettle, no problem, extension lead, lawn mower, foot pump, shoe laces… You name it they somehow seem to stock it. And if they don’t have it… no problem come back tomorrow and it’ll be there.
The tiny village co-op was also well stocked today, as it has been for a while!
I had point blank refused to join in with the panic buying madness which we’ve all witnessed and suffered. And I have watched in amazement as hoards of outsiders (I am starting to consider myself a local now) set about conducting daily raids to our local village shops, a tactic used to avoid the supermarket queues and shortages in the towns. What they don’t realise is that a little nod and a wink and we locals get access to the hidden stock of toilet roll and goodies out the back.. Well why not!
I bought some bedding plants today too. The butcher has them for sale! Along with the paper shop of course! I’ll be doing more gardening this weekend. Not a lot else to do.
And as instructed by the Government, I have been going for my daily leg stretch – into heaven, otherwise known as The Quantock Hills. This weekend I used my bicycle so I could get a little further. It was a little harder than it should have been as the bike needs a major service. It only has only two working gears and has brakes that need new discs. My proper mountain bike and all of my accessories have been left in Southampton. Lydeard Hill and back. Its much easier coming back!
I didn’t see a soul again. I am so lucky to have this on my doorstep.
Saturday night and I had a boys night in…. House-party shenanigans with Doug, Dave and Richard. We shared a few beers and held some deep and meaningful discussion. OK, let’s be honest, the video chat resorted to grown men pulling faces and telling childish jokes…I don’t actually think the male of our species has evolved much from that of a teenage boy!
Sunday and more gardening is planned. I’m off to do some in a minute. I am hoping the weather stays warm so I can sit out in the garden for a bit. I might make some more bread this afternoon with the contraption that Lauren loaned me.
Have a good weekend. We are in this for the long haul. Be patient with people around you, even more than usual. Everyone will be fighting their own battles in their own personal way.
Lockdown diary #3 – APR 2020
Maybe it’s because of lockdown, but I am really starting to appreciate the simple things in life.
I’m also getting used to slowing down… Not something that comes naturally to me. Perhaps it is the absence of people and the sheer sense of elbow room in this part of the country…
It certainly helps that when I venture out the only sounds I can hear are from nature. Birdsong, brooks, insects and farmyard animals. The scenery is unspoiled by cars or people and the absence of vapour trails has created some very pristine skies. Whatever the reason, the landscape appears greener and the sky more blue than I’ve noticed for a long time. If you read my last post you’ll know I’ve been struggling with my bicycle gears for a while, given the local terrain that is not a good thing. So I did a little digging on YouTube and hey presto! I now have twenty four gears to play with. Much easier!
Yesterday I set out for Crowcombe the hard way, over the hills. I passed by the villages of Cothelstone, West Bagborough, Triscombe and then a little further..
I may have pushed the boundary of excerise limits!
I have discovered places right on my doorstep I didn’t know existed. A new angle on the views and a new pub for my list when the lockdown is eventually lifted.
Of course on my way home I did my bit for the war effort by providing a little income for a local business. It is debatable if it was an “essential” shop but without trade “Quantock Brewery” will almost certainly risk financial ruin. So a take-way growler (when I grew up that meant something very different!) and 4 pints of QPA which made it it safely home in my rucksack. A Growler = a 4 pint jug by the way…
Last night I had a nice long hot soak in my Victorian roll top bath before settling down to a couple of pints front of the tele. I didn’t want to watch the news. It’s been Coronavirus overload. Time for a day off!
This morning, before breakfast I headed out in a different direction towards Devon and the border town of Elworthy. On getting to Brompton Ralph I turned left towards Clatworthy stopping only when I reached Battin’s Knapp and an evil hill that took its toll on my legs. I checked my watch and thought I’d better not travel much further else the exercise police might fine me for being too far away! I hardly saw a soul again today. Very few cars, a handful of walkers and two other cyclists, that was it.
I’ve been thinking. A lot of my friends work in the NHS or are key workers and simply can’t take time out. All are doing a marvellous job. Most are stuck in major cities or towns unable to take advantage of the weekend like I have, with scenery like this literally on my doorstep. It makes isolation so much more bearable. If that is you, please drop me a Private Message and when this is all over and so long as my family are not here (Lauren, my daughter stays here at weekends from time to time), you are more than welcome to spend a weekend in the cottage – gratis. It’s a lovely area and under normal circumstances I’d be in Southampton or London so this place will be free over the summer. A number of close friends have already been here, so it’d be no bother. There is only one rule. Be quiet – don’t upset the neighbours! Of course, I can’t guarantee the weather we’ve been having this week.
I’ll watch the news tonight and check out the keyboard warriors on FB sniping at each other trying to score points or climb to the summit of “mount moral high ground”. I can’t be arsed to join in at the moment. It’s all too sad and depressing. We all know NHS workers have been shafted for decades and the division of wealth in this country is abhorrent. Lets hope that this ghastly experience makes us a little bit more compassionate and tolerant towards each other.
Lockdown diary #4 – APR 2020
It’s been four weeks now. Missing Emma and my family. It’s lonely at times when there is no one to come back to in the evenings or see at weekends. But I really can’t complain as so many people are in the same boat or significantly worse off. It’s nice to follow the mini blogs that are springing up of FB and to see how differently we are all coping and what people are up to. Love the live updates from time to time. Good to see people and hear the voices. Some of you are natural presenters. Should be on TV.
I know we are not at war and having bombs dropped on us like our grandparents experienced and a few long queues at the shops can’t compare to 14 years of rationing during and after the last war. But the lockdown does takes its toll. I really take my hat off to my NHS and Key worker buddies. I really hope the nation hits the reset button after this and you guys start to get the recognition we always knew you should get.
I needed a blast today to get rid of some pent up frustrations. So headed off for a circular ride into Devon. Flat route there, hilly route back. I underestimated the hills so the round trip took a little longer than planned. Beautiful countryside yet again and I was blessed with a window of good weather which hit us just after midday. I snuck a couple of pics of a cycle I had mid week for good measure.
Lockdown diary #5 – MAY 2020
Where did the road go? Ankle deep in mud, knee deep in water. I expected some tarmac on my google maps led journey… or at least a bloody path! I needed a hybrid or mountain bike (or boat) for this terrain. And I was only 10 minutes into my morning cycle. O well. Never mind. Suns out. It’s early. Keep going.
On to the beautiful old town of Wellington and then up into the Blackdown Hills. Via the monument and then back home via Taunton for a late breakfast. Empty roads again. Deserted M5. Fresh air and no people other than a handful of early morning dog walkers and cyclists. Bliss.
Lockdown diary #6 – JUNE 2020
It has really been nice to watch many of my friends meeting up with family and friends for the first time in months as the lockdown rules are starting to become more relaxed.
I’m sure we are all hoping for a sense of normality soon and keeping our fingers crossed the nation is able to keep a lid on the virus despite the packed beaches, protest marches and all!
For me It’s been an amazing few weeks.
After two and a half months of isolation and not seeing a soul after work and weekends I’ve been at last able to see a few people for walks and cycles. First it was Emma, who as soon as the rules allowed, then it was Natty who I managed to prise from his playstation in Southampton so we could spend some time together in Bishops Lydeard. With hindsight I wish I’d had Natty down here before (as it was allowed under the co parenting rules) but we were being super cautious during the early days of lockdown.
Luckily for us, the week that Natty came down coincided with the 6 person 2m rule change… so we headed off to a isolated beach (unlike the packed ones I saw on the news) to meet up with some old rugby friends who now live in the Southwest. Great weather too. And Loz paid a visit with Andy one evening staying outside in the garden.
I’m over the moon with the new “bubble rule” as it means I can now see Emma and this weekend was an opportunity we could not miss. We had checked the weather forecast and prepared for heavy rain and perhaps a few walks in our waterproofs. Instead the sun gloriously shone on both days and we managed to get in some kayaking and cycling in this beautiful part of the world. I’ve popped a few pictures together of the past few weeks. I’m feeling very lucky.
Lockdown diary #7 – Natty JUNE 2020
A Lymington to Keyhaven cycle along the nature reserve this morning, then in to see mum and dad for social distance lunch in Barton before heading off to Exmoor for some kayaking.
And then back to Porlock.
Time really does appear to stand still here.
…And we really did have the entire place to ourselves.
Just Natty and I, a high tide and some balmy weather after work.
For two hours we sat and simply listened to the crashing waves, marvelled at the scenery and relaxed. This is my favourite place to unwind and simply breathe. It is rapidly becoming one of Natty’s too.