Covid-19 – Week thirteen: beginning 01/06/2020
Nip and a punch first day of the month. I can’t believe how long it’s been since the new ‘normal’ came into being. As much as I am getting used to my new home working routine, I still pine for my past routine. The morning commute might not have been my favourite part of the day, but it was a means to social contact, different environments and so much more.
If I am honest, when this all started, I thought lockdown would be over by now and we all would have returned to our lives as normal. As the weeks go by, I realise ‘normal’ will never be the same again. Now I can’t help but go into autopilot, try to use my work login on my personal devices, while positively organising my life on OneNote. It’s funny how somehow work never slipped into home life when I worked in the office. But when you work where you live it was going to happen sooner or later as everything gets interconnected. I doubt anyone has enough space to shut off one corner of the house for work only. We don’t even have an office. It’s the dining room table, or was, it is now the makeshift office, Scout hut, Slimming World meeting and general storage room.
If and when we all return to a state of ‘normal’ one thing is for sure: things will never be the same again. Covid-19 has and will continue to affect our way of life. Some I am glad to say might even be positive.
Take my office work for example. Hypothetically speaking what new regulations will we need to stay safe? There have been many articles on this, suggesting some measures that could help. One way systems, visual reminders, less people in a space, no sharing food and virtual team meetings the norm. It sounds alien. I can’t imagine a world where I don’t share yummy treats I’ve baked. I mean can you imagine offices where everyone always keeps 2 meters between them? Where you have to walk the whole building due to a one way system – well at least we could end up plump or lazy.
Yet I have heard of some people returning to work these last few weeks. Of temperature tests before entry, one way systems, limited staff and new cleaning regimes. But the norm is still home working, where possible, so we don’t all need to worry yet. I guess we’ll all have to wait and see what the future holds for workplaces.
Some sanctions have been lifted; one has given some children the opportunity to return to school. Giving parents some return to normal and their children an opportunity to socialise with others their age. However, with many parents fearful and some schools not ready, it could be a while before our young people are all back to education within a school building. To this I say – thank goodness. I really don’t want us to move out of lockdown too quickly and cause a second wave.
Yet, the opportunity to now meet with six people from outside of your house while social distancing has me hanging my head in dismay. And I am sure you know why. The public, at the weekend gone, obviously decided not to wait for the lifting of measures on Monday and were out in force. As we drove along the coast, ice cream, chips and treats were being enjoyed, with long queues outside of venders, social distancing appeared a forgotten past time. Let’s just say we didn’t get to the beach and it is on the list of popular spots we might not get a chance to go to for a while.
Monday also came the reminder having sex with someone you don’t live with is illegal. Which I guess is accurate as you would be breaking social distancing by meeting someone inside their home and getting very physically close. But the media’s take has me in giggles.
So, I am glad to report, my partner and I very much live with each other and have for some years now. But I do take the opportunity to meet someone outside of the home on a social distancing dog walk. I am proud of Lady for keeping up the no bum sniffing, chasing, jumping up or approaching of any kind to humans and fellow canines alike. Today she is walking at my side grinning away, while looking from me to one of her boyfriend’s Gizmo (an adorable Chihuahua, spooked by most things including other dogs, but not Lady, we like to think they flirt with each other) and his owner, one of my best friends. We were out for almost an hour, but with our conversation flowing it felt more like 5 minutes. So as 8:00 am arrived, Lady and I head back for a day in the home office with our minds filled by adventure, future holiday plans, yummy foods and the best thing of all no coronavirus in sight. The fact is, our conversation had been an exchange of life events that may have been brought about by Covid-19, but the virus did not dictate our life choices to enjoy yummy food, walks or plans for the future.
In fact, I rather think my friend and I have grown as people, in strength of mind and character. Resilient to what is going on in the outside world we are facing challenges head on: keeping active, getting fitter, eating healthier, losing weight. I rather think we can all grown during this time, even in a small way.
At Scouts tonight we discuss our weekly wins, our young people open up more and share positive steps they have made: submitting school work on time, having a social distance meet up with friends, baking yummy treats and talking to loved ones. Though they be young they seem so wise and have adapted so well.
We have continued to experiment with new activities to adapt to our virtual Scout meetings. So tonight, to fill the silent void during an activity we ask for song requests. And as one Scout starts singing along to Sweet Caroline, it isn’t long before more unmute their mics until, with minimum encouragement, the whole section is singing along. Okay so with the delay online we sound like a cat’s choir, but we are a happy one. And this isn’t a performance, a rehearsal, a planned anything. It is a bit of fun, that I think might become a weekly tradition, but we’ll try Scouts next week: it is there programme after all. So as the night is coming to a close, I am still replaying the sight and sound in my head with satisfaction that although we are far apart our Scout Troup is one.
In our home we are really growing and at a fast rate, I can see it every day. And I am not just talking about the seeds we sowed last week. We read each other’s emotions and suggest activities based on these, most importantly reading when the other clearly needs a break and it’s time to relax. I mean don’t get me wrong we still have our moments of tension, emotion and the odd heated debate about nothing. But the way we approach each situation, our empathy and ability to face new challenges with a sense of resilience, makes me feel together we can do anything.
But let’s get back to the plants before I get all soppy or start offering advice on relationships as I am no counsellor. You should see the seeds now! From being sown last week, they have burst through the soil and are reaching up and up to grab the light sucking it in to grow up further and further, up and out, making an escape for it. Our seeds, now plants, definitely need new pots. But after exhausting the few we had in the shed, a trip to the garden centre is unavoidable and a welcome distraction. At this rate I think we might end up with a nursery of plants.
However, we have decided not to be selfish about our newfound bean stalk. So, as we enter the outdoor garden section, we call my Mam. Now you might think this looks strange and it feels it, talking to a phone while holding it closer to the plant selections. However, as I look up, I can see at least two other people doing the same thing. I guess this has added a whole new dynamic to home online shopping. My Mam can literally choose the product down to the last leaf thanks to technology. I should add she isn’t that picky but is rather excited at expanding her beautiful garden of Eden she has created in the backyard. Although, Dad might have been less impressed, ‘where they going to go?’ He was shot down by the corona mindset: enjoy what you have now.
Hail stone! Yes, in June we have hail stones pounding at our window, pummelling off the ground and jumping off the shed. Who would have thought the lovely weather we have been having would come to an end so soon? But then this is the British Summer, full of liquid sunshine. Yet, Mam has been enjoying the sun in the backyard and even I have been enjoying being kissed by its raise on my frequent outings. And today was no different. Say what? I know right! So, I went out jogging, came home. and started working where I was greeted by dark clouds then hail stones tapping at the window, so I turn on the light. Then the sun shines in blinding my screen, so I turn off the light and shut the curtain. Until, the sky turns black and the heavens open, pounding the ground like a hoard of elephants forcing me to rewind and return on the light and reopen the curtains. And this is how the day went. All very strange, but enjoyable to watch. I have in fact loved the distraction and opportunity to step away from my screen and see nature at play.
I have enjoyed and welcomed many distractions this week. On our walk today we were stopped by one of the Ladies we often see. But today she is out of her front garden and being pushed through the cemetery. She seems so much happier, brighter, dare I say alive. And as we talked about the weather, the dog, the flowers, I think what is 5 minutes out of a full day?
Another distraction I loved today was my video chats. Now, I know what you’re thinking. I said I hated them, liked them, time wasting, connects me with colleagues. And well, all these things are true: it’s a love hate situation. Today it’s more of the love. So today, when I called a colleague and her young son (along with his teddy) was with her, I decided to engage him, and we compared his teddy to my work mascot bear. Later he started pretending to be a dinosaur, so I roared back, pretended he had scared me and engaged in harmless child play.
When my colleague commented, “I bet you didn’t expect to have roared like a dinosaur today.”
I just laughed and said, “I have loved it.”
And in fact, I loved the spontaneity of the situation and the interludes of fun it gave to our otherwise serious conversation. Maybe we should all be dinosaurs next week when things get a little too serious.
