I wrote the following on April 4th 2020 just as Lockdown started to really kick in:
"Today, I spoke to a 87 year old woman who was upset about her husband who's in a nursing home and could be suffering with Coronavirus. It's the first sentence of this blog post and I've already mentioned the word that is circulating the world. It's a scary idea. People are full of fear. We are told to stay in and be safe. Of course, we know it's for the best but it doesn't mean it's easy. It feels we're in a future dystopian novel but also like we've stepped back in time into the rationing times of war. I miss popping into the pub. I miss going out to my new yoga class (it's not the same at home). I miss going to baby clubs so all the mums can sit in a room and feel like zombies together because it's more better feeling like zombies together. I miss Oscar going to work because I miss Olive's face when he comes home from work. But most of all I miss family and friends. I miss hugging them. I miss their smell.
It sounds like I'm struggling (and I think it's difficult for everybody) but there are some really lovely things that have happened because of this pandemic. The birds. I am enjoying the sound of the birds. The quietness of the streets is actually unbelievable calming. The sense of community is better: I got a letter through my door with a glow stick from a lady a few doors down thanking me for the rainbow that I had put up at my window. Nature and kindness. And cooking.
The things that keep me going:
I've started writing to my pen friend in America. I started writing to her when I was 11 and we've begun a new chapter of writing to each other again and it's the most enjoyable thing that I'm doing at the moment.
We're making sourdough bread. I bought a sourdough starter from the Lake District dated from 1979 and we're feeding it every few days. I can't wait to deliver some starter to other people to spread the sourdough love.
I'm volunteering with Age UK. Being a telephone befriender is all I can do right now. Originally, I was going to do a weekly visit with cakes but now, we are only allowed to telephone. I hope I'll be able to help the lady who sounded quite lonely when I called today.
I'm not sure where this blog will go from here. Currently, I'm meant to be writing up my review on the book about Rosenshine's Principles. It seems strange posting about classroom practice when teachers won't be in a classroom for a while. I still think posting it is important. So I'll write reviews of books but keep in mind of our current state in the world."
Reflecting on my last thoughts here, this blog took a little back seat during lockdown. It has been a very strange time. Oscar and and I have become very used to existing together. It's tough. It's great. All at the same time. He's working from home and I'm here looking after Olive. I started a little tie dye business. It went well. I loved it. My Mum went for 12 weeks without a hug from her Granddaughter. Almost a third of her life so far. Now, 11 months into my maternity leave, I'm getting ready to go back to work in a month. For now, I've got all of August to enjoy. I'm finishing my tie dye business as I'm starting school again. My timetable has come through and I'm sorting childcare. It going to be an adjustment but through coaching with the MTPT Project, it's making my return a lot more relaxed. I couldn't imagine my maternity leave without it. Thank you MTPT Project.
"Today, I spoke to a 87 year old woman who was upset about her husband who's in a nursing home and could be suffering with Coronavirus. It's the first sentence of this blog post and I've already mentioned the word that is circulating the world. It's a scary idea. People are full of fear. We are told to stay in and be safe. Of course, we know it's for the best but it doesn't mean it's easy. It feels we're in a future dystopian novel but also like we've stepped back in time into the rationing times of war. I miss popping into the pub. I miss going out to my new yoga class (it's not the same at home). I miss going to baby clubs so all the mums can sit in a room and feel like zombies together because it's more better feeling like zombies together. I miss Oscar going to work because I miss Olive's face when he comes home from work. But most of all I miss family and friends. I miss hugging them. I miss their smell.
It sounds like I'm struggling (and I think it's difficult for everybody) but there are some really lovely things that have happened because of this pandemic. The birds. I am enjoying the sound of the birds. The quietness of the streets is actually unbelievable calming. The sense of community is better: I got a letter through my door with a glow stick from a lady a few doors down thanking me for the rainbow that I had put up at my window. Nature and kindness. And cooking.
The things that keep me going:
I've started writing to my pen friend in America. I started writing to her when I was 11 and we've begun a new chapter of writing to each other again and it's the most enjoyable thing that I'm doing at the moment.
We're making sourdough bread. I bought a sourdough starter from the Lake District dated from 1979 and we're feeding it every few days. I can't wait to deliver some starter to other people to spread the sourdough love.
I'm volunteering with Age UK. Being a telephone befriender is all I can do right now. Originally, I was going to do a weekly visit with cakes but now, we are only allowed to telephone. I hope I'll be able to help the lady who sounded quite lonely when I called today.
I'm not sure where this blog will go from here. Currently, I'm meant to be writing up my review on the book about Rosenshine's Principles. It seems strange posting about classroom practice when teachers won't be in a classroom for a while. I still think posting it is important. So I'll write reviews of books but keep in mind of our current state in the world."
Reflecting on my last thoughts here, this blog took a little back seat during lockdown. It has been a very strange time. Oscar and and I have become very used to existing together. It's tough. It's great. All at the same time. He's working from home and I'm here looking after Olive. I started a little tie dye business. It went well. I loved it. My Mum went for 12 weeks without a hug from her Granddaughter. Almost a third of her life so far. Now, 11 months into my maternity leave, I'm getting ready to go back to work in a month. For now, I've got all of August to enjoy. I'm finishing my tie dye business as I'm starting school again. My timetable has come through and I'm sorting childcare. It going to be an adjustment but through coaching with the MTPT Project, it's making my return a lot more relaxed. I couldn't imagine my maternity leave without it. Thank you MTPT Project.
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