Keep on keepin' on

One year ago today it was confirmed our lives were to change for the unforeseeable future. We had plans to go to the pub that evening for a last “hurrah” before death loomed, but chose against it. We had warnings...from Italy, from Spain...about what awaited us but no one could be prepared for what unraveled. Everything that consisted of our daily life was stripped away - queuing to buy groceries, no doctors appointments (more than a year and counting for me - I need regular blood tests due to my under active thyroid), no pubs, eating out, live gigs, theatre, sports events, travel, no hugs, seeing friends, and loved ones. No freedom. Everything that is essential and had been a fabric to our beings all stripped away in a single moment. For a global citizen, it was a horrendous feeling.  

And then the deaths...mere weeks into it, we lost our friend who worked in a shop 2 doors down from us. Death, surrounding and suffocating us. I didn’t want to leave the house, even for the allotted exercise or grocery shopping as everyone presented a  danger. Lockdown 1.0 - we buckled down, we video messaged friends and there was an air of triviality to it. Zoom pub quizzes became the norm - a welcome distraction from the horror. Reuniting with school mates - everyone was in the same boat...for a short while.  

We moved to the coast for more space and respite...turned out to be the worst infected area in the entire nation. Just our luck. We hermited, we saw very few people over the course of a year, gave probably 5 hugs with masks on and held breath.

My super precious (handicapped) brother spent 9 days in intensive care, fighting for his life and he somehow managed to fight off Covid, pneumonia and all sorts of other side effects. I called the hospital every day fearing the worst only to hear these incredible, incredible nurses tell me it was a pleasure caring for him. I thanked them in tears every phone call. Thank God for the NHS or just thank the NHS!! Insane heroes.  

 

Many countries moved on, and we were stuck in the horror of the daily death tolls...then Captain Tom - a shining light, bringing hope to a hopeless nation, fell to the evil virus himself.  

 

Over 125,000 deaths+. Soooo much grief, so much sorrow. Shared, as a nation. As a world. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been adversely affected by this evil monster. Covid. And then lies have been spread about our only shimmer of hope - the vaccines. Samuel and many others have had the Oxford-AstraZeanica vaccine and they're alive. protected and well. This thing is more than real and the only way out is the vaccine, unless you’re happy to live in a bubble for the rest or your lives. Embrace every moment, cherish life and tell your loved ones how you feel.

We are now over 4 months into Lockdown 3.0 and are counting our lucky stars because we are ALIVE. ✨