Easter will be very strange this year. In some ways nothing has changed. There are still lambs in the fields and bluebells in the woods. Birds are making nests and trees are coming into leaf. In other ways every thing has changed. I never imagined I would live through a pandemic. A virus has emerged for which we have no vaccine or treatment and our only defence is the euphemistically titled “social distancing”. For most people it means we can no longer see our family or friends for fear of spreading infection. Here in England restaurants, pubs and non essential shops have been closed and sporting events have been cancelled.
A British blogging group to which I belong is asking bloggers to complete a short questionnaire for a Linky to provide a snapshot of life in these extraordinary times. Hopefully we will be able to look back and smile when we have slid down the curve and landed on our bottoms on the other side.
Here are my answers
1)How are you feeling/coping?
I am feeling lucky. I live with my husband and daughter. We have a garden and two cats. As we are retired we have a guaranteed income. I am grateful for small things like stairs to climb or carpets to hoover. I do miss my four sons and my grandchildren and worry how they will cope. It must be extraordinarily difficult to be shut in alone all day with young children.
2) What are you doing to keep yourself occupied?
It has been beautiful weather so I have been able to spend time in the garden. I have also been trying to improve my photography.
3) How are you dealing with everything at the moment – are you self-isolated, going out for essentials etc? Has this changed?
I am going out for essentials and solitary walks. Apart from my age I am not in a vulnerable group. I used to volunteer in a charity shop which is shut and I belonged to a walking group who have been unable to meet. It is very odd to have to try to keep six feet away from people and I have not left the area of Bristol where I live for almost a month.
4) What advice do you have for others?
Remember that it is OK to feel anxious and that there are organisations that want to help.
5) What have you bought this week that others might like? Especially if from a small business.
I know that it is not essential but I bought bird seed from my local pet shop. It gives me a lot of pleasure to watch wildlife from my window and this week I even spotted a fox in my garden.
6) How has your routine been this week? (Question by Don’t Cramp My Style)
I find it quite difficult to establish a routine without my regular activities. It is strange to wake up and have no activities planned. I am trying to eat at regular times and to get up and do some exercise. I have been following the walking at home videos by Leslie Sansone on you tube.
7) Have you planned anything for once lockdown is over in the past 7 days?? (Question by Don’t Cramp My Style)
My husband will be eighty on May 9th and I would love to be able to organise a party for him. We had booked a holiday to Italy at the beginning of June so I think we ought to at least have an Italian take away.
8) Anything Else.
I think it is hard to imagine what life in social isolation would be like without the internet. We should encourage all older people to learn to use apps like zoom and skype. Personally, I am proud of being able to make making my first ever video conference call. It is strange to think that a few years ago as a registered nurse I would have been on the front line and that now I am being encouraged to save the world by watching Netflix.
I hope we all come through this. It has certainly made me realise how many of my friends, family and neighbours are over seventy with underlying health conditions.
A virus free Easter hug to everyone.
I answered the same questions a few weeks later and it is interesting to compare my answers. It is good to remember I was feeling less stressed. It was a strange time but we came out on the other side.
13 responses to “Easter wishes from Bristol”
I can absolutely relate to what you say. For me the big thing is that my creativity seems to have vanished. It is starting to come back, but for a while I was unsettled. a difficult time for everyone, but harder for younger people I feel. Imagine being 17 and not being able to see your friends…. #MLSTL
Hello Anne lovely to meet you and have you join us at #MLSTL. I find many of us are working to some sort of schedule as we try to navigate the current ‘normal’ lifestyle. Like you I miss being able to hug my grandsons but with the wonders of technology I’ve been able to stay in touch and see them via FaceTime. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us at #MLSTL and take care.
Hi Anne – lovely to meet you and to have a little snapshot of your life. Things here in Australia are remarkably similar – our weather has stayed warm, we’re all at home, I miss my adult kids and grandgirls desperately, but other than that I’m happy just puttering around on my own timeframe and schedule. I hope you’ll be back for more of our parties and give us a chance to get to know you.
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 😊
THanks.
Thank you, Anne, for sharing a snapshot of what it’s like for you during the global pandemic. The fox and the birds are probably wondering why the noise level is much lower these days.
I think the fox is probably wondering why the local Kentucky fred chicken is closed.
Hello Anne, it is nice to meet you. I am from Madison, Wisconsin USA. It is just starting to be spring here, but very cold this week. My husband and I are quarantined together. I have two grown daughter who do not live nearby, but we speak or Zoom often. We’ve been watching lots of PBS televisions shows, most recently Penelope Coastal Villages of the UK series. We are finding it fascinating. We have never been to the UK, but hope to once we are allowed to travel and can be safe. Scotland is high on our wish list. I loved your photo of the sheep. Stay well!
I hope you can visit before too long. Scotland is beautiful.
Thank you for taking part! I too am finding it hard to keep to a routine. With the kids school and various playgroups and extra curricular activities all cancelled, my routine has been completely thrown!
Hello Anne. I enjoyed reading your responses to these questions. I think many of us can relate to how you are feeling. I also feel very lucky for myself, that my job is considered essential and that it can be done from home, that I have a comfortable home to shelter in, and that my family is all well. Still I worry about others who are struggling physically, financially or emotionally. I do miss my routines, especially my gym and going out with family and friends. Mostly I miss being able to hug my children and grandchildren. My husband’s birthday is Sunday, so we will have a double celebration for Easter and his birthday, but it will be strange to have it with just the two of us. Take care of yourself and stay safe! Hopefully, we will be saying, “remember when…” before too long.
Oh wow, Mr Fox is sitting very patiently there! I see them stroll by sometimes, but never sitting in our garden like that. You’re right with how this Easter looks very different. I never imagined anything like this would happen in our lifetime. And I’d agree with how much harder this would be without the internet, for giving us information, helping us to work from home, to order groceries and essentials, to keep us in touch with one another. Amazing really when you think about it.
Stay safe, Anne & Happy Easter ♥
Caz xx
Happy Easter to you too.
Happy Easter! I like your perspective – “ We had booked a holiday to Italy at the beginning of June so I think we ought to at least have an Italian take away.” Good to keep a sense of humour!