I imagine that many a blog, diary entry, vlog, and reflective thought will be created as 2020 closes its doors.
Never has there been a year in my lifetime which has warranted so much change, resilience, compassion, understanding, and in the most simplest form - humanity.
I think there are many who feel cheated by Covid as it aggressively lays tracks to storm into our new year. There's thoughts that it was never meant to last this long, that it should have been finished by now and that all we had to do, was get to the end of the year. But, as we know, 2021 is looking as hard and if not harder than this year.
At the start of the year, the talk and news of the new virus which was ranging through Wuhan in China was considered just to be a bad flu - that "thousands of people die every year from flu," and the then dreaded words - "It's not as bad as what they are saying.... it's the media". I know that I said those things and at the beginning thought it was just being exaggerated. I was wrong. We all were.
In March, I recorded a work video asking people to support their local businesses as much as possible, as the threat of closures and lockdowns were forming. I took my laptop and went to work at the Storyhouse in Chester, one of my favourite places to sit and work. I enjoyed a sticky bun, got loads of work done, and felt happy that I had done my bit to support the industry in which I work and that I love. That evening Boris threw us into a national lockdown. Our Mother's Day meal out became a take-away roast dinner from Elephant Lounge.
I remember saying to my mum that my life hadn't really changed during the first lockdown. I am at the other end of the country from my family, I work from home and work alone, I have a small handful of close friends and I don't really have much of a social life! It is me and V in our little bubble and it always has been. At that point mum said, "aww that's a little bit sad" So life in lockdown didn't really feel too much of a change - it was a 'welcome to my world' moment.
The biggest change was homeschooling. V and I started really well and we did for about 4 - 6 weeks, That was before the days and weeks merged into one. On the first day of homeschooling, I suggested she wear her school t-shirt so that it felt that she was spending the day learning - so she would be in the right mindset (a bit like how I approach work!) But that lasted one day!
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| First Day of homeschooling - 23rd March |
At work, we created a weekly planner - mainly as a tool to help me as a single parent be organised and juggle schooling and work. We did 6 weeks of these before the days were more of a free for all in terms of learning! But we tried and we did it. We made sure we had break time and some activity. We started the morning walking around the block so we left home and returned to 'work'. I got creative in the garden with learning - plenty of games with chalk.
But as the weeks went on, the routine and structure became more and more 'fluffy'. V did school work and she did plenty of it, in fact, she has a ring binder full of work, but she did it in short bursts with plenty of play in between. My biggest guilt was not being able to play with her. She had days, especially in the early weeks when she would cry and sob because she missed her friends. As an only child, she doesn't have a sibling to play with for company and to fill the gaps. It was heartbreaking to see and many a time we were sobbing together, trying to navigate the 'new normal'.
I could go on and on about what has been hard, but instead, I would rather focus on the personal highlights from 2020 and what I will remember about the pandemic year:
- When the restrictions eased - taking V to Eastham Country park to climb trees - something V was keen to do and learn. We also went to Delamere to do the same.
- On some evenings we would go to Caldy beach or Leasowe Beach - the feeling of sand between our toes and the sea was just what we both needed after feeling agitated with each other.
- One of the highlights was surprising V with a Maccies when they re-opened. We waited in the drive-thru queue for an hour but her face on getting a nuggets Happy Meal was absolutely worth it. It has been very much about the simple pleasures and being grateful for them. After the Maccies we came back and danced in the office together to the Courteeners - laughing loads and feeling on top of the world.
- In July, Dad came up to stay as soon as hotels were able to open. It was the best seeing him and then beginning of August, we were able to head south for the first time since the pandemic. It was a proper little holiday made even more special because of seeing family.
- Afternoon Tea at Oddfellows in Chester - a treat for us both as part of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
- Facetiming mum weekly - she would never do it before but this year has forced her to embrace the video call so it never feels like we don't see her. The same with all my family.
- Walking with friends - so many new places discovered from the endless walking because that was all we could do - the canals in Chester, Delamere, Moel Famau, Chester.. and Chester again.
- Hiring Wilma the Campervan for my birthday and due to more restrictions and lockdowns we could only go to Chester Lakes - but it didn't matter. It was the best mini-break with V and one we will be repeating.
- A chilled Christmas - just the two of us. As much as I missed my family, it has been a total break for V and me to stay at home and have Christmas just the two of us. I have been lazy, relaxed and able to do all the things I wanted... i.e. snoozing on the sofa after an epic feed!
