I'm going to be honest this whole lock down, mustn't leave my house is really starting to get to me now. I don't even know what week I'm on? end of week 7 I think or maybe it's 8. If anyone knows please do let me know. I do suspect though that for the vulnerable group the remaining "5 weeks" will be increased further all so that "healthy" people can go on and get along with their normal daily lives again. Now I know that must sound extraordinarily selfish I mean why shouldn't healthy folk go and get on with their lives? BUT everytime I hear the news or read something it's like us vulnerable, shielding folk have been forgotten about, or that it doesn't matter that we're currently isolated and unable just to go out. Food and other things are delivered, taken inside and washed before they're put away, you can stand at your front door and have a long distance chat with family who have dropped off your essential shopping but that's where it ends. I haven't been out of the house properly for over 50 days and this strict isolation is proving to be mentally tough but you know what's harder watching members of our society who are actively choosing to go and socialise with whoever they choose... a neighbour, oh lets have a street party, or a picnic in the park or I know perform a conga!! I mean seriously! From the bottom of my heart I sincerely hope that these individuals won't be relying on our NHS over the coming weeks all because they couldn't adhere to the rules.
The vulnerable people are not just the elderly, it's everyone with a serious underlying health condition young or old, people like me who would just like to rejoin life.
I refer to the fear of losing ones independence in the title of this blog or developing an unconscious desire to be taken care of by others, at it's core I suppose I mean it's a fear of losing that ability to manage your day to day life, losing control of the emotional and social parts of your life. I've been there before when my life was on hold waiting for a transplant, no energy to leave the house, was lucky if most days I had the energy to get dressed.
Now I'm not for one minute saying that I'm back there, I'm currently healthy and can sit in my garden (although maybe not today, I think today I would perhaps wake up in Kansas or OZ.) But the principal is the same, it's just such a big ask of anyone young or old, healthy or ill to give up that freedom and to confined themselves to doing not very much at all. And whilst none of this is anyone persons fault, the continued selfish behaviours we currently hear about are really starting to grate on me. I'm quite sure I'm not alone in those feelings either.
So aside from working (from home) what have I been up to? In truth, not much. I did sand and paint a bench in the garden which I enjoyed doing, oh and had my daily visits from Bob the street cat. I'm about to start reading my 6th book since lockdown began, this one is entitled The Beekeeper of Aleppo, I love a true story they're by far my favourite reads.
I've stopped watching the news, aside from the daily briefing, but to be honest even that is starting to get on my nerves, I mean who even are some of the people that appear on there?
I will be watching and listening intently to what Boris has to say this evening, but to be honest, I think it's going to be baby steps, it has to be!
So until there is more to say or I feel like rambling on again I'm going to say bye for now. Take care! Stay safe! Stay home! and for goodness sake just do as you're asked!
Shez xxx
