Over 50 Day in Lock Down at Home – Covid-19
I started writing this blog post around 5am this morning while lying in bed unable to sleep. This seems to be quite normal these days, sleepless nights that is, not writing blog posts in bed. When I am asleep my dreams are more surreal than usual. I have no idea if this is all related to being in lock down due to Covid-19, but I strongly suspect it might be. I’ve had dreams where I get stressed because people are too close to me, social distancing is now implanted in my sub-conscious.
Jay and I returned from touring Spain in our motorhome and reached The Cooler (our UK base) on the 18th March. We started self-isolating then (in case we’d brought anything back with us), and a few days later the UK was put into lock down. When our self-isolating ended, we were released into the ‘freedom’ of just lock down, we could now go to the shops, undertake essential travel and exercise once a day. A couple of days ago we celebrated our 50th day in The Cooler, either locked down or isolated. I say celebrated, we didn’t really, it passed by unnoticed, days blending from one into another. Normally we don’t know what day it is, that’s the beauty of motorhome life – only realising it’s Sunday when the shops are all closed. Now we’re also often unsure what month it is!
There’s talk all over the news about lock down being ended in Boris’ announcement on Sunday, one paper even speculated that pubs will be able to open and serve food in beer gardens on Monday! No doubt this is what has led to the notable increase in cars on the roads and people out and about. We’re sticking to the rules, staying at home and are not holding our breath for any big change. Looking back to Spain to see what is happening there, as they went into lock down a week or so before us (our cue to head home), their lock down ‘release’ is just beginning and now enables people to exercise each day, something we’ve been able to do all along.
I’m getting bored and fed up with the restrictions, I think nearly everyone is. Also, I’m trying to not get too stressed by the number of people driving around, hanging out in groups, wandering close to me on footpaths etc. I can’t control what others do, I can only control what I can do. When I feel the anxiety rising I have to remember, at the end of this, I will have the knowledge that I did what we were told to do, and I can be proud of that.
As you might expect, we haven’t been up to much – although we do find that the days are easily filled. We run every other day and walk together on the days we aren’t running. Once a week we go to the supermarket for ourselves and Jay’s parents who are shielding, and we stand in our street and clap for our carers each Thursday at 8pm. That is all we see of the outside world.
In The Cooler, Jay keeps busy writing, I have been reading a lot and sorting through our photos and videos and putting a few we’d missed onto our YouTube channel. When the weather is good we sit in our yard and enjoy the feeling of the sunshine on our faces. Some days we struggle with it all, other days we enjoy the peace and solitude.
I’ve no idea how I’ll feel when lock down restrictions are lifted, even just a little. Where will I go, what will I do, what will the ‘new normal’ be? I’m not thinking that far ahead yet. For now, I’ll just keep getting through each day and see what tomorrow brings.
Julie x
It looks as though you are keeping yourselves busy enough in these times of quarantine, I mean, you Kondo’d your draw and it looks amazing! I’ve been working on that, too, and I’m shocked at the stuff we’ve managed to accumulate in just one year! Jay looks great, healthy and clean-shaven! And the chippy is open, so life is pretty good! I say when the borders open we all meet up and drive off into the sunset. I don’t even care where. 🙂
Thanks for that update. We’re feeling the same as you. We work for the Caravan and Motorhome Club and are locked down in Scotland miles away from home but are thankful that we’re safe and well and able to do as we’re told far away from any big town or city. Really don’t feel that restrictions should be eased much yet.
Stay safe and keep smiling.
P&V
You are doing the right thing and following the rules. So are we, we have both followed the rules all along, but even in Scotland we are seeing more people using cars. In Scotland we have been locked down for another three weeks, I know numbers are still a bit high but meeting up with close family would be nice, even if we weren’t allowed to hug them but just be near enough to them to talk. Take care.
Hi Jay and Jules
I have made good use of my lockdown by reading my way through your informative blogs and past articles. All useful stuff for when, as a novice MotorHome owner, I can get out on the road.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, it makes it so much easier when there is so much information in one place.
Regards
Douglas
ps. I am awaiting a copy of your book The Motorhome Touring Handbook
Good for you two following the rules. Hubby and I are doing the same it makes sense. We live in Norwich and have a large-ish garden, so apart from daily walk with dog and weekly shop it home for us. Thankfully our supermarkets are keeping well stocked now and we went yesterday at 7.30am and were 4th in the queue – sorted. Have just watched Mr Johnson and am glad that I don’t go to work as that would be very confusing – do I, don’t I! Personally I think lockdown should continue till the end of the month at least to make it clear for everyone, and keep ‘Stay at Home’ message. Stay safe you two and hopefully we will all be back on the road soon x
You definitely can’t control the actions of other so try not to worry about them. Supermarket queues are a fact of life but timing when you go can make a great difference. My local Lidl has queues from 08:00 to abut 08:20 on Saturday’s but by the time I’ve arrived at 08:30 the early queues have been processed and I get straight in.
I’m having incredibly vivid surreal dreams as well! Must be some weird attempt by the mind to compensate for the paradigm shift in daily ‘normality’. Means that at least a few hours each day are full of excitement and drama!
Love the Kondo’d drawer
Love to you both
Chris & Susan