Day 1: March 28, 2020.
Its a Saturday and normally my family and I would be planning on going out, whether it be to the nearest town or a shopping centre or somewhere outdoors. With the lockdown, that cannot happen so we're locked in the house - doing the most dreaded task of ... HOUSEWORK!
Day 2: March 29, 2020.
Clocks went forward and I had problems getting used to the difference. You'd think I'd be used to it by now! I don't know about everyone else but Sunday is usually a day spent in the garden or doing the weekly shop, kids getting everything ready for school and students around the nation gearing themselves up for exams. However, being a recent graduate looking for work, means that today was dreary and overcast and cold so I spent the hours colouring, whether it be on Pixel Tap or an actual colouring book or any other variation of, it doesn't matter. Lockdown is forcing everyone to change their routines and for some, like me, its not always a good thing.
Day 3: March 30, 2020.
Its Monday and the media are back at it - repeating the same news report over and over again like a dog on a feeding frenzy. In a 55 minute long news show, have a guess how much is set aside for the current global outbreak....
20 minutes?
30 minutes?
35 minutes?
No, 45 minutes!
45 minutes of the news is spent on the one report going over the same information with various BBC and Channel 4 News corresspondents speculating what is going to happen next. Its 80/85% of all the news reports being televised. If the local radio is also banging on about it, do feel free to comment in the sections below. Did they not learn anything from the three/four years of Brexit?
I don't know about everyone else but I'm sick of hearing the news go on and on about it.
Once again, everyone's getting stressed out, panic buying, and the media isn't helping one jot. We get it, you've been going on about it for two months. Give the public a break!
Day 4: March 31, 2020.
End of March and usually this would be a cause for celebration. Not because of anything going on in the world but because its finally warm enough to go outside for longer than 60 minutes and light long enough to enjoy being in the outdoors. My dad and I would go on a long walk, my brother would most likely go on a bike ride with his friends and my mum would get to spend extra in the garden. Like everyone else, I would be seeing about making plans to see friends and family, thinking about a holiday for the Easter break and so on. Unfortunately, for my family and everyone out there, with the lockdown in place - the earth is turning and life goes on, or does it? Is life in a limbo and sort of state of coasting? Are we surviving or living?
Day 5: April 1, 2020.
April Fools and no pranks! No kids outside and a stress-filled, panicky atmosphere. Its not something anyone can control, but being stuck indoors is not exactly living is it? For some, it's probably heaven, but for someone like me, who looks forward to the warm sunshine and fresh air after three/four months of being cooped up inside due to a lack of motivation, lack of energy and drop in mood, its hell? Are there any readers who feel like that? Who feel that the recent governmentally backed restrictions are making them feel the same way as they did before everything kicked off?
Day 6: April 2, 2020.
Its day six of this blog and I wanna climb the walls - get out of here, but I can't because its not safe. Days are beginning to blur into each other and the stress is getting to my family. The only outside world we have is via Skype or telephone calls and for someone with a large family, which while dysfunctional, does work, its jarring and difficult, chiefly if you're used to making plans and getting in the car to visit said family members. Is that just me or can that be applied to others? And yes, I know my attitude to all this is more of a blase devil may care stance, but its the only attitude I can use when faced with something like this. Does anyone else adopt a certain type of attitude to help them deal with the everyday impact of a global crisis like this? I mean we've had three years of going back and forth with Brexit, here in the UK, so if you do have recommendations, feel free to comment?
Day 7: April 3, 2020.
Day seven and I applied for a few jobs despite being shut inside the hose. Is anyone else, uni grads chiefly, making use of the time they have and applying? I also finished the manuscript for my first poetry collection today. So next week its all about finding a self publisher. Fingers crossed I can.
Day 8: April 4, 2020.
Jackdaw v Fryer Household. Whose going to win?!
It sounds crazy and out of left field I know but here we are lighting a fire in early April to persuade a friendly neighbourhood jackdaw to shove off. Its nest is located on the top of our chimney and its being stubborn as its not leaving. Its been here since Monday and still hasn't got the hint. So while the fire's burning Novembers supply of wood, its cleaning day - this weeks its the floors.
Its 7pm and the results are in!
There is a break from the contast repeating one news report and that is the Labour Leadership contest has finished with Sir Kier Starmer being the winner. So those who voted Conservative or Labour last December or those who are a member of the Labour party, may wish to breath a bit easier, now that the political uncertainty has ended.
Day 8: April 5, 2020.
OK, so the housework was completed and we had a nice change of weather for once, here in the Staffordshire Moorlands. So my family got to spend some time outside in the garden of the four walls of the house. Where I live, I am fortunate to have a large garden for my mum to spend hours in, utilising what she likes to call 'the Dack Green Finger' - I'm hoping not to inherit it. I hate gardening. My Dad hates the garden or rather the huge amount of maintenance that goes into it, and I prefer enjoying rather than doing.
Day 9: April, 6, 2020.
Today was more of a repeat of yesterday, only no housework. We're still fighting the jackdaw, though I'm not sure a candle's going to do anything than a fire can't. Is anyone else dealing with a surprise resident this Spring? It can't just be me and my family, can it?
Days 10-12: April 7-9, 2020.
Ok, so I've been a bit remiss in keeping everyone up to date on the antics of my family during the last three days. Jackdaw it seems is to stay - he/she's not budging. Easter starts tomorrow so welcome the sugar high and sugar rush. Not! Some kids are adapting and some are struggling with what is called the 'new normal.' Tuesday was more of a lazy day filled with boardgames like Monopoly (Game of Thrones edition) and Cluedo. I lost Cluedo - my mum's the family whiz at it. Risk is more my Dad's forte and Monopoly is up my street. Wednesday was spent outside and was today but the wind made everything cold. Is everyone doing ok? If you're a uni grad, you're probably a little fed up with the job prospects shut off, I know I am. Anyone else finding it difficult? I won't hate if you aren't.
Days 13-23: April 10-20, 2020.
As you're no doubt aware, its been hectic at my house the last few weeks. Between the rush of Easter holidays with my brother, my mom's work as a key worker, finalising my first poetry collection and the job seeking, which is beginning to throw everything out of left field, its been busy. Good news though, we think we won the fight with the jackdaw. We haven't seen any broken pieces of plaster, twigs and leaves in the fireplace so we're hopeful its got the message and left. Again, I'm sorry guys, I'll try to keep to my first schedule instead of losing track of time and not finding the time. I'm a writer, I can and should be prioritising my time better than this, stupid me!
Days 24 and 25: April 21 and April 22, 2020.
Something I've noticed over the last two days is the sheer amount of repeated programmes that were popular when they were first aired, and still are just as loved by viewers around the world and here in the UK during the lockdown. Something to break up the monotomy of staying at home and working from home. Is there any particular programme that you enjoyed before the lockdown that you wish to watch again? Comment below.
Days 26-30: April 23-27, 2020.
Its been five days since I updated and to say each day has been as different as the last, is something I'm calling BS on. It hasn't, though the weather has for a change been very nice warm sunshine, so I haven't been totally cut off from the outside world. As a Creative Writer, I usually thrive on spontaneouty but I found my muse has changed - I'm more inspired to write if I'm outdoors, enjoying the sunshine. What I have been doing though is catching up on all the movies I purchased but never found the time to watch. Is anyone else doing that? Finding their watchlist going down fast because you've now found yourselves with a lot of time on your hands and you don't know what to do with it? Again, I'll try and keep to the first schedule but as you're no doubt aware by now - it can be difficult.
Days 31-40: April 28-May 7, 2020.
OK, so trying to stick to the daily updates is non-existent so I apologise profusely. I know its not what people were hoping for. Its spring, late spring and there's a cold front with possible frost heading our way? What?! Yeah, that's how things are now going to be weather wise. Fun! Just what I asked for in early May. Was anyone else surprised?
Days 41-44: May 8-11, 2020.
VE day and bank holiday weekend - its been moved this year. Did anyone else find it strange. If it means that much to you, keep the existing bank holiday and add another one. I remember them doing so in the summer, breaking up the schools for the holidays a day early, to celebrate Prince Will and Kate marrying back in 2011. I was in high school then and not quite as jaded at the world. I found it strange then, I found it strange now with the bank holiday being moved to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Maybe its just me.
Days 45-48: May 12-15, 2020.
That was a strange week - I was getting days mixed up ie. everything was a blur. Get up, do stuff on the computer, go outside for a few hours and write, return inside and do more things on the computer, go to bed, repeat. Nothing changed and I was getting cabin fever. Or did it? Oh that's right - I finalised the edits for my first poetry collection and finished setting up the account. That makes me excited.
Days: 49-59: May 16-28, 2020.
Its up. After three months of edits and four months of drafting - before you all say procrastination, I was completing first drafts in a smallish notebook and going through the poems that were already written inside, deciding which to use, but Social Distancing finally published in kindle/ebook and paperback forms. Basically, I took our recent lockdown and used it against my stubborn muse, forcing it into submission and making it work. Hey, I'm a writer - got a degree and everything, I might as well try and take the circumstances we're all in and use it for good.
