By Julie Lord
Lockdown was announced on March 23rd, the very day I was supposed to fly off for nearly 3 weeks holiday in Japan with my eldest daughter Mary. We were to fly into Tokyo and had planned all sorts of things there like seeing the cherry blossom in Kyoto and visiting Hiroshima before flying back from Osaka. Grounded!
Then over Easter we were supposed to travel up to Blackpool in our motorhome for my niece’s wedding before spending a few days in the Lake District. Not happening!
Now I think of the concerts and shows and planned visits – the marvellous Flo and Joan; the Malvern car show; the National portrait Gallery to name but a few. All cancelled!
I can’t see my daughters other than on Facetime, I can’t visit my friends, I can’t even go into my lovely office. Boo hoo!
BUT WAIT!
I am not the only one in this situation – other people have much worse things to deal with.
I am healthy, I am loved, I have food and shelter and I have plenty to keep me occupied.
Japan will still be there when this is all over, my niece will get married at some point, the concerts and shows will all be rearranged, and it will be delightful to spend time again with my family and friends.
So, I am planning to use lockdown as an opportunity to re-energise, to try new things and to re-prioritise. I have always wanted to learn to play the piano and to paint. There are plenty of recipes I haven’t tried, and my wardrobe could do with a prune! There are friends I haven’t spoken to for ages and lots of photos and paperwork to organise. It is going to be a busy time!
In 1665 during the plague epidemic, Isaac Newton was stuck at home and apparently during this time, he developed the theory of gravity!
Some great things can come from having the time and the space to think and be creative. Maybe create a scrapbook; write a diary; make a film to record this extraordinary time in our history.
I wonder whether things will be different after this – it feels like they should be and that we will have wasted an opportunity for change if they are not.
What do you think?
Tell us what you can’t do because of lockdown and also what you can do that you didn’t have time to do before. We are also interested in what you think will happen when we have got through this.