It's been more than six months and oh, how the world has changed...

As i write these words it is May 15th. The last two months have been probably the strangest of my 42 years of life. 

On March 17th I walked home from the school bus with our son George and we haven't left the house since. 

Three days later the schools all closed (except for a small cohort of key worker's children) and remain closed today, there are currently discussions as to them partially reopening in June but it is certainly looking like it will be September at the earliest before there could be a full recall and even that is dependent on many factors. 

Why have these things happened? The world is in the grip of a pandemic. A virus known as Covid-sars-2 or Covid-19 has silently spread throughout the world. Infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands. As i type the death toll in the UK alone is more than thirty three thousand.

Shielding of vulnerable and elderly people, guidelines to socially isolate and remain in your own household group only and the almost complete suspension of work, school and social life have meant that we as a family of 3 have remained at home together now since March 20th. Jon has never been busier as his work has involved supporting businesses that have had to close and furlough staff and those in general who need government grants and help in order to survive. I am thankful he can at least do this work at home. He has to take the dog for a short morning walk and a longer evening walk, and has in addition made a collection of meat from our local butcher and a vegetable and fruit box from the stall on the outside market every fortnight. Beyond that there have been two trips to morrisons and thankfully now, several online deliveries from ocado. We are also lucky enough to have a doorstep delivery from Calder Cheesehouse. 

I have home schooled George to the best of my abilities and the best of his concentration span during this time, whilst also baking, making and creating what food i can using what we have. As time has gone on access to more variety has become easier but there have been gaps in certain products. Toilet roll, hand wash and hand sanitiser and medicines like paracetamol. Flour has been in very short supply and at times dried goods like pasta and rice and tinned products. Things too like compost has been hard to come by with Garden Centres having only just begun to open again. countrywide people are trying to grow their own produce as a way sustainability and also for mental health. We currently have almost half of the attic bedroom given over to seedlings and vegetable plants we have raised from seed. Up to now we have stayed away from the allotment, the hand crank level crossing and entrance padlock with code being potential places of infection with many hands touching them daily. However, the point is coming soon where Jon at least must go and try to transplant some of the larger vegetables. We are currently planning how to visit using gloves, antibacterial spray, gel and wipes. We also now have masks with filters thanks to my wonderful wedding dress maker Liz. 

Where we go from here....I don't know, but until the number of cases and death fall and remain at a very low to zero level and pinpoint tracking, tracing and testing can work effectively, until treatment with antivirals works properly and are available to all and finally, most importantly, until a safe and effective vaccine is created and widely used. Life will continue to be very very very different.