Week 1

Your reflections

• Experience is different for everyone

  by Janet, about 6 years ago

  I consider myself fortunate not to have any financial worries at the moment and to live with someone that I can have face to face conversations with. I have an elderly mother with numerous health problems who is living in another town but otherwise life is fairly relaxed. Some of my friends are in very different circumstances e.g. one works in travel and is thinking she will have to find new employment and another is working harder than usual because her lodger has gone and she needs to replace the income. Within my friendship group it inevitable that there will... Continue reading

  I consider myself fortunate not to have any financial worries at the moment and to live with someone that I can have face to face conversations with. I have an elderly mother with numerous health problems who is living in another town but otherwise life is fairly relaxed. Some of my friends are in very different circumstances e.g. one works in travel and is thinking she will have to find new employment and another is working harder than usual because her lodger has gone and she needs to replace the income. Within my friendship group it inevitable that there will be tensions and I have found this situation difficult to negotiate.

• How things have changed since lockdown.

  by Tasha, about 6 years ago

  What precautions you take:

  Always carry hand sanitiser, wear a mask if going to the shop, wash hands as soon as get back home and disinfect mobile phone. Don't leave the house apart from daily exercise and going to collect shopping once a week.

  
  

  What you worry about:

  Catching it and bringing it back to older family members.

  Job security. I am currently on furlough and work in the events industry which is really struggling at the moment, so I'm concerned that if this goes on for much longer I will be made redundant.

  Economy and house market. I have... Continue reading

  What precautions you take:

  Always carry hand sanitiser, wear a mask if going to the shop, wash hands as soon as get back home and disinfect mobile phone. Don't leave the house apart from daily exercise and going to collect shopping once a week.

  
  

  What you worry about:

  Catching it and bringing it back to older family members.

  Job security. I am currently on furlough and work in the events industry which is really struggling at the moment, so I'm concerned that if this goes on for much longer I will be made redundant.

  Economy and house market. I have been saving for the deposit for my first home whilst living with my partner's parents. We are aiming to move at the end of this year but I'm concerned that my lack of job security will affect my prospects of buying, or that I'll buy a house and my company won't get back on track so I will lose my job.

  
  

  How your behaviour is different to before:

  Keeping away from people

  Get quite annoyed when people don’t maintain distancing outdoors

  I'm out of work at the moment, and I'm usually very busy so I'm finding it relaxing but also unnerving not being able to work for so long.

• Everyone's changed life

  by sylvia, about 6 years ago

  Initially highly anxious and concerned for friends family etc, but soon morphed into more practical thinking, such as registering with online groceries, sorting out deliveries from various places for other food, milk. At first networking with friends and family to make sure they could get supplies and in the first instance, around mid march, getting shopping for other people as well.

  almost immediately local people set up help groups on Facebook and WhatsApp, offering all sorts of support and assistance with shopping, getting prescriptions and suchlike.

  
  

  at first all the things we had to do to keep safe seemed bizarre... Continue reading

  Initially highly anxious and concerned for friends family etc, but soon morphed into more practical thinking, such as registering with online groceries, sorting out deliveries from various places for other food, milk. At first networking with friends and family to make sure they could get supplies and in the first instance, around mid march, getting shopping for other people as well.

  almost immediately local people set up help groups on Facebook and WhatsApp, offering all sorts of support and assistance with shopping, getting prescriptions and suchlike.

  
  

  at first all the things we had to do to keep safe seemed bizarre, weeks on and it is the new normal. To be aware of everything you touch, such as mail, groceries and wonder if it is contaminated. How far do you go, total paranoia with sanitising just about everything or blasé insouciance ? somewhere inbetween really, just trying to be sensible.Checking which shops are well managed, and those to be avoided. Seeing family on odd occasions at a distance and outside. Doing a sort of dance round people when out walking, and sort of feeling guilty at treating people like lepers, but most people just smile with a mutual understanding of why we are all doing this.

  going out in the car a rare treat, music on, feeling sort of normal.

  
  

  makes it a bit easier knowing everyone is in the same boat, missing people, missing their old life and wishing everything was ok again.

  
  

  I know many many people are suffering during this time, with lack of money, job uncertainty and other problems, but if you are lucky enough to be able to find some positive things from these times then embrace them.

  things to be thankful for - quiet cleaner air time to do things such as sorting out house, gardening and baking bread - a bit trendy at the moment but why not, most of us never had time before now. Life going at a slower pace, maybe more natural pace. All the funny jokes etc that come through on WhatsApp and passed on to cheer us up. Peoples infinite inventiveness, new ways of getting together via zoom, and increase in cycling and the measures being taken in some cities to give more space to cycling and less to cars.

  
  

  Stuff to get annoyed, angry and frustrated about - Absolute shambles of government, too little, too late, misinformation and lies, inept and lack of proper leadership, resulting in horrifying statistics, so many people losing their lives unnecessarily. Longing for a government that treats us with respect, speaks the truth and actually cares.

• Mingling again

  by Suzanne, about 6 years ago

  Hi, travelled a bit yesterday, including central London. More people out than I expected, sightseeing, cycling, exercising. I thought about how people will feel being in close contact with strangers again, on tubes, streets, shops etc. On a personal level I like the space, but look forward to seeing city life lively and sociable again

  Hi, travelled a bit yesterday, including central London. More people out than I expected, sightseeing, cycling, exercising. I thought about how people will feel being in close contact with strangers again, on tubes, streets, shops etc. On a personal level I like the space, but look forward to seeing city life lively and sociable again

• Going out now

  by Stuart, about 6 years ago

  There are a few things that are different now when I go out, I go out regularly as I have had to work since day one of the pandemic, the main difference going to work now is that I drive as I feel it is safer because I am the only one who drives my car and only one in it, whereas before I always got the train to work, I started driving because there wasn't anyway I could social distance on the train in the early period of the pandemic, the train was packed as I am on a... Continue reading

  There are a few things that are different now when I go out, I go out regularly as I have had to work since day one of the pandemic, the main difference going to work now is that I drive as I feel it is safer because I am the only one who drives my car and only one in it, whereas before I always got the train to work, I started driving because there wasn't anyway I could social distance on the train in the early period of the pandemic, the train was packed as I am on a commuter line to London. Even when most people stopped using the train there were times when there would be myself and one other in the carriage and they seemed to make a point of sitting in the seats next to me despite all the room so thought a precaution I would take would be to drive.

  Work itself was slow to take any kind of precautions, we deal with all aspects of people/society and can have anyone through the door so at the start it was down to the member of staff themselves to try and put their own measures in place which was difficult, eventually we shut to the public, we still work in the building but no-one else is allowed in, Now the employer is enforcing the suggested 2 metre social distancing and at least a month and a half after it started in UK they provided sanitiser and cleaning products for ourselves and equipment, a bit like shutting the door after the horse has bolted and disappeared over the hill. When going out to shops etc I started tp wear gloves but couldn't get any disposable ones so thought pretty pointless if you are wearing the same ones and thought that I might even be putting others in danger by wearing same gloves unless washed after every use. I haven't worn a mask as of yet but definitely would if had to go back on to public transport, when out I definitely keep to the 2 metre guideline and won't go in a shop if too crowded. The one time I always wear gloves though is when I get water from the communal tap to water the flowers on my partners grave, I usually do this once a week so wash them inbetween. The main worry I would have being out is I imagine the same as others that when I am in contact with people hoping they have followed guidelines and are not exposing myself to the virus especially when in shops with others, even think about it at work when near other staff, often think I am becoming a little bit paranoid. Whereas when I was out before I wouldn't even really worry about what others were doing etc and wouldn't bother me in the slightest if I was near anyone else even if they were coughing or sneezing

  
  

• Carolyn's journal 1

  by Carolyn, about 6 years ago

  For the next few days, when you leave your household and interact with others, try to notice a) what precautions you take b) what you worry about c) how your behaviour is different to before COVID19

  I wear a mask while shopping or doing anything else in close proximity to others. Otherwise I don’t take precautions apart from washing my hands a lot. I’m travelling on a bike, so that feels quite safe. My children don’t allow me to hug my grandchildren, although I’m going to make a pitch for a few hugs before they go back to school/nursery.

  I... Continue reading

  For the next few days, when you leave your household and interact with others, try to notice a) what precautions you take b) what you worry about c) how your behaviour is different to before COVID19

  I wear a mask while shopping or doing anything else in close proximity to others. Otherwise I don’t take precautions apart from washing my hands a lot. I’m travelling on a bike, so that feels quite safe. My children don’t allow me to hug my grandchildren, although I’m going to make a pitch for a few hugs before they go back to school/nursery.

  I don’t worry about Covid – I think both my daughters have had it, and as we are all pretty well staying at home, not many opportunities for them and the children to catch it. Once the children go back to school/nursery, I will be more cautious, but not for me so much as for other people. I do worry about the large number of people not wearing masks while shopping or on public transport, as I do believe that wearing a mask has a significant impact on your ability to infect others.

  The main changes in behaviour are the obvious ones – never having a meal I didn’t cook myself, not being able to meet for a coffee, not being able to hang out with family, not being able to visit a friend in prison or put my bike on a train for a ride/swim in the country. However, I’m surprised how well Quaker Meeting for Worship and Pilates and meetings work on zoom, singing lessons on Facetime less so.

• Golf

  by Russell, about 6 years ago

  Went to play golf yesterday to get some much needed exercise, impressed as lots of thought had gone into the set up

  Separate check in from your car

  Only practice from 10 minutes of your tee meaning you and your partner are only ones there

  More spaced tee times

  No touching of flag

  Benches and ball cleaning out of action

  No collecting of stray balls

  Finish game and go

  
  made me feel safe, everyone was adhering to the laws and made it an enjoyable safe experience, shame the actual golf wasn’t better 🤦‍♂️

  Went to play golf yesterday to get some much needed exercise, impressed as lots of thought had gone into the set up

  Separate check in from your car

  Only practice from 10 minutes of your tee meaning you and your partner are only ones there

  More spaced tee times

  No touching of flag

  Benches and ball cleaning out of action

  No collecting of stray balls

  Finish game and go

  
  made me feel safe, everyone was adhering to the laws and made it an enjoyable safe experience, shame the actual golf wasn’t better 🤦‍♂️

• walking

  by Caroline, about 6 years ago

  I walked up to Highgate yesterday, on a pilgrimage of sorts -to get a better look at the church I can see from my bedroom window. I was always aware of people on the pavement, giving them a wide berth whenever possible, stepping into a doorway for the ancient man who was jogging(!) up Highgate West Hill.

  On the way home I popped into Iceland, to grab some supplies. I didn't have any PPE. I should have packed some before I left. I don't know why I didn't, I knew I was going to grab some shopping on my way... Continue reading

  I walked up to Highgate yesterday, on a pilgrimage of sorts -to get a better look at the church I can see from my bedroom window. I was always aware of people on the pavement, giving them a wide berth whenever possible, stepping into a doorway for the ancient man who was jogging(!) up Highgate West Hill.

  On the way home I popped into Iceland, to grab some supplies. I didn't have any PPE. I should have packed some before I left. I don't know why I didn't, I knew I was going to grab some shopping on my way home. I noticed the man behind me in the queue was very good at social distancing, he waited until I was packing my shopping before he started loading his on the conveyor belt. The family behind him we're unloading as soon as they could, which meant they were standing very close to him. No one said anything about this.

• The new normal way of going for a walk/going shopping

  by Anna, about 6 years ago

  I've been in lockdown at my parent's house, and I am the one in the household who goes out to get shopping done to safeguard my parents who are touching the 'at risk' age. We've been quite lucky with online food delivery but we still run out of things so today was a supermarket day. It's still weird to remember to have to keep a 2m distance while trying to locate things around the shop. I checked out at the self-checkout which had no queue, then realised when it was too late that touch screen checkout probably wasn't the wisest... Continue reading

  I've been in lockdown at my parent's house, and I am the one in the household who goes out to get shopping done to safeguard my parents who are touching the 'at risk' age. We've been quite lucky with online food delivery but we still run out of things so today was a supermarket day. It's still weird to remember to have to keep a 2m distance while trying to locate things around the shop. I checked out at the self-checkout which had no queue, then realised when it was too late that touch screen checkout probably wasn't the wisest decision. When I took the shopping back to the car, I disinfected my hands and car keys/phone which I'd been carrying in the shop. Getting back home, I wiped the car handles/steering wheel/everything I'd touched so the car was ok if my parents used it.

  Later on I went for a walk. I've been walking the same 5k country walk most days since I've been here. It's funny exploring the countryside that I grew up in and never appreciated beforehand - I've developed a whole new appreciation for nature. I encounter about 5/6 walkers/runners on the route today. Most other walkers and runners have been really good at social distancing on these walks, giving each other a wide berth or pulling in to let people pass. It's been tricky with some dog walkers, I've had a few friendly dogs come right up to me and as a dog lover it's incredibly hard not to pat them! I do think on pathways they should probably be kept on a lead at the moment. They obviously can’t comprehend the notion of social distancing!

  The only other concern has been a small number of runners, who choose to run over the crop fields. The pathways are narrow in these fields, and some runners will either carry on running right at you or they'll give you wide berth by running into the crops and trampling them in the process. Being a Londoner for the past 10 years, I've never given a thought to the health of crops before but this has really started to annoy me! If I let someone pass in these fields I'll carefully choose a spot where it looks like I can avoid standing on a growing crop. I'm also a runner myself and if I've chosen the field routes to run I'm prepared to stop/slow down and accept I'm not going to get a good running time - wish these runners would do the same or just stick to the roads/pavements.

  But on the whole people have been considerate and so I don't have much to worry about on my outings - the big behavioural distance is thinking about leaving this big distance around you and others on the way. Never really had to think about that before.

• How lack of access to Technology is limiting peoples access to food

  by Mandy, about 6 years ago

  So Im struggling with the week 1 activity. Im privileged in that I'm semi retired, live in a house with a garden and currently do not have any money worries. I find it hard thinking about how I might see friends and family during this crisis when so many others are struggling to even eat. This morning a BBC R4 article about the increased demand for food banks and the how a lack of technology is impacting some peoples ability to get food was shocking. I've listened to that article twice now and some of the stats are very interesting... Continue reading

  So Im struggling with the week 1 activity. Im privileged in that I'm semi retired, live in a house with a garden and currently do not have any money worries. I find it hard thinking about how I might see friends and family during this crisis when so many others are struggling to even eat. This morning a BBC R4 article about the increased demand for food banks and the how a lack of technology is impacting some peoples ability to get food was shocking. I've listened to that article twice now and some of the stats are very interesting given the discussion about some elder people not being able use the technology that may support us moving out of lock down. The stats came from 2 organisations, neither of which I had ever heard off:

  • Future.Now https://futuredotnow.uk/
  • The good Things Foundation https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/

  Some of the comments that made me sit up:

  • 1.8m people in the UK do not have access to WiFI
  • 6m can't turn on a device, 50% of whom are under 65!
  • Food bank demand has increased 120% and has doubled for families with children
  • An old person who did not have access to technology and only used cash could not access food delivery services and collapsed in the street when he eventually left the house in search of food

  Listen for yourself : Article starts about 17 minutes in https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j7g5

  Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/digital-divide-isolates-and-endangers-millions-of-uk-poorest