Here we are again at the beginning of a new month, looking back over the one that has just gone by. September, on the whole, is a busy month for us. Cramming in those last few days of freedom before the children head back to school. Celebrating our wedding anniversary and What The Dad Said’s birthday.
As the month of August approaches it can feel like a long daunting month. Especially when you factor in the children having finished school, juggling work commitments and the increase in things to be paid for (food, travel, days out etc.). However, once the calendar turns over to reveal August it feels as though the days pass by in a blur and before I know it, it is the end of the month and back to school is looming.
Just like the earlier months in 2020, July has been a very different month to what we would normally have. With life in lockdown still continuing albeit with restrictions easing and many places able to reopen to some respect. It has, however, been the usual split month of celebrating the final weeks fo the school year and the start of the summer holidays.
It’s funny how the month of June has changed for me over the years. When I worked part-time for the NHS, it would be spent ensuring that the school holidays childcare arrangements were in place. Attempting to cover my workdays between What The Dad Said and annual leave days, plus a week booked for the children at Granny’s house (my mam).
Despite it being the second full month in the lockdown, May felt as though it came and went all too quickly. A very different May to the one we would normally have enjoyed. Usually we are starting to ramp up our family adventures. Making the most of two bank holidays and the May half-term holidays to get out and about. This year our May has revolved around being at home and making the most of the garden. Time still spent as a family so we can’t complain (but we’re British, so we do!).
As I sat down to write my life in lockdown update last week I was anxious about the pending update from the Prime Minister. Later that evening I sat, watched and listened to the update on where the UK was with the Coronavirus outbreak. With announced changes to lockdown measures within England. To say that this update was unclear and contradicting is somewhat of an understatement. Quite frankly, I was appalled by the possible timescale for reducing the lockdown measures.
As I sit down to write up our seventh week in lockdown, I’m nervously awaiting the possible announcement that restrictions are going to ease. The news and social media are awash with the different possibilities of what the Prime Minister may be making later today.
It’s easy to think that the past six weeks in lockdown is just an extended summer holiday. With the weather improving, the lighter evenings and spending time in the garden. I can fool myself into thinking that we have just pressed pause on the remote control of life. Of course, we haven’t done that. The world to some extent is still continuing outside our little comfort zone. Whilst there are things that I am beginning to miss from the outside world, I don’t feel that we are in a position to lift the lockdown and go about our business as we once did.
Our first full month of lockdown is completed, something which I think we have managed to adjust to. Of course, there are the days when we are longing for the outside world. Able to head off on family adventures and see other people other than our own little family unit. Although I’m not quite sure I’m ready for the world to return to ‘normal’ just yet. Slow and steady wins the race rather than rushing too soon.
The past week I’ve felt a little lacklustre, feeling out of sorts but unable to put my finger on the problem. It could be one of many things or a combination of them all. The sense of not being quite good enough, somewhat of a failure and a dose of guilt all sandwiched in there for good measure, Despite my ‘meh’ state we’ve had a fairly good week and I think we’ve got this life in lockdown.
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