Our Lockdown Lives #1

Date Published 02 June 2020

On the 23rd of March, our country went into something never seen before. A nationwide ‘lockdown' which has changed our world. For me, my world changed forever a few weeks earlier on the 15th of February, when my wife gave birth three weeks early to our beautiful daughter.

The early stages of the lockdown were fraught with uncertainty and nerves. Up and down the country, people had no idea how they were going to survive if their places of work had been shut down.

Six weeks after the birth of our daughter I acquiesced to being at home with my family, in a strange way, I couldn't be more excited. My mother-in-law, who had been over for the birth of her first grandchild, luckily made it back to South Africa before the world ground to a halt.

Since I have been home, my wife has taken the opportunity to try and make sure I finish all those odd jobs around the house that I had started and hadn't quite got round to finishing... Luckily, before the lockdown I had managed to pick up some paint and so was able to crack on.

When the weather has been good, we have spent our time in the garden and taking our puppy, Riley, out for walks. Our garden has also never looked better, it's a shame we can't have anyone over to enjoy it. On the days where we have lacked enthusiasm? We have binge watched TV (if you need a good series to watch, let me know.)

Another fun activity my wife enjoys is having me move the furniture in almost all of the rooms throughout the house – this has happened more times than I would like to admit. Our evenings have been spent on Zoom, quizzing with friends and family all over the world. In some ways, this lockdown has brought us closer with friends at the other side of the word, everyone has been able to sit down and have the time to re-connect, though virtually for now.

One activity that has stayed a constant is our Clap for Carers on a Thursday evening. It is the highlight of our weekly social calendar; we have a socially-distanced blether with our neighbours and then say our goodnight.

As I write this, nine weeks into lock down I'm hoping the end is in sight. We are missing our friends and family and looking forward to getting back to normality. One thing is for certain, my wife and I will always look back at this part of our life and remember with fondness the time we spent together.