Hair cutting is not something I would normally attempt, but as lockdown stretches interminably ahead I didn't want my husband resembling an ageing hippy!
He and others with dementia are finding lockdown particularly hard, with no day care to break the monotony. I fear the prolonged loss of stimulation will result in an unnecessarily rapid mental decline.
However, at least our dog is happy to have us both at home!
Jo, Don and Sophie
The timing of the lockdown has dramatically altered the course of my life. I was due to start a sabbatical from my job as a firefighter on 1st of April, to enable me to concentrate on my counseling work. I now find myself still in the Fire Service and unsure as to what the future holds. I hope my counseling/ therapy skills may be used to help others cope and recover from whatever the lockdown brings for them. At present this work is being done via phone calls – an interesting shift.
I really hope we can learn from the enforced slowing down. I don’t want to rush back ‘to normal’…there is no such thing. Why rush back to a system that was failing and disadvantaging so many lives ? While the lockdown has highlighted the scale of inequality, poverty and hidden suffering in our society, it hasn’t caused it. My wish is that this pause can be used to collectively reflect on what we want to return to and what would be better changed. After all, the one thing the lockdown has shown us is that things can change, and fast, when we decide to change them.
Adam
Here I am sitting at my piano, as I do for at least a short time, most days. My post as organist at Zennor Church is obviously on hold due to the virus, as is any other entertainment gig that may normally come my way. So I am using the lockdown time to bring some new repertoire up to scratch.
I also compose music, but when new material may come is completely unpredictable - lockdown or no lockdown - though much of it tends to come as I awake in the morning, whereupon I run it through repeatedly in my head as I "work it up" to something coherent. Then I have to rise immediately and either write it down in a manuscript book or upload it onto my computer - or both - before I forget it!
A largely completed piece which I am trying to finish is my Symphony For Zennor in four movements, but this is being delayed by work on a book I am also trying to complete, about classical music composers who were - and are - female and/or black.
My artwork is in abeyance at the moment, as I tend to work only to commission nowadays. In short, apart from the social side, coronavirus has not made a huge difference to my day-to-day routine.
Brian
Lockdown for me has been surprisingly good, personally I like the break from my usually busy schedule. Most days I do a zoom call with my friends and because of the lockdown I took up running, I used to not be able to run 100m with out getting out of breath but I’ve run two 5ks since the beginning!
Another thing that has changed is my piano lessons before I used to have them in school and now I have them over zoom.
I’ve also learnt a lot of practical skills while staying at home such as fitting a window in a shed, laying a carpet, installing lights and building boxes. One thing that I especially missed was being in a band so I organised my own band at home which was really fun. And finally I’m doing catering as a gcse and so I carried that on by cooking supper every Wednesday.
Byron
Byron
What sort of species are we
With this innate ability
To wreck our ecology
Now the tables are turned
By a virus unconcerned
With our mortality
But only its infectivity
Francis
When the corona virus lockdown started I was just about to exchange contracts on the house but the buyers decided not to until things were back to normal. So I’ve had not only the being in a state of limbo everyone has, but also having expected to move and now not going anywhere, my life is really on hold.
I have my cat Miss Tibbs, aged 10 who was born in St Hilary, and since the lockdown began my ‘gentleman friend’ Francis has been temporarily part of the household as we both decided this was the only way to deal with this situation. Well we could have been totally alone in our separate homes for an indefinite period, but this is how we chose it.
Meanwhile I am suddenly doing things in the garden; not having thought I would be here I had not planned to grow any veg instead to leave things for the new owners to decide on. And garden centres are closed, so am having to do what I can. A minimal season!
Heather
Lockdown has not affected me much regarding going out, because I don’t do much of that anyway.
Shopping for food was a problem for a short while, but now I’m able to arrange food delivery quite readily.
Psychologically, being told I should stay at home does make me feel restricted, so I do not like it.
But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining and, in my case, it is having my wife back so that we can talk to one another. She is such an active person, spending much time at clubs and generally inter-acting with others. As our diaries are virtually empty, we have all the time in the world with no timetable to get in the way. It’s like being on honeymoon again.
But I still look forward to getting back to normal.
Derek
Unfamiliar Distance
Life in lockdown
no more than a mile from home
Goldsithney . St Hilary . Rosudgeon
We are re-cladding the shed....
all corners of the house have been cleaned.....
the curtains have been washed....
many spiders have been disturbed......
the pond is full of newts and tadpoles and we now have time to watch them.....
the dogs, unlike their owners, have lost weight because their walks are much longer....
we play table games every night after dinner....
we seem to be eating a lot....
Kate, Anya & Duncan
It just so happened that we had embarked upon a major garden redesign just before lockdown started. Sharing this labour of love has kept us working together (mostly in harmony), kept us physically active and allowed us to take full advantage of the lovely weather. As it’s been difficult to get materials and plants, we’ve also had to be creative about re-purposing what we’ve got, redesigning an old shed, dividing and replanting, moving slabs and rocks and sieving soil. Jack, my partner, has always been very committed to repairing and recycling and he has been brilliant.
Jack and I both have sons and grandchildren who live quite a way away (one of mine in Switzerland). It has been hard not to see them, especially the young grandchildren who change so quickly. Ironically, because of lockdown, the distance we are apart has been irrelevant. We have used WhatsApp to keep in touch and that has worked quite well. I have also been able to keep up with my yoga via Zoom and even attended a pub sing song!
We love the quiet, appreciating the birds at their busy time. We’ve also valued conversations with people we meet on walks and at local stalls and are pleased to be living a less car dependant life.
We already knew we were very lucky to live where we do and how we do. Although this pandemic has brought some challenges (emotional rather than physical), it has underlined our immense good fortune, which in turn highlights the inequalities in our society and globally.
When we were talking about how to describe the effect of the pandemic on us so far, Jack said that it had made him feel humble and uncertain. For me that feels like it might be a good thing.
Belinda & Jack
Lockdown with 5 children has been challenging, but we are so blessed to live where we do and to have our animals to keep us sane!!!.
The world has slowed down having a positive impact on our environment and we hope this has shifted the conciousness of the people enough to make some changes for the good....imagine clear water ways, more insects coming back and less airport pollution being our new future. We live in hope!!.
We have really done well with our polytunnel and have really enjoyed the stillness of life... our hearts go out to all the people stuggling in these times.... One love
Emily, Seb, Kitty, Kaya, Seagame, Amana, Zion, Paddy & Pirate
I like the lockdown because I don’t have to go to school and I get to spend a bit more time with my family but I do miss my friends, wider family and sport.
Harry & Jo
Unfamiliar Distance
Life in lockdowns 1,2,3
no more than a mile from home
Goldsithney . St Hilary . Rosudgeon
It has definitely been different for me during lockdown 2 but with the same feelings of uncertainty.
I gave birth to a baby girl in August, luckily having my husband by my side during the birth but covid restrictions stopped him from visiting before and after. I found it tough recovering from labour and attending to my new baby’s needs on my own. I couldn’t wait to get home.
With my two older children very excitedly attending school again, I found myself thinking a lot more about what the future may hold for us all. Especially by a comment which was made by one of my health visitors during her visit, which really stuck in my head, ‘It is scary what we are bringing our children into.’ But I have faith we will all come together again, where I am able to let my daughter experience baby play groups to socialise and be able to pass the baby to someone else, rather than the people in my bubble.
We can find the good in every dark place.
Louise & Hali
Tom - How I loved it when we were all at home more! Now it’s colder, rainier and less fun. I get to go to work with Mummy sometimes which does at least mean some different walks while we are out and about. I’m looking forward to Summer again now- maybe even another full lockdown!
Chris - The second lockdown hasn’t really been a lockdown at all for me as I have been back full time teaching in schools. It is different with masks, distancing and various other ‘rules’ supposedly in place but young people bring a lot of joy especially as they can talk about things other than Covid-19! I’m happy to be with colleagues too. Making music face to face with everyone again is wonderful and with a bit of imagination lots more has been possible than I first thought - even plenty of singing. Music feels more important than ever now and I certainly won’t take it for granted anymore.
Joni Mitchell's words from 'Big Yellow Taxi' come to me -
"Don't it always seem to go ... that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone...."
I never enjoyed shopping until Covid-19 turned it into a potentially hazardous necessity, but this pandemic seems to have brought out both the best and worst in us whilst undertaking everyday tasks. I miss physical contact with family and friends 350 miles away under Tier 3, not that it was a regular occurrence, but the opportunity being denied by current circumstances is both saddening, frustrating and yet a necessity.
Gazing at my ageing face whilst shaving every morning, ever more conscious of the lottery of life, I can look back and feel immensely grateful that the disruption wrought worldwide by Covid-19 triggered a series of minor events and big decisions that lead to me happily living here with someone dear from my past in this little corner of Cornwall.
It is with enormous thanks that it is not only the courage, care and support given by my partner Colleen, but her friends, neighbours and family that have made this stranger welcome. I had always thought I would be enjoying my later life in Anglesey, off North Wales, but this western country reminds me so strongly of the similar landscapes, the wild cliffs and seas, the weatherbeaten land - the people also, strong, forthright, kindly and proud.
Covid-19 has changed my future, our future, luckily for the better, unlike many, so I am happy to count my blessings James
It almost shames me to say, but for this dreadful virus I would not be in this happy and joyous situation that I now find myself in – with James who, after 54 years, is back in my life. We look after ourselves, care for each other and hopefully, when this disease is eradicated, we can enjoy our beautiful countryside, grow old(er) together and once more spend time with family and good friends.
Colleen
Colleen, James & Pip
I'm bored with it now
Martin
Fundraising for the Flicka Donkey Sanctuary during the 1st Lockdown just had to continue. The Sanctuary had to remain closed to the public and their little gift shop and Tea Room which brought in vital funds had to close too. The Sanctuary depended on donations. There was no help from the Government.
To give up was not an option. Coffee mornings and Boot sales were out of the question
so selling plants outside my house in the summer was very successful.
However 2nd Lockdown was not so easy so I had to come up with another idea. I decided to make face masks to sell and sold them locally online. Often working into the night. This gave me something to focus on and also raised much needed funds to care for the 100 Donkeys at the Sanctuary.
Nell
For me lockdownV2 has been a tad more difficult than the first one,mainly, I think, because of the shorter days and of course the wet weather.
Doug’s work has continued without disruption but my work in the studio has been really affected because of the light and so it has been a case of a couple of hours here and a couple of hours there.
Happily though my second love is cooking and so it has given me the opportunity to spend more time in the kitchen.
We are looking forward to having friends and family around and with a vaccine on the horizon, hopefully by next Christmas we’ll all be able to celebrate properly.
Until then it’s going to be a case of doing the right thing and keeping everyone safe
Mary
The second lockdown was nothing like the first for me. I still went to school and most of the school clubs were still running. I missed the sports like tennis and swimming that keep me fit. I played a lot more guitar at home especially with my brother. I felt more relaxed because life was a bit less hectic with less things to do.
Harry
Like so many others we at Goldsithney Post Office have worked throughout the pandemic crisis. How we now work day to day and deal with the ever changing restrictions has kept us on our toes. Sometimes exhausting, sometimes frustrating but always challenging. Whatever the future may hold hopefully Mary and I will continue to provide Post Office services with our usual sense of humour
Shann, Goldsithney Post Office
Once we got used to the eerie silence of lockdown(s) inside a normally vibrant public house, we set about keeping ourselves busy with a huge list of minor renovation jobs inside and out. For example we sanded down almost every wooden surface and then rebuilt with several layers of varnish. The two bars in the pub were installed in 1976, and by the looks of the surface wear and tear we assume they haven't been restored since then. Hopefully the work we have done will keep the pub feeling welcoming for many years to come.
We did worry for some of our single customers for whom the pub is a social lifeline, but we were happy in July when we were allowed to (safely) interact again, and look forward to the end of the current (second) lockdown. We find it strange to say this, but on a personal level (finances-aside) we enjoyed the lockdown(s); a real break from the normal busy lifestyle inside a public house.
Damien & Teresa, The Trevelyan Arms Goldsithney
Elaine, the veg stall
In the first lockdown, churches were closed completely, but this time the clergy have been permitted to enter the buildings and pray privately. It has been a great comfort but also a very solitary experience. I have tried to pray for as many people as I can by name, but have also remembered all those in our local communities who are lonely, isolated, anxious or frightened. My prayers have often been focused on those suffering with coronavirus and those who have lost loved ones to it, especially if I have been taking the funeral of someone who has died from COVID-19. All funerals are emotionally challenging, but I have found taking those of people who have died from the virus especially powerful and moving.
The prospect of a vaccine becoming available fills me with hope and encourages me to look forward to a time when we can all be reunited face-to-face as members of our community. I am determined that we will have a wonderful thanksgiving service in church once our lives return to some kind of normality - followed by the most enormous feast!
Father Jeff, Rural Dean of Penwith,
Team Vicar in the Mount’s Bay United Benefice
Physically working on the dolls cottage has been a complete change from all the Virtual meetings I have had during lock down. It’s been good to get away from an IT screen between those meetings and to plan and physically put the project together from scratch.
Sue