Corona Diaries

Alison

“We really don’t know what’s coming do we?”

Background Information

Female, aged 64-74, Retired Educationalist, White, Heterosexual, Married to husband Steve with two

adult children

March – First Diary Entry

Coronavirus has hit! It’s spread from China, then Italy, now it’s here. It’s crazy, mad, the unknown, but no -

one is panicking. These things come and go.

During the first weeks of the month, we did nothing to change our habits, to protect ourselves. On t he 3rd,

we went to see Alfie Boe and Michael Ball in concert in. Cardiff. 4,000 of us. We stayed in a hotel, went to

restaurants, pubs, shops. We carried on as normal amid tales of Italy where people were in lockdown and

cases were increasing. We heard about a local case, there was much speculation about his identity. Just

one.

I carried on meeting friends, having lunch, coffee, but things started accelerating and by the weekend of the

13th March, our son kept urging us to isolate. Get ahead of the game he said. That weekend the country

started getting worried. So we did. We got ahead of the game with cupboards and a freezer full of food.

We shut our doors on the afternoon of Saturday 14th March and got ahead of the game. We were self isolating

for the first time ever.

We soon realised that the internet was the key to our mental survival, that and the phone. We were, as far

as we were aware, alone in our mission. Children were going to school, people were at work and the country

carried on. Were we being too cautious I wondered? Our 96 year old neighbour was off to town on the bus,

just to go shopping, my friend rang and told me all about her trip to the hospital in Bristol followed by lunch

and shopping. When I told people what we were doing, I had the distinct impression that people thought we

were being overcautious.

By midweek, things were changing. Government advice was that if a member of a household had a cough

or a fever, everyone in the household should self isolate. Schools began to empty as parents kept their

children at home. The weather was wet and dreary, as were our spirits. On Wednesday, 18 th March, the

Government finally decided that from Friday all schools will shut and where possible, people should work

from home. All external examinations would be cancelled. This is when it became real. This was bad, really

bad, scary too.

Some friends were self isolating too but others didn’t seem to see the seriousness of the situation. We all

tuned in to the Government broadcasts at 5pm each day when Boris and his advisors would lay out the facts.

We were hearing that Italy’s death toll was up to 3,000, more than China’s, if the latter’s were to be believed.

Things were moving fast. We should be isolating where possible and working from home where possible

too. 144 deaths had occurred in the UK so people were getting scared.

By Friday 20th March the sun had come out, but the news got worse and worse. Pubs and restaurants were

told to shut, and people were urged to stay indoors. Schools would be closed by the end of the day and

teachers would work on a rota system to care for children of key workers – medical staff, teachers, and a

long list of others. Boris told us that the Government would have various retention schemes so that peoples’

salaries would be still paid, but at 80%. It was Mother’s Day weekend and people were told not to visit to

spread the virus. We heard that Italy’s death toll had risen to over 4,000 and we were all scared. The powers

that be told us that we were two weeks behind Italy. Staying home was a no brainer. Self isolation it had to

be, with our family bringing what we needed to the door.

A week of isolation had passed for us, how strange our lives had become. Steve, ever the action man, had

painted every door his gloss paint would cover, till it ran out. I had turned into a 1950s housewife, cooking,

cleaning, ironing – not my style at all! We were unable to help neighbours for fear of catching the virus and

were cocooned in our bubble. People were out and about, shops were open then we heard that the death

toll in Wales by Saturday 21st March had reached 4. We were worried. People were panic buying, toilet rolls

seemed to be at a premium and delivery slots were like gold dust. Then we heard John Lewis had decided

to close 50 stores. They were the first.

It was a lovely weekend and we Skyped the family on Mothering Sunday, hordes went on day trips to the

beaches and countryside. Boris urged people to stay at home but he didn’t put the country on lockdown as

they’d done in Italy and Spain. The only good thing about this situation was that we were getting jobs done

in the house – gutters and pvc today whilst I produced a nourishing dinner! How much longer? Moods are

up and down. I’m keeping in close contact with friends so that we can support each other. We realised by

now that the family cruise to celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary in August, will not happen.

By Monday 23rd March, I was happy that all my family are working from home. Anna and John are tag

teaming it to work and home school the girls. Gavin has set up a studio under his stairs to broadcast sport

programmes when there is no sport! Locally, there’s a support group to help those who are older or

vulnerable. Boris’ broadcast was much later tonight and much stricter measures were put in place. All shops

were to close apart from food and medical outlets. People are not allowed to gather in groups. Everyone

can exercise once in a day and police have the power to stop people if they are suspected of just joyriding.

Families should stay in their homes and not visit others. Astonishing. In a week, we’ve gone from normality

to this. I am hating it but it’s so necessary and I wish he’d imposed these restriction before now. Steve and I

are now on Day 9 of isolation, whilst most are now on Day 1. It’s LOCKDOWN. I’ll relax a little when we get

to Day 14, as no-one has been in our home and we’ve not been out. We exercise in our garden and don’t

leave it to go anywhere. We’ll then be safe. I worry for my family and friends and hope they’ll be safe. The

main message we get is WASH YOUR HANDS. I’m washing mine so much they’re dry and sore! Today’s

panic, for me, was that Gavin’s producer from last Saturday has symptoms. We none of us will rest till the

14 days are up now! It’s a waiting game. Today I’m teary. I’m also very angry seeing people out in groups,

just because the sun is out. Isolate for God’s sake! Pictures of the London Underground are unbelievable.

This virus will spread like wildfire. London is particularly bad, no wonder. Wetherspoons and Sports Direct

have taken a bashing today for the way they’re treating staff. Wetherspoons have told staff they won’t pay

them, go and work in Tesco! Sports Direct are refusing to close. Last Saturday, I was shocked at the death

toll, today it’s more than 400. Where will it all end?

The irony of the whole situation is that the sun comes out each day, we’re having the best spring weather

ever! The only trouble is that it brings the people out and some aren’t taking a blind bit of notice. We see

them walk past here, off to the beach often not in family groups and I feel like shouting out of the window to

them. Now they tell us that Prince Charles has it, he’s gone to Balmoral, the Queen to Windsor. I seem to

be spending hours on the phone, speaking to friends I never usually have time to call. We’ve got a ‘girls’

Whatsapp group, got to laugh we’re all the wrong side of 65 but we’re helping each other through this awful

time by sending messages, puzzles, online. Everyone wants to share worries; who would ever have

imagined this? We’re obsessed with listening to News bulletins and programmes on Covid-19. If the internet

went down, we’d be stuffed! We facetime the granddaughters every day. They’re old enough to understand

the seriousness but are currently having a ball being home schooled! Their day starts with a workout with

Joe Wicks, who seems to be the champion of the parents. Emily had a Rainbows meeting online on Zoom.

So cute. We haven’t seen a newspaper for a week, we don’t want our kids to come down just for that. I don’t

miss it, that’s a first, as even when we go abroad, we like to read the British papers. I am so worried for my

family, thankfully Gavin is still ok.

I’m a domestic goddess. As well as cooking all these planned fresh meals, I’m now cleaning cupboards of

ornaments which haven’t seen a duster for a year! The big question we ask friends and family when we

speak is “have you managed to get a delivery slot?” You’d swear we were starving, but we all know that this

is going to go on and on. The other good thing which has come out of this, is that we’re shopping locally.

Before this, I had deliveries of vegetables from my local market. Now the world and his wife are using the

service. Let’s hope we continue to support the businesses which helped us, when this is all over.

It hit a chord with me today when I heard that places have turned themselves over to the NHS as possible

recovery centres, the local Football Stadium was mentioned and another Stadium will become a field hospital

with 2,000 beds. Whaaaat!

We really don’t know what’s coming do we? And still people are being stupid. Today the police were stopping

trippers travelling in caravans to South Wales coast. Here were we on Day 13, why can’t others behave? I

find I have good and bad days. Sometimes tearful but often upbeat. I worry for my family more than for us.

We know we’re safe as we don’t even go out for our daily exercise, preferring to stay in our bubble with plenty

to do. The kids are doing the same. Am I glad they can work from home. Now we find out that Boris has

got it! One emotional thing that is planned for Thursdays at 8 pm is the clap for the NHS. We all stood

outside our doors and clapped. And shed a tear too.

We listened to Gavin’s sports programme on BBC on Saturday. He was at home, but you wouldn’t have

known it. It was nice hearing him broadcast for the whole afternoon, as if times were normal. It’s now

becoming impossible to get a shopping delivery slot. I, who am a faithful-pay-monthly Ocado purchaser was

428,000th in the queue to go online today. I’ll be taking my custom elsewhere after all this!

We put the clocks forward overnight and we still have the sun. Nevil across the road got us a Sunday paper,

yay! We’ve found a meat supplier and had a box delivered and they’re telling us that the local market shuts

tomorrow and many of the traders will be delivering. See? The food obsession again! The death toll hit the

1,000 mark today, just 48 in Wales. Action man here has found a paint supplier locally, who will deliver. So

our white bungalow is now getting whiter by the minute. Lots more deaths. It’s bad. So bad. My cleaning

bug has flown out of the window but the cooking remains. No need to iron as we’re going nowhere.

It’s the last day of March and it’s isolation day 17 for us, and boy does it feel like it. It’s getting to me now. No

normality at all, but I remind myself that here I am, with a husband for company, in a comfortable home with

plenty of everything I need. Some people are so much worse off. My fringe makes me look like a shaggy

dog, so I had a go at that today. The phone calls, WhatsApp and facetime continue. I feel the only place I’m

safe is at home. Gavin is still ok, so I’m a bit more chilled. I’m surprised the girls are coping so well without

their friends, but they have each other. All I want to do is give them a big big hug!