Shielding.

On that Monday morning (23/03/2020), it started with a text. And a letter. Both of them informing me that due to my many health problems that I was considered to be at extremely high risk should COVID-19 get in to my system. Meaning that if I was unfortunate enough to get the virus then there would be a very high chance that I wouldn't survive it. That in itself scared me. How could it not? This virus can and had already killed so many, even without the patient having complicated medical issues. It's just not worth the enormous risk. I then had to accept that for 12 weeks, I wouldn't be allowed to leave my home. 

I'll admit that at first I was annoyed. But I do understand that it's for the best reasons. I've done closer to 3 months of shielding. You thought lockdown and social distancing has been tough. People who have been on lockdown have at least had the freedom of a daily exercise but for us shielding it's been a case that we haven't been allowed out of our houses which has been beyond frustrating and isolating. I've not really blogged because I didn't think it would be of interest to hear how I spend the day's pottering around the house and doing a good clear of the living room area. 

I think the most annoying thing has been the lack of variation and no where has this been more evident than in the food we have. It's been nearly impossible to get a shop online so we've been receiving a weekly food parcel and occasional Morrison's food boxes. The only thing is that there isn't really much by way of variety. Or perishable items like eggs and cheese. Thanks to a friend, Karen, daughter of the lovely Penny, the cheese side of things is taken care of through a company called Mousetrap Cheese Shop. I've always loved cheese and trying new types so this has helped a lot. Not sure why cheese is something I like. I've always enjoyed buying different types and loved going to the cheese counter at the supermarket. Sounds like a weird hobby considering that dairy upsets my Crohn's but everyone has their pleasures. I've found some new ones that I've really enjoyed and become regular items. Some however maybe not so much. I brought a famous cheese known as "Stinking Bishop" and boy did that live up to the name! Upon unwrapping it, I'm not kidding, it actually smelled like my old black Vans (those things were so bad it was legendary).

I think the hardest thing about "lockdown" has been knowing that as lovely as it's been weatherwise, I've had to stay inside and not go out for little trips in my chair or even consider do anything normal like going to the shop. I still am not allowed to do much and still have to go by certain rules. Being in my home for 3 months without any time away has meant, as mentioned before, that I've been spending time improving the place and we've started getting some semblance of order, especially in our living room. All that needs doing in there is stripping off the old wallpaper and a lick of paint and it will look a lot better. Our home is precious to us and it's something we know we're lucky to have. It's also been something of a test to how strong our relationship is. So many relationships have broken-down but not ours. We haven't always had the easiest of relationships, due to distance and my disability but we've never lost sight of what's important to us. 

Til all are one.

Wendy xx