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Week 19 - Wednesday in west London sees Sally concerned but tentatively making plans

 Edited BY


G P Kennedy

Sally - London, UK

 I am writing this on the evening of day 142 in isolation for me and my family.  After last weeks looking back on “If I Could I Would’ I noticed in my diary that the last time I had anything written was 14th March.  I met up for an evening of drinks with a few of my colleagues that all started work on the same day in July 2000 and it was an early 20-year celebration. 

 

 COVID-19 was already in the news and I remember getting the train into Central London, some people were wearing masks and everyone was trying to keep their distance but the train was packed.  When I got to the pub I didn’t hug anyone like I usually would as we were all just a little bit paranoid but we had a few drinks and had a good night. 

 

 When we woke up the next morning one of the guys who was out with us said he felt unwell like he was getting a cold or flu!  He got worse over the next week or so and thinks that maybe he had COVID.  No one else in our group felt ill.  But that was the last time I went out other than to the shops or for a walk.  It seems like a lifetime ago!

 

latest numbers from the UK

 This week I also looked at the latest COVID figures for my area and the UK. The UK has had over 46,500 COVID deaths with nearly 310,000 confirmed cases and my local area has had 151 deaths, which shocked me.

 

 There is still the threat of a second wave hitting the UK and more local areas are taking action and re-shutting pubs and restaurants and it is now mandatory to wear facemasks in all shops and public transport. 

 

 There are still some people not wearing them and even though the government said they would fine people £100 for not following the rules, the police have said they haven’t got the man/woman power to enforce the rule!  But I would say 90-95% of people are wearing them.

 

Cases on the rise

 So, I mentioned the other week that we were going to Wales to socially distance visit my boyfriends family and we would be camping rather than staying in their houses.  The trip was a success (apart from building a tent with a one year old!).

 

 When we met up with the family I said to my boyfriend that it was his choice if he wanted his family to hug and kiss the baby.  In the end they didn’t which made me feel good and bad.  Good that I know (fingers crossed) that if we had anything we won’t have passed it on to them but bad as my boyfriend didn’t get to hug his mum and she didn’t get to hug the baby.

 

 We are now being careful over the next 2 weeks with hope to visiting my family in Liverpool.  The only difference is that we will be staying in my parents’ house.  Again we will play it by ear by how much physical contact we will have with each other but we know the risk is greater as we will be indoors together.

 

Our local numbers

 I am seeing more and more on social media that people are going back to work and socializing in groups again.  They are posting photos of themselves on the tube or in taxis with masks on then a few photos later they are posting group shots, arms round each other.  I’m still not sure how this makes me feel, I swing from thinking that we are the stupid ones for being over cautious or that they are the ones that will cause the second wave. 

 

 I just try to do what I think is keeping me and my family safe I guess and yes we are missing out on things, missing out on family time, missing out on work opportunities, missing out on a social life but what’s the alternative?

 

 

 

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