Skip to main content

Lockdown Life

 I know I'll be in the minority here but I absolutely loved lockdown. 

For me it meant that it wasn't just me missing out on going shopping, to the pub and visiting family and friends because no-one was allowed to. It took a massive amount of pressure to 'get better' off. 

I had the time I needed to recover and process what was happening to me at my own pace, like I mentioned before the only inconvenience was the fact that the waiting lists for appointments at the hospital was humongous! 

I had some familiar faces do doorstep visits; my friend from work came bearing gifts which my little work family had contributed to, to wish me well, my best friend sent gifts in the post and a lovely friend of mine popped in to sit in the garden whenever she was able to. I felt incredibly loved. 

Because Lee's job is classed as essential he needed to go to work for the most part but they were incredibly understanding and allowed him to come home and check on me every couple of hours and let him have time off whenever I needed him to come with me to appointments etc.  

I had all the time in the world to re-learn the skills I had lost and think up new methods to get shit done when my long term issues got in my way. 

The only downside was not physically being able to see many people, when my parents are in the UK they are about 30 mins drive away from me, my Dad's job means that in a single day he can be in the presence of hundreds of people and for that reason he was reluctant to come and see me as often because he was worried he might pass something on to me whilst I was unwell, my Mum had to shield at home herself so she couldn't come and see me, this meant we spent an awful lot of time on the phone, and she became my go to person for everything. If I had good news I phoned her, if I was sad or angry or annoyed I rang her, if I just needed a chat she was there; every minute of every day & for that I will be forever grateful. 

Lee's Mum sold her house before Lockdown kicked in with the intention of moving out to their holiday home in Spain, but obviously restrictions prevented her from flying. She moved in with us and for almost 6 months my recovery was held back because I simply couldn't adjust to an extra person and an extra dog in the house. I'd got a place where I was just keeping my head above water and then the goalposts moved again and I couldn't take myself off to bed in the middle of the day or get up at 4 because I couldn't sleep, because I had someone else to consider. Just before Christmas my MIL decided to rent her own house because she was unsure how long she would have to remain in the UK for and I was able to settle into a new routine shortly afterwards.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Happy New Year - 2022

Firstly, I want to apologise for the lack of posts for the last few months; I have really struggled to pull myself out of the  rut I was stuck in if I am completely honest. Secondly, and most importantly, I came to wish each and every one of my readers a very happy New Year; may 2022 bring you all health, wealth and happiness.   
1 comment
Read more

Alternative Methods for Recovery

  When I was first visited by my Occupational Therapist she gave me a list of activities and exercises I could do to improve the strength in my affected hand. She gave me some resistance bands and some 'Theraputty' and a page of instructions and left me to it.  I got bored of these incredibly quickly and started searching for ways I could incorporate these exercises into different activities that would hold my interest for longer.  It was Lee who noticed an advert on Facebook for diamond art pictures, he thought that the level of concentration and fine motor skills it required would help with my spasticity on my affected side. He was right, I was instantly hooked. For weeks I sat in bed with a tray on my lap putting thousands of tiny gem stones on pictures and creating beautiful (if a little wonky) works of art... I mean I'm not about to frame them and put them on the walls in my front room any time soon but they were fun to do.  I also took an interest in colouring ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Celebrating Your Accomplishments Is Essential

As a 'disabled person' it is all to easy to fall down the rabbit hole of what you can't do anymore and forget what you can do, especially what you can do well.  For me personally, I feel that I've spent the previous 12 months filling in form after form for various organisations, for example when applying for PIP, Universal Credit and ESA, detailing what I can't do anymore or what I need help to do, god forbid you say something positive about your capabilities on the PIP form, the decision maker has an uncanny ability to turn the tables on you and turn your 'can do' into could do more... You have to be so specific and brutally honest about your lack of ability to carry out day to day tasks it can have a really negative impact on your outlook and self esteem.  Earlier today I was cutting Lee's hair, something I've done since before I had my stroke, something I feel I do a bloody good job of too. When I finished I was so chuffed with myself with how goo...
Post a Comment
Read more