What reminds you of Lockdown One?

[Charlavail]

DD loves Donald Duck. So in Lockdown one we watched The Three Caballeros most days on Disney Plus. Today she put it on and it took me right back to that feeling of boredom and stress! Same with spag bol. I had never eaten it before lockdown and then decided I liked it so we had it most weeks in lockdown. Now the taste takes me instantly back to that time.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's live kitchen disco. They were brilliant.

Boris Johnson and his lies.

My mothers day flowers brought it back. During lockdown 1 Tesco had ordered their normal amount of mothers day flowers. Because no one could go and see their mothers they were left with hundreds of bouquets. So when I went to do my weekly shop the next day they were giving a bunch of flowers to everyone who came in. It was really lovely, such a small gesture during such an awful time, really cheered me up.

Driving the roads we walked endlessly.

I still note the various footpath entrances and exits I'd never been aware of before and hope never to trek along again

Getting tesco delivery slots for myself, my mum and work! I'd stay up til midnight for when new ones were released and book everyone one so they could then go and do their shopping next day. Take it for granted again now that there are weeks and weeks of empty slots!

The recent clear, crisp mornings reminded me of going for morning walks and the eerie silence of empty roads.

Sitting in the sunshine in the garden enjoying an early coffee before work. We were lucky enough to enjoy lockdown. I've never been so stressed about work but having that extra time to sit in the sun was a lovely way to start the day.

Ugh busy dog walks! Every time I went out, the fields and footpaths were absolutely crawling with people. I was very relieved when they all disappeared again - now I rarely see a soul while walking, and that's how I like it!

Impulse Instant Crush body spray I wore it when i went out to do the shopping in Lockdown One. Cant bear it now

Peter Rabbit and ‘going for a walk’

Thumping bass music 24/7 and the smell of weed from a very antisocial neighbour. Who thankfully we no longer live next to as we moved between lockdown 1 and 2. It was hell on earth. We also had no outside space then either so we had to go on mammoth walks to get any peace and it was at the time you weren't allowed to even sit in the park, had to keep walking at all times. Lockdown 1 was fucking shit.

One of the best times we've had as a family spending time together. Kids off school, me furloughed for months, H furloughed for a few weeks. Sat in the garden playing scrabble, having frustration tournaments, a regimented school day (learnt An Inspector Calls and Macbeth!), lots of long Sunny walks, football challenges. Loved it but wouldn't want it again!

Sunshine and water balloons is my prevailing memory. We were both working upstairs whilst listening to our young DC having fun outside. Our nanny lived in during that time. I liked being in a literal bubble. DC thrived from having us around more. Both DH and I saved 18 hours a week each commuting. We were very fortunate.

Going to work every morning

Tiger king
Normal people
Sunshine
Zoom calls with friends
Cocktails

I’m a classical singer and had to endure the horror of virtual choir recordings. I’ve still got lots of my own recordings on my phone, of me looking miserable recording my part ready to be sent off and edited into a video. I don’t think I can stomach doing this ever again, it was interesting for about 2 minutes but quickly became soul destroying.

Also teaching singing lessons to children on zoom ☠️ Never ever again

Being very merry on school nights 🎉🤣

DS was born right before the first lockdown. We used to go for long walks in the nice weather, pretty much daily, and the other day I got on part of the path we used to take and it kind of got my stomach in a knot, suddenly remembering that desperate feeling of being sooooo tired and so lonely, not being able to see my family or get any help and the only thing there was to do was going for a walk...I was genuinely surprised at the feeling that came back as at the time I didn't realise just how bad it was, I though we were just getting on with it but looking back, my God, it definitely was awful 😞

At my son's gymnastics club sometimes they have little circles with arrows on the floor and they always make me think of shopping in lockdown.

Breakfast outside
Drinking wine in the garden
Zoom calls!

Egg mayo sandwiches in thick cut homemade bread with kettle crisps. A fad we all got into, stemming from a brief pregnancy craving.

Dalgona coffee and the cream cheese and tomato tiktok trend

Driving in to participate in the vaccine trial, and seeing the streets empty like I was in some kind of zombie apocalypse movie. All the banners lining the streets on the way to the hospital thanking the NHS workers.

Being told we shouldn't talk about being on the trial because there had been a false report in the media that someone had died.

The last series of Friday Night Dinner! Loved that! So sad that Paul Ritter, Frances Cuka and Rosalind Knight are no longer with us

Same as @AnyFucker. Working constantly on the utter mayhem of covid ICU.

Once the hard first lockdown had kicked in and our patient numbers dropped dramatically I remember being stressed at home educating the DC (home learning made it VERY clear that I’m a shit teacher) but also I remember loving the evenings with no activities. It was so nice and so unusual that we were all at home together watching things like the new Malory Towers series or His Dark Materials.

I was also terrified for some of my more high risk friends and family and I’ll never forget the sheer craziness, emotion and exhaustion of working in ICU during the surges.

How to Fail with Elizabeth Day

Walking past the allotments every day