This week in self-isolation has been much better. (You can read week 2’s diary here) We are now in some kind of routine during the week. In just over a week we find out if L has got into our first choice primary school for September. It’s exciting! At first, I was worried about what she needs to know to start school. Like whether she needs to know how to write her name. But after a fellow blogger and primary school teacher pointed out that what they learn at preschool is continued through reception. So her current schoolwork is the level she needs to be at by the end of reception. I’m not sure if I’ve explained that correctly! But basically she’s ahead.
When she’s at preschool she does 4 mornings a week, so at home she does her handwriting practice Monday-Thursday and her set work from preschool. Friday it’s free play day with some painting thrown in! I set her and Little Dottie up on the table after breakfast and yoga with drawing. Which leaves me a bit of time to answer emails. We go outside for break/walks/bike ride practice from 10:30 to 11:45 ish. Then it’s in to wash hands and lunch time. After lunch little Dottie has her nap, L does her quiet activities and some tablet time and I crack on with work. This timetable works for us while Mr B works upstairs in my office.
I’m supposed to be on a lifestyle break from my day job. But this Coronavirus has upset that along with other plans. Each afternoon we’ve been watching the TV for the live updates from the government. They have been banging on and on about staying home. The majority of people are doing this. But you hear of the odd few trying to “escape” the worst areas and head down here to Cornwall. They are idiots and selfish twats. Our county has a small hospital that can’t cope at the best of times. So by these selfish people coming down here to hide away and potentially bringing the virus with them, it’s unfair on our larger than average elderly population. Putting pressure on our hospital when you get sick. I’ve been supporting the #comebacklater campaign the Cornish tourist board and councils have been promoting. (Apologies for the rant – over now!)
It’s scary seeing the increase of deaths in the UK each day. Yesterday it doubled. The statisticians are expecting it to get up to 1000 deaths a day with Easter Sunday the 12th April at the peak. A large Hospital has been put together in days at the Edexcel in London – it’s named the NHS Nightingale capable of having 4000 beds. It comes with a makeshift morgue that’s been put up close by. It’s so sad that this virus has taken hold so quickly around the world. People are dying – young, old and the Drs, nurses, and healthcare assistants on the front line. The world hasn’t known anything like this since the Second World War. It’s scary living right now. I wrote a blog post over on Rachel Bustin about my thoughts on the Coronavirus.
I saw this over on Facebook. It’s a perfect reminder of what a crappy year 2020 has started out to be. One we will remember forevermore. 2020 the year of self-isolation and you couldn’t buy toilet roll anywhere!
This is so I will NEVER forget the way the world changed in 2020…Queen Elizabeth II 
addressed the nation at 8pm on Sunday 5th April. Shortly after this the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital himself with Covid-19The PM had previously implemented a lockdown across the country on the evening of Monday 23rd of March 2020 
Excel in London is now known as the NHS Nightingale and will be a hospital for up to 4,000 patients, most of whom are on ventilators suffering from Coronavirus (Covid-19). Similar venues being are being used in cities across the country. Opened by Prince Charles at 11am Friday 3rd April.Community support groups established, to support the vulnerable, elderly, immunocompromised and people in enforced isolation due to exposure, in their community 
From Thursday 26th March at 8pm and every Thursday night thereafter, we all stood united on our doorsteps, balconies and open windows and applauded and cheered for all our amazingly brave NHS staff 
who so courageously and selflessly battled on to try and save as many lives as possible 
Petrol 
price close to home 
was £1.03 per litre for unleaded.Schools closed on Friday 20 March, potentially for the remainder of the school year. 
Parents were home schooling and teachers were doing remote learning using apps like Zoom for a virtual lesson.Social distancing measures required of a minimum of 2 meters 
Tape on the floors at supermarkets 
and others to help distance shoppers 
from each other.Limited number of people were allowed inside shops, therefore, queuing outside the store doors, still 2 meters apart Non-essential shops and businesses mandated to closed 
People who can are instructed to work 
from home The Government Paid 80% of wages to all employees across the country who were furloughed due to Covid-19.Every airline 
grounded either all or at least 85% of its fleet. All crew were grounded and some used their skills to work for the NHS in Nightingale Hospital, the Ambulance Service, 111 telephone handlers or community support.Air pollution improved. Rivers cleaned up. City & traffic emissions reduced. 
Parks 
trails, entire cities 
closed or restricted to locals who can get there by foot. Not permitted to drive anywhere to exercise.Entire sports 
seasons cancelled. No Wimbledon, no end to the Premiership, no Boat Race, no London Marathon. A virtual Grand National was held on 4th April 2020.Olympics postponed to 2021.Concerts 
tours 
festivals 
entertainment events 
all cancelled weddings 
family celebrations 
holiday gatherings 
even funerals 
cancelled Families got creative and found entertaining ways of passing time by doing Tik Tok videos or going Live on Facebook. 
Singers and bands played live sets on their driveways or on their balconies for all to hear 
Households that can’t see their friends and loved ones come together across the country by using Zoom or Houseparty to play games or host pub quiz nights.No masses, churches 
are closed No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, then 10 or more. Now, Don’t socialize with anyone outside of your home 
Children’s outdoor play parks are closed 
We are to distance from each other. Shortage of masks 
gowns 
gloves 
for our front-line workers.Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill 
in many parts of the world. Formula 1 racing teams and Virgin Galactic designed and produced ventilators in the space of a week.Refrigerated trucks for the dead outside hospitals in the USA 
Italy 
Spain 
China 
and more.Panic buying sets in and we have limits on toilet paper 
disinfecting supplies, paper towels, staple foods, hand sanitizer 
Flour is hard to get because the packaging comes from China and borders are closed 
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks hand sanitizer and PPE Fines are established for breaking lockdown rules 
Stadiums 
and recreation facilities overseas open up for the overflow of Covid-19 
patients.Public Park areas turned into caravan parks for stranded tourists to self isolate 
Press conferences daily from the PM 
and other government 
officials. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths Government incentives to stay home. Barely anyone on the roads 
People wearing masks and gloves outside Essential service workers are terrified to go to work 
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families 
69,501 deaths globally so far as at 5 April 2020. 4,932in the UK.This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, WHO declared March 11th, 2020.Why, you ask, do I write this status?One day it will show up in my memory 
feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted 
We have so much we need to appreciate that we take for granted.Be thankful. Be grateful 
Be kind to each other – love one another – support everyone 
We are all one! Stay home, stay safe.
