A different world and our changed lives

Netflix

I’m sat here again watching Netflix, Designated Survivor.  Kiefer Sutherland makes a very good President.  I remember him in Flatliners, a very different role.  I’m glad that despite the terrible time right now I can escape into the world of Netflix.

Life right now is a world away from a year ago. Many people seem to have continued life as normal, following restrictions but still happy to attend gyms and restaurants.  My husband was asked to shield in March, so from then on we stayed at home, until shielding was paused in August.  I’m lucky that we all get on, but now in October I fear going any-where.  The children are happy being back at school, but I’m scared in the supermarket and seeing friends.

A different world

The world is very different to the world back in February / March when I last freely walked about.  A week ago, I had to go to the post office and despite wearing my mask I got told off because it is a maximum of two people in at a time. It hadn’t occurred to me that there would be such a restriction.  My anxiety rose when I noticed that a customer near me was not wearing her mask properly.

There seems to be a divide between those that were shielded and remained at home and those that went about their daily lives.  It’s been hard for all, but right now I’m worried and desperate for my husband to be shielded again.  He’s happy at work but the figures are rising.  Can we really trust track and trace? And was the government really advised to lockdown for three weeks?  And yes I’m aware our economy and jobs are a huge factor with locking down. How bad is this situation going to get before there is a safe vaccine being distributed?

This year has not been the one anyone expected.  It has been hard and stressful, I’ve struggled with my writing and reading, and Netflix seems to have taken over my evenings.  It has brought more time with my children and husband, but we shut ourselves away for months.  At the end of July, we found out that my dad is terminally ill.  A young man and healthy and now in October he’s weak and frail.  Point is none of us know how long we have left.  My poor dad is scared and not ready, he’s had all his future plans swept away from him and COVID-19 has made this all so much worse.

The children

Both the children enjoyed being at home for months, but where my son worked hard my daughter did very little.  They are happy being back at school, happy seeing their friends and both working hard. The school has a one-way system with arrows and class bubbles.  However, surely with siblings the bubbles are mixing.  I really hope that for the sake of the children that the risk is low, but I read of so many worried teachers, especially those that were shielding, the fear is real.

My achievements this year

I have continued writing and have been productive, (please note that anything purchased through my blog will earn me commission which will help to pay for my blogs).

I am a contributing author to the following:

MJ Mallon’s – This is Lockdown.

Living during the Coronavirus Pandemic – my reflective piece set next year on COVID 19, helping to raise money for NHS Charities Together.

Dimensions of Paranormal volume one – Anthology for Writers Unite

Dimensions of Paranormal volume two

I’m still writing my western story for the Writers Unite Western anthology.    I’ve felt rejection this year but its nice to be part of the books that I have been included in.  I’ve got no further with my time travel novel.  My confidence in it has taken a dive but I do need to finish my first draft properly, and then it needs a full rewrite.

I have developed the monthly stories on my blog but haven’t kept up with publishing at marianwood.com.  Two blogs and my newsletter are too much to keep up with at the moment.

Today

From previous posts you will know that my children are not easy.  My seven-year-old is now happy to walk on tables and is a master with the hot glue.  She loves creating and today climbed and found some red nail varnish. The consequence was a heart drawn on her bed sheet, red finger-nails, varnish on my bedroom rug and a care bear.  I’m proud of her being so creative but it comes with a stressful price.

My son is content staring at a screen.  Nothing broken but it’s not healthy either and the arguments on reading carry on.

Now we are living a day at a time, things could look very different a week from now.  I can’t imagine a world with my dad not in it, but I think I’m soon going to find out.

So, how is life with you? Have you been writing? And how has COVID 19 affected you?