World Pandemic

 Well hello, its been a while. 

Life really has been one huge struggle for us and many people alike since my last post. For purposes of reading back in years to come we are currently coming towards the tail end (we hope) of a world pandemic. A huge spreading virus known as Coronavirus (covid-19) a world spread virus that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives that orginated from wuhun in China. It is believed to have started due to a man eating a bat with the virus, although their are many theories out there. 

We entered a UK wide national lockdown on 23rd March 2020, our first confirmed case within the UK was in January 2020, the virus has swept through the world and many countries have had to do full lockdowns to help ease the spread. 

LOCKDOWN 1, (23rd March) it was tough, but my world the government came up trumps with furlough (80% of your wages paid if you was unable to work) all none essential shops, play zones and pubs/bars were closed. It originally started as a review in 3 weeks, however for myself in the hairdressing world it ran until July 4th although many other busisness found themselves closed way beyond that. We was to stay home, we couldn't visit loved ones and was allowed out for one walk a day. Living in a flat it was seriously tough going, especially as the weather picked up almost instantly. 

Life slowly started to get back to normal however we were thrown into wearing masks when going about our day to day life. I must so add we moved house through the pandemic June 12th (steves birthday) we moved from thr 2 bedroom flat we had lived in for 8 years, to a 3 bedroom house with a garden. It was a god send and happened just at the right time. We were so lucky and still to this day feel very fortunate. 

LOCKDOWN 2 ( 5th Nov-2nd Dec)   cases started to surge so once more Boris Johnson put us back in a lockdown. It was expected so his announcement wasn't a shock. We had done it before we could do it again. We slowly got back into life again through December however we was all very awear of how easily it could all spread.  

We soon found this out when my sister contracted it through her line of work, she is what is known as my childcare support bubble, she looks after gracie  while I work, because we had contact I was told I needed to isolate. Isolation was like lockdown only you could not leave the house for any reason. This happened on the 18th December, 2 weeks after starting back in work. I was allowed back in the salon from Dec 31st however this leads us nicely onto.... 

LOCKDOWN 3 (starting as regional 26th dec)  Yes another one. This one started as regional, the area we lived in had spiked with a new varient of covid. It was more easily spread and fast paced. Reginal only lasted a short while before it once more became NATIONAL. 

And this is where we are currently at, restrictions are easing in the next few days (April 12th 2021) non essential retail, hairdressers and beauty, pubs and restaurants- if seated outside are allowed to open. Its part of stage 2 of releasing lockdown. 

I did forget to add that the schools were closed from March 2020 until September 2020, they was allowed to continue to be open through the November lockdown but we once more closed with the December lockdown. Parents were having to home learn the children on a daily basis until they returned to the classroom once more March 8th 2021. Google classroom, Windows 360, purple mash and zoom were a huge part of life to help aid our children's school learning while at home. 

Lockdown has been a mixed bag for many people, its been fantastic for spending time with my little family, watching the children grow but there is no doubting its hindered so much of their life. Gracie has spent half her life in lockdown, or under hard restrictions preventing her from seeing many family members, shes not had the interaction with other children that Archie had at this point in his life an I 100% believe that shows, with both her speech and mannerisms.