Monday 23 March 2020 and Boris Johnson orders the UK to lockdown. All non food shops, cafes, bars, cinemas, pubs, clubs and schools must close and only essential key workers are to go to work outside their home. Everyone else must stay at home, work from home, study from home until the virus infection rate can be brought under control.
Restrictions changed throughout the year but mask wearing and social distancing stayed. The second national lockdown came into force on 5 November followed by a lifting of some restrictions over Christmas.
We stayed in the West Wight and walked miles during the first lockdown. Colin was furloughed and spent his time decorating, cleaning and building a model boat. Although at the time we felt isolated and missed our mainland family we were luckier than many having stunning countryside and beautiful beaches to walk to and escape the horrors the virus was causing around the world.
Our first trip to the mainland was a very sad one, Stuart’s funeral on 1st July. A few weeks later we would go over on a Sunday and meet the boys in the park for a few hours. No hugs allowed, that didn’t matter, just being together was enough for me. If I’ve learnt one thing through this terrible year it’s that things don’t matter, family and friends are the most important.
Life on the Wight 
Leave a comment