Our Release Date

Hiya, 

Opening my bleary eyes that morning it was a glorious sunny day. Daylight streaming through the window at barely gone 7am, I was up and ready to start the day. Pottering through my normal routine of letting the dogs out for their morning wee, having one myself, serving up doggy breakfast, morning coffee made and settling into the comfiness of the recliner for some daytime telly for an hour or so before I started work. Ahh bliss. 

But this morning was slightly different as no sooner had I sat down at my desk in the spare room, Mr Warehouse came springing from the bedroom, dressed and ready for the day, something which I hadn't seen much before 10am most days of our personal lockdown. But as I said, today was different. Today was our release day. Although an apt phrase, I didn't like the connotations of being released from the mental institute or prison, however maybe some of our neighbours would have been less forgiving since they seemed to think we were hardened crim's as it was following my outburst last week. 

Yes, this morning Mr Warehouse was up and about in anticipation of his final day of freedom before heading back to work. Starting the day off well with a McDonald's breakfast run, followed closely by taking our little one to the groomers and home in time for some lunch and a few hours on the Xbox, all the while as the breadwinner (AKA moi) is squirrelling away upstairs on her laptop working from home. But it wasn't all bad though as come 5pm, I logged off, finishing work for the day and headed on out to get my nails done, although not before stopping off for a cheeky Starbs en route, satisfying my inner need for a PSL (Pumpkin Spiced Latte) - my first one of the season. 

It felt so good to be out and able to see faces other than my future husbands. I mean as much as I love him, fuck I love to get out of these four walls. Honestly, I was going crazy and that is far from an exaggeration since I had recently experienced a huge panic attack at work one afternoon and my mental health has slowly been slipping, so getting out of the house for a few hours and seeing friends and family this weekend has certainly saved me and restore my chemical imbalance, at least temporarily. 

But alas things are still not looking great as the virus is still haunting my life. Figures from the BBC released today (Monday 26 October 2020) confirm that the number of new cases of coronavirus is continuing to skyrocket. It is clear, from the figures at least that there is an upward turn for the pandemic. With the overall damning evidence showing that coronavirus related deaths in the last 24-hour period being recorded at over 100, it is a little worrying considering we are going into the colder and darker months of winter 

With people struggling in the last few months throughout the spring and summer with mental health, as have I, and having to self isolate from friends, family and support networks we are on the brink of a mammoth mental health crisis, far greater than anything I have ever experienced before some something that without huge improvement will cripple our already exhausted NHS, and that's not to mention winter with all of its flu's and bugs and hospital admissions. And rise they are as news from the BBC confirms the most recent figures show hospital admission rates for Covid-19 patients rising most quickly in the North West and the North East and Yorkshire region. The news article goes on to say that cases are rising quickly across large parts of England, with other spikes in areas of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In England, a three-tier lockdown system was introduced, with it's latest victims being South Yorkshire joining Greater Manchester, Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region in the highest level, tier three, meaning no household mixing either indoors or outdoors at hospitality venues or private gardens, pubs and bars not serving meals will be closed and guidance made to not travel into or out of the areas of concern. Soon to join the dreaded T3 category include Warrington and Nottingham, both big northern powerhouses. Other cities including Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Slough are the most recent additions to tier two which means a limit on pubs and restaurants opening hours cut to a 10pm curfew with no households mixing indoors but the rule of six may apply when outside, including gardens. 

But the confusion grows as Scotland is due to move to a five-tier system of virus alert levels from 2nd November with the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirming that central Scotland, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, is likely to be in tier 3 (the second-highest tier). This is different still in Wales as they have started a national lockdown otherwise known as a circuit-breaker, meaning most non-essential businesses are closed and people are only able to leave home for limited reasons for the next fortnight with even essential shops and supermarkets restricting the items bought in store, however over the Irish sea's it is a confusing tale yet again as the Northern Ireland devolved government have also introduced additional restrictions including an extended two-week half term for schools to reduce the spread.

As a nation we need to stick together, however, the fuzzy advice and guidance from our "leader", Boris Johnson announcing several weeks ago the Government’s new stance to Hands, Face, Space. But with the rules around socialising and meeting up with friends and loved ones changing every moment and dependant on where in the country you live, I, like the majority of you I suppose, cant help but ask what this means for Christmas and the upcoming festivities towards the end of the year are looking bleak. 

So it seems for now at least, Mr. Warehouse can breathe easy as I cannot plan any sort of party or social gathering without facing the prospect of a fine. Halloween? Cancelled. Fireworks night. Cancelled. Remembrance Parade with the family. Cancelled. Christmas Dinner? Who fucking knows at this rate but as work Christmas parties and celebrations are being debated in every office up and down the country to see if Agnes in HR can sort out a virtual Zoom party for 250-odd employees, assuring everyone that Michael from IT won't strip off his shirt again as he did last year, it seems all hope of returning to normality or anything remotely close is being fired out of the window quicker than a Windows '94 desktop PC. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx