Coming back from COVID

NWR members, like everyone, have had very varied reactions to the pandemic.

Re-entry

During the pandemic there is no doubt at all that the NWR office team did amazing work in keeping folk in touch, organising talks and sessions on Zoom, and stressing the positive. And thank you all very much for all your hard work, we are all truly very grateful!

In the June newsletter, the effects of the pandemic on our lives was suggested as a possible topic for contributions to this magazine, with the question, “has your life returned to how it was before, or are there some changes that have been for the better?”

While I am definitely an advocate of looking, where possible, for the positive, I would like to discuss another side. I remained entirely healthy throughout the pandemic, but I have found that I have emerged with definite alterations in myself. Inertia on many fronts has set in. My horizons, physical and perceived, have shrunk. I have reduced confidence in being out and about, especially among crowds of people or large numbers in confined spaces. I have lost any interest in the idea of travel for holiday purposes. I feel I have a reduced sense, or capability, of initiative, both in re-establishing contacts and in considering undertaking new ventures.

I talked about this in passing with friends, and our NWR group discussed the whole thing as a topic at one of our meetings. Each person had a guaranteed uninterrupted few minutes to say how they felt now that lockdown was over and the major onslaught of the pandemic was past, and then we discussed it all as a group. The reaction both of friends and among the group was overwhelmingly “thank goodness it isn’t just me”. In our meeting we agreed that we were all trying to galvanise ourselves into resuming our former lifestyles, but it isn’t easy.

What was clear was that many people felt that they were somehow failing in not having embraced it all as an opportunity to take up new interests and attend Zoom sessions, and to emerge shiny, bright and zestful for a new start.

So, while it is good and important to say “look forward and be positive”, there are possibly large numbers of people finding re-entry difficult and daunting. We should not be concentrating only on new achievements and so-called positives, as this can further contribute to feelings of dejection and failure in those who can’t see many. We must accept that there have been many negatives, and personal losses as well, that will take time and the support of friendship to come to terms with. Which is a strength of the NWR, as long as we accept that everyone will emerge at their own pace. Phyllida Walton Exeter NWR

Sanctuary

Lockdown inspired creative writing from Sally Child of Chandlers Ford/Eastleigh D NWR

Another day began, but better than most.

Harriet ran to the car; force of habit. There was, of course, no need to hurry now, but a lifetime of cramming in too much was a hard habit to break.

This was her alternate day outing to her little piece of paradise. The allotment!

What a privilege to go there now when everyone else was confined to one hour of daily exercise, in their locality. This place had been sanctioned by the government. The only place she was allowed to go outside of the big echoey house and garden she now inhabited alone. She always kept herself to herself here so social distancing was not an issue.

It was like entering Narnia, but without the wardrobe! A magical, private, peaceful world where nothing mattered but the earth, the plants, the sun and the birds. Admittedly, some of the larger birds would eat everything as soon as look at you, but the robins and blackbirds thanked her for the upturned grubs, waiting patiently on the spade handle. Yes, they really do that!

Harvesting organic food was a bonus. The act of gardening is always an exercise of hope over adversity; investing in the future; slowing right down to literally smell the daisies.

After a couple of hours of bliss, she reluctantly packed up and left, enriched by the calm and the privilege; renewed for another day at home before returning in two day’s time.