Just keep swimming! Diary of self-isolation Week 2

Major Karen Sandford (Harlow) continues her day-by-day account of family life in a time of quarantine

DAY 8 - Tuesday 24 March

We have been in self-isolation for a week, so we celebrated with a family meeting.

Chris and I ventured out to walk Daisy. It was Chris’s first time outside in more than a week. He’s had a couple of coughing fits today, but he is OK. Work for me has been mainly pastoral, by phone. We were due to conduct a funeral today, but others stood in for us. It was lovely to phone and pray with them before they went.

I heard someone preach a long time ago, ‘Do the ordinary well, and be ready for the critical moment.’ They are my words to live by, and I think they might come into their own. Let’s do what we can do and be satisfied with that. Above all, love. Everything else will fall into place.

DAY 9 - Wednesday 25 March

Pancake Day! It was a welcome distraction to do something a little different today. The pancakes were hailed by the family as the best they’d ever tasted. Considering I used out-of-date ingredients, I was very happy.

Testosterone Towers seems to be working out its own rhythm. We’ve carried on with a film every evening after dinner. We usually have a video call with my mum at that time too. It seems to work well, and our Harry Potter marathon is almost complete.

It’s good to have Chris well enough to be part of things again. He makes a little progress every day.

DAY 10 - Thursday 26 March

I’ve felt a bit out of sorts for the past 24 hours, so I haven’t ventured farther from my bed than the bathroom. The main issue seems to be aching limbs, fatigue and a headache that comes and goes.

Chris took Daisy out this morning. It was his first solo walk since our self-isolation began. In the absence of testing, we’re as sure as we can be that he has had Covid-19. The way it progressed and the fatigue that remains point to it.

I had a burst of energy and wrote the message for our corps worship sheet for Sunday.

DAY 11 - Friday 27 March

I read somewhere that we are in a state of shock at the moment, and shock is exhausting. So I’m working when I feel able and resting when I need to.

Work has been done entirely from home throughout this time but today I felt the need for a face-to-face with Lorraine, our centre co-ordinator. When I say face-to-face, what I mean is we were in the car park at the hall. I signed her key worker letter with lots of hand gel and distance between us. We chatted, laughed and prayed.

Part of my role is giving pastoral care but, in the past few years, due to illness, I’ve been able to do less. This week I’ve connected with people over the phone. It’s amazing – you think you’re helping someone, then you end up being helped yourself. I’ve come away feeling uplifted. Today has been a good day.

DAY 12 - Saturday 28 March

The Saturday routine used to be: I get up first for a swim in the nearby lake with my cold-water swimming friends, Joel is usually working, Chris and Nathan are often at the West Ham game, Ryan and Megan are here or at her house, and Saturday night is takeaway night. There are things to be finalised for Sunday worship too.

I missed my swim desperately today. For me its benefits are threefold: laughing with friends, exercise and improved mental health. I haven’t yet resorted to a cold bath or the paddling pool in the garden.

Tomorrow’s worship has gone up on Facebook and been delivered to people’s homes. I wanted everyone to be able to share in worship together, especially those who have no clue about social media.

Today I learnt that a cafetière and a French press are one and the same, and that I can talk to four people on a WhatsApp video call. Every day’s a school day.

DAY 13 - Sunday 29 March

Today has been quite relaxed.

During Advent last year I did some art journaling and discovered that I love painting. If you’re imagining beautiful watercolours, don’t. I like to paint like a toddler, with splodges, sponges and clashing colours. As I painted I thought about connectedness – the importance of links to each other, however tenuous, and ensuring that no one gets left behind.

DAY 14 - Monday 30 March

Tomorrow marks the end of our self-isolation. However, we’ll be following government advice to stay home as much as we can. Chris still isn’t well enough to go out, but we are all key workers except Nathan, so some things will be different.

We’ve had news that two of our corps members are in hospital: one confirmed with the virus and one waiting for results. That, and the fact that I will need to be out and about in the community from tomorrow, meant that I felt quite anxious.

I spent some time listening to a Bible app. The key verse was Joshua 1:9: ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ So there it is. I have confidence in him who calls me.

To read Karen’s daily posts in full, go to karensandford.blogspot.com