Life in Lockdown - A is for Anticipation (A - Z Challenge 2021)

Yes here we go again.  It’s that time of the year.  April means the A-Z challenge.(Writing a post every day except Sunday working through the letters of the alphabet)

For all the official info on the challenge go here.

This will be the 7^th time I’ve taken part and I am going to be totally winging it this year.

That’s not entirely true.  I did sit down a few weeks ago and think about what I might write about.  Considering the main thing occupying our thoughts, actions and circumstances is still Covid 19 I did jot down some words that I may or may not end up using that relate to our lockdown experiences.

For example my A word on that list is Anxiety and I’d even compiled a draft post to use.  But that felt too negative and not the best start for encouraging people to come back and read more of my posts.

Hence Anticipation.

We’re all anticipating changes here in the UK.  Last Monday saw the first easing of our lockdown restrictions.  It feels like we’ve been on a “Stay at Home” directive for ever but on Monday that ended.  We can now go further afield but we can still only meet up with people outside (maximum of 6 individuals from different households or two households which could be more than 6.)  But we can use our gardens as the “outside” location if we’re lucky to have a garden.  Or parks or open spaces.

If the numbers keep down then the next step will be on April 12^th when non-essential shops can reopen.  This will include hairdressers.  I’m anticipating a haircut.  I’m also anticipating getting my second vaccine at some point but not sure when that’s going to be.  Just thankful I’ve had my first.

There are further dates on this “roadmap” to get us out of lockdown and back to some sort of normality but each will depend on how the case numbers/hospitalisations/deaths go after each change.

It’s been a long strange year and there is still a long way to go.  In truth I believe Covid will remain part of our lives in terms of needing booster jabs each year for some people in the same way we have flu and pneumonia jabs.  Hugging strangers may well become a thing of the past.  Those of us who are anxious will be cautious about going out to crowded places or using public transport once things start getting back to the new normal. 

Working from home is not likely to become a thing of the past but many there will be relief to get back to the office and have some human interaction.  (Not having to keep toddlers off screen when taking part in a Zoom call will be another bonus for some.)

We’re often asked to evaluate things and anticipation level is a hard thing to quantify.  I guess one way would be to ask if you’re anticipating things in a good way or if it’s ramping up the anxiety levels so a scale might look like this:

1)  Anticipating going to the dentist (apologies to dentists but this is a real anxiety trigger for me)

2)  Anticipating attending an event that might be overcrowded/unsafe

3)  Anticipating having to use public transport/return to the workplace

4)  Anticipating meeting up with friends in a pub/restaurant

5)  Anticipating a happy event, e.g. a wedding or a new baby.

I’d like to say I’m a 5 but there are no weddings or new babies to look forward to.  Even a 4 would be good but I’m probably hovering between 2 & 3.  I’m anticipating that when I come to do next year’s A-Z that things will be a lot better but I’m aware there may still be bumps on that roadmap.

Where would you put yourself on my scale?