It's gone so quiet around here....

[elwinfortuna]

I live near the train station for my small Fife town, so when I look out my landing window of a morning I'm used to seeing cars parked in every available bit of space that isn't residents' parking. About two weeks ago, I started noticing that the number of cars was decreasing and decreasing, and now the only car I can see from my landing window is one that has clearly been abandoned, as it's been there for over a week.

Despite our best efforts, we had to go out three times last week -- all of them to the hospital for my mother-in-law's appointments, though we used the fact that we were out to do other things as well. Now that government guidance for shielding extremely vulnerable people has come into effect, she is terrified of leaving the house even for the necessary medical things she has to do. She has to have her blood checked every week, which means she has to go to the local doctors' office, which she fears might be a prime place to pick the virus up. We walk around with sanitary gel and handwipes constantly to hand, and I've perfected opening doors with my elbow and calling lifts with my knuckles, when we have to go to hospital.

All the hand washing is drying our hands out. Our most valued household substances seem to be hand cream, soap, sanitising gel, and cleaning wipes.

Financially, it'll be a struggle too. We were already barely barely coping, and now my husband's salary is going to be cut if he stays in work, and could reduce even more if he's furloughed. We will need every mortgage and loan repayment holiday that we can get, and those kinds of holidays will be the only ones we get this year.

We seem to be more or less okay for food and household stuff. We didn't panic buy, but had slowly been building up our reserves for the last year or so anyway, so that is standing us in good stead now. I also had a little foresight and managed to book weekly delivery slots until April right before there was a huge rush on them. One thing we did stock up on in slightly ridiculous amounts was cat food, because we humans can eat different things if we need to but the cats need the food they will eat.

Our last trip out included a stop at a local garden centre, where we picked up some flowers for our balcony, some seed potatoes because I've always wanted to grow potatoes, and a bunch of other seeds for random experimentation. I think even the strictest shielding encourages being outside in the sunshine a bit, even if on your own doorstep, and our balcony should be safe enough for my mother-in-law to potter about a bit and watch things grow.

In a lot of ways, we were already pretty socially isolated, so this is just a more extreme version of normal life. As the weather gets nicer, it's going to be harder and harder not to be out in it, though.

I'd love to distract myself with fandom but I'm just not feeling it at the moment. Maybe my creativity will come back once things have settled into a bit more of a routine under quarantine and maybe not. Right now I'm just kind of wishing I could go to sleep for three months (or however long) and wake up when it's over.

Comments

[wibbble]

We didn't even overbuy cat food for stockpiling reasons, it's just that it was on sale/a lot cheaper in bulk. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[isis]

Best of luck to you and your family. I hope there is some kind of local fund there that can help you.

[lilacsigil]

I'm in an essential job (in healthcare) but I also wish I could just go to sleep for however many months. Ugh, that would be great. But you're right, maybe it will become routine?

[grundyscribbling]

Right now I'm just kind of wishing I could go to sleep for three months (or however long) and wake up when it's over.

Same. :(
Fingers crossed for you and yours.

[zdenka]

Right now I'm just kind of wishing I could go to sleep for three months (or however long) and wake up when it's over.

Yeah, I could go for that. Too bad humans can't hibernate. I hope you and your family (and cats) get through it okay.

[ludy]

The balcony garden sounds like an excellent concept.

Thinking of you

[independence1776]

Right now I'm just kind of wishing I could go to sleep for three months (or however long) and wake up when it's over.

Hear, hear.

[sorchasilver]

*waves across the Firth at you*

Glad you're fully supplied. Hibernation sounds so good right now!

[narya_flame]

*also waves at you from over the Firth*

We have so much hay stockpiled for the rabbits that it looks like we're adopting a pony. And I am suffering with dry skin too, it seriously stings, but I prefer it to the alternative!

Take care of yourself - hope to see you soon!

[azurelunatic]

I should plant some herbs. It's weirdly hard to get basil.

[chestnut_pod]

Much support <3

I'm glad you're well stocked and best wishes for your health and security.

[bunn]

Good luck with the growing things : I hope they help. And with the rest of it too. Will be thinking of you and your mother-in-law.

[barakta]

Fingers crossed government support helps with things like your husband's job. Are you claiming all the benefits you're entitled to such as carer's allowance for one of you to care for his mum?

I believe outside in your own garden/space is encouraged even for strictly-isolating people, sunlight and fresh air being good for you even if just for a while.

I think it's a horrible situation and everyone is brain fried, hopefully things will settle somewhat and we'll get more used to managing whatever happens. You have a lot of responsibilities and I keep my fingers crossed that you all remain safe and well.