5 weeks in...

So. UK. We are 5 weeks into our containment, quarantine, lockdown, or whatever you wish to call it. And we may be looking at 5 more months, let alone 5 more weeks, which makes me want to throw things and scream, but at the same time, if I can save lives and keep myself and my partner safe, then so be it. Though I have to say, I'm pretty sure if this goes on much longer, my parents are going to jump in the car and come and live with us. There's no way my mum will wait that long to see me.

5 weeks at home and I can't believe this is my first blog. In fact, this is my first blog of the year. I know, I should make more time to blog and I should air my rants, not internalise them, but I've had a pretty shit last 8 months or so, with losing work and changing settings and desperately trying to find new places to teach, and then the virus happens and all my places of work are now closed. So I now live on Zoom, several hours a day, teaching through a screen, which thanks to the parents and children that are partaking, has been going well. There are lots of challenges and lots of limitations, but if I can provide just an ounce of certainty, fun and routine, in this chaotic world, then great. Plus, I'm actually getting to meet parents that have been an email address for the last few years. It's great to put faces with those names.

I now realise what a great idea it was to move house last year, because having to do this in Flat 19 - whilst being the greatest flat in the world - would have been really challenging. With only the tiny balcony and two rooms, both working from home would have been tricky. At least with the house we have space to wander a bit, and a garden, and spaces for us both to work, without massively annoying the other. Although, I am currently teaching in the attic, above the office space where A is lawyering 12 hours a day, so poor A has to hear all the songs I'm singing and the instruments I'm playing. He's definitely learned a few new songs over the last 5 weeks. He is slightly concerned I'm going to come through the ceiling at some point, as there is a crack on the ceiling, that is apparently growing. I don't know what he's talking about, my bunny jumps are as light as a feather. :-)

So for the end of our fifth week in Quaratine, I have a put together some lists of fives. Here they go:

5 Pros of the Quarantine

1. I have learned to use Zoom and have my bluetooth headphones and HD webcam working hard every day. I am making and uploading music class videos to youtube studio and becoming a technology goddess. (For me, this is an achievement.)
2. Not having to commute therefore not having to pay travel costs. One of my commutes was 90 minutes, so the fact that I can get up and walk up the stairs to the attic in about 30 seconds, is pretty great. 
3. Being able to see my friends via various video chat services and also being able to teach some of my friends' children. 
4. Trying out new recipes: I have already made a bean and vegetable hotpot, banana muffins, a hummingbird cake and a carrot cake. 
5. Living so close to West Ham Park, which means a few times a week we take a walk around the park and get in our exercise and stop ourselves going doolally. 

5 Cons of the Quarantine

1. Can't see my mum or dad, or friends or family. 
2. We can't travel anywhere. You barely feel like you're in London. Is it weird I actually miss public transport?
3. Some people are dicks, so this could go on for a really long time because some people don't take it seriously. 
4. Not being able to sleep due to constant worrying about money, how long I'll be able to work, what happens if nurseries do go back but they don't accept outside teachers...etc...etc
5. The fear that this is actually Armageddon. 

5 Books I've Read During Quarantine

1. Off the Map: Lost Spaces, Invisible Cities, Forgotten Islands, Feral Places and What They Tell Us About the World by Alistair Bonnett 
2. Caraval by Stephanie Garber (Book 1 of 3) A re-read, as I was determined to finally complete the trilogy. 
3. Legendary by Stephanie Garber (Book 2 of 3) 
4. Finale by Stephanie Garber (Book 3 of 3)
5. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. This book is an epic, high fantasy book and it is also a hefty 800 pages, so great for lockdown, and not so great for carrying around in your handbag, manbag, or rucksack. 

I definitely recommend starting that large book that you don't want to carry around with you, or trying to finish that trilogy that you started years ago, or maybe just re-reading a classic. 

5 Films I've Watched During Lockdown

Obviously, we've watched a lot more than five and some of them have been shockingly shite. We have made some bad decisions with regards to films recently, but with Netflix, Prime and Disney Plus, we have managed a few good 'uns. 

1. Time Trap - Netflix. We watched this last night and were pleasantly surprised. It's a little bit adventure, a little bit thriller, a little bit horror and a little bit sci-fi. We loved it. Creepy atmosphere and a good mind fuck. 
2. Apostolo - Netflix. This is a horror flick and is weird and a bit of a slow burner, but it has a great cast and really makes you feel part of what is happening. Definitely worth a watch for those horror lovers out there. 
3. Haunt - Amazon Prime. Another horror. Oops. This is your typical, go to a Halloween house with some friends and all shit breaks lose, but it was actually really well done for such a low budget, small time film. 
4. Charlie's Angels - Amazon Prime. Yes we rented it, because I had wanted to see it at the cinema, especially when it was panned so much by critics. It felt like a female solidarity moment and it is really watchable. The fight scenes totally kick ass, and it's a shame that there will unlikely be a sequel, as it was set up quite nicely. Also, I bloody love Elizabeth Banks. 
5. Thor Ragnarok - Disney Plus. Definitely one of the funniest Marvel films and great for a quarantine re-watch. 

5 TV Series I've Watched During the Quarantine

1. Tiger King - Netflix. Didn't think I'd like it, but was absolutely hooked after 5 minutes. 
2. Unorthodox - Netflix. A short 4 part mini series. This is amazing! 
3. Brooklyn Nine Nine - Series 6 (rewatch) Netflix, followed by the discovery that Series 7 started on All 4. Love the Nine Nine.
4. Homeland Final Season - All 4. There have been some tense moments, but we have to see how it ends. 
5. Non Uccidere (Thou Shall Not Kill) Series 2 on All 4. I love this Italian Detective series and the second series has started well. I recommend taking two episodes at a time. 

5 Leisure Activities to while away the boredom

1. Walking to a local bar in Forest Gate once a week to pick up an order of cocktails and beer to go. Not only are the cocktails wonderful, but we get our exercise and support a local business. 
2. Jigsaw puzzles. I know, it's sad, but it's also quite fun. And I don't care if that makes me middle aged. We completed one about all the coffees of the world and now we have two more to start: a vintage travel guide one and a birds of Britain one. 
3. Getting my craft on, and utilising all the packaging that comes with all the orders we make, so I can make props and instruments for my classes. 
4. Baking (me). Gardening (A).
5. (Edited) I changed this from hanging up pictures to dance parties in the kitchen, because I remembered I hate making decisions on where to put pictures on the wall. That's A's thing, and it bugs me. I like dance parties and prefer them in the kitchen. Stick on some tunes and let yourself go. 

Well, I've waffled on long enough. Let me know how you're coping and keep your chin up. There will be days when you don't want to even contemplate moving and it all gets too much, but hopefully calling a friend, or your family, or binge watching a show on Netflix will get you through it, and then you will find something to cling onto that gets you through to the next day and the next. It's all about survival and getting through one day at a time, so don't worry about charts and routines and timetables, just get through in the best way you can. No one can ask anymore of you than that, and maybe we can get out of this sooner rather than later. 

A shout out to all the NHS, shop workers, drivers and delivery people, people working on public transport, post workers and anyone else who is out in the field - as it were - helping others and keeping the world going. 

Rants out.