Sunday 9th March 2025. On this Day of Reflection marking the 5th anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have decided to make my Covid Diary public for the first time. I have removed names of people and some of the places to protect my family and friends. It’s 12,000 words long, so you had better get a cuppa before you start reading. Let me know what you think by adding a comment, Sharon x
Friday 17th April 2020
Whether we like it or not (we don’t like it; no-one likes it) we are living through a historic event. It is for this reason that I have decided to write some kind of a haphazard diary to record how these events have affected me.
Around Christmas time, we heard about a deadly virus sweeping across China. It wasn’t good news at all, but China had Sars a few years ago and it just went away without affecting us here in the UK. At that time, we couldn’t have possibly imagined that this virus would become a worldwide pandemic, profoundly affecting the lives of everyone across the world, including us on our safe, little island in Europe.
The first case of Coronavirus, Covid-19, in the UK was at the end of January and the first death linked to the virus was on 2nd March. It was at this point that we started to take things more seriously. On 11th March, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a global pandemic.
The government quickly started its action plan and events started to be cancelled, such as the last few games of the Six Nations Rugby. Cinemas and theatres closed their doors. There was talk of other large events being cancelled. Soon, all ‘mass gatherings’ were cancelled. Soon afterwards, gyms, restaurants and pubs all closed too. My routine dental appointment and my nurse clinic appointments were cancelled. Holidays were also cancelled and all non-essential travel. Weddings and other celebrations were cancelled. Before long, many other events were cancelled including, the Olympics, Wimbledon, the Grand National and Glastonbury. Ministries Without Borders 50th Anniversary Bible Week has also been postponed until summer 2021.
Anyone who shows symptoms of coronavirus (high temperature or a new, persistent cough) must ‘self-isolate’, along with the members of their household, for 14 days. We have also been advised to wash our hands frequently and thoroughly with soap by singing Happy Birthday twice through!
At about this time, the government issued advice to people over the age of 70, people with certain health conditions and pregnant women, to stay at home and to do ‘shielding’ and to ‘self-isolate’ for at least 12 weeks. My mum is nearly 80 and has chronic respiratory problems and my dad is 80 and has a heart condition and vascular dementia. It is a particularly difficult time for them. This means that, for at least 12 weeks, no-one, including me and my sister, will be able to visit them. My mum is providing 24-hour care for my dad and, as a result, doesn’t get much sleep. Both my sister and I live several hours’ drive away, so we can’t see them or help them. My sister is sorting out online Asda shopping for them, but it is incredibly difficult to secure a slot as so many people are trying to get them. I am finding it so very hard not being able to go to my parents to see them, hug them and help them. I am glad that their neighbour is very good to them. As soon as this is all over, I’m getting into the car and driving up the M1.
Research from the cases in China, published in The Lancet and the BMJ have shown a link between taking ACE blood pressure tablets and severe illness from coronavirus. My husband is on these tablets, but nothing has been said to him about it.
People were urged to work from home, including my husband, who took over the dining room to use as an office. I was still working full time at school and tutoring in the evenings.
People started panic buying, leaving a shortage of toilet roll (?!) pasta and hand sanitiser. Supermarkets soon put a restriction on the total number of any item you’re allowed to buy in a single shop (usually 3).
Since ‘mass gatherings’ have been cancelled, church has gone online. All Nations Church live streams its Sunday service at 10am every Sunday via YouTube. There is a time of worship and a message, all recorded in people’s homes. Home Group has also gone online via ‘Zoom’ where we can ‘meet’ with other members of the group, share testimonies, scriptures and prayers and break bread together. We feel very blessed to be able to still take part in church, even though we can’t physically be together.
I am so thankful that we have broadband Wi-Fi. If this had happened only twenty years ago, we would have all been so much more isolated. We have Facebook, Whatsapp, Messenger, Zoom and so on. We have family, friends and life group groups that connects us.
Our son came home on Saturday 14th March. His return ticket was for the following Friday (he was only planning to come home for one week during his Easter break) but on the Wednesday, he heard that the university was to close on Friday. Therefore, he immediately bought a new train ticket and headed straight back to Cambridge to go to the lab to try to retrieve what data he could for his project before the university closed. He returned home on Saturday 21st March, leaving most of his belongings behind, to complete his Masters from home. We prepared the room above the garage for him to study in, so as not to disturb his dad in the dining room! Our son later found out that his exams have been cancelled and he will be assessed on his project report, examples papers and coursework. It will be a pass / fail without any grade as such.
In the middle of all this, we had heard that my husband’s younger brother was critically ill in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. We were fortunate enough to be able to go visit him and then on the evening of the 19th March, we were able to be at his bedside when he died.
On the morning of Friday 20th March, it was announced that schools were to close at the end of the day. ‘Home learning’ via online platforms was to commence the following week. We were told to go in on the following Monday to provide ‘emergency childcare’ for the children whose parents are ‘key workers’ (NHS staff, grocery store workers, essential services such as refuse collection etc). We turned up to discover that only 6 children had arrived for the childcare, so by about 11am, we were sent home. That same day, it was announced that all GCSE and A level exams are cancelled. I had four private year 11 students (I’m an English tutor), who I hadn’t had the opportunity to wish well, so I sent them all an email or a text.
Since I was not going to be going to school the next day, I decided that I would drive to Cambridge to retrieve our son’s belongings. Nevertheless, on that same evening, 23rd March (my niece’s birthday) Boris Johnson announced that our country was now in ‘lockdown’ whereby our lives are severely restricted: no social gatherings are allowed at all, even among family members; no unnecessary journeys; only allowed out of our homes for very limited reasons including, buying essential foods and provisions, medical needs and for exercise, once a day.
Shopping is a particularly depressing and long-winded process these days. All non-essential shops have closed: shoe shops, clothes shops, card shops and so on. Going to the supermarket, for example, involves customers having to abide by the ‘social distancing’ regulations of keeping 2m away from all other people in the store, helped by markers on the floor. This requires one to queue up outside the store to get in, as only so many people are allowed in the store at any one time. Once in the store, it is necessary to follow the arrows on the floor as you move around then queue up again for the checkout, remaining at least 2m away from other customers. I always thank the staff in the supermarket or the pharmacy, along with the postman and the bin men, as they are doing a tremendous job.
It was Mother’s Day on 22nd March. I was glad to have my boy home on that day and to be able to Facetime with our daughter, who lives 300 miles away. Most people couldn’t go visit their mum, so the flowers remained in the shops, unsold. At least Mum got some extra flowers that her neighbour picked up from Asda for her the next day as they were giving them away for free.
The government started giving a daily briefing at about 5pm every day. Their motto is: Stay Home > Protect the NHS > Save Lives.
We had booked to go to the Village Hotel Cardiff on 27th March for a night away, the gym, a swim and a nice meal and breakfast. Fortunately, we were able to reschedule for the beginning of December.
From 1st April, my husband was put on ‘furlough’, a government scheme whereby employees can be put on leave from their jobs but still receive up to 80% of their basic salary. His pension fund has also taken a drop of one third of its value, as a result of the impact of coronavirus on the economy. However, we put our trust in God because his Word says that “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).
The next day, I was working a morning shift at Tonyrefail Community School to help with the emergency childcare, as that is the hub school for our school. I am still employed full time, although working on a rota basis about once a fortnight. I also worked last week, even though it is officially the school holidays, as key workers still need to go to work. I am also preparing learning resources and doing professional reading / online courses at home.
On the 5th April, the Queen addressed the nation. She urged us to stay at home and said, “Better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”
Also, on the 5th of April, Boris Johnson was taken into hospital with coronavirus and the next day he was taken into intensive care. Thankfully he is home now and recovering.
There have already been more than 14000 deaths linked to coronavirus in the UK. We have been told that 9 out of 10 of these people had underlying health conditions. I actually find this rather alarming as that means that 1 out of 10 (10 out of 100, 100 out of 1000) of these people were otherwise healthy individuals who have succumbed to this deadly virus.
We are allowed to go outside once a day for exercise, from our own home (you’re not allowed to drive anywhere for exercise). My husband and I are really enjoying our daily walks, some of which have been quite long. Last week, we walked for seven hours, covering about 23 miles (this was much longer than our usual walks, I must add!) Quite a few people are walking or cycling, but the roads are eerily quiet.
We have been really appreciating nature, whilst on our walks and in the garden. I’m also thanking God that we have had mostly sunny days. There are lots of butterflies, bees and wild flowers to enjoy.
Last weekend was Easter. I felt sad not to be able to visit my family as we usually do. We joined in with online church and went for a walk. Two days later, I went to Tesco to discover that many Easter eggs had not been sold, so they were selling them off at 75% off the original price. Happy days! I got loads of cheap chocolate, including a large Lindt Easter egg that I had seen before but couldn’t justify spending £10 on.
Yesterday, Captain Tom Moore completed his 100th lap of his garden ahead of his 100th birthday later this month. He set out to raise £1000 for the NHS but he has already raised over £20 million, and it’s still rising.
Every Thursday at 8pm, during our Zoom life group meeting, everyone goes outside their front doors to clap for the NHS and other key workers. Many homes, especially those with children, have put paintings of rainbows in their windows. I find it wonderful that the rainbow is the symbol of hope for the world; God had already made the rainbow the symbol of hope for the world a very long time ago (see Genesis ch. 9)
I was absolutely disgusted, appalled and outraged (I don’t have sufficient adjectives to describe how I feel) to hear that MPs are getting an additional £10000 (ten thousand pounds!) to work from the comfort and safety of their own homes. This seems such an injustice when frontline NHS staff are working all the hours, putting their very lives at risk, and are receiving not a single penny extra. All they get is a weekly clap!
I think most people are missing their hairdresser. I have already trimmed my own fringe as my hair was in my eyes and driving me crazy. My husband and son haven’t attempted similar. Looking forward to our hairdresser coming round and repairing the damage!
Today is our daughter’s birthday. We haven’t seen her and her fiancé since Christmas and won’t be able to see them until the restrictions on non-essential travel and social gatherings are lifted. Since she is a mental health nurse, working on the CAMHS crisis team, she is still working full time. In fact, she has had to cancel the 9 days annual leave that she was supposed to take before her birthday, to cover staff shortages. Her fiancé is thankfully still working from home. They are doing well. I have put a bottle of prosecco in the fridge to celebrate our daughter’s birthday for her tonight!
Saturday 18th April
Our 14-year-old washing machine had packed in, so we had a new one delivered today. Because of the social distancing regulations, the delivery guys from Curry’s just dropped the new washing machine off in the kitchen as they are not allowed to install it. We have never plumbed a washing machine in before and the instructions were pretty sparse, so it took us a long time, but we did it (well, mainly my husband, with me assisting!)
Monday 20th April
Yesterday on our walk at Barry Sidings, we were watching a beautiful little goldcrest. We were ever so close to him and watched him for a while before he flew away. Today we saw a slow worm, moving very quickly in front of our path. We are really appreciating nature at this time.
Saturday 25th April
In the words of the government, today our country reached a “tragic and terrible milestone” of over 20,000 hospital deaths linked to coronavirus. Previously it had been said that the death toll being below 20,000 would be a “good outcome” and this was what I had been praying. Furthermore, the global death toll has now reached over 200,000. A sad day in history.
Sunday 26th April
Today was meant to be the London Marathon, which has been postponed until October. Since many charities benefit from this iconic event, the ‘2.6 challenge’ has been taken up by quite a lot of people doing events in their own home that are linked to 26 or 2.6. There is still hope.
Monday 27th April
We had booked to go see The Lion King show in the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff in July as a treat for our anniversary, but I have just received an email to say that it has been postponed until July 2022.
Wednesday 29th April
Deaths in care homes and the community are now being included in the death toll so it has jumped to 26,097.
Thursday 30th April
Today is Captain Tom Moore’s 100th birthday. He has been made honorary colonel. He has raised £32 million for the NHS.
Saturday 2nd May
The first minister has stated that one of the groups of children to be the first to return to school will be those with SEN. How on earth are we supposed to support the children from 2m away?
Tuesday 5th May
UK coronavirus death toll is now the highest in Europe.
Wednesday 6th May
The UK death toll is now over 30,000. We now have the second highest number of recorded coronavirus deaths in the world, second only to the US which has more than 70,000.
Thursday 7th May
We should have been returning to Saundersfoot with our 8 friends today for a long weekend. We have rescheduled for next May.
Friday 8th May
Today is a special bank holiday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE day. We observed a two-minute silence at 11am. The terraced street across the road from us has bunting all the way down the street. Lots of people are having parties on their doorsteps to keep to the 2m rule. There’s a sing along with the TV at 9pm to Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again.
Sunday 10th May
Boris has announced that the message for England is now, “Stay Alert”. What does that even mean? The message in Wales is still, “Stay Home”. We have at least another three weeks of lockdown here, although we are allowed to go outside for exercise more than once a day and garden centres and tips will be permitted to open.
Monday 11th May
Dad had to be taken into a care home today. Nobody will be allowed to visit him, not even his wife. Mum was becoming ill with caring for him 24/7 and getting hardly any sleep.
Wednesday 13th May
Drove up to Yorkshire to be with Mum for a few days. The roads were eerily quiet; very few cars, mostly just lorries.
Monday 18th May
Trimmed my own fringe again today. My men still haven’t done anything with their hair; in fact, they haven’t been shaving very frequently either.
Tuesday 19th May
Captain Tom Moore is to be given a knighthood.
Sunday 24th May
Today should have been my sister and brother-in-law’s wonderful Silver Wedding party at their home in the south east of England. They have had to postpone it to next May.
Wednesday 27th May
My husband trimmed his own hair with the clippers this morning. Our son is just letting his grow.
It was so good to be able to walk round our lovely Ynysangharad Park this afternoon. It reopened today for the first time since the floods in the middle of February.
A dear retired assistant head of our school has died of coronavirus. He was a very well-loved teacher, who took early retirement less than two years ago. He used to give our son a lift to school early in the mornings when he was in year 13. He will be missed very much.
Sunday 31st May
This May was the sunniest on record. Blessed by this as there’s nothing to do except go for long walks.
Thursday 4th June
Dad had a fall in the care home so had to go to A&E yesterday morning. To our horror they admitted him onto a Covid ward. My sister and I were very distressed about this (we didn’t let Mum know) but were informed that it’s national policy for patients from care homes. Thankfully he returned to the care home this evening, but he will have to isolate in his room for a few days until he gets a negative Covid test. We are praying.
Friday 5th June
40,261 people have died in the UK of coronavirus. We are only the second country in the world to reach the grim milestone of over 40,000 deaths.
Monday 8th June
Actually managed to buy self raising flour today for the first time since February. I think everyone has gone baking crazy.
Tuesday 10th June
In addition to going for a daily walk, we have entertained ourselves by playing badminton in the garden, playing table tennis in the extension and playing frisbee in the park.
Friday 12th June
The UK economy shrunk by 20.4% in April because of lockdown – the largest monthly contraction on record.
Tuesday 16th June
Mum was allowed to wear a mask and go visit Dad from 2 metres away in the care home garden.
Thursday 18th June
My husband has received a letter to say that he’s going back to work on Monday (working from home). Even though he has been on furlough for nearly 3 months and I lost all my tutoring income in March, we have lacked nothing; we have had everything we need and more. God is good. (Psalm 23:1).
Friday 19th June
Our son has just heard that he has passed his masters. No grade for the students this year as they changed the assessment process; he has just been awarded an honours pass. No word on when he might have a graduation ceremony.
Monday 29th June
The worldwide coronavirus death toll has passed 500,000 (half a million).
Schools in Wales reopened today for all pupils but with only one third of the students in school at any one time. All students (apart from yr11 and yr13 who have already left school) will have the opportunity to go to school for at least 2 days before the summer holidays. I will be working on Thursdays and Fridays for the next three weeks.
Our son started work as a full-time engineer for a local company today. He will be going into work every day.
Friday 3rd July
Today was the first day since 18th March that I have failed to walk over 10,000 steps a day. I was at work until 3pm then it was heavy rain for the remainder of the day; I just didn’t feel like going out in the rain. We played pool in the extension instead.
Sunday 12th July
Visited our Caerphilly friends in their garden this afternoon. It was good to interact with other human beings. We walked there (it’s about 6 miles).
Tuesday 14th July
Our niece’s 18th birthday today. She won’t be able to have a party but she’s enjoying the celebrations at home.
My first time back to tutoring today since March. I have to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer. I have also written a Covid-19 health and safety policy. The mask becomes very uncomfortable behind the ears quite quickly. Not fun. I will be seeing two students throughout the summer.
Friday 17th July
The strangest, saddest last day of term on record. No hugs, no celebrations and not knowing what we are looking forward to in September. I’ve picked up a few shifts in the summer on the playschemes for the key workers’ children.
Saturday 18th July
The day we were supposed to be going to Cardiff to see The Lion King musical. It has been postponed until 2022.
Monday 20th July
On our wedding anniversary, we had our hair professionally cut for the first time since February… in the garden!
Tuesday 21st July
My husband’s passport has expired, and he is not permitted to apply for a new one as applications are only allowed for those with urgent or compassionate reasons. This, coupled with many other unanswered questions, has led us to decide to postpone our October holiday to Lanzarote until October 2021. It’s a shame really as we had our last year’s Tenerife holiday cancelled due to Thomas Cook going through. At least we’ve got something to look forward to.
Thursday 23rd July
Went for a socially distanced walk from Jackson’s Bay to the Knapp, with chips at the turn-round point, with friends. (Adrian was working). It’s the first time I’ve seen the sea this year.
Friday 24th July
Drove to Norfolk to visit our daughter to see them for the first time since Christmas. It was so good to see them. We arrived about 8:40pm, had dinner and stayed up late in the garden sitting around the fire-pit.
Saturday 25th July
Went to the beach with our daughter, her fiance and the dog. Saw the church and the barn where they will be having their wedding next summer. Had a walk on the beach and a paddle and watched the seals.
Sunday 26th July
Took the dog for a walk in the morning then went to my sister’s home to see them for the first time since Christmas and to collect our son’s belongings that had been there since March. Had a lovely socially distanced BBQ in the garden.
Tuesday 28th July
My husband is off this week as it’s supposed to be Bible Week. In honour of this, we walked from Merthyr Mawr sand dunes to Ogmore beach to Porthcawl and back and ate Pot Noodle outside.
Thursday 30th July
As part of our ‘staycation’ we went on a long walk up the forestry and up to the trig point. At teatime, we went to Porthcawl for another walk and fish and chips from Beales (the best fish and chips in town) on the seafront. We left there about 9pm and noticed that we had done over 44,000 steps so we had the mad idea to go for a walk in the dark along the cycle path in Treforest, with the torch, to get our 50,000 steps in a day Fitbit badge. What a mad day! We walked 50,373 steps in a single day.
Saturday 1st August
Our son moved to Penarth today to live with a friend from church (although the friend isn’t actually going to be there until the end of September). We will miss him.
Monday 3rd August
My husband has gone back to the office from today. If it was his choice, he would still be working from home.
I went to work in the summer playschemes for vulnerable and key workers’ children. I was working with five-year olds, which is a bit out of my comfort zone, but it was good fun. I have got six other shifts this summer.
Saturday 8th August
Drove up to Yorkshire to celebrate Mum’s 80th birthday today. Had the opportunity to visit Dad in the care home. Had to sit outside 2m away and wear a mask but it was good to see him. When I left Mum, I did give her a hug as she has had no physical contact from anyone since March. My sister and her elder daughter also joined us.
Wednesday 12th August
Home from three nights with our daughter. We went to an outdoor theatre production of Alice in Wonderland in the Botanical Gardens on Sunday evening. Then we went wedding dress shopping in the morning on Monday and all day in Norwich on Tuesday, when she found a stunning dress and ordered it. Even though we had to wear face masks in the boutiques, it was a wonderful time.
We went out for a meal at the local Indian restaurant on the ‘eat out to help out’ scheme, which allows up to £10 off per person. Unfortunately, this didn’t include money off the £25 bottle of prosecco that I ordered. The food bill for three of us came to less than the drinks!
The weather was absolutely scorching so we went to the beach on Monday afternoon. In a car without air conditioning on the way home for nearly six hours was almost unbearable in up to 34 degrees heat. Nevertheless, it was worth it to see my family.
Friday 21st August
It wasn’t especially sunny or warm, but we spent a pleasant evening drinking wine in our garden with our lovely neighbour.
Monday 24th August
Our hairdresser came to cut our hair in the house this time. I see this as a sign that things are gradually returning to normal but over 800,000 people globally have lost their lives to coronavirus and scientists have told us that it will be with us ‘forever’.
Monday 31st August
Bank holiday Monday. We went to the Harvester in Talbot Green for dinner for the final day of the ‘eat out to help out’ scheme. Had a good meal for about £14 for the two of us!
Tuesday 1st September
First day back to full time work (school and tutoring) since the middle of March. The children will be coming back into school on a staggered start from Thursday.
Monday 7th September
The ‘new normal’ for school: staff and students wear face masks in the corridors; there is a strict one-way system around the school; staff and students sanitise hands on the way into and out of classrooms; perspex screens to separate teachers and students; support staff wear visors at all times as we still have to sit beside the students. The ‘new normal’ is far from normal.
Monday 14th September
We now have to wear face masks in shops, public transport and other public places by law.
The government’s latest slogan is ‘hands – face – space.’ No-one really knows exactly what it means.
Wednesday 16th September
A lot has happened today. Around lunchtime, it was announced that Rhondda Cynon Taf will be in lockdown from 6pm tomorrow evening. This means that no-one will be permitted to enter or leave RCT without good reason; no extended households will be allowed; no-one will be allowed to meet indoors except members of the same household and pubs and bars will close at 11pm (I don’t care about that one). This affects us because all our family live outside RCT and also I won’t be permitted to carry on my tutoring business. (I’m not equipped to tutor online).
I went down town to walk round the park after work today and was stopped and asked if I would mind being interviewed by the BBC. I said I didn’t mind so, consequently, a short clip of my interview was shown on BBC Wales Today at 6:30pm and on the 10 o’clock national news. All they showed was me saying, “Very disappointed really because we have been following the rules but clearly lots of people haven’t.” It caused quite a stir amongst my friends!
Thursday 17th September
I was like a minor celebrity in work today.
Sunday 20th September
Had such a lovely socially distanced picnic in Ynysangharad Park with some friends from church.
Tuesday 22nd September
There have now been more than 400,000 cases of coronavirus in the UK as the UK death toll reaches 41,825. Boris has said we are now seeing a second wave and he has introduced further measures which he has said will probably go on for another 6 months. There have been more than 960,000 deaths worldwide. The situation is very bad.
Tuesday 29th September
The official global death toll is now more than one million, but the actual number is likely much higher as many countries testing rates are low, with virus related deaths not being recorded. The US, Brazil and India make up nearly half the total.
Monday 19th October
Our son had accidentally ordered some important items to be delivered to our house instead of his new address. Because of the lockdown, he is not permitted to travel to our house to retrieve them so I went to his place of work after school to hand them over to him. This is perfectly acceptable as he works in RCT. It was not very nice that we had to meet outside, both wearing masks at a distance with no hugs, but it was good to see him briefly.
Thursday 22nd October
Today is Dad’s 81st birthday. Because their city is in ‘tier 2 lockdown’ the care home had told Mum that under no circumstances would she be able to visit Dad, even outside. Very fortunately (answer to prayer, I call it) Mum went up to the care home to take Dad some birthday cards and while she was at the door, Dad just happened to be walking past in the hall. The staff allowed him to sit on a chair in the hall and open his presents and cards while mum stood by the door. He recognised her and was happy. This was such a blessing to Mum.
I phoned Dad later on but I don’t think he knew me; I sang Happy Birthday to him anyway. The care staff also sent us a video of him while they sang Happy Birthday to him, gave him a cake and Dad blew out his candle. Dad even gave a little speech, which I’m sure he would have enjoyed. I think he had the best birthday possible under the circumstances.
Friday 23rd October
From 6pm this evening the whole of Wales is back in full lockdown called a ‘fire break’. All non essential retail and hospitality are all closed and everyone has to stay home for 17 days in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus. Secondary schools will only open after half term for years 7 and 8 but I will be back in full time. My husband will be working from home. The ridiculous thing about this lockdown is that supermarkets and other stores are not allowed to sell non-essential items such as clothes, electrical items or greeting cards. I think this is utterly farcical.
Saturday 24th October
Drinking Spanish sangria in honour of the fact that we’re supposed to be in Lanzarote from today for a week.
Sunday 1st November
So, our lockdown holiday has come to an end. It has rained every day but we still went out walking (mostly in the rain) every day except for Thursday. We had a Chinese and an Indian takeaway and I baked two Christmas cakes. Not a bad week really.
Wednesday 4th November
Tomorrow England will be in lockdown for 4 weeks. Nevertheless, it has been announced that care homes should allow visits from loved ones. I pray that Mum will be allowed to visit Dad again.
Monday 9th November
Today’s headline: “Covid vaccine: first ‘milestone’ vaccine offers 90% protection.” There are several more hurdles to jump before it can be rolled out, but this is encouraging news at this time.
Tuesday 10th November
Today our eduction minister, Kirsty Williams, announced that there will be no GCSE or A level exams in Wales next summer. They will be replaced by externally set, externally marked, classroom assessments. The details were very vague.
Wednesday 11th November
On this day, my husband’s birthday, the highest daily total of deaths since May was recorded at 595, taking the UK total to 50,365. The UK is the first country in Europe to exceed 50,000 deaths, after the US, Brazil, India and Mexico. We went out for dinner to Wetherspoons, where one has to wear a mask on entry and have table service only. Also, Mum is shielding again, not going anywhere away from the home and not seeing anyone at all except for her neighbour, once a week, when she brings some shopping round to the doorstep. Praying that the vaccine is successful very soon.
Tuesday 24th November
The restrictions for Christmas have been announced. They only allow a bubble of three households, with no crossover for only 5 days from the 23rd December. This means that we will be allowed to visit Mum for Christmas Day but if we want to see our daughter, we will have to bend the rules.
Sunday 29th November
We had the most wonderful time at an open-air marquee worship event at All Nations this afternoon. The restrictions allow for up to 30 people to worship together in the open air, so All Nations Church organised four such events throughout the afternoon today. We went to the 2pm event; it was so good to worship together with our brothers and sisters.
Friday 4th December
We were supposed to be having a night in the Village Hotel Cardiff tonight, postponed from March, but we’ve had to postpone it again, to June this time, because of the new restrictions. Pubs and restaurants have to close at 6pm, which means we would have had to have our dinner in our room, so we decided it was better to postpone again.
Tuesday 8th December
Today the first vaccines were administered. Praying that this is the beginning of the end.
In the evening, we went to an open air carol service for 30 people in an open sided marquee at All Nations. Glad that we had this opportunity.
Friday 11th December
All secondary schools have closed and are going to online learning for the last week of term, but our autism class where I work is staying open so I will have to go in all week. Not happy about this as we want to limit our contacts ready to visit Mum.
Monday 14th December
All the staff for our class have been told to stay at home and self-isolate until the 19th due to being in contact with a student who has tested positive. Praying that we stay well and can get a negative test.
Thursday 17th December
We both had a lateral flow Covid test today and they both came back negative, thank God.
Saturday 19th December
There is a new variant of the virus that is 71% more transmissible, which is spreading particularly in London and the surrounding areas. Because of this, those areas have been put into tier 4 restrictions from midnight tonight. This means that no-one will be allowed to leave or enter these areas, even for Christmas. For the rest of the UK, Christmas bubbles are now only allowed on Christmas Day. This means that we will have to go to see Mum and return on the same day, about 10 hours of driving. We will not be allowed to see our daughter and her fiancé at all.
My sister’s family are also in a very unfortunate situation. Their son has coronavirus, so the entire family will be self-isolating over Christmas. They won’t be able to have a turkey or go away from the house, even for a walk. Their elder daughter, who is an apprentice nurse on a Covid ward near London, won’t be allowed home either and, since she’s living in a tier 4 area, won’t be allowed to have a visitor on Christmas Day. She has swapped her shifts so that she can now work on Christmas Day, bless her.
From midnight tonight, the whole of Wales will be in alert level 4 restrictions, so, with the exception of Christmas Day, we are now in lockdown again.
Sunday 20th December
My birthday in lockdown. Just went for a walk.
Wednesday 23rd December
Today marked another grim daily record for deaths: 744 today.
Friday 25th December
This Christmas Day, due to the new restrictions only allowing travel on Christmas Day, we travelled almost 500 miles round-trip to visit Mum so that she wouldn’t be on her own. It was good to see her. Mum, my two men and I shared Christmas dinner together.
Also on this day, the death toll for the UK surpassed 70,000.
[8th March 2025. I feel so much anger, almost hatred, towards Boris Johnson who was enjoying parties with his buddies while our elderly Mum, in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, was all alone in her house. If there is another global pandemic, I will not adhere to the rules if they are going to cause harm to my loved ones]
Saturday 26th December
Hundreds of truck drivers had to spend Christmas Day and night in their trucks because of the new variant, they weren’t permitted to cross to France.
Wednesday 30th December
The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use in the UK.
Friday 1st January 2021
Well, last night was the quietest New Year for many years. It was me and my two men. We played a few games of Jenga and Uno and saw the New Year in with a few bubbles, while watching the TV, but there was no Auld Lang Syne, which was disappointing. Our daughter and her fiance were also on their own; she called us just after midnight. They are getting married this year. We start the new year with hope for the future.
Tuesday 5th January
England has entered tier 5, a total lockdown, with schools and colleges also closed. Wales has closed schools, going to online learning until at least 18th January. Nevertheless, I will be going into work as normal as our class will still be open as the students are deemed high priority, vulnerable learners. School is still open for these learners as well as for children of critical workers.
All exams in England are cancelled. They have already been cancelled in Wales.
Wednesday 6th January
More than 1000 Covid deaths today and over 62,000 new cases in the UK. Our country is in a tragic crisis.
Thursday 7th January
More than 1000 deaths again today.
Friday 8th January
Today was the highest daily death toll since the pandemic began: 1,325 and the biggest daily increase in cases: 68,053.
The London mayor has declared a major incident in London due to the rise in cases and has said that the virus is ‘out of control.’
The Moderna vaccine has been approved in the UK for a spring rollout.
Wales’ lockdown has been extended until at least 29th January.
Mum had her first dose of Covid vaccine.
Saturday 9th January
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have received the first dose of Covid vaccine.
The UK death toll has exceeded 80,000.
Wednesday 13th January
Another tragic, record breaking total: 1,564 lives lost today to coronavirus.
Monday 18th January
Received an email in work today from the council calling for people to train to become vaccinators. I have made initial enquiries. I used to be a nurse, but I haven’t given an injection since 1994!
Tuesday 19th January
Another tragic record: 1,610 deaths today and a total of over 90,000 deaths altogether.
Hopefully Dad will have his first vaccine tomorrow. Care home residents and front line workers were supposed to be the first priority for the vaccine.
Wednesday 20th January
Another record breaking death toll: 1,820 lives lost today.
Wales has scrapped its revised assessment process. GCSE and A level students will now be assessed by teacher assessment only. Additionally, non-exam components will not be moderated. Will wait to see how this affects my tutoring.
Thursday 21st January
The rescheduled Bible Week 2021 has been cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.
Sunday 24th January
First significant snowfall of 2021 made our lockdown walk more interesting this morning.
Tuesday 26th January
The UK reached another tragic milestone today: more than 100,000 Covid deaths in total. We are the first European country to reach this milestone and only the fifth country in the world. These are not just numbers; they are people’s family members, friends and loved ones.
Tuesday 2nd February
Captain Sir Tom Moore has died at the age of 100 with pneumonia and coronavirus.
My husband was sent home from work today due to someone from the office testing positive. He has been for a test, which will hopefully come back negative.
Thursday 11th February
Today I have had my first dose of vaccine. I had the Pfizer vaccine. Fortunately, a friend found out that we are eligible for it as we work in a special education setting.
Saturday 13th February
The Six Nations Rugby is going ahead this year, albeit without crowds.
Thursday 18th February
Baked Christmas cakes today for something to do during half term in lockdown. We’ll probably share them (and eat lots) during Easter.
Friday 19th February
I have started crocheting again as something to do during lockdown. I’m making a simple blanket with no particular purpose.
Monday 22nd February
Boris has announced his ‘road map’ back to ‘normality’. If all the tests are satisfied in time, all restrictions will be lifted on 21st June, which would mean that our daughter’s wedding can go ahead with the number of guests they have planned. This is very encouraging news and answer to prayer.
Monday 15th March
Hairdressers have started back today which means that my tutoring can restart. I have enjoyed the past three months without tutoring so much that I am thinking of going down to just two days a week in the summer.
Tuesday 16th March
My husband had his first jab today. He had the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine. More than 25 million people in the UK have had their first dose of one of the vaccines currently available.
Tuesday 23rd March
Today is exactly one year since the start of the first lockdown. It was marked by a National Day of Reflection and a minute’s silence at midday. Many people put yellow hearts and candles on their social media profiles to remember those lost and lit a candle at 8pm.
Monday 29th March
Went to visit Mum for a couple of days. I am allowed to do this as she doesn’t have a support bubble. Also went to visit Dad in the care home. Mum had to take a Covid test and wear a mask, apron and gloves to visit him face to face. I had to go into the ‘pod’ behind a Perspex screen.
The new motto is “hands – face – space and fresh air” as groups of six people are now allowed to meet outdoors.
Friday 9th April
Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen’s husband, died this morning age 99.
Saturday 17th April
Today is our daughter’s birthday and exactly one year since I started writing this diary. I had hoped that by now, I would have been able to stop writing it. Nevertheless, on the day of Prince Phillip’s funeral, global Covid deaths have passed 3 million. It’s not over yet.
Tuesday 20th April
Woke up after a terrible night of high temperature and feeling sick. Due to the high temperature, I have had to go for a PCR Covid test.
Wednesday 21st April
Praise God, my Covid test was negative and I’m feeling a lot better today. I am going back to work tomorrow.
Saturday 15th May
Met with our friends for tea and cake in our friend’s garden. We walked over there.
Saturday 22nd May
The restrictions now allow up to 6 people to meet indoors in public places. We went out to the Taffs Well Inn with our good friends for a meal. We had two tables of 5 (a boys’ table and a girls’ table) right next to each other, to stay within the regulations. We had a wonderful time. It’s been a very long time.
Friday 28th May
Once again, all exams were cancelled this year. Grades were given by teacher assessment. My students were all happy with their grades.
Sunday 30th May
Home from a wonderful weekend visiting our daughter and her fiance, who we haven’t seen since last summer. Also popped in to see my sister and family on our way home; we haven’t seen them since last summer either.
Our son had his first jab today.
Tuesday 1st June
On this day that my husband had his second vaccination, there were zero Covid deaths reported in the UK for the first time since March 2020. The figures are often lower at the start of the week because less counting takes place while statisticians are off and adding in the bank holiday makes this figure less certain still. Nevertheless, this is very good news and I am praying that we will hear this news repeated on an ongoing basis.
Saturday 5th June
Home from a night away to the Village Hotel Cardiff that was postponed since March 2020. We had a great time despite the differences due to the restrictions.
Sunday 6th June
Back at church every week now as the restrictions allow for 60 people to meet in the hall, wearing masks and socially distanced and with no singing, along with the fact that we are now having two services on a Sunday morning. We went to the 9:30 service and our son was there too, which was nice.
Sunday 20th June
We are now allowed to sing in church, so long as we are wearing masks and are socially distanced.
Monday 21st June
Today is the day that we were hoping that all the remaining restrictions would be lifted but it has been postponed until 19th July due to the delta (Indian) variant of the virus being more infectious and causing an increase in cases and hospital admissions.
Saturday 3rd July
Primarily because of coronavirus, our son’s friend didn’t stay in the flat in Penarth, so our son found himself living, for most of the time, on his own. He wasn’t happy about this, so he has moved home for the summer, with a view to finding accommodation in Cardiff in September.
Wednesday 14th July
In England, most of the remaining restrictions will be lifted on Monday. This is great news for our daughter as it means that their wedding will be able to go ahead as planned at the end of August.
Most of the remaining restrictions in Wales will be lifted from 7th August, with the exception of continuing to wear masks in most indoor public spaces and public transport (which will not be the case in England).
Monday 19th July
Today has been called ‘freedom day’ in England.
Tuesday 20th July
Today is our wedding anniversary. We celebrated with a long weekend at home and out and about.
Saturday 24th July
We were supposed to be heading to Bible week today but it was cancelled. We went out for a meal for our friend’s 60th birthday, which was very pleasant. We were allowed two tables of 6.
The 2020 Olympics has started in Tokyo (postponed from last year) with no spectators.
Tuesday 3rd August
We were supposed to be heading to Norfolk this weekend ahead of our daughter’s wedding, but unfortunately our daughter’s fiance has to self isolate because he was in close contact with someone on his stag do at the weekend who has tested positive for coronavirus. He was feeling unwell and his lateral flow test came back positive but his PCR test has come back negative. We are praying that all will be well for the wedding.
Wednesday 4th August
All 16-17 year olds in the UK are to be offered the Covid vaccine.
More than 4 million people worldwide have died of Covid-19 to date, 130,000 of those were in the UK.
Saturday 7th August
Today Wales enters ‘alert level 0’. This means that most social distancing measures have ended and there is no limit on the number of people who can meet together. Face coverings are still mandatory in most public indoor places and on public transport.
Sunday 8th August
We didn’t go to church today as we were meant to be away, but our friend told us that there was no social distancing and no masks today and a full band for the worship. This is the first time since before the first lockdown in March 2020.
Tuesday 10th August
More than 75% of UK adults have now had two doses of the vaccine.
Thursday 12th August
The economy grew by 4.8% but it is still below pre-pandemic levels.
Friday 13th August
Went for a curry at our favourite place with my two men. It felt strange that no-one was wearing masks and things were pretty much back to normal.
Sunday 15th August
Church felt very strange today. We were only wearing masks when walking around the building and the chairs were all together with no social distancing. Not all churches have gone down this route and some members are not attending All Nations Church as they don’t feel safe.
Monday 23rd August
Cancelled our October holiday to Lanzarote again. There are just too many uncertainties. Hopefully be able to rebook for October 2022.
Went to McDonald’s for the first time in about 2 years. All the staff were wearing masks; there were perspex screens on the counters and our food was brought to the table. Other than this, it felt mostly back to normal.
Tuesday 24th August
Went to Wetherspoons with my men for dinner ahead of our big journey tomorrow. None of the staff or customers were wearing masks and it was go up to the bar to be served. It was very much like pre-Covid.
Saturday 28th August
Our daughter’s wedding in Norfolk. It was the most perfect day with no masks or social distancing and no mention of coronavirus. It was a wonderful day.
Thursday 2nd September
Our son moved to Cardiff into a house near to All Nations Church building with three housemates from the church.
Sunday 5th September
We are back to wearing masks throughout the service as we are an indoor public place. No social distancing though.
Monday 6th September
The new term has started. Staff still have to wear masks pretty much all of the time. The pupils have been requested to wear masks in corridors and communal areas, but compliance is very low.
Friday 10th September
Our son’s graduation celebration in Cambridge (postponed from last summer). It was a fabulous occasion. Guests were not allowed into Senate House but the ceremony was live-streamed onto a big screen in the gardens of Gonville and Caius College. The graduands had to wear masks while waiting in line but, apart from most of the event taking place outside, there were no other restrictions.
Sunday 12th September
We had a wonderful weekend staying at my sister’s home. This was the first time we could visit them overnight since before lockdown and our daughter and son-in-law joined us for lunch yesterday.
Thursday 23rd September
At last some good news about Covid. Experts are saying that by next spring, coronavirus will be no worse than a common cold. As the virus spreads around, it gets weaker.
Monday 27th September
This is more of a Brexit issue than a Covid issue. Because of the shortage of HGV tanker drivers, a small number of filling stations have not been able to get sufficient fuel delivered. This has resulted in mass panic buying of fuel. I was in a queue to get fuel for half an hour today and was the last person at that filling station to get petrol today.
Saturday 2nd October
The vast number of people now not bothering to wear face coverings in public places or wearing them under their noses has made the current regulations completely pointless. Take our local chip shop for example: not even the staff bother to wear face coverings any more.
Saturday 30th October
This past week we would have been in Lanzarote but we cancelled it amidst the uncertainty. We had a staycation from home instead. We had two very pleasant nights in the Village Hotel Cardiff, where there wasn’t much in the way of restrictions or mask wearing. We went for plenty of walks and meals out too.
Monday 1st November
There has been more than five million recorded deaths from Covid 19 worldwide but the WHO estimates that the pandemic’s real global death toll could be two or three times higher than official records.
Thursday 4th November
I had my Covid booster jab today.
Saturday 13th November
We went to Cardiff on the train to have dinner with friends and were shocked by how few people were wearing masks on the train, despite it still being the law here in Wales.
Monday 29th November
There is a new variant called Omicron which has prompted the British government to reintroduce face coverings in shops and public transport in England. Booster jabs will now be offered to all adults over the age of 18 and the time gap is to be reduced from six to three months.
Wednesday 8th December
It makes me so sick. Last year we travelled for 8 hours on Christmas Day, so as not to break the rules, so that my mum wouldn’t be on her own on Christmas Day. It has come to light that last Christmas, there were parties being held at Downing Street. It’s just so wrong.
Friday 10th December
One of our son’s housemates tested positive for Covid so our son and the other two had to go for a PCR test. Our son also tested positive so is now self-isolating for 10 days. He’s got a bit of a cough but is feeling OK.
Wednesday 15th December
Today marked a new pandemic record for the number of new daily cases with 78,610 new cases. It is expected that there will be more records broken in the coming days. Boris is urging all adults to take up their booster jab as soon as it’s offered.
Friday 17th December
Because of the soaring cases, mainly caused by Omicron, the First Minister, Mark Drakeford has introduced new restrictions from 27th December. Nightclubs will have to close; there will be one-way systems and social distancing in shops; schools will have two extra inset days at the beginning of term in January.
80% of people in hospital with the virus are unvaccinated. I think that says where the problem is.
Tuesday 21st December
My husband had his booster jab today: Moderna this time.
Wednesday 22nd December
Scientists are saying that the Omicron variant is much less severe than the Delta variant.
Friday 24th December
My men and I took a lateral flow test this morning and were all negative, thank God. Travelled up to Yorkshire to stay with my mum for a couple of nights. Our son and I visited Dad in the care home, wearing masks of course.
Saturday 25th December
Spent Christmas Day with Mum so that she wouldn’t be on her own.
Sunday 26th December
Travelled down to visit my sister and family then on to Norfolk to spend a couple of days with the newlyweds.
Monday 27th December
Spent a very pleasant day with our daughter and her husband. Had a walk on the beach and Chinese for dinner.
I had developed a bit of a cough but didn’t think anything of it as our daughter had a cough but was testing negative.
Tuesday 28th December
Woke up after a bad night with a headache and a cough. My lateral flow test came back positive so we kept our distance and left for home straight away. We were supposed to be visiting my husband’s family today. Our son went straight back to Cardiff via train and walk (with 3 big bags, bless him). We went for our PCR tests. I was feeling really rough with a headache, high temperature and a cough.
Wednesday 29th December
My PCR result came back positive, so that’s me grounded for 10 days. My husband’s came back negative.
Another record breaking day of cases in the UK today with 183,037 new cases.
We were meant to be going out this evening for our friend’s 60th birthday but obviously couldn’t go. Our son was able to go though.
Thursday 30th December
Everyone in the family is testing negative.
Dad’s Care Home is in lockdown due to staff having Covid, so Mum won’t be able to visit Dad until at least the end of January. This is the only place that I have been where there is a known case of Covid, so maybe that’s where I caught it from.
Friday 31st December
Our son-in-law has had a positive lateral flow test.
We had the most rubbish New Year’s Eve ever. Called our son at 11:58pm as he was in his house on his own, so he also had the most rubbish New Year’s Eve.
Sunday 2nd January 2022
Along with some of the other residents, Dad has tested positive for coronavirus. Praying that he will have a mild illness.
Tuesday 4th January
Our daughter has also had a positive lateral flow test this morning but she and her husband are feeling OK.
The rules in England and Wales now permit people to come out of isolation on day 8 if they have had two negative lateral flow tests. Nevertheless, because of my track and trace text, I won’t be allowed out until Friday (day 11). I haven’t kissed my husband since 27th December! I am going stir crazy being stuck in the house, but I have got a few jobs planned for these three days at home.
Wednesday 5th January
Our daughter’s PCR came back positive and she is feeling quite poorly.
Friday 7th January
Good to be out of isolation.
Saturday 8th January
UK has become the 7th country in the world to pass 150,000 reported coronavirus deaths.
Enjoyed a meal at our friends’ We all did lateral flow tests beforehand.
Thursday 20th January
We had our first Dining Out Fellowship meal this evening at Fullbrooks Bistro. We had to wear masks on the way in and out and sit on two tables to keep within the ‘rule of six’. We all did a lateral flow test before we went. It was a good time.
Thursday 3rd February
Our second Dining Out Fellowship meal. We are now back to ‘alert level zero’ here in Wales, so we didn’t need to wear masks and we were able to all sit on one table together.
Sunday 6th February
We have returned from a wonderful weekend in Oxfordshire, visiting my husband’s family, postponed from Christmas and our son, daughter and son-in-law came too. There were no restrictions, not even masks as this has finished in England now.
Monday 21st February
Boris has announced that in England, all Covid restrictions will end on Thursday. There will no longer be any legal requirement to self isolate in the event of a positive result. From 1st April, free testing will end for most people. Boris said, “It’s only because… deaths are now, if anything, below where you would normally expect for this time of year that we can lift these restrictions.” Additionally, vulnerable groups will be offered a fourth dose of the vaccine this spring. All this only applies to England. Wales still has ‘alert level zero’ restrictions.
Thursday 24th February
Just as it looks like things are improving with regards to Covid, a war has started in the Ukraine. Russia has invaded. The church is praying.
Monday 28th February
In Wales, it is no longer a legal requirement to wear face coverings in more public places, including churches. They are still a legal requirement in shops, healthcare settings and on public transport. It’s a bit of a joke really as many people don’t bother to wear masks anyway.
Wednesday 23rd March
It’s exactly two years since the start of the first lockdown. There are still some restrictions in place in Wales but Mark Drakeford is making an announcement on Friday. Cases are still very high but deaths are not, so coronavirus is hardly in the news at all now, especially with the war in the Ukraine still ongoing.
Monday 28th March
From today in Wales, masks are no longer mandatory in shops or on public transport, although they are still required by law in health and social care settings. Also, it is no longer a legal requirement to self isolate upon a positive Covid test, although it is still recommended. PCR tests will no longer be available but free lateral flow tests will continue to be available but only if you have symptoms, until June.
Friday 1st April
All PCR test centres have now closed but cases are at a record high, with 1 in 13 people testing positive for the virus, the highest since the start of the pandemic. RCT guidelines advise to still self isolate upon a positive test and to wear a face covering in crowded places, but it’s not mandatory. Most of the staff in school are still wearing masks but the vast majority of the students aren’t (and haven’t been for ages) so I’m no longer wearing one either.
Tuesday 12th April
Boris Johnson has been issued a fine by the police for attending a birthday party thrown for him during the first lockdown in June 2020. [8th March 2025 As if a fine will make any difference to him. Millions of people lost their lives while you were partying with your mates.]
Saturday 16th April
Visited Dad in the care home and didn’t have to wear a mask or any PPE. Precious time with him.
Sunday 17th April
Exactly two years after I started writing this diary, we stopped at Strensham services on the way home from Yorkshire. There was no evidence that Covid had ever happened. There were no one-way systems or notices displayed around the place as before.
Saturday 30th April
Spent the weekend in Lynmouth with our group of friends. First time away together since 2019.
Saturday 14th May
Walked past the uni car park in Treforest and noticed that the PCR test centre has gone and that there is no evidence that it was ever there.
Monday 16th May
All remaining restrictions in Wales have been removed.
Very few people wearing masks now.
Friday 3rd June
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend. My sister and husband’s fabulous anniversary party, postponed from 2020. A mini festival in their garden. Truly wonderful.
Friday 24th June
Free lateral flow tests for those with symptoms has been extended in Wales until the end of July, amidst high infection rates.
Friday 8th July
Dad died today. So thankful that it was today and not two years ago. Mum, me and other close family members were all able to be at Dad’s bedside together before he went, to kiss him and tell him that we love him, without needing to wear a mask or PPE.
Friday 15th July
A fourth Covid jab is to be offered to all over 50s this autumn.
Saturday 16th July
My husband and I went to see Lion King at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, postponed from 2020. Because I didn’t want people to know I was back in Wales, I kept a low profile. Nevertheless, a lady and her daughter from church took their seats right behind us. What are the chances?
Saturday 23rd July
Covid is still ongoing and now the Monkeypox outbreak has been declared a global health emergency by the WHO.
Saturday 6th August
The Big Welsh Bite food festival was back in Ynysangharad Park for the first time since 2019.
Wednesday 10th August
Dad’s funeral. It was well attended, with no restrictions and a wake at the rugby club. Close family, 14 of us, went for a meal together at our parents’ local of 55 years in the evening. I think we gave Dad a good send off.
Monday 5th September
First day back to school (I actually started a new role today as a learning coach in the mainstream). All the perspex screens, hand sanitiser and antiviral cleaning sprays have gone. We had a big staff meeting in the canteen, all together, for the first time since March 2020. Almost no-one wears a mask now. The one-way markers are still in place, but virtually no-one is following them. Everything in school is pretty much back to ‘normal.’
Thursday 8th September
Our dear Queen, Elizabeth II died today age 96. She survived a global pandemic and celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. Again, just grateful that she died today and not two years ago.
Sunday 18th September
Big regional churches meeting at All Nations in Cardiff today. The first big gathering since 2019. It was so good to see people who we haven’t seen for a very long time.
Monday 19th September
A special bank holiday for the Queen’s funeral. It was a full, state funeral. A moment in history.
Saturday 29th October
Our first holiday abroad since 2018. Had a fabulous time in Lanzarote. All Covid restrictions and requirements were dropped for Spain last week, so we didn’t need proof of vaccination, masks or anything (even though we had already sorted all these things out). Glad we waited until now.
Monday 7th November
Covid is almost never in the news now but we’ve got the cost of living crisis instead. Inflation is at 11%. Covid is partly responsible for it.
Wednesday 16th November
Had my Covid booster #4.
Sunday 27th November
Headline on Wales Online: The number of patients being treated specifically for Covid-19 in Welsh hospitals is now in single figures… close to the lowest it’s ever been.
Monday 28th November
My husband tested positive for Covid for the first time. He’s OK – just a cough. He’s working from home. He will have to reschedule his Covid booster until after Christmas.
Saturday 3rd December
I have been coughing since Wednesday and tested positive this morning. I feel absolutely fine. I think this is a testimony to the effectiveness of the vaccine. I will be going into work as normal because RCT has this ridiculous policy (as I read it) of, if you suspect you have Covid, you are not to test. If you do happen to test, and you test positive, you should only stay home if you have a high temperature or else, take unpaid leave.
Saturday 10th December
We were supposed to be having our son and his friends over for my husband’s famous curry, but we were both still testing positive so we cancelled. My husband still made the curry and homemade naan breads and I took it down to the boys’ house and left them on their doorstep.
Sunday 25th December
Enjoyed a lovely family Christmas, without any interruptions or restrictions caused by Covid. We spent Christmas day at my sister’s home, joined by our son, my Mum, my brother-in-law’s Mum and his sister and her husband. Our daughter popped over to see her Gran on Christmas Morning.
Sunday 1st January 2023
Saw the new year in with friends at our good friends’ house.
Friday 6th January
My husband had his rescheduled covid booster.
A massive earthquake struck Turkey and Syria today, which resulted in almost 60,000 deaths.
Monday 13th February
Camilla, the Queen Consort, has tested positive for Covid. First Covid news in weeks.
Wednesday 1st March
The FBI believe that Covid most likely originated in a Chinese government-controlled lab in Wuhan. China has denied it.
Tuesday 21st March
Mum got her Alzheimer’s diagnosis today. We first noticed symptoms soon after Dad went into care.
[8th March 2025. I have absolutely no doubt that the tough restrictions, which meant that our Mum was completely alone and isolated for weeks at a time, were a catalyst in the very quick progression of Mum’s dementia. Our family was let down very badly by the NHS and Social Services. It has been a terrible journey, but this requires a whole separate blog post… later]
Friday 7th April
A research team in China has published evidence that Covid may have originated in a wildlife food market (strangely close to the laboratory!) where the virus transmitted from an infected animal to a human.
Monday 17th April
Our daughter’s birthday and exactly 3 years since I started writing this diary. I did not expect to be still writing it three years later. I hope that I will never have to live through another global pandemic. This is my final entry.
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