Sailing Round the World on Sal Darago: Lockdown Returns

The government announced in late December that a mutation of coronavirus had been identified in London and the south east. It was spreading more rapidly than the original virus. London went into lockdown. There must be no mixing of households and people should not travel outside of the area. The announcement arrived quite close to Christmas. Many families had made arrangements to be together in different parts of the country; some were already in their holiday homes. For the rest of England, the five days of mixing were reduced to one.

Floods cut off some of our walks

Just two days into the school holidays, our granddaughter, Ellie, had a raised temperature and didn’t feel very well. Ben took Ellie and Sophie to a testing centre where they were tested for Covid 19. After a couple of worrying days, the results came back negative. Great relief all round!

It's definitely looking like Christmas

We spent Christmas Day with Em, Ben, Ellie and Sophie. It was wonderful to be together again as an extended family. The girls were bubbling with excitement as they showed us the presents they had received from Santa. Any remaining gifts were soon opened and proudly shown around. Em and Ben prepared and served a super, traditional Christmas lunch. We were full to bursting afterwards.

After a family walk in the forest, it was soon time for us to eat again. We were very sad to leave for home at 4.00pm. Our house seemed eerily quiet.

Christmas Eve supper for two

Full national lockdown number 3 started on Boxing Day. Covid numbers began to surge and Suffolk’s numbers were increasing faster than the national average. Boris Johnson insisted that schools would open for the new term. Em and Ben were wary and asked if we could help out two days a week if schools had to close.

The new term started. High schools were having a staggered return. Ellie and Sophie’s school had a professional development day, but the girls were both ready for school on Tuesday when they went to bed. At 8.00pm that night, Boris Johnson announced that schools must close with immediate effect and learning must go on-line.

Christmas Day present opening

We formed a childcare bubble. Em spent the rest of her holiday from work home-schooling. We stepped in on week 2. The girls were dropped off at our house on Tuesday and Wednesday at 8.00am and we returned them to their parents at 6.00pm. We gave them breakfast, lunch and supper in addition to teaching one-to-one and taking daily exercise. The girls’ school was very helpful, providing videos and links to worksheets at very short notice.

Cosy childcare bubble

We continue to feel blessed that out local and wider families are all well. My Mum, who is a care home resident, has had her first vaccination against Covid. The Isle of Man is in lockdown again, after 6 months of no Covid cases. Their borders remain closed to visitors.

Our non-school days here in Suffolk pass quietly; the only excursion out of the village is a once a week visit to the nearest Co-op. Milk and meat deliveries continue and occasional Tesco deliveries. Jeremy had to risk a visit to the dentist.