It's now been 4 weeks since the Lockdown. It’s amazing how I've become used to this new norm but I find myself doing things I’ve not done for decades and things I’ve never done before.

Take last weekend when I cleaned my upstairs and downstairs blinds. A fiddly job that took hours but living in this house on my own gives me the feeling that I have endless time on my hands. I’ve been baking too, 2 batches of rock cakes and a bakestone of Welsh cakes.

I’m cooking differently, using up whatever is in the fridge, I throw very little away now. Everything feels more precious somehow, I don't want to take anything for granted.

In the first week of Lockdown, I started showing people how to use Zoom, fitness instructors, artists, musicians. It was something I could do. I felt like I was making a difference. I recorded YouTube videos too, one has had almost 500 views.

4 weeks on and everyone knows how to use Zoom now. Innovative virtual parties are springing up everywhere, pub quizzes, book readings, music concerts and fitness classes. I even took part in the Morning Gloryville sober virtual rave on Saturday morning with 1000 other ravers.

I’m back on the radio too, twice a week Stephen Spencer and I broadcast a Corona Virus Special. Our first show was in the ICR studios but several days after that first show the Government told us not to leave our homes apart from essential food shopping and one hour of exercise each day. But that hasn't stopped our public broadcasting. I was lent a mixing desk and a studio mic and after hours of remote IT support, I’m now streaming to the airwaves from my studio at home, sometimes I'll even do a live Zoom to Facebook stream.

Yes, I’ve been doing crazy things, I took part in a wonderful collaboration with friends around the world connecting Moscow to Thailand to Hong Kong to Trinidad to Ipswich!!! We made a #DONTRUSHCHALLENGE video. A huge thank you to Margo Fifa for her production and video editing skills.

And if you want to find out more about the Don’t Rush Challenge going viral during the Lockdown, read this https://www.teenvogue.com/story/dont-rush-challenge-creator

We’ve been told to stay at home to protect our NHS, to help stop the spread of the virus which has turned our lives upside down. Colleges and schools are closed, restaurants, pubs are empty, only essential services are operating.

Many people are now working from home, impossible for many especially those in retail and service industries like hairdressers. How crazy when we need our hairdressers more than ever at the moment. Many families have discovered barbers in their midst with some impressive haircuts being shared online.

My fellow presenter Stephen is broadcasting from his boat at Ipswich Marina. We always have plenty to talk about including updates from our local council and social initiatives to help others in the community. This week we interviewed Ezra Hewing from Suffolk MIND to talk about the help available for those who are suffering mentally during these hard times. Loneliness and isolation can be very debilitating. We humans are sociable creatures we like to gather with friends when we’re happy and get support from others when we’re unhappy so having to self-isolate is tough.

The radio broadcasts, now 3 times each week give my life structure and meaning. I hope I'm sharing useful information for those stuck at home. Stephen and I have good rapport despite having to cope with technology that's often challenging.

The other routine in my life is running, I go out most days only just over a mile and a slow one at that but it feels good to exercise. There's no waiting to cross the roads because there’s no traffic, the air smells fresher too. I plan to keep running after the Lockdown as well as meditating every day.

My Medication Waking Up app is telling me I’ve completed an 19-day continuous streak! Being at home alone is sometimes hard, the long Friday and Saturday nights when I get back from a run and its only 5.30 pm and I wonder what I’ll do for the next 6 hours is difficult!

I’ve tried different things, I’ve been on a virtual date night, dressing up for the occasion, enjoying a couple of glasses of red wine plus great conversation for 2 hours, I’ve watched movies, I’ve painted a rainbow for my window inspired by Crystal Stanley’s Rainbow Trail Facebook group.

I’ve attempted a jigsaw puzzle of a beautiful field of lavender with lots of blue skies. This didn't work for me, I thought I'd experience a deep sense of peace as I laid out the 1000 pieces. Within half an hour of sorting out all the flat-edged pieces but within half an hour I was frustrated. This was a difficult puzzle and instead of relaxation, I felt tense. It’s now back in the box and I’ve offered it to friends on Facebook. I was surprised at how many people were interested. I wish I had 10 jigsaws to give away.

More routines in my week include drinking a glass of wine on Zoom with my yoga friends, a weekly family Zoom meeting primarily for my tech-savvy 89-year-old mother in law who loves seeing her grandchildren who live around the world and every Sunday afternoon I meet my neighbours at the front of our houses. Yes, more wine is involved in this gathering too!!.

It's great to see people, we kept our 2 metres social distance but seeing people face to face is a real treat. The weather has been so very pleasant since the Lockdown.

So now we wait for another 2 weeks to see if any restrictions will be relaxed. I think we may experience more problems as we take those first steps back out into the world, let’s see.

In the meantime, nature carries on regardless. This sunflower seed in a pot in my garden is pushing its way out of the soil, driving upwards, full of purpose and direction.

Nature, my inspiration.

Are you living on your own? What strategies have you found helpful?

#MyPrelovedLife : 24/4/20