A month ago New Zealand went into lockdown to squash the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown was meant to be 28 days but was extended for a further 5 days. A month ago I wrote about the silver linings of lockdown. I am having a look at this at the other end of the lockdown and reviewing whether I did all that I had planned.
Overall the lockdown has not been as bad as I was expecting. I miss coffee but luckily we have a nespresso machine so the coffee isn’t too bad. I miss swimming (about a week or so into lockdown they made all open water swimming illegal). Vince and I got out for a 2k open water swim just before they changed the rules. We are both really looking forward to getting in the water next week when we move from Alert level 4 to level 3. I also miss my weekly Indian for dinner on a Friday night. We have been making curries at least once a week to make up for it.
So how did I go with my silver linings and goals for the month? I have put reviews under each of my 'silver linings' read my post I made at the beginning of lockdown here
a) I have a secure job and can keep paying my mortgage.
While in lockdown I have been ‘teaching’ from home. This has been challenging. I am normally very efficient and have found that I have to alter most of the prepared lessons so they are suitable for the students to do at home which has been time consuming. My efficiency has dropped (I am too easily distracted sometimes). I think there are a lot of us (teachers and students alike) who are just a bit overwhelmed by the work. As a teacher I have to walk the fine line between giving the students enough information and making it clear so they can understand what they are learning, and giving them too much and overwhelming them and of course what each student is able to cope with is different.
Working from home looks like this for me.
b) I can still run.
I am still running. I did a half marathon with @run.vince.run on Saturday morning in honour of ANZAC day here in New Zealand and as a fundraiser for mental health. I have been running three to four times a week, and this week started training for what I hope will be my 14th marathon in Samoa in July (fingers, toes and everything crossed that it goes ahead).
c) I can still ride my bike.
I have been riding my bike three times a week with Vince. During the week we do a 33k ride on Wednesday and Friday and on Sunday we do a longer ride (about 2 hours). I have been really enjoying the rides and the weather has been great so we have not had to resort to riding indoors yet.
On one of our rides.
d) If the weather is terrible we have a spin bike and wind trainer so our bike training can continue indoors.
As I said in the last point I have not had to use the indoor spin bike or wind trainer yet. Long may the balmy autumn days continue!
e) I am still able to dance.
I have been doing weekly dance practises on my ‘dance floor’. I have even recorded a step or two each week to share with others. I have been loving getting my tap shoes on and having a weekly dance. I am not sure when the lessons will start up again in person, however, next week they are starting up on zoom. It will be interesting to see what an online tap dancing lesson looks like!
Taken from one of my videos.
f) I get more cuddles with my cats - and I am not apologising to my cats about that!
My cats appear to have been enjoying lockdown. They are often found curling up beside either me or Vince during the day while we are working. They have been getting more cuddles and pats and I think if they were sick of it they would be hiding from us. They will be sad when we both go back to our work places.
Sunday morning cat cuddles and coffee.
g) I get to spend more time with Vince.
I have seen posts on social media about couples struggling with spending so much time with each other. This came as a shock to me and made me realise how compatible Vince and I are. We haven’t got sick of each other or had any fights. I am very lucky to be in lockdown with my best friend and partner.
Vince and I
h) I am going to try and learn a language. Italian. Vince’s family are Italian so it would be awesome to be able to have a conversation with them in their native language.
Io parlo poco italiano! (I speak a bit of Italian). My language lessons have been going well. I know nearly 500 words and can speak a little on a variety of topics. I have been spending at least 15 minutes a day learning Italian and revising what I already know. A couple of days ago Vince made the comment that I almost know as much as he does now. I am really enjoying learning a second language and have been using it as much as I can (I have even been talking to the cats in Italian!)
i) I am going to do daily yoga. Running has made me more and more inflexible so I can use this time to find a great yoga instructor on youtube and spend maybe 30 minutes a day on yoga.
I have been doing daily yoga. I have noticed the difference in my flexibility, especially when I sit cross legged on the floor. My knees are no longer under my chin and I have almost got my heels on the floor when in downward dog (I blame years of running for shortening my calves!)
One yoga pose I have nailed!
j) I am going to read the pile of books on my bedside table that I have not got round to finishing or starting (I am currently in the middle of about three different books). I also got 5 more books from the school’s library before it closed so I will not run out of reading material.
I finished all the books I brought home with me from the school library, and have finished two others. I still have a few more to read which is good. I won’t run out anytime soon.
k) I am going to start writing a potential new syllabus and book on Psychology with my boss. It will mean reading up on the latest Psychology research and getting familiar with all the classic Psychology studies. Its going to be great.
I did start writing this book.
I managed to write a couple of chapters during the school holidays, however, the writing has stopped since we are back ‘at work’. I think this will be a long term project.
l) I am going to be eating really healthily. I always try to eat well but sometimes when I am at work there are treats that my colleagues have baked and I am not always able to resist temptation. However, there won’t be the same temptations at home.
We have both been eating very healthily but are still allowing ourselves the occasional treat. Vince made ice cream the other day with frozen bananas, almond milk (too much lactose sets off my asthma) and cocoa. It was delicious!
m) I have been meaning to paint the walls of my house (indoors) and have paint samples that have been sitting there for months. I will choose a paint colour for my walls.
Hmmmm, this is one goal that hasn’t really gone as planned. I have samples on the wall of the lounge and the bedroom. I put them on paper. Every day I look at the six options and change my mind. I am not the most decisive person (this is probably the biggest understatement I have ever made!) so choosing one colour has definitely been a challenge.
n) I was also meant to declutter during the last school holidays but didn’t get round to it so I am going to declutter.
I haven’t done any decluttering…. But…. in my defense the charity shops are all closed and I don’t want all my old clothes (most of which are still in great condition) sitting in landfill. However, I will get around to this… eventually.
I confess I might be a bit of a hoarder.
An image from my Italian lessons.
o) I am going to watch lots of shows on Netflix that I have saved on my list.
This I have done. I often have Netflix on in the background while I am working since I don’t work well in silence.
p) I am going to follow the lockdown rules so that the people I love don’t get sick.
I have followed the rules and I am so grateful that my parents and other loved ones are still healthy. My parents live at the other end of the country from me and I am very grateful to their neighbours who have been helping out with the shopping. My Mum (her and my dad are both over 70) is grateful for their help but according to her doesn’t need it because she isn’t old! Both my parents are very active and have been getting out for daily walks and the occasional bike ride. The other day my dad was painting the roof!
Overall a pretty successful lockdown. It hasn’t been without its challenges and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t had moments where I got overwhelmed and upset by what was going on around me. I hope anyone reading is well and safe. We will get through this!
Rusty sleeping on my work!