It has been a long time since I last wrote a blog post. This is due to our family life becoming busier with our son starting secondary school and balancing work and everyday life. This post is a bit longer than usual so you may wish to get a cup of tea!
Since covid-19 has reached the UK, our life has changed quite a lot but at the same time, maybe not as much as other people. The biggest change was when the schools were closed on 20th March 2020. It was a scary time because no one knew how long it would be for and it was unnerving to think that our lives were being limited without us being able to do anything about it. As it turned out, home learning continued until the summer holidays for our son at secondary school while our primary school aged daughter went back for three weeks at the end of the school year.
I was included on the shielding list as a clinically extremely vulnerable. I wasn't automatically added but when I was unable to get my usual online grocery shop, I learnt online that the way to get a priority slot was to be added as shielding person. It took a few weeks to get on the priority list and in this time Matthew had to go to the supermarket to get some food. This was concerning because it was increasing our risk to the virus. Once I was able to place online orders it was such as relief although for many weeks there were problems with stock levels. We resorted to buying a 16kg bag each of bread flour, self raising flour and plain flour because we couldn't order regular sizes of them and I do a lot of cooking and baking so they were essential. I was contacted by our county's well-being hub to make sure I had all the essentials I needed including food and medications. It was reassuring to know they are there if I need support. My GP also phoned me which I appreciated.
We adapted to our new situation of all being at home. It is very fortunate that we have an office above our garage that we run our business from which meant our working routine was very similar and the children each had their own desk. It did impact our day though having to help them with schoolwork. It was very exhausting and not easy trying to be motivating in a setting that didn't have the variety they have at school. We managed and kept up with most of the work but it wasn't easy. I do feel lucky that the work I do is based from home and that there is no pressure to go back into a workplace. I think that would be very worrying as the shielding measures were lifted on 1st August.
When the primary schools started opening, we were pleased because it was that home learning that was the hardest. Unfortunately it was a bit of a challenge to get our daughter back into school, which was completely unexpected. We signed the form saying that we wanted her to go back but were then informed she couldn't join her peers because I was shielding and they couldn't take anyone, staff or pupil, who was from a shielding family. The policy was in place while the social distancing recommendations was two metres and they couldn't guarantee they would maintain two metre distance between the children at all times. This made me rather sad, it didn't seem right that she was being prevented from attending school because of me although I did partly understand the school's position. We had balanced the risks of her bringing covid-19 home with the many positive benefits to her mental health of being back with her peers and decided that returning to school was best for her. It felt very unfair and a barrier to being able to access the same parts of life as everyone else. Some people who were shielding would choose not to send their children to school, and that is completely fine. I just think it should be up to each individual to make the decision themselves based on their circumstances, especially when it isn't the child who is shielding. Thankfully, within a few weeks the guidance for social distancing was reduced to one metre or more which meant that she could return to school.
Shielding has been valuable because helped to ensure that extra support is available to those who need it. It officially lifted on 1st August, although the government say it can be reintroduced at any time if the rates of infection increase. It feels like it lifted too early, especially as it is less than a month after shops, pubs, restaurants etc have opened as well as hairdressers and other areas of the leisure and entertainment industry. We don't yet know the implication of all this easing and people being more mobile around the country and abroad over the summer. It makes me feel even more cautious and wary about my risk of catching the virus. During lockdown I felt safer because everyone was doing the same thing and there was the expectation to stay at home. When out for essential trips people were more likely to keep their distance and there were far fewer people in general. Lockdown has eased and with it people are becoming less cautious. My personal belief is that shielding has been lifted this early because it helps the economy and means that employers can bring people who have shielded back to work as long as they are covid-secure. There is another possible different view that some people are glad shielding has lifted because they have been keen to return to work and couldn't previously because of the restrictions. However, I think it is too early, and from what I have read on social media, I am not alone.
Government guidance regarding shielding has been conflicting, from 6th July they said that you can meet up to six people outside while maintaining social distancing. From 1st August shielding ends and you can visit the shops etc as anyone else would. They still say that you need to adhere to strict social distancing and that where you can, you should stay at home as much as possible to minimise your risk of catching the virus. So, on one hand they are saying that you can lead a life like everyone else, but then on the other, you are advised to stay at home because there is still a big risk for you! We are making our own judgments and staying home. We haven't seen family and friends and haven't visited places because it feels like too much of a risk at the moment. We are concerned that others aren't keeping a distance or wearing masks and it is also a concern about picking up the virus from touching something. In particular if I needed the loo while out, this would be a big issue because I use all the grab rails, need to push the door with my hand etc. People without a disability would be able to minimise their contact with other surfaces but this is a lot hard for me as a wheelchair user and also visually impaired.
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| My multicoloured crochet shawl that I finished |
We do miss everyone and it's harder now lockdown is over but we keep in touch with FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls. If I were to catch covid-19, I am at greater risk of it affecting me badly and we don't want to take that risk. It would have too much of an impact to our children, family life, business and finances. We are fortunate to live in a home with a garden that we enjoy surrounded by countryside. Also, it's giving us a good opportunity to work on all the decorating that needs doing and I've finished some crochet projects!
Putting aside my concerns about catching the virus if I were to go out freely, there are now many obstacles in my path that make me feel more disabled than I have ever felt. I usually get out and about independently using the buses or trains because I am unable to drive due to my sight loss. These forms of transport just don't feel safe, especially as I am not feeling confident about the wearing of face coverings being enforced. I often use my hands to feel my way around if I am maneuvering in an unfamiliar spaces, this includes on trains and buses. Then I will obviously touch my joystick on my wheelchair and my long cane. All of this could lead to picking up and transferring the virus. Plus I believe that there are limits to how many people are allowed on the bus to enforce social distancing so it may not be possible to get on in the first place. Buses aren't very frequent around here so it could get rather frustrating!
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| Our pink garden roses. |
If I were to actually manage to get to my destination, such as go to town for some shopping, I am anxious about what that whole experience would be like. My tunnel vision means I cannot see very much and it becomes very confusing when familiar places change. In an unfamiliar setting I'll often feel overwhelmed and feel claustrophobic. There are plans to widen some parts of the pavement in the high street of our local town and this likely to be hard to navigate because it would be a very different layout to the one I am used. I think the intention is to also add more outdoor seating for eating places, 'street furniture' is always an issue if you have sight loss or use a wheelchair. It will probably feel crowded and cause lots of unfamiliar obstacles to navigate while trying to keep two metres apart. Friends and family have told me that there are now markings on the floor of shops guiding you where to go but I wouldn't be able to see these. I definitely wouldn't be able to see if people were around me and would struggle to keep the two metres distance that I'm so keen to do. I would worry about other people's reactions if I got too close or broke one of the guidelines. I would also be very concerned about others getting too close to me and that I wouldn't be able to move away because it would be difficult maneuvering an electric wheelchair in shops with others around while maintain social distancing especially when I can't see them! When I'm shopping, I need to pick up the items, look at them closely and feel them because I cannot see well. Now, I understand that this is discouraged to avoid the spread of covid-19 but that then becomes another disabling barrier to me and many other people with visual impairments. Sight loss is an invisible disability and although we may have aids to help us such as guide dogs and long canes, for many it is not obvious that we have an impairment and that it has a massive impact on our everyday lives.
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| A crochet rainbow that I made. |
For now, we are continuing as we have been and hoping that our children are able to return to school in September but it's really difficult to plan more than a week ahead because the situation changes all the time. It is hard to know how much at risk we are of catching the virus in our area, statistics can be interpreted in different ways (!) but we are acting in the way we feel most comfortable and I think that is all anyone can do, while adhering to the recommendations for precautions and social distancing.
I hope you enjoyed the insight into how it has been for me during the pandemic. Please do let me know if you have experiences from shielding, it would be really good to hear your viewpoint.
~ Best wishes, Melissa ~
