Coronavirus Diaries
What did you do when the world slowed down?
Finding time for the little things in life.
Authored by Amy Richardson, 28, a Registered Veterinary Nurse from County Durham, UK.
As the borders began to close and the streets began to empty, I was actually away in Poland for a girls weekend. We were on a night out which ended at 7AM … we woke up to text messages telling us that the borders were closing and that the country was going into lockdown! By this point our flight was cancelled, so after a couple of cups of coffee and a last minute dance to Polish music TV in our apartment, we spent the day at the airport and caught the last flight back to England — in the last two seats as luck would have it!
Back at home, I work full time in a first opinion small animal veterinary practice. On a daily basis I cover inpatient care, anaesthesia, theatre, consultations, radiography and a wide range of other jobs. I work in a 6 strong nursing team with 3 vets. Pre-lockdown a busy day would usually be made up of a puppy chat, first vaccinations, a weight check or seeing our routine patients for their worm and flea treatments and a treat.
However, due to COVID-19 and the social distancing rules, we have been reduced to a skeleton staff of 1 vet, 1 nurse and 1 student nurse. We also have to follow guidelines stating we can only see emergencies and life threatening conditions. This takes away all of our positive consults and routines away, meaning that we only see the bad.
See to everyone else, it looks like we have less work to do, but in actuality, we've seen an increase in cases. This could be down to the fact that people now have the time to take their pets to the vets, or notice things they wouldn't normally see … like a dog that has eaten rat poison whilst their owners have been doing the gardening. It seems crazy to be working a 2-day week, but the stress due to COVID-19 has been absolutely exhausting. I'm in desperate need of a break away — both physically and emotionally.
Aside from my day-job, during the lockdown I’ve been two very different people with no in-between. I’ve been the girl to dig out her trainers, go for a run, and then do a Zoom flex class after, before baking some brownies to have with my weekly online quiz that night. I’ve also been the girl to stay in bed until 1pm with a KitKat Chunky for breakfast, and spend the day on the sofa binge-watching an entire series on Netflix whilst eating a tub of Ice-Cream.
If truth be told though, during this period I've felt more alone than I have felt in a long time. Those two fiends of depression and loneliness have been toying with me. They're something I've been on the precipice of falling into after having complications from a procedure to remove a piece of my cervix, along with the breakdown of a long-term relationship. It hasn't been easy. Honestly, it's been a struggle keeping motivated and positive before and now during the lockdown. Yet as much of a cliche as it may sound, I find my inspiration, motivation and productivity on Instagram. I'm a keen hooper and aerialist I usually do my strengthening and conditioning in the studio with specialised equipment but obviously now, I can't go to the studio or the gym. Thankfully there's a very active aerial and hooping community online and many of them are hosting flex and conditioning classes on Zoom. They help me focus on my goals I can work towards when I get back in the studio again. In fact, I actually feel like I'm improving by doing more at home!
In my quieter moments, I do reflect on what this year would have been. I actually planned to go to Sri Lanka in April to work with a charity called WECare Worldwide. They were set up to provide veterinary care to the countless street dogs on the island. It was only 5 years ago that I was out in Sri Lanka with the charity during the very early stages of setting it up. This year I was supposed to return to help with a neutering and vaccination project over the course of two weeks. I was looking forward to a much needed escape, helping the charity and getting as much Kottu in my belly as possible! Street dogs, sun and surf, hanging my silks from a palm tree — there is no better feeling.
In truth, as the world has slowed down, I feel that I've become more grateful. The things we used to do, the seemingly little and trivial things, aren't so trivial anymore. I took for granted how easy it was for me to visit my parents because they live so close to me. I usually saw them once a week for a Sunday roast. If my boiler broke, they'd come round to fix it. If I was ever feeling sad or lonely, they'd be there at the drop of a hat! Lately, because I'm renovating my house, they've been visiting me much more frequently. We'd be having BBQ's in the garden … my Dad on the grill and my Mam making delicious salads and grabbing us drinks. I'd be lounging in the Sun with my Grandad, asking him what he's been up to at the gym that week — for an 80 year old man, he's super fit!
Then of course, there's my best friend. Before a night out on the town, I’d always pop round to her house for pizza and a bottle of Sangria. I take for granted seeing her everyday at my workplace. I spend 40 hours in that building, and having her support and friendship gets me through tough days. I draw lot of positivity from her becuase she's there whenever I need to talk and supports me when I want to scream and shout and let it all out. We work opposing days and have been leaving treats for each other in our lockers almost every day — and that is something that reminds me that she will always be there for me, and I for her.
There's the studio where I train with a bunch of awesome, strong women who I can call my friends. There's the strangers's dogs which I pet and cuddle when I'm out for a walk. There's the hugs that you give your friends and loved ones. Who would have thought that hugs would be missed so much? The ability to travel. As the world has slowed down, I've perhaps slowed down too. In truth, when you actually sit down and contemplate what truly matters, it's the little things, the trivial things, the seemingly inconsequential things that are important to you.
