An (occasional) diarist

From this

to this

Where have the years gone?

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2020

March - Because of Covid, Boris Johnson has announced that there will be a lockdown across the country. Every Thursday night, people stand on their doorsteps, balconies or in their doorways to applaud and cheer the NHS staff. We all need to keep a social distance of 2 metres apart.

Many stores are operating a one-way system and face masks must be worn. Some shops are limiting numbers inside.

Lots of people are working from home; meanwhile the government is paying 80% of wages to all employees across the country who are being furloughed.

Airlines have grounded much of their fleet. We have cancelled our holiday, as many people have. Just hope that we can get away next year.

Lots of people have come together across the country by using Zoom in order to play games or take part in a quiz.

We get a press conference every day from the PM and other government officials, in which we are given updates on new cases, recoveries and deaths due to Covid. Boris, himself, went into hospital on April 5th and was admitted into the ICU.

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2021

Cpt Sir Tom Moore was taken into hospital with pneumonia and contracted Covid 19. Unfortunately he lost his life on Tuesday 2nd February. When I heard the news, I felt devastated, as if he were a family member. I told myself that he was a good age, at 100 years' old, but it just seemed so sad to end his days in hospital. However, what a final year he'd had! Raising around £33 million pounds for the NHS, being knighted by the queen, having a No 1 single (a cover version of You'll Never Walk Alone) with Michael Ball, receiving the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award at the 2020 Ceremony, appointed as honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College. Who could ask for more?

RIP Sir Tom, you lovely inspiring man.

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Much has changed in the last 18 months since Covid. High Streets have really suffered, with many well known stores closing their doors for the last time. John Lewis, for instance, has shut down many of its stores, which is a great loss - not only for High Streets but also for shopping malls. Also certain Next stores have disappeared. Philip Green's Arcadia Group went into administration on November 30th 2020. The company owns a number of major brands, including Topshop, Burton, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge.

High streets' loss has been on-line sales' gain. However, it makes me think about green credentials. With more and more items bought on-line, these all have to be delivered and then if needing to be returned, sent back by post or delivery vans. Offset this with driving to the local shopping centre or travelling by bus, you will realise the impact the changes to our shopping habits have meant.

TAKE-AWAY FOODS

The whole way we have bought our fast food has changed since Covid as well. Instead of just going down to the local chippy or burger joint etc, we have had to book online or 'phone them up and arrange a time to collect or to be delivered.

So taking everything into account, Covid has brought about huge changes, many of which will now become the new norm.