Life in lockdown: a day in life of an education volunteer
To honour Mental Health Awareness Week and to encourage our staff, volunteers, and organisations we work closely with to pay more attention to the present (aka mindfulness), we’ve asked a few of them to write a journal post and diary a day in lock down. These blogs will provide a snapshot of the everyday lives, experiences and wellbeing of our people.
Angela Daly
Education Department volunteer
Today I awoke as usual to our dog whimpering at 5.30 am – in dog code she was asking to go out and hunt rabbits. So, as usual, we obliged and we found ourselves walking along our usual chalky bank route up Darland Bks in Gillingham. However, the morning was slightly unusual after that as we all stumbled in to Mr Badger walking along the path in front of us , a mere doggy paw away.
‘Oh no’ I hear you groan – a dog and a badger! Yes we were at our wits end trying to avert a disaster. Somehow the badger escaped after being chased for a bit – in the forty years that I have lived in the area I have never, ever seen a badger or a sett. The lockdown will certainly be remembered for many unusual goings on.
Later in the morning we wished our granddaughter a happy 17th birthday – she lives in Japan which is 9 hours ahead so just made it . They are also in lockdown so subdued celebrations for her.
After lunch and a much valued Tesco shopping delivery, praise be, we went to drop my disabled mother’s shopping off . Not only are we in this lockdown but mum has had a stay in hospital after a very nasty fall. I have never felt so awful as I did over those 6 nights when I couldn’t visit her at The Medway Maritime Hospital although Covid -19 was thrust to the back of my mind and priorities changed massively. She had excellent nursing care whilst there and we are so thankful for that too.
It has been a really hot day , 25 C +, but for some insane reason I cooked macaroni cheese for tea – delicious but too hot really. Memo – cook again in November.
So now off to throw the Scrabble gauntlet down in front of my husband – determined to make the word BADGER at some point.
Another day draws to a close – another odd one but so far healthy one.
Find out more about Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust’s initiatives for Mental Health Awareness.
