Cart

Helpline: 0344 800 84 84

    • It’s time to go away Covid, please!

    coronavirus_mask I write this in reflection of months in lockdown due to a new illness called Covid 19, or corona virus. Although, we are slowly easing out of this experience, with shops opening and more socialisation, Covid is unprecedented in peace time and something we have never seen since WW2. Initially, events, holidays, businesses, various campaigns were placed on hold or cancelled, as we were not allowed to socialise outside of our immediate families.  We were in lockdown. The stock-market was falling, leading us into a global crisis.  It was strange to see that it wasn’t oil, gas, or political issues, but down to an unknown purple blob with spikes around it, as portrayed on the news, called Covid 19.   It was loo roll and hand sanitiser that became economic trading commodities, and the new must haves. We have to accept life has changed and we now have a “New Normal”, whatever that is. We have seen fewer planes in the sky, empty trains and buses, with more people working from home, or furloughed or with no jobs.   Working from home is perhaps a good thing for some.  You can put your washing on, sit in the sun whilst doing your job, and tending the flowers, or trying to home school your children. The best thing, for some, was that you didn’t have to worry about putting on a suit, combing your hair, putting on make-up, (if you wear it) and underwear, forget it! Joggers were so much better, and the alarm clock didn’t have to get thrown against the wall, for you to shout at it, ‘I need 5 more minutes in bed!’ You were already at work! The new normal was no suit, but joggers, shorts and t-shirts.  Also book shelves, for various interviews with politicians and experts on the crisis, became the new backdrop. However, Covid ripped through many families as more and more people were becoming ill. The daily news briefings, about how many had died, was a stark reminder to us all.   We also heard about  communities coming together, and Captain Tom Moore’s walk for the NHS, as well as clapping our support every Thursday. Of course, any change in routine is hard for many, in particular those who are neurodiverse.  Those with a disability can feel the impact harder due to isolation, as meeting people or going to work was a good place for interaction, especially for those who live on their own. As we slowly return to the “New Normal” with face masks and going back into shops, purchasing the odd coffee or tea, we are reminded of Covid lurking. However, some of the positives have been meeting new friends, reconnecting with families online and getting used to Zoom and Teams, as well as other platforms and social media. For me, I felt the world was crumbling, as every event I had planned for this year had been cancelled, including going to Edinburgh to give a presentation at the Dyslexia talk for the Fringe, as well as all three of my shows.  It was like a domino effect of each event slowly getting cancelled one by one. However, as long as Covid gets the message and goes away, its going to be busy next year, and hopefully Covid-free. Sam Rapp, The Dyslexic Poet