IOA: Reflections on Lockdown UK: Fiona Anderson

My last day actually ‘in practice’ was Monday 16th March & one week later UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, enforced the UK lockdown on Monday 23rd March. So, how is life 6 weeks later?

Well, in answer to this I must confess, personally, I am doing very much better than I thought I would be! As someone who spends only about 1 day per week in practice & the rest of the time doing various roles that involve travelling, I did not relish being ‘stuck’ at home for the foreseeable future. However, I am grateful that I AM SAFE at home & am able to continue working & supporting members of my national association – ABDO – and members of the IOA. The IOA Board have all been exchanging their experiences of the situation we are in and in doing so, are helping & supporting each other.

Life at home has changed beyond all recognition – I have not put petrol in my car for 6 weeks – this must be a record! I now shop for food & essentials (in my case wine & treats such as chocolate, flowers & novels) locally only once each week. I am permitted to exercise outdoors once per day – so I have been enjoying a walk around my home town & seeing the beauty of new life – flowers, buds on trees & green grass, lambs & rabbits herald the appearance of springtime & the promise of better days to come. I am fortunate that I live on the outskirts of a small market town in Aberdeenshire & from my bedroom window I can see local farms, trees, green fields & cattle. I will never take for granted this view again.

One thing that has been very odd for me is to really be on my own. I am an only child with no siblings & my husband works in the Oil & Gas sector so we regularly have periods of time spent apart, but to not be able to travel to spend time with my parents (who live over 150 miles from me) & friends is really, really strange. As an only child, I have always been comfortable with my own company, but, I am a sociable person & I enjoy time spent with friends and family up & down the country.

The saviour of many people (myself included) during this time of enforced isolation is the wonder that is the Internet & all the apps & software that allow us to stay connected. Virtual quiz nights, Birthday parties, meetings are all the new ‘normal’ and I wonder when we come out of this situation we are in what ‘normal’ will look like? Some businesses have been able to continue in a different way without face-to-face contact & post COVID 19 may continue to do so?

So with no end in sight, we continue to do as we are bid: stay home, stay well and stay safe.