Day 365

Yes, day 365 of living under restrictions and lockdowns, a whole year. The 17 March 2020 was the last day I was able to live a normal, pre Covid life. Of course it had been creeping up on me since the end of January when I came back from Thailand but when the Malaysian Government on 16 March declared a MCO to start on 18 March that was the start of a new way of life.

A year ago I watched the guards at the Verve close the large pool and stack the furniture. We were lucky our guards didn't close the Hijauan Kiara pools till the 19th so we got an extra day bobbing around in the water, talking about restrictions, thinking it would last till June 2020, not June 2021.

What followed, 4 weeks of not allowed out, learning to grab an hour or so sunshine on the open landings of the emergency stairs, twice sneaking downstairs to walk round the pool at night for some exercise, home schooling in my bedroom, panicking irrationally in the middle of the night about flights, cancelled flights, being stranded, leaving relative safety to return to a sicker, more dangerous, virus ridden country to be alone rather than with people. Yes, little did I know 17.3.20 would be my last day of freedom. I should have gone to the hairdresser.

Today eventually the sun shone and once again I had lunch outside. Inside I tried to understand admin heavy systems, multitasked at a meeting, wrestled with an Access database, recorded 2 songs, had a choir meeting and sang.

It was a very busy day. I had phone calls and virtual meetings with new colleagues and old friends but I didn't see or speak to anyone face to face.

Tomorrow marks the start of Year 2 of lockdown, gentler than that initial Malaysian one, the first thing I did when I got home on 16 April was stand in the garden and rejoice about being able to go out, but still so restrictive.

And today is also the equilux so it's all uphill from here on in. Fingers crossed.

Recovery day 54