We're missing our family so much in lockdown | Cheryl Gibbs

Week two and it already feels like a lifetime ago that we could leave the house whenever we wanted, to go anywhere we wanted.
Baby Harley, daughter of Cheryl GibbsBaby Harley, daughter of Cheryl Gibbs
Baby Harley, daughter of Cheryl Gibbs

What a difference a couple of weeks make. How are you coping with the isolation? I think there will be mixed feelings among us about being indoors for the majority of the time.

I think you’ll have those in the camp who will embrace being told they can’t go out and about, an excuse to watch TV and films and not feel bad about the fact they’ve had lazy days.

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Or there’ll be the camp who get frustrated at being so restricted, wanting nothing more than to be in a shop or crowded pub.

I think I’d have been in the first camp…before we had Harley.

But now we have her – eight weeks and one day today, being stuck indoors without family and friends is really hard. Harder than I had anticipated a couple of weeks ago when Prime Minister Boris Johnson made his announcement that we’d have to stay in.

I underestimated how I’d feel that my mum and sisters, and Matt’s family, can’t see Harley, can’t hold her, and can’t witness the milestones that she’s already achieving – like smiling for the first time.

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They aren’t windy smiles, but full-face smiles. And while I’m attempting to capture them with my phone, it’s just not the same.

Let’s be real with ourselves, there is no way this restriction is going to be lifted anytime soon. Of course, that’s the way it has to be in order to keep us safe, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not difficult.

It kills me that the chances are no one will get to see Harley until she’s, probably, five months old.

She’ll be bored stiff of her mum and dad by then!

But what can we do as a society, as individuals, as families, but to hunker down and adhere to the rules and pray that none of our loved ones are among the unfortunate who have to pay the ultimate price of this awful, dirty virus.

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I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times already, but stay indoors, stay safe, save the NHS and save lives…it’s literally life or death.

Delighted to see the respect we’re showing to each other

I’ve been trying to get out for my daily allowance of fresh air but I’m not always achieving it.

When out with Harley for some Vitamin D, I’ve been really pleased with the respect that people are showing each other.

They cross the road when they see someone approaching, or jogging on the road to give you the required two-metre distance.

If I’m honest, I didn’t think people would adhere to it.

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But I think it’s finally hit home to most, just how serious this is.

I’m so thankful that most people are giving each other the respect they need and keeping away.

Let’s keep it up guys, community is so important at a time like this.

Waste not, want not – lessons from my childhood

Matt and I, like the rest of the UK and indeed the world, are doing what we can, when we can, to save money and be resourceful to ensure we can ride this out as long as necessary.

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I’ve noticed lots of people doing DIY or gardening and Matt has been using up some left-over varnishes and paints in the garden.

Meanwhile I’ve been preparing what my dad called when we were growing up, ‘if-it dinners’ – if it’s in the fridge, freezer or cupboard you can have it.

So, I’ve been imaginative with our breakfasts, lunches and dinners, putting foods together that I wouldn’t ordinarily have done, ensuring we waste as little as possible

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