DAYS 363-365 – 15-17 March 2021

Unbelievably we have made it! A whole year since I started my diary, and I definitely didn’t expect to still be going after 365 days.

But all good things must come to an end and so this will be my last entry. I’ve no idea how you are going to cope without finding out how E’s big performance as the Scarecrow goes this weekend, or how M’s potty training develops (badly is the answer to that one), or who wins the March step challenge in the Low household, or whether we will make it to the end of Lent without eating chocolate, or even what my hair is going to look like after Steph gets the clippers out tonight ahead of my appearance in Court tomorrow (professional reasons not personal!) But cope you must and I promise if there is another pandemic in my lifetime, I’ll write another diary to keep the spirits up.

Whether you have read only one of these, or avidly devoured each and every post, thank you so much for all of the kind comments and messages over the last 12 months. It’s made a real difference to me personally and given me a bit of purpose in amongst all the mayhem.

I felt there was only one way to finish this though – my top 5 things I’ve learnt over the last year:

1. My family are my life and I don’t know how I would’ve coped with lockdown without them. Now this may sound obvious but looking back I definitely took them (and so many other things) for granted. Pre-Covid they would so often play second fiddle as other things took over, especially work and swimming. Yet they stood by me, especially Steph, patiently and quietly supporting me. I’m a little embarrassed it took a global pandemic for me to really see that but I am proud to say that it has changed my life for the better. Even when we are all vaccinated and things return to normal (whatever that means) I am going to be so careful not to lose perspective and remember my priorities. Who knows when life will change for the worse so I need to enjoy what I have now.

2. Remote working is generally a good thing. For most it was initially a novelty. For many it has become a real pain in the backside. It certainly was challenging trying to work with 2 small children at home but after 12 months I can see there are real advantages. Most importantly it has given me more time with my family than otherwise would be the case. I haven’t missed a bath time or a bedtime all year. I’m lucky that I don’t have a huge commute anyway but removing that travel time is a real blessing. Sadly no option for a snow day unfortunately. I’ll still be happier when remote working is optional rather than enforced but it is clearly the brave new world.

3. My kids are blooming hilarious. Forcing myself to sit down on a weekly or daily basis and actually write about the things we have done has made me realise those little cherubs make me laugh a lot more than they stress me out. Don’t get me wrong, they can still be right pains in the backside, and my grey hair is even greyer now than at the start of lockdown. But E has developed a passion for joke telling and they both come out with some ridiculous lines which just crack us up. I wouldn’t mind if they could tidy up after themselves every now and again but I’ll forgive them if they carry on giving out so much joy. It’s not just us but also those unlucky strangers who we encounter on our daily walks and who quickly learn the names of our kids given how loud we all are!

4. I enjoy hosting quizzes far too much. I suppose this stretches into Bingo as well as that has been my latest Zoom adventure. Just the concept of hosting an online quiz on Zoom (not that we knew what Zoom was a year ago) was alien to me yet I now have a bank of thousands of questions. Perhaps I’ve missed my true calling but whether it has been for family, work, swimming, a birthday or even a girls night in party(!) I’ve loved every single one. At least I know if I decide to pack in with the law I have a back up plan now.

5. You really can do anything you put your mind to. I was determined that lockdown could be a positive thing and so it has proven. I look back and realise I have somehow managed to get myself healthier and fitter. I’ve shed a couple of stone, run my first ever half marathon and now run 10ks for fun. I’ve raised a bunch of cash for charity. Sadly none of my clothes now fit, as will be demonstrated when I go to Court tomorrow in what will look like a clown suit! The only unhealthy part of my life really now is the copious amount of midweek drinking but I guess I’m allowed one vice. Cheers to you all! Stay happy and healthy one and all.