As a Panic Ambassador, I am at my peak at the moment, chewing the inside of my mouth red raw and washing my hands so much they bleed. It's for the best that I hibernate until this is all over as I'm much too scared to go out. My cupboards are stocked with tins and the freezer is full, so my family and I won't starve but I am starting to lose the pounds already, as I hunkered down without a sufficient chocolate stash. My stomach hasn't been this flat in years but there will be no beach to show it off on and it's pale and uninteresting, so best it stays under wraps.
Following the hysteria over toilet rolls being all bought up and after my dog decided to steal our last one and pretend to be the Andrex puppy by leaving it strewn all over the lawn, I have set up a new wiping system in the bathroom, much to my family's disgust. All this downtime lead me to sorting out my sock basket, which had been languishing on the side for about a decade. I now have a basket of odd socks next to the toilet to wipe and discard in a carrier bag nearby, as my family refused them access to the washing machine. My mum thought it was a good idea and no different to washing terry toweling nappies back in her day. She did take pity on my brood though and when we went to deliver a harvest festival on their doorstep, left me some spare toilet rolls. My system is yet to be launched but it is at the ready.
I am doing jobs around the house that I have been meaning to do for ages, as I'm sure many others are. I even hoovered under the sofa cushions today - that has never happened before in this household. I sorted out my teenage daughter's floordrobe and put into neat piles of t-shirts, trousers, gym kit and hung up the rest. I am hoovering (sorry, vacuuming - it's my age) everywhere - even under the beds. Who am I? Everything has been dusted too. The cobwebs are next, when I usually have a 'don't look up' policy for anyone visiting.
I am getting lots of fresh air and exercise by gardening, which has been so beneficial for my mental wellbeing, as I can really get lost in what I am doing. Hacking back and pruning have been especially therapeutic. My husband is digging over our veg patch at the moment with his 1970's music blaring. I have also been walking the dogs and doing zumba and pilates on Zoom. Along, with the housework and cooking, I have hardly had time to sit down and read or watch TV and films.
Who knows when we will be out on the other side of this, but I am quite enjoying the solitude and gentle pace of life at the moment. I also am looking forward to hugging my friends and family, going out to eat in restaurants and meeting up in real life rather than virtually. I am so grateful to all those brave and hardworking individuals who are looking after our nation and around the world. Stay safe everyone, only go out when essential and keep your distance.