Life In Lockdown: An Updated Retrospective

Happy New Year, everyone!

What a journey it's been since 2020. From when the pandemic started to now, we've all experienced so much change. We're living in a new normal, and daily life is very different. It's crazy how much has happened, and today, I want to take a moment to reflect on everything we've gone through.

2020: The Beginning of the Chaos

2020 started as complete mayhem. The world seemed to flip upside down almost overnight. The panic buying, the rising cases, and the uncertainty—it was chaos. When the government announced the first lockdown on March 18th, it felt they were just confirming we were heading in a downwards spiral.

Suddenly, we were stuck at home. No school, no socializing, no routine. It was a huge adjustment, and, like everyone, we struggled with being confined to out house. But, as tough as it was, there were some unexpected positives. With life and things around us slowing down, we had the chance to reconnect with our families . People put rainbows in windows, clapped for NHS workers, and tried to find ways to stay positive. The country united to fight the Coronavirus.

Happy New Year, everyone!

It's hard to believe, but it's been over 18 months since we first went into lockdown in March 2020. What a journey it's been since then. From when the pandemic started to now, we've all experienced so much change. We're living in a new normal, and daily life is very different. It's crazy how much has happened, and today, I want to take a moment to reflect on everything we've gone through.

2020: The Beginning of the Chaos

2020 started as complete mayhem. The world seemed to flip upside down almost overnight. The panic buying, the rising cases, and the uncertainty—it was chaos. When the government announced the first lockdown on March 18th, it felt they were just confirming we were heading in a downwards spiral.

Suddenly, we were stuck at home. No school, no socializing, no routine. It was a huge adjustment, and, like everyone, we struggled with being confined to out house. But, as tough as it was, there were some unexpected positives. With life and things around us slowing down, we had the chance to reconnect with our families . People put rainbows in windows, clapped for NHS workers, and tried to find ways to stay positive. The country united to fight the Coronavirus.

At home, I spent time doing things like baking, binging films, and playing games. Online learning was weird and took up a large part of the day - still, it was good to reconnect with classmates over the phone even if just twice a day. By June and July, restrictions started easing, and we managed to go away to Devon and Cornwall. But, as we moved into the autumn, new restrictions came back into place, and by December, just days before Christmas, we were in lockdown again. That was it. No Christmas celebrations and stuck at home like before. It was depressing, but we still made the most of it, indulging in a 5 kilo turkey, all the trimmings and a million pounds of sugar.

2021: A Shift Back to School

The Christmas lockdown was tough, and it wasn't the festive celebration we had hoped for, but we got through it. In January 2021, schools switched to virtual learning, which was a big adjustment. Microsoft Teams became my new school routine.

However in March 2021, things began to change again. We were allowed back into school. There were restrictions in place, but it was still such a relief to return to in-person learning. It was a bit strange, having spent so much time away from school, but it was also exciting. Year 6 felt like a mix of familiarity and the unknown. We still managed to put on the Year 6 production, which was an unforgettable moment, and the residential trip was another highlight of that year.

2022-2024: Moving into a New Normal

By 2022, things started to feel more normal. The world had adapted, and so had we. Year 7 in high school was a whole new chapter, of my life, having said goodbye to many friends, and, while it wasn't without its challenges, I started to settle in. We wore masks, practiced social distancing, and dealt with occasional school closures, but life was moving forward, slowly but surely.

As restrictions continued to ease, I had the opportunity to travel more than I expected. In 2022, I went to Madeira and Canada. In the Christmas of 2022, I visited Lille, which was a beautiful way to celebrate the holidays. Then, in the summer of 2023, I went on an East Mediterranean cruise, an adventure I'll never forget. Most recently, in December 2024, I spent Christmas in Norway, and it was another amazing experience to end of the year.

Now: Year 10 and Beyond

And here we are now, in January 2025. I'm now in Year 10, studying for my GCSEs. It's incredible to think how far we've come since the early days of the pandemic. The world may have been turned upside down, but we've all managed to adapt. The lockdowns were tough, but we got through them, bit by bit.

From lockdowns to quiet Christmases, and from online learning to re-learning how to socialise, life has bounced back. It's been a wild ride, but we're here now.

2021: A Shift Back to School

The Christmas lockdown was tough, and it wasn't the festive celebration we had hoped for, but we got through it. In January 2021, schools switched to virtual learning, which was a big adjustment. Microsoft Teams became my new school routine.

However in March 2021, things began to change again. We were allowed back into school. There were restrictions in place, but it was still such a relief to return to in-person learning. It was a bit strange, having spent so much time away from school, but it was also exciting. Year 6 felt like a mix of familiarity and the unknown. We still managed to put on the Year 6 production, which was an unforgettable moment, and the residential trip was another highlight of that year.

2022-2024: Moving into a New Normal

By 2022, things started to feel more normal. The world had adapted, and so had we. Year 7 in high school was a whole new chapter, of my life, having said goodbye to many friends, and, while it wasn't without its challenges, I started to settle in. We wore masks, practiced social distancing, and dealt with occasional school closures, but life was moving forward, slowly but surely.

As restrictions continued to ease, I had the opportunity to travel more than I expected. In 2022, I went to Madeira and Canada. In the Christmas of 2022, I visited Lille, which was a beautiful way to celebrate the holidays. Then, in the summer of 2023, I went on an East Mediterranean cruise, an adventure I'll never forget. Most recently, in December 2024, I spent Christmas in Norway, and it was another amazing experience to end of the year.

Now: Year 10 and Beyond

And here we are now, in January 2025. I'm now in Year 10, studying for my GCSEs. It's incredible to think how far we've come since the early days of the pandemic. The world may have been turned upside down, but we've all managed to adapt. The lockdowns were tough, but we got through them, bit by bit.

From lockdowns to quiet Christmases, and from online learning to re-learning how to socialise, life has bounced back. It's been a wild ride, but we're here now.