Voices from The Coronavirus: Groundhog day with garden olympics and hair dye

By Jamie Hill - 21 April 2020

Community

Julie Hancock is classed as vulnerable and is on lockdown for the next 12 weeks. She describes how she keeps herself busy and sane with a little help from her family. Here's her voice.

Hi, I'm Julie Hancock and I am one of the people who have to lockdown for 12 weeks as I am classed as vulnerable. I am Company Secretary for my husband's business: Assured Commissioning Ltd. I normally enjoy the cinema with my mum once a week; meals with friends; and trips out in the car with my husband and our dogs. I have rheumatoid arthritis so can't walk far but am usually keeping busy with non walking activities. I am able to go out on my bike every now and then, though.

I feel that the NHS is our saviour so, I feel that the least I can do is stay home. I am quite lucky as all my family are currently back at home. My daughter Charlotte works for Kobalt Music in London but was home to visit for mother's day - she has ended up staying here and working from home. My other daughter, Jasmine, we picked up from Brunel University and she is currently doing exams via zoom and submitting essays online. It's different having everyone home but also really lovely (despite the couple of arguments). Though, the food does go quickly.

We are trying to keep busy but I must admit it's a bit like the film Groundhog day. Because I used to be very ill; I am used to keeping myself busy at home. I taught myselt how to knit and have made hearts for GWH. I'm also baking more; now we have the ingredients. Getting food at first was a struggle as we were all self isolating and had to rely on my sister Sonia and husband Scott to help us out. Now, we have managed to get a fixed weekly online slot with Asda, it's so much better.

To keep us busy my husband organised the Hancock olympics where we competed against each other on things like swing ball, darts and ring toss. I have also always wanted to dye my hair pink so in quarantine I was brave enough to do it and I am happy with the results.

I can't say staying in is easy and it's a change of lifestyle but to save lives and the help the NHS it's just something we must do. We have our good and bad days but mostly we are ok and keeping busy. I do miss my friends and family but hopefully in a couple of months I will see them again.

 

Swindon Link is calling on its readers to write to us about their experiences for our campaign called 'Voices from The Coronavirus'. The idea is that we can share our experiences underlining that none of us are alone.

We want to hear from you from whatever walk of life you come from to hear how you are dealing with this new reality. Everybody has a story to share from keyworkers to teenagers. It doesn't matter what your writing ability is, the whole point of this is to make sure every voice is heard so that people don't feel that they are battling this alone. We will try to publish your story on our website no matter who you are.

All you have to do is write to us with your experiences to [email protected]. Please make sure that you send a picture of yourself to go with the piece and try and keep it under 500 words. Please also include some basic details about yourself. For more details press here

And for previous entries into our Voices from The Coronavirus series press here

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