My own personal experience of lockdown has been overwhelmingly positive. Here's eight things I've enjoyed about the experience...
Quinoa
The supermarket shelves may have been empty of rice back in March, but the local wholefood store had plenty of quinoa in stock, and so I switched to this as an alternative.
I mean I had eaten quinoa before, but the fact that this has been my go-to dinner staple recently made me read the cooking instructions, and follow them, rather than just bunging the grains in a pan with 'some water' and then draining.
60 grams of quinoa added to 190 ml of already boiling water - cook for around 12 minutes, and let sit for about another 5 (the packet says 200 mls and 20 then 10 mins, but that's a bit out IMO).
Following the instructions made quite a difference, its delicious.
Next step is to get over the class-consciousness contradiction - Quinoa may be delicious (when cooked properly) but it doesn't sit well with my working class roots.
It'll also get you 15 points in scrabble.
Not a loner
I feel like much less of a loner since lockdown - after 18 months in Hereford I still didn't have anyone to socialise with locally, all my friends being in other parts of the country or world.
In lockdown, however, this has not been noticeable, what with hardly any social life occurring.
Moreover, I've had more conversation with some of the neighbours than ever, over the garden fences.
Kicked the take-out coffee habit
I recently blogged here about how I spend around £150 - £200 a month on take out coffee, but my monthly expenditure has been £0 on takeouts. I've been making my own simple lates on the stove, with my excellent and well-used stove-top put and just boiled milk. I've easily spent less than £30 on ground coffee for home over the last couple of months.
The stove top coffee pot on top of a door for some reason.
Morning meditations
I've had a whole nearly two weeks now where I've managed to get up around 6.00, go for a walk (or food haul shop) and the sit for a good 30 minutes, all before breakfast.
I really shouldn't have needed a lockdown to be able to kickstart this, but it is what it is.
The benefits of meditation are enormous. You gain that 30 minutes back in enhanced clarity of mind, calmness and happiness during the day easily.
Next step is to add in an evening session. Must do!
Prepping and Planning for Portugal
I've had the time to tart up the house ready for renting it out, I'm almost done in fact. Today I'm panting the bathroom, I'm currently waiting for coat one to dry while I write this.
Shit edges I know! Another task for 2mo.
My plans aren't quite sorted - next on the list is to research how I rent a house, then finish off a few more decorating things, plan how I'm going to move to Portugal - I'm probably going to just head out in my car and rent, and try and buy land quickly, rather than convert a van first, that would bog me down for months, I know myself too well.
Hopefully the Covid situation won't fuck things too much. If a two week quarantine period is as bad as it gets, I'll take that!
I've sorted out 'my work' schedule
I've had time to start systematically developing some teaching resources and tying in my new resources with rolling updates on my blog - it only takes around 3-4 hours a day 3-4 days a week to do what I need to, but I needed some sustained time to myself to kick start this, DONE!
Even if my life becomes more fragmented in the future, I can still maintain what I'm doing now I've got a schedule in place!
I really haven't missed paid contact-work
My Google calendar reminders have been going off every now and then, to remind me that my three day teaching courses 'start in five minutes' -
NB I never did get around to changing that notification. Being reminded 5 minutes before a teaching course is starting (that I'm delivering) isn't much use if I've forgotten about it.
But forgotten about them I have for the past two months, as they've been cancelled, and do I miss them, not at all, I don't think I'll ever forget the joy of still being in bed at 8.55 when my calendar beeped on the first Monday cancellation, happy day!
In fact Lockdown may have put paid to paid for me for ever...
At least face to face contact work. I've recently had notifications of all my scheduled courses up until August being cancelled. By that point I MIGHT be heading off to Portugal.
I might sneak one or two more in, if I leave in Autumn rather than late summer, the exact date of my Southern European transition is uncertain, too many unknowns atm, but it's a possibility that my regular working days are over for ever.
Final Lockdown thoughts: I'll be glad NOT to be in Britain once the new normal is established...
I must say I can't imagine being in 'society' in Britain is going to be much fun once we're allowed to go back to 'business as the the new usual'.
There'll probably be some unpleasant tensions between people who take protective measures very seriously and those who just don't. I think society will be quite unpleasant.
Then there's all the increased misery with the likely economic crisis heading our way.
I'd much rather be on some land in rural Portugal kicking it with the eco-crew.
Very positive, apart from the pending economic crisis :)
I reckon a lot of people have saved without coffee shops being open, the guys at my place regularly bought at least one a day from the 'van lady', quite a saving over time.
Good luck with the Portugal plans!
fuck yea! need to find my own coffee maker))
It's what I've had for years. I really like it, simple and very strong coffee!
it's nice! but mine is quite small. only for one espresso)
have you entered
https://www.cryptobrewmaster.xyz/game btw?
POSH
Shared to twitter for POSH
Will Brexit make it harder for you to obtain legal residency in Portugal?
I haven't really thought that far ahead TBH! It certainly won't make it easier.
So excited for you and your adventurous journey. You're all set!!! Congrats on your dedication to meditation. I love hearing your joy when you mentioned it. Congratulations & Best wishes ❤🙏
Hey thanks, nice to wake up to some positive vibes!
My pleasure! You're welcome 😉