Lockdown is so different now I’ve been vaccinated

EVERYTHING about lockdown looks and feels different now.

Because since I’ve had my vaccine, I know hugs with my family are within touching distance.

Freedom is on the horizon.

I was awake at 4.30am on jab day because I was so excited – and a little bit nervous, I admit.

But there was no need to worry, everything went so smoothly.

My friend Sheila, who’s in my bubble, gave me a lift right to the door of Glyndwr University’s Catrin Finch Centre, in Wrexham.

I wanted to give every single person I met there a medal as they were so kind, thoughtful and considerate.

I brought along utility bills and my bus pass in case they needed identification. But I couldn’t fill a form in because my glasses steamed up with my mask and I’d forgotten the magnifying glass I need to help with my macular disease. As soon as I said to a volunteer, “Excuse me, poppet” she jumped up to help.

She read the questions to me so I just needed to tick boxes.

As I followed the arrows on the walls and spots on the floor to my little jabbing station, a lovely man recognised I couldn’t stand long and made sure I had a seat to rest on.

I love to have a chat wherever I go, so found out the volunteers were there from 8am until 2pm before going to

the hospital to start another shift. Bless them for getting up early on a Sunday when everyone else enjoys a lie in. The nurse who gave me my jab had come out of retirement.

I am so grateful to her.

And when I saw a sign for a kitchen, I asked the security man if they were doing bacon butties.

I think, by the crinkling of his eyes, he tried to hide a laugh when I asked.

Unfortunately, there were no bacon butties there but he kindly pointed out a petrol station nearby where they were on sale.

I was in and out in 20 minutes, and 15 of those were spent just sitting down. Everyone who volunteered helped make the experience so pleasant and efficient. They are diamonds in this dark time. When I

came out, I felt really emotional. I took a big breath of fresh air and, if I’d had a better pair of legs on me, I’d have jumped high and punched the air because I was so happy.

I’ve been dreaming of that moment since March 9 last year.

Knowing that every day brings me closer to cuddling my family and travelling to see them again makes me feel 100 times better.

I don’t dream of big things like going on holiday. It’s the small things I miss, like sitting in one of my neighbour Nia’s chairs in her front garden for a coffee and a chat, visiting my friend Sue’s house, or having a cuppa in an outdoors cafe to people-watch.

My second jab in is May and it’ll be June or July when I feel fully safe to go out. Then I’ll burst into song and sing: “Ain’t no stopping me now.”

CARING Val had her jab at Catrin Finch centre