Cooped up with Carole Malone

AND SO we come to the end of our journey – well at least our Covid journey. Believe it or not I’ve written 62 of these diaries which have charted the frustrations, the fun, the helplessness, the hopelessness, the heart-warming stuff that’s been happening in my life – and yours – these last 12 weeks.

But Cooped Up With Carole isn’t what’s happening any more, because most of us are no longer cooped up.

Some are back at work (some fantastic souls never stopped).

Many of us have now thrown off the shackles of our homes and gardens and are venturing out into our much-changed world.

Yes, some people have suffered terribly. They’ve lost loved ones or they’ve been physically and mentally changed by having had the virus themselves. Some are still suffering as we speak.

So far,The Husband and I have been lucky – we haven’t had the virus which is why I’m able to say there’s a part of me that mourns the loss of what has been a very special time.

Forget for a minute what lockdown has meant for the economy and our future.We still have that to deal with.

But in terms of just stopping the world for a while, it’s been transformative in so many ways.

The Husband and I have spent more time together in the last 12 weeks than we have in the past 12 years – and most of it has been good.

I’ve loved not having to push and shove my way through frantic London life.There’s been a calm about the last three months, a quiet – no traffic, no queues, no bustle.And for many of us it’s been a period when we’ve had time to re-evaluate what’s good and bad in our lives.

Many have decided they no longer want to live in a busy city choking with noise and fumes and

frustrations and have decided to ring the changes in their jobs, their relationships and their lives in general.

Because of what I do I’ve never stopped working. I’ve still been able to write and do TV so I’ve never once been bored.

Yes, I’ve missed my friends and drinking too much wine with them. I’ve missed sitting in cafes on a sunny day, I’ve missed hugging people. But we’ve all been incredibly inventive and found

ways to stay close to those we love without actually being in the same room – and it’s kept us connected.

I talk to my friends now more often than I did in “normal” life and I hope that continues once this is all over.

I’ve felt the kindness of strangers and, conversely, I’ve tried to BE kind to strangers.

I think Covid has changed us all in ways we might not even realise yet.

I hope the fear I still see in some

people’s eyes when strangers get too close fades in time. It would be sad if this virus robbed them of proper human contact and the rest of their lives are lived in fear of it.

I feel I’ve lost a bit of my manic-ness – getting wound up about stuff I can’t do anything about.Also because I’ve had to make a conscious effort who I arrange to speak to on Skype and Zoom I now recognise the people I really need and want in my life.

I think many of us – obviously

not those who have been sick – will look back fondly on this time when we were able to step off the world for a while.

If nothing else it has helped us prioritise who and what’s important.And what’s become wondrously clear is that for most people it’s family first, last and everything in between.

So, thank you for your company these last three months.

I’ve enjoyed talking with you every day. Stay safe xx