Learning

Lockdown has been slightly eased, but due to various health reasons, we (my family) have chosen to stay in isolation. Nothing has changed/progressed with our house move, which is frustrating but understandable. Hopefully there will be some kind of progress in the next few weeks, but we'll just have to wait and see.

As my son seems quite interested in history at the moment (and we are still homeschooling), I decided that I would try to do a short course or something to gain more knowledge on the subject. I found loads of free, short history courses online, and I really want to do quite a few of them. I've started with one on Scottish Highland Clans, as I don't know much about Scottish history. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy history, so I'm pleased to have an opportunity to study it a bit more. It's nice that it's a subject we can learn about together.

Before all this, I was doing an OU degree in Primary Education. I was about half way through, but deferred so that we could move house and sort out everything that goes along with that. Also, to try to start some freelance copywriting work. Well, moving house and freelance work have all been put on hold now. Homeschooling and trying to stay healthy has taken priority, but it is quite nice to be studying something again. I also don't know what will happen with my degree now. I was meant to be going back to it in October, but I'm not sure I want to do that degree anymore. I don't even know if I'll be able to (depending on circumstances). The aim was to go into teaching, but I don't know if I want to now. I'm trying not to think about it too much, as I don't even know where we'll be living in October.

Difficulties now and things to look forward to

Lockdown is harder than I expected. Sometimes it's fine, I can see why we have to do it and it all makes sense. I can even see some positives about it - more family time, homeschooling, time to read and write, slowing down a bit, no deadlines or rushing around. But, there are other times when all I want to do is have a bit of a cry, because it feels like the end of the world and nothing is certain anymore. I know this is probably (hopefully) normal in these circumstances, and everyone is just trying to get through a day at a time.

I'm trying to write a bit, but sometimes I don't really want to do that...and I can't really think of anything to say that hasn't already been said a thousand times by a thousand other people. Just trying to be vaguely productive sometimes feels like hard work.

As hard as lockdown is, the thought of it being lifted is quite terrifying (to me, anyway). Basically, until we have a proper vaccine, I feel I should stay away from everyone. I suppose that if/when lockdown is lifted (even if it's just partial), we should be able to move to the new house. So that will be good. I'm really looking forward to being somewhere rural...especially in the autumn. Everything always looks more beautiful in the autumn, it's my favourite season.

I am really hoping to still be homeschooling in autumn, we could do some amazing nature-art, look at wildlife, go for long walks etc. I love all that sort of thing. Of course, we could do those things in any season, but they seem more fun in the autumn...I don't know why.