Tuesday 31 March 2020

Quarantine Diaries: Family Matters

Was looking through my old blog posts from 2016 and Entry 4 struck my heart.

I have moved back in with my parents start of Second year of uni. They moved to Edinburgh and I could continue to study here and live from home saving up a little money as Edinburgh is one of the top most expensive student cities to live.

We live in a tiny one floor 2 bedroom flat, my parents sleep n the living-room whereas my room doubles as a pantry, a tool shed and holds my mum's wardrobe. It's a space too tiny for 4 people and the craftsmanship of the bathroom and kitchen is appalling but we are here  and we are settled until we move on to better things. I have learned that the house or location doesn't matter, it's who yu are with and where you are trying to go.

Now looking back at the old blog post i thought i'd take the format but edit it and place in the current truths.

I didn't see it coming, I really missed my family. We are together again (with Pawel missing) and I am happy, however we won't be living together much longer and that's just part of growing up.
They shaped me into who I was, and partially who I am today but a huge impact on my life had my friends and my own experiences. I learnt through things they warned me about, sometimes you are tempted to touch the fire after someone tells you not to but you ultimately learn to avoid it later on.
I no longer miss the constant arguments over who showers first, or shouting for people to get out when i need to pee. 
Family meals are the best; whether in silence, arguing about politics, passionate discussion about the news or making my dad laugh to the point he chokes on his food. 
I no longer miss doing odd jobs around the house and chores- smaller living space gets so much more messier than a bigger living space and there's a lot to do since mum is still recovering. 
I still love shopping in Sainsbury's with my parents, now we moved onto Sainsbury's, ASDA and Home Bargains- who would've thought we would live next to a big ass retail park? 
I still love family trips and outings: North Berwick, Dunbar or just beaches in Edinburgh itself. And Rosslyn Glen! Nature and sipping on tea out of a Thermos is our jam.
I no longer miss Peter's obnoxiously loud laugh (often heard when a very dry joke is being thrown around)- I always laugh to myself when i hear it around the house. 
We don't fight when making breakfast anymore- because i kick everybody out when I'm in charge.
I miss spending time with Pawel, our dynamic changed that's true. He had become more reserved and pushed people away for a whole year, our closeness was never fully rebuilt after that. He is still someone that I can be 100% myself around.  
I look up to my parents, they always have found ways to provide for us even with everything possible against us. I always admired their determination to make the best out of what they have. They are my rock and my counsel- however sometimes it's better to keep things to yourself xD 
I want to make something of myself.
I am making up for the time i missed, i view them as people rather than just parents.  
I spend more time with them now than i have ever in my lifetime which has its good side but it's inevitable i get annoyed with them and need time away from them often, keep it healthy y'all.
 In that post i forgot to mention someone that I consider family too, Trevor. She's been with me way too long for me not to consider her a sister. Even when separated physically, my thought always drift in your direction. When I go to a bookstore, in IKEA, when i see some nice stationary, when i read poetry, when i paint, when i drive past public parks, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE STUFF IN MY ROOM. You are always here with me, and i just made myself cry ahahah great, point is I love you with all my heart. Please be strong, you have gotten so far. Things will be better someday, nothing is permanent except love itself.

Till tomorrow,
A x

Quarantine Diaries: Reborn

Due to a popular demand..... I'M BACK! (Yeah no- only Trevor wanted me back, hiya babes)

3 years later from my last post and a pandemic managed to spread worldwide, fun right? Quick turn of events, been around since December and now all major countries are under a lockdown.

I would've never thought I'd live through events I'd read in history or biology books.
COVID-19 or 'Corona' caused a shortage of toilet paper, hand sanitiser and hand soap.
Also Basmati rice which is damn right sad because a day without rice is a day wasted.
The people are in panic and fear mode, police neighbourhood patrols are in place and only 10 people are allowed into stores at once.

It's interesting how everyone handles it differently: Anxiety, Fear, Indifference.
At times like these it's easy to just detach yourself from reality and pretend it doesn't or will not affect you when it really does, watch another economic crisis in a month or so.
Stores and small businesses shutting down, healthcare usage overload: If you really think about it literally EVERYTHING relies on human-human contact in some way or another.
Good thing internet exists.

All we can do at times like these is stay inside, limit your contact with others and help anyone that needs help. Take this time to reflect on and be grateful for all the privileges you had up to this point.

Stay Safe Kids,
A x