It’s a wet Sunday afternoon. I can hear the squelch of car tyres on the rain drench street below our flat. The extractor fan from the restaurant downstairs is humming away in the background.
They must be grilling meat, because we can smell it coming up through our floorboards. Our kitchen smells like a Korean BBQ restaurant.
We’ve been in our flat almost a year now. My husband is getting tired of the noise and smell from the restaurant downstairs. I hasn’t got to me yet.
Our son is in his little corner of the living room watching YouTube. He’s lost to the world once he gets his headphones on. In ten minutes he’ll catch up with an old friend from primary school over a video call.
It’s all so ordinary. The day feels like another normal Sunday.
But it’s not.
Last night the Prime Minister announced that we will go into another month long lockdown from Thursday. Now we’re counting down the days to when the restrictions are in place.
I was numb when I heard the news. And then came the feeling of dread. All the memories of supermarket shelves empty of toilet paper and food; of long queues and downcast gazes; of frayed nerves and frustration came flooding back. I am not looking forward to any of it.
I understand why it must be done. And the lockdown is coming whether I’m dreading it or not. I am just grateful the government gave us a few days grace to get used to the idea.
This Thursday is the day all museums, shops and restaurants will close. Mercifully, schools will remain open. Our son will be able to see his school friends and get a normal education free from zoom. It wasn’t good for him to be alone for so long last time.
My husband will be able to go into the city as he is considered an essential worker. And I guess I’ll keep doing my thing for work at home.
Thank goodness for small mercies. I haven’t been so grateful to be employed. It will keep the loneliness and boredom at bay as well as bring in some income to support the family. I know I am lucky. God has been very kind in His provision.
It will be our son’s birthday right in the middle of lockdown. So on Monday we’ll head to a hotpot restaurant near Chinatown to celebrate his first birthday in London. It’s a little earlier than expected. If we can’t get a table, our boy said he’d like to have a Korean BBQ for dinner.
Thursday is still some days away. Enough time to sneak in a few more memories of London before it all shuts down again.
It’ll be ok I tell myself in the late afternoon twilight.
We’ll be able to go through this again.
Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.
I don’t think there are any other reasonable solutions.
Nomad Online 
12 responses to “A second London lockdown”
Also a fellow Londoner here! We got this! Beautiful words and that last photo, stunning. Stay safe!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hello!! Thank you for dropping by Red. You too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Take care! Thank you for writing this post. I just happened to stumble across this and now I’m following you! I’m not sure what your religious beliefs are but I will be praying for you and your family during this time as well as others who are going through this same situation. Be safe.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much Janice! I’m a Christian and would welcome your prayers. That’s very kind of you.
LikeLike
Lovely post. The photo really captures the mood. I am sorry to hear you will be in lock down again. I pray you are able to find peace through it all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Regina. I hope so too.
LikeLike
Very sad. 🙁
And your through the window photo of London in the rain looks very much like a painting that would have been painted by a 19th Century French Impressionistic painter if he had painted that scene today.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes it does a bit
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m dreading the lockdown too, although admittedly we hadn’t really got back up to speed with activities since the last one. But I have a good stack of books to read, and we have a jigsaw coming in the post. Pause, breathe, focus on the small things, and the time will pass.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perfect. That is great advice Michelle. Thank you for stopping by. 💕
LikeLike
Take care, and I hope by keeping busy it’ll feel fairly quick! My boys have just one soccer game left of the season–an outdoor sports activity that has kept us all feeling like things are fairly normal, this fall. Have to admit I’m dreading a little bit the coming winter with few activities, as everything inside is pretty limited. And no indoor sports for the kids. Time to start planning some indoor games and things to keep us having fun together.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes. I think that’s the right way to go. Thanks Rebecca! It’s a good time to spend with my family in the evenings and if we keep busy November should pass quickly.
LikeLiked by 1 person