Lockdown isn’t easy for anybody to adjust to - Editor's comment

This is getting intense. Those were the words uttered by my youngest son when he realised there was no escape from home learning.
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It was the thought of a 15 minute online session with his whole class that prompted such an exclamation. I resisted laughing, or at least I tried to, because lockdown isn’t easy for anybody to adjust to.

As I write this he is playing on the computer, connected to his pals via the internet, and just warned everybody, ‘guys, we all have to be in a meeting at 9.15am every day.’. His friends were clearly equally horrified that their hopes of lie-ins and no work are being so rudely interrupted by education.

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It doesn’t matter whether you are nine or 99, we are all just trying to find out way through it.

A locked gate at a primary schoolA locked gate at a primary school
A locked gate at a primary school

Imagine how our vocabulary will and has already changed. There are so many words that we didn’t know existed and an awful lot of phrases that wouldn’t have made sense before March 2020.

I wonder how today’s children will describe these strange times to their grandchildren. Not having to go to school for the best part of year might sound like a dream but when you stop them seeing their friends and playing sports, it quickly turns into a nightmare.

Having all social interactions on a tiny screen would have once seemed futuristic, now it feels terribly repetitive. The photos of abandoned streets are no longer new to us and the most innovative ways of staying sane within four walls are wearing thin.

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Our journalists are once again adjusting to writing their stories in a different way and, while we try to get out to interview people as much as possible, it really isn’t the same. But we’ll be with you through it all. We, like you, hope it won’t be very long. The Star is still delivered to most areas so call 0330 403 0066 if you can't get out to the shop daily.

The latest wacky suggestion from my children to cheer us up was to keep our Christmas tree for longer. They joked that it shouldn't come down until the 12th day of lockdown rather than 12th night. I was sorely tempted to just change the shape of the chocolate decorations on it to eggs and declare it an Easter tree. Do whatever keeps you happy - we're all in this together.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

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