It's been a while hasn't it? It's no secret that many of us have felt our lives resume to their usual what feels like hundred miles per hour speed since the easing of lockdown here in England, myself included. Following my switch to more analytical and informative content, I'm not overly sure as to how many people are still interested in posts like these. That being said, it's a bit like grabbing a coffee with a friend and talking about both nothing and everything at the same time; we all like a casual catch-up every now and then, am I right? However, before we can dive into this catch-up, I wanted to draw your attention to the explosion that recently took place in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. This recent explosion has left many dead, injured or homeless and has caused a devastating impact, adding to the strain of an economic crisis and a global pandemic. If you can donate, I urge you to do so (you can find some suggested organisations here) and if not, have a look at this Instagram graphic to understand the deep-rooted nature of the matter. Thank you.
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Needless to say, the adjustment to a 'new normal' has not been easy for many. If there's one thing that lockdown made me realise, however, it's that we often take the simple pleasures in life for granted; be it seeing our nearest and dearest or spontaneous trips to the local pub. That, and that no amount of A*'s are going to guarantee employment - though that is slightly besides the point. As such, I don't think I will surprise anybody in saying that I have been using this time to (safely) enjoy the little slice of normality that we have for now and look ahead.
It's not all been fun and games, however. At the start of lockdown, I vowed to myself that I would use the time to gain some much needed life skills and not waste the months away by watching Netflix - although I have been doing that too, of course. My first port of call was learning how to cook some basic recipes in preparation for university, be it chicken fajitas or a more elaborate chickpea dish whose name I do not know. Alongside this, I decided to revive my Depop shop and sold quite a few items of unwanted clothing in addition to some revision materials - something which went unexpected well, I must say! Finally, I decided to volunteer at a local charity shop. It hasn't been easy - what with donations coming in left, right and centre post-lockdown - but it has certainly been a valuable experience thus far. Oh, and have I mentioned reading around topics like art and investment that are a little unfamiliar? Yes, that too!
That being said, despite the circumstances, I was lucky enough to take a little trip abroad. For those who aren't aware, Lithuania is my home country and given that all is well there on the Covid front, I was able to return for a couple of weeks.
Admittedly, going abroad feels rather strange in times as these; that being said, it was nice to have a change of scenery for I really did think that I would go mad in lockdown!
Even post-holiday life has been eclectic, particularly with Results Day looming closer and closer. Unlike my GCSE days where I had continual nightmares in the month leading up to my results, I feel oddly at ease; perhaps it's the peace of mind knowing that there really was no more that I could do and that the grades I receive next week are fully out of my control. I don't want to speak too soon though, for things could really turn pear-shaped when a university place is at stake! I wish the best of luck to those also receiving their results in the coming weeks, it's certainly a stressful period.
That brings me to the end of this very much needed catch-up session. What have you been doing since the easing of lockdown restrictions? What is the thing that you now look forward to doing most? Let me know in the comments down below. As always, stay safe and I shall hopefully see you soon!
It's not all been fun and games, however. At the start of lockdown, I vowed to myself that I would use the time to gain some much needed life skills and not waste the months away by watching Netflix - although I have been doing that too, of course. My first port of call was learning how to cook some basic recipes in preparation for university, be it chicken fajitas or a more elaborate chickpea dish whose name I do not know. Alongside this, I decided to revive my Depop shop and sold quite a few items of unwanted clothing in addition to some revision materials - something which went unexpected well, I must say! Finally, I decided to volunteer at a local charity shop. It hasn't been easy - what with donations coming in left, right and centre post-lockdown - but it has certainly been a valuable experience thus far. Oh, and have I mentioned reading around topics like art and investment that are a little unfamiliar? Yes, that too!
That being said, despite the circumstances, I was lucky enough to take a little trip abroad. For those who aren't aware, Lithuania is my home country and given that all is well there on the Covid front, I was able to return for a couple of weeks.
Admittedly, going abroad feels rather strange in times as these; that being said, it was nice to have a change of scenery for I really did think that I would go mad in lockdown!
Even post-holiday life has been eclectic, particularly with Results Day looming closer and closer. Unlike my GCSE days where I had continual nightmares in the month leading up to my results, I feel oddly at ease; perhaps it's the peace of mind knowing that there really was no more that I could do and that the grades I receive next week are fully out of my control. I don't want to speak too soon though, for things could really turn pear-shaped when a university place is at stake! I wish the best of luck to those also receiving their results in the coming weeks, it's certainly a stressful period.
That brings me to the end of this very much needed catch-up session. What have you been doing since the easing of lockdown restrictions? What is the thing that you now look forward to doing most? Let me know in the comments down below. As always, stay safe and I shall hopefully see you soon!