Speaking simply with Sandra Sampson

I am sure I am not the only one who often feels pretty fed up with the current situation, this week, I felt really sad that I have missed seeing my parents at Christmas and now my Mum’s birthday on Valentine’s Day.

I know I am no different to many others but occasionally the hardships of lockdown get to all of us.

During those harder days I try to focus on the good things that have come out of our enforced staying at home.

I never forget the tragedies and suffering of those families, husbands, wives and partners who have lost someone directly or indirectly from Covid. With nearly 120,000 souls lost to the pandemic it’s sometimes hard to find a glimmer of light, but we must all do this, from adversity must come better things “tomorrow will be a better day”. The famous words of a true legend Captain Sir Tom Moore.

His bravery, courage, determination, resilience and persistent positivity meant we had someone to get behind, cheer on and feel inspired by. At the age of very nearly a hundred he showed us all that age is no barrier to achieving success.

What a shame that he was taken from us by Covid, his legacy will live on.

For me personally working from home with my husband has brought so many benefits.

Both of us traveling less, regularly able to have breakfast, lunch and dinner together. This has meant we have been able to enjoy each other’s company and as there has been less sport on the TV I have even introduced him to a few boxsets!

We have both loved getting back to nature, going on long walks with our beloved dogs, exploring the countryside of East Devon, going to beautiful places all available on our doorstep. Setting up numerous bird feeders in the garden to watch the wildlife.

Reinvigorating the vegetable patch and since moving my husband is now the proud tenant of an allotment in our local town. Roll on his fresh produce in the summer!

The first lockdown meant our roads were so empty, not quite the same for lockdown 3 but if you do have to travel then often the traffic is noticeably less and I am sure this is having a positive effect on our environment and climate.

I do understand though for an area renowned for its excellent hospitality and food this may not be what some business owners want to see. How do we balance these benefits in the future?

Less travel means more time, so I have found myself reading more and engaging in further training and self-development. The huge losses so many have experienced has led me to undertake a Cruse counselling course where I am further developing my skills in helping those suffering with grief.

This charity amongst other such as the Samaritans has seen a huge upsurge in demand for this help via their telephone helplines.

One of the strongest plusses is seeing communities working together to help each other and those who can’t help themselves. Our town has a community larder that is filled with food that would normally go to landfill, there is no longer a stigma attached to visiting this resource, it is there for all to enjoy and by actually using this it means we are all helping to reduce waste.

We must never forget the sacrifice, dedication and commitment of our frontline workers, I hope in the future we honour and look after those traumatised by the effects of the pandemic.

The number of those who will lose their lives will sadly continue to rise and there will be more suffering from these losses. But we must all remember that good things will come out of this crisis and I do hope we can preserve those good bits as life returns to some kind of new normal.