Living in Lockdown
I’ll start by prefixing this post with a disclaimer that the content of this post isn’t really related to penguins at all. There is precedence for this kind of post though! Some people may remember another fan-blog from a few years ago called Club Penguin Memories, and more specifically, a series there called “Trainman1405 in Real Life”. Even when I was younger, I was always appreciative of the raw honesty that was conveyed in those posts.
The majority of this post will relate to my personal experience, but it feels wrong not to acknowledge the deadly nature of a pandemic, and the tragic inevitability regarding loss of life. I’ve been fortunate (?) enough that I’ve only experienced that sharp and deep grief just once – incidentally, exactly six years ago today – but such days remain permanently seared in your memory. I can still recall that morning vividly: the Saturday soccer game at primary school, the tears, the phone calls and the flowers. My deepest sympathies and condolences extend to anyone suffering through something similar now.
Something more likely to be impacting people are the effects of each country’s lockdown. As Alastair Campbell put it, coping with those effects is a challenge which every single person around the world is simultaneously facing at the same time, and that’s predominantly why I’ve wanted to write this post for a while.
It’s been 17 weeks since the British government took the necessary decision to close schools in England to stop the spread of coronavirus. By that time, that decision was almost predictable, and the instant reaction to the confirmation of schools closing by the Prime Minister in his 5pm press conference was relief.
Since then, like thousands across the country, I’ve received no schoolwork and had practically no contact with my teachers, and consequently, I suspect that I’m not the only one either to slip into having practically no routine beyond waking up at a reasonable time. The hardest question (maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but one of them at least…) posed to me so far has been “what have you been doing for the last few months?”.
My answer tends to be paraphrased lyric from a popular Prince song:
Seems that I was busy doing something close to nothing but different than the day before
-Prince, Raspberry Beret (1985)
Because, for me at least, that’s the reality; it’s true that I’ve coded a lot, from websites such as a random coronavirus slogan generator to a variety of things on WordPress.com, and tried to do so daily, while also watching a lot of documentaries, working on this blog, and accidentally rewatching every episode of some cartoons, Yes Minister, and old mermaid shows.
But for me, filling time has probably been the biggest challenge, along with the occasional loneliness. I suspect that for many in our community, the uncertainty at the end of May, amplified by Disney’s intervention and what felt like the opening of Pandora’s Box, made that time even rougher. But in truth, the waves of sadness are much more…random. For me, they tend to be days in which I don’t even open the curtains, and more frequently, probably end up doing nothing.
I recognise that I’ve been banging on about this for months, and it’s been on this blog’s home page slider, but I genuinely fear for the hidden impact the last few months have had on people – my questioning of “how are you” has increased significantly as a result. I sincerely hope the kind-of waves of sadness aren’t prevalent for you in these times. If they are, I wish you well. A lack of routine for months can thwart close to anyone, and though I’ve certainly been fortunate in the sense that I’ve been pretty comfortable, that desire for something more normal has been especially strong lately.
Equally though, as hopeful as I am that things will slowly start to revert to normal, I won’t deny being awake at 3am wondering whether the re-opening of schools won’t be the magic bullet that I sometimes imagine it to be; you tend to look back more fondly on times once they’ve passed, and in my case, though I’m looking forward to things, I do think back to the winter night before my French writing exam where I had broken down in tears outside a supermarket due to school issues, and you do wonder if things will work out. But although lockdown has provided much time for reflection, it’s important to stay optimistic: things can only get better, right? It’s just a matter of hoping for the best in the things that we are powerless over, while also maintaining gratitude for the positive things now.
I recognise that the thousands of people reading this blog each day will primarily be seeking uplifting content, so this is a pretty significant change to that, and not one that will happen regularly! But if this post contributes in bringing solace to even a few individuals going through a rough time in reminding them that these are challenging months, helps in digesting the random and wild thoughts which lots of people are having, or just makes someone ask another person how they’re feeling, it’s worth it.
Best wishes,
-Torres 126
15 Comments
Rockhopeer0
This post is incredibly relatable, especially the song you quoted and your reflection on what we are doing in lockdown. I completely understand how you feel because I am almost going through the same situation. This time will pass away very soon, we should stay optimistic. I wish everyone good health and may no one suffer. Stay safe and take care everyone!
Torres 126
I suspected it would be relatable and I hope you’re staying well! 🙂
Rockhopeer0
Yes I am keeping well. Thanks for your concern.
Torres 126
Glad to hear 🙂
dreamlandwaltz
I absolutely agree. I also live in England and while I have received plenty of schoolwork, I’ve had very little contact with my teachers as well. The summer holidays have just started which exaggerates the boredom and loss of routine we have all experience. Fortunately I have some awesome teachers, and at this point I would do anything to have a nice chat with them. I hope this situation passes soon and like you said we should all try our best to stay positive 🙂 Please take care of yourselves!
Torres 126
I forgot about the summer holidays starting until a few days ago – it feels like the last few months have been an extended holiday for me! But I hope that you’re keeping well too, thanks for the nice comment. 🙂
Christine Admiral
Thank you for your post. Here in Canada, it’s much the same and even though your post is not uplifting, it is comforting. You express much of what we are feeling here in my household and it’s nice to know that we are not alone. As cliche as that is, it is just so true.
Torres 126
Thank you for reading – I’m glad it helped in doing that. 🙂
zoyersh
This is a very well thought out and perspicuous piece, Torres. I’m hoping that you write outside of this CP blog because you have a really fantastic way of expressing feelings that a lot of people share around the world! Thanks for reminding us to take care of ourselves and to check in with others. Cheers from the US
Torres 126
Thank you very much – I’m glad that you enjoyed it. 🙂
Anonymous
This was a beautiful post and very well written! Thanks Torres!
Torres 126
Thank you. 🙂
Anonymous
you say your unhappy about the end of may but didn’t you cause it by your anger with the concert
Torres 126
I don’t accept responsibility for causing the chaos at the end of May because I didn’t. I’m happy to go through it again and defend my decisions, but at the end of the day, it’s already documented in pretty great detail; I wrote to the team privately at the start of April detailing five recommendations. Some were implemented in part, but none in full or immediately: https://twitter.com/CPMountains/status/1268503882499387395
It remains my view that should those have been implemented, the mass resignations at the end of May never would’ve occurred. Although Disney’s intervention was never going to be influenced by any events or circumstances regarding the game, I also categorically reject the idea that the concert was the primary cause of those resignations – poor treatment and handling from the administrators regarding multiple situations was. I do believe that it was wrong to proceed with that event though, and I don’t regret saying so at the time.
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