Walking it off

I just been out for a walk in London’s incredibly changeable weather, hoping to shrug off a shocking dose of cabin fever.

Since waking this morning, I’ve set sluggish, down and generally completely fed up. I realised that I didn’t leave the building at all yesterday and only walked as far as the local optician on Thursday to pick up some new contact lenses.

In short, this week has been spent hunkered down indoors, not getting much exercise or fresh air at all.

An hour of being battered by wind and rain and I’m feeling a lot better, if a bit cold and damp.

In these lockdown times – and yes, we’ve had this for a year now – there are good days and bad days. I’ve had a few of the latter this week, for no particular reason. I’m pretty fed up with not being able to see my friends and family. While I love my apartment, I could do with a break from the neighbours, who’ve been less than sensitive to our shared predicament.

I can almost see an end to it all in the next few weeks and months, but really…some days it’s hard to see to the end of the week. Routine can be helpful, but it can also be a crushing bore. Like most people in lockdown conditions, I think I’d like a bit more variety in my life.

While it’s nice to see my travel memories pop up in my photos app each week, it’s getting longer and longer since I’ve been anywhere outside of this postcode and it’s really started to grate.

On the one hand, I dream of getting on a flight to Tokyo. Slipping into some JAL First Class pyjamas and sipping champagne over a delicious in-flight meal. On the other, I’d thank you for the opportunity to go to a local bar and enjoy a beer and some crips with friends.

Either, really.

And then. And then, a walk in the wind and rain reminds me that I’m not battling a killer virus, I’m not working in a hospital fighting to save lives, I’m not unemployed and wondering how I’m going to keep a roof over my family’s head. So, I’ve little to complain about.

Plus, I’ve limitless entertainment online and on TV, a bottomless supply of books and music and a full fridge. So let’s put this in proportion. I can suck this up for a few more weeks.

(Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash)