We find are selves in yet another full lockdown.  Which you could see coming our way from mid-December and it’s predicted it could last into March.

This one I think is going to be a lot harder than the last one as it was all new and a bit of fun for some – sheds were be sorted, tackle was being stock checked (what was needed fixing, what was missing and what maybe upgraded), making the garden look good and the weather was just perfect.  You could sit outside and do your work, listen to the birds and get into the groove of home schooling.  Home schooling did come as a shock for a lot of people (my family included).  I found it easier then to unwind, as I was able to sit and relax in the garden.  I was able to put aside all the other worries that come along with this worldwide pandemic.

This time around it’s a lot harder, with the first lockdown when we had come out it, we where able to enjoyed the summer and when the tiers came in during the Autumn, we still had some freedoms (we were in tier 2), the kids were still in school.  So, with some normality, you could try to put your worries into the back of you mind.  Unfortunately, it all came crashing back over Christmas and New Year and with the weather conditions not being another like how it was before – Winter.  At the present, most days are more likely to be wet and windy and not the cold crisp, sunny Winter days.  Even down South we did not avoid the snow, however, it was only a light dusting.

One positive, at least we could go fishing this time; but only locally.  Which for most meant not on your syndicate.  For me this meant, the new syndicate I had just joined in early December.  This new syndicate was opened for me on the 1st January, was this was a no go area and I was left with 3 local club lakes and a small part of a river.  I feel lucky I have this opportunity, but the downside for me is that I’m pretty paranoid of catching and passing on the virus to my wife and kids.  I’ve locked myself down from before Christmas and once we could get out onto the banks, I was looking for places that are angler free and with less possibilities for catching the virus.  However, there are still some stupid people out there who don’t quite understand that 2m is not 2ft and I’m sure that this is a major contribution to the virus being transmitted.

The weather put pay to my river trip planning as it was flooded every other week  and with the continuous rain, the river taking a few days to drop.

The lakes have poised a problem as most of the local ones to me are off the beaten track and they involve a few gates which can easily be the perfect place to pick up the virus.  And therefore, you are relying on others to be as safety conscious or paranoid like myself.  Which I know will not be the case.

So, home-schooling is back again and the wife is working from the front room again albeit a couple of days a week now, the broadband service is being its temperamental self, it’s been hard going yet again.  My free days are taken up considering with how the day’s weather will be (mostly is shockingly bad) and can I go for a quick couple of hours.  I’ve only managed to get out 3 times since before Christmas and we are now heading into February!

I shouldn’t complain really considering the situation the NHS is in and how bad other people’s situations are.  But it’s my mental health that affects me and that’s where my focus needs to be right now and keeping away from the possibility of picking up this evil virus.

I’m for ever hopefully that something may change by mid-February, in some shape or form, to help everyone start feeling that we are getting somewhere and that the end is insight and we can get out the other side.  I’m sure things will never be the same, but we can adjust and adapt to changing times, move on and get back to work, school and be back on the banks.  This is in a purely selfish way for myself to think, but that is how I keep my mental health under check and I’m sure many others will feel the same.  The thought of getting out on the bank again, will bring a lot of normality back into their lives and help them deal with the future much better.

Until next time

Stay safe.

Richard