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Stories of home life under lockdown

Thank you to everyone who has generously and honestly shared their experience of lockdown. Here is a selection of just a few. 

A selection of Stay Home stories

Person sitting while eating and reading in front of a window with view of train tracks
Experience

Both led very separate lives
Winnie's contribution to Stay Home
Red brick wall
Experience

I have no home
Ms P's contribution to Stay Home
Pink flowers viewed through a window
Experience

Even more homely
Mr B's contribution to Stay Home
Person crouching on the floor surrounded by plants
Experience

Nature gave us holidays
Elena F's contribution to Stay Home
Empty bottles of alcohol
Experience

Alarm goes at 6.45am
Cindy P's contribution to Stay Home
Person sat in chair reading a book
Experience

Not doing gardening
Debby's contribution to Stay Home
Bookshelf © Bridie O'sullivan Courtesy Of Zandra Rhodes Studio
Experience

My gorgeous rainbow space
Zandra Rhodes's contribution to Stay Home
Unfinished jigsaw on a table
Experience

Life lived to the full
Liz R's contribution to Stay Home
Children cuddling while reading a book in a tent
Experience

Upsetting and dystopian
Emma's contribution to Stay Home
Schedule of music recitals written on paper
Experience

Lockdown concerts
Mrs D's contribution to Stay Home
Two children sat together surrounded by soft toys
Experience

Zero time for myself
Edda's contribution to Stay Home
A green armchair with two cushions next to a bed with an open laptop on it
Experience

39 ambulances whizz by
Onjali Rauf's contribution to Stay Home
Blurry face of child in front of person
Experience

A life change they cannot control
Fran's contribution to Stay Home
Two people sitting on the floor of a room surrounded by papers
Experience

Appreciate the comfort
Charmaine's contribution to Stay Home
A kitchen with a noticeboard hanging on the wall
Experience

I want this to last
Jude's contribution to Stay Home
Baby holding bowl up
Experience

A happy family unit
Vicky DT's contribution to Stay Home
View of bookshelves mirror and fireplace
Experience

The smell of a baby's head
Clare and Sandy's contribution to Stay Home
Motorbike in front on arm chair and fish tank
Experience

My feelings haven't changed

Dwight 's contribution to Stay Home
Open laptop with a glass of liquid on the left and papers on the right
Experience

Someone near me smokes weed
Mrs L's contribution to Stay Home
A noticeboard with cuttings from different newspapers about coronavirus
Experience

A communal primal scream
Sylvie's contribution to Stay Home
A group of adults and children sat round in a table in a garden
Experience

A levelling experience

Kerry's contribution to Stay Home
Two cups of tea and a slice of cake on a bench
Experience

Constantly count my blessings
ES's contribution to Stay Home
A person holding a baby behind a window with posters of rainbows in front
Experience

Half of his life in lockdown
G's contribution to Stay Home
person sat in chair in living room with fireplace and plants
Experience

Safety, survival and security
Kirsty's contribution to Stay Home
Note that says 'Dear friend, I hope your ok and your living well and your family is always thinking of you and how kind you're. Stay safe and don't get corona virus.'
Experience

More precious than ever
Hilary M's contribution to Stay Home
Two children at a desk using a desktop computer
Experience

Use our living room for wrestling
Conrad's contribution to Stay Home
Green leaves on a tree against a blue sky
Experience

Some weeks are now blank
Tony S's contribution to Stay Home
A locked playground
Experience

I miss my best friend Jake
Alex's contribution to Stay Home
A dress rail with various items of clothing and accessories hung from it
Experience

He even waved to me
Reenactor's contribution to Stay Home
An adult and a small child laying on an excercise mat
Experience

Our relationships have got stronger
Lahiru's contribution to Stay Home
A door with a sign that reads 'do not open door' in capital letters
Experience

Very good at counting to 10
The Mighty Atom's contribution to Stay Home
A person sat at a table putting together a model building
Experience

More time on hobbies
Ian D's contribution to Stay Home
Colourful chalk writing thanking NHS, police and other key workers
Experience

Mess has been a big thing
Mummy Thompson's contribution to Stay Home
Two children playing with toys on the floor while an adult uses a laptop on the sofa
Experience

Lots of lucid dreams
RW's contribution to Stay Home
A view of the sea out of the window with a sofa and shelving unit in the foreground
Experience

I look forward to small tasks
Michelle LR's contribution to Stay Home
A person sat at a table with a polka dot tablecloth, using a laptop
Experience

Grieving over our lost norms
Jayne T's contribution to Stay Home
A child playing with a chicken on a sofa
Experience

Quarantining with chickens
Daughter no1's contribution to Stay Home
Room cluttered with various objects some in boxes and some on the furniture
Experience

Trying not to love my present home
Viv R's contribution to Stay Home
Person clapping out of an open window
Experience

Good to be all together
Mrs Fisher's contribution to Stay Home
A set of windows with paper covering the lower panes
Experience

Living in mess
Mrs C's contribution to Stay Home
A trail of stars in a dark sky, over the roof of a house
Experience

Many, many stars
Phil's contribution to Stay Home
A sewing machine set up on a table
Experience

Scrubs, washing, ironing
Judith's contribution to Stay Home
Packs of loo roll stacked against a sofa
Experience

A kind of 'prison'
Ruth M's contribution to Stay Home
A child in a park
Experience

Opposite a park
Rebecca's contribution to Stay Home
Two people baking a cake
Experience

Life skills
Mrs B's contribution to Stay Home
Two sofas and a coffee table
Experience

Laughing to avoid crying
Karl D's contribution to Stay Home
A living room with piles of paper, items of furniture and pictures on the walls
Experience

A state of waiting
Julie's contribution to Stay Home
An unmade bed facing a tv, on top of shelves of books
Experience

Friendships have strengthened
Eli M's contribution to Stay Home
A garden table set with a game of backgammon, a book and a bottle of wine
Experience

Absence of the grandchildren echoes
Gareth J's contribution to Stay Home
A child posing with a selection of party food spread across a table
Experience

We've worked out a pattern
Mrs Mill's contribution to Stay Home
A standing person applying hair dye to a seated person, using a brush
Experience

The Nags Head
Susannah's contribution to Stay Home
Two uncooked pizzas on a kitchen counter
Experience

Learning about our interests and qualities
Murray C's contribution to Stay Home
A studio flat with a kettle, small bins and clothes rail
Experience

My own mini flat
Clare's contribution to Stay Home
A white board that reads 'No Entry: do not enter the basement. Always ask mum first. There will be very strict rules: i.e. never touch door handles. Don't go in snug or kitchenette. Do not touch stair rails.'
Experience

Keeping separate from us
Anna's contribution to Stay Home
Piles of medical scrubs on top of an ironing board
Experience

Making scrubs
Sheridan's contribution to Stay Home
Children sat at a table with an adult leading a science lesson
Experience

Almost like a dream
Meg's contribution to Stay Home
Cards for a 50th birthday
Experience

Doing 'bad weather' projects
Faith's contribution to Stay Home
Large brown armchair by the window, view of cars outside
Experience

I miss serving others
Christine's contribution to Stay Home
A person doing exercise using a can of baked beans as a weight
Experience

I feel incredibly blessed
Emily's contribution to Stay Home
The photographer's legs, resting on a low table, wearing fluffy slippers, in front of a television
Experience

The silence is deafening
Alex's contribution to Stay Home
Four people socially distancing in a garden, two on stools, one on a bench and one standing
Experience

Slowed our lives down
TG's contribution to Stay Home
Child in headphones painting a rainbow on a table with red/white polka dot tablecloth
Experience

Intense sense of togetherness
Lucy L's contribution to Stay Home
Red and white stripey deckchair on a private balcony
Experience

Hard to imagine my old routine
Sharon's contribution to Stay Home
Various art items spread over a sofa and floor in the front room
Experience

My grandchildren are writing to me
Amarjit's contribution to Stay Home
Path with grassy verges and a hedge of blackthorn, hawthorn and field maple
Experience

I miss physical people
Lisa's contribution to Stay Home
Large cheese plant next to a yellow lamp and green sofa
Experience

Working well so far
Charlotte's contribution to Stay Home
Person eating a meal at a table with floral tablecloth
Experience

We tidy away all work notebooks
M's contribution to Stay Home
Child lying on sofa with various prints hung on the wall behind
Experience

Looked after by my neighbours
T's contribution to Stay Home
Two people baking a cake
Experience

Life skills
Mrs B's contribution to Stay Home
Two sofas and a coffee table
Experience

Laughing to avoid crying
Karl D's contribution to Stay Home
A living room with piles of paper, items of furniture and pictures on the walls
Experience

A state of waiting
Julie's contribution to Stay Home
An unmade bed facing a tv, on top of shelves of books
Experience

Friendships have strengthened
Eli M's contribution to Stay Home
A garden table set with a game of backgammon, a book and a bottle of wine
Experience

Absence of the grandchildren echoes
Gareth J's contribution to Stay Home
A child posing with a selection of party food spread across a table
Experience

We've worked out a pattern
Mrs Mill's contribution to Stay Home
A standing person applying hair dye to a seated person, using a brush
Experience

The Nags Head
Susannah's contribution to Stay Home
Two uncooked pizzas on a kitchen counter
Experience

Learning about our interests and qualities
Murray C's contribution to Stay Home
A studio flat with a kettle, small bins and clothes rail
Experience

My own mini flat
Clare's contribution to Stay Home
A white board that reads 'No Entry: do not enter the basement. Always ask mum first. There will be very strict rules: i.e. never touch door handles. Don't go in snug or kitchenette. Do not touch stair rails.'
Experience

Keeping separate from us
Anna's contribution to Stay Home
Piles of medical scrubs on top of an ironing board
Experience

Making scrubs
Sheridan's contribution to Stay Home
Children sat at a table with an adult leading a science lesson
Experience

Almost like a dream
Meg's contribution to Stay Home
Cards for a 50th birthday
Experience

Doing 'bad weather' projects
Faith's contribution to Stay Home
Large brown armchair by the window, view of cars outside
Experience

I miss serving others
Christine's contribution to Stay Home
A person doing exercise using a can of baked beans as a weight
Experience

I feel incredibly blessed
Emily's contribution to Stay Home
The photographer's legs, resting on a low table, wearing fluffy slippers, in front of a television
Experience

The silence is deafening
Alex's contribution to Stay Home
Four people socially distancing in a garden, two on stools, one on a bench and one standing
Experience

Slowed our lives down
TG's contribution to Stay Home
Child in headphones painting a rainbow on a table with red/white polka dot tablecloth
Experience

Intense sense of togetherness
Lucy L's contribution to Stay Home
Red and white stripey deckchair on a private balcony
Experience

Hard to imagine my old routine
Sharon's contribution to Stay Home
Various art items spread over a sofa and floor in the front room
Experience

My grandchildren are writing to me
Amarjit's contribution to Stay Home
Path with grassy verges and a hedge of blackthorn, hawthorn and field maple
Experience

I miss physical people
Lisa's contribution to Stay Home
Large cheese plant next to a yellow lamp and green sofa
Experience

Working well so far
Charlotte's contribution to Stay Home
Person eating a meal at a table with floral tablecloth
Experience

We tidy away all work notebooks
M's contribution to Stay Home
Child lying on sofa with various prints hung on the wall behind
Experience

Looked after by my neighbours
T's contribution to Stay Home

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