LUKE MARSDEN: This year has changed me

I never thought I would write this sentence, but this is the world we now live in: this week I thought I’d treat myself to a trip to the big Tesco at Central Park.
This pandemic has transformed me into a young Alan Titchmarsh.This pandemic has transformed me into a young Alan Titchmarsh.
This pandemic has transformed me into a young Alan Titchmarsh.

When I arrived, the queue outside was longer than I had the time for, so I quickly jumped back in my car and ventured to a local shop.

Whilst on the drive I found myself noticing things I would never normally look at, how quiet the roads were, the rock bottom price of diesel and the most shocking of them all, the realisation that the trip to Central Park from my home in Whelley was the furthest I’ve actually driven in two months.

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If nothing else, the pandemic has made us notice the little things in life, right?

Seeing as I’m in a confessing mood, I will also reveal to you that I had a lengthy discussion with my neighbour this week on the best techniques to weeding.

To be clear I don’t own a pair of gardening gloves, but I spent 20 minutes discussing different types of weed killer!

This pandemic has transformed me into a young Alan Titchmarsh.

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I met my friend who I’ve not seen since this all started (from a distance) for a walk and I felt like I was on an episode of Long Lost Family. Seeing their face from afar was enough to almost make me well up - and I haven’t done that in about 10 years.

The year 2020 really has changed me.

When the Prime Minister announced the new slogan on Sunday night, many appeared confused about what “stay alert” actually means, but I think I’ve cracked it.

Stay alert to our surroundings (let’s keep washing our hands and keeping our distances).

And alert to the time spent queuing and the amount we pay at the pump!

A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

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