LUKE MARSDEN: I've now spent longer in my own home than the Big Brother house!

I keep hearing the phrase “when things get back to normal” and wonder if this is just something we say to each other now.

I think the more apt phrase that is being used - “the new normal” - is a better one for us all.

Let’s be honest spending so much time in our homes is far from normal.

This week I ordered 2kg bag of pick ‘n’ mix on a whim.

That isn’t normal is it?

Moreover I beat my own record of being locked down in the Big Brother house (58 days). I’ve now spent longer on lockdown in my own home than I did in the infamous bungalow!

Only when I do leave my house for unlimited exercise, Davina McCall isn’t there to interview me about my journey in my home.

My friend and I went on a socially distanced walk up to Haigh Hall. I became very aware of the 2m social distancing rule so much so that whenever I thought she breached it, I would repel backwards like a magnet.

I do think this is the definition of “staying alert”.

I’ve had more Zoom calls interrupted by parcel deliveries this week than I’ve had cups of tea (and I’ve had a lot of those!) I’ve even found myself watching (for a ridiculous amount of time) an overweight pigeon that was attempting to reach my bird feeder. Neither the pigeon nor I will ever get that time back but unlike the pigeon at least I ate that day.

What I would like to see carry on into the “new normal” is our Thursday night tradition of heading into our drives and clapping for our frontline workers, on my street it’s great to see more neighbours come out each week and it remains despite 2kg of pick ‘n’ mix to tuck into, a weekly highlight.

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