Silver Linings of a Life in Lockdown

During this isolative period, there have been many highs and lows. For me, there have been far more highs, which is something I am very grateful for because I know some people have found it very difficult. Here are my three favourite things about being in quarantine - my silver linings.

Creating my own schedule has been fantastic! I have loved being able to wake up at 8:30am and immediately just get to work. My timetable that I would usually follow at school is what I have been using to manage my time wisely. If I have English period 1 on a Friday then I will start with English at that time. Isolation has been a great way to have some responsibility in my learning, and to be able to enjoy working from home. It has also been really interesting to sort out somewhat of a routine. When doing school work I follow my timetable which is relatively easy, but at intervals and after school time is where I have really been able to get a little creative. There is pretty much no real routine to what I get up to after 3:20pm and that is what I have enjoyed a lot.

Throughout lockdown, I have become quite the chef and baker. The website “Tasty” has become my new best friend and I am often caught searching up new and delicious concoctions. In the first week of quarantine I took on the challenge of baking macarons... it was, in fact, a disaster. While mixing the batter everything seemed to be going smoothly, the buttercream frosting was delicious and I thought that I had actually mastered macarons on my first try! Boy, was I wrong. As I slid the baking tray out of the oven, a waft of sugar climbed up my nose, I sat down the tray and reached to peel off one of the biscuits. It stuck. The macaron biscuits had stuck to the baking paper! And although this doesn’t seem like a silver lining, it most certainly was. After my macaron mishap, I just kept perfecting my baking skills. Now in the fourth week of lockdown, I can proudly say that I have made delicious banana bread, cupcakes, soft pretzels, coconut biscuits, tahini biscuits, and seed crackers. There is most likely more to come.

I know most people have been missing their friends and hate being alone. For me, I have genuinely liked having a nice, quiet place to work with no talking or crowded hallways or cold classrooms. Being in the comfort of my own home has been so soothing and peaceful. It is going to take an enormous amount of effort to get used to going to school again, and I honestly don’t think I’m ready. I love being at home with everything I need only 2 metres away or just down the hall. Yes, I do miss seeing friends and whatnot, but I don’t miss school in general. Being at home and having that sense of safety is what I like about lockdown. Not to mention being able to eat anything at any time! I have had lots of facetimes with my best friend and that has occurred to be an awesome way of feeling like life is normal. I’m not particularly looking forward to waking up at 7:00am again and rushing to get in the car. Overall quarantine, lockdown, isolation, it has all been very steady and enjoyable for me.

Maya Satake

Lockdown has definitely been the perfect opportunity for more time with my family. I have cherished the delightful weather, completely fitting for all of the outdoor fun that we have had. Familiar pathways were trodden on countless times, although new ones nearby were often explored too. Our legs frequently walking, but also running and pedalling. And although the light often shimmered over us, the streetlights were to be seen too. Especially as the evenings quickly turned cold and dim. However, the stars and non-stop chatter were often there to cause a distraction. And as autumn began to switch on all around us, many heavy-eyed leaves drew their last breath; their crackled bodies occasionally to be defeated by our army of shoes. And so, there was definitely time for a sprinkle of fun. Although, maybe not for my leg to be mistaken as a big pile of leaves…

Back inside the house, laughs and chatter trailed after board games, and even quizzes. A competitive spirit sure to squeeze its way in too.

Bethany Elder

My first major upside of having to stay at home, is that it’s easier to write songs. I’ve always meant to do it, and now I’ve written one! It was a fun process, which took all day, and now I have a drafted song called Where My Heart Lies. It’s about a world where there are strange creatures and nobody knows about them, or the world at all, yet I walk there with ease. It’s about how if you follow your heart, then your own world will show itself to you.

It was fun to make, and I’m still working on it now.

Secondly, the lockdown has given me time to write books. Probably a bit too much time, because at the beginning of the lockdown I was writing about three, maybe four books? I know, it is a bit too much, but I have so many strong ideas, that I need to write them down. Anyway, now I’m writing at least three more.

I’m trying to focus on improving and making one of them at a time better, and more gripping and descriptive.

Lastly, Lizzy the dog loves the extra attention. Whenever any of the family is bored, we go over and cuddle her. And when we’re working, she’ll come over to us and put her head on our lap, waiting for the cuddle. When we go back to school she’ll probably be thinking, “I thought we were past this!” She’s going to get pretty sad. And bored. But she’ll get used to it again. I’m reading A Dog’s Purpose now after finishing Lord of the Rings, and when the dog gets left behind for ‘school’, he gets annoyed, and thinks that he needs to train his family out of the annoying habit. Lizzy will probably think the same thing.

Arrochar Voice

I have done heaps of drawings and improved a lot. It has been very interesting to look back at my old sketchbooks to see how far I've come.

I have gotten to spend more time with my pets I have taught my dog some new tricks and have had heaps of playtime with my rats.

It is always fun to do some baking because I always get to eat something when I'm done. I have made anzac biscuits and mini donuts. I've also made some dog treats!

Madge Inglis