11th May 2020

May 11, 2020

In a way, everything has changed but nothing has changed.

I’ve still got a routine despite the pub not being open. My mum and Dad wouldn’t allow me not to!

I’m still up early, no sleeping all day for me. Once we are all up, we go downstairs get breakfast and morning coffee sorted while Jack has a lie in which these days seem to be getter longer and later. Then we go straight outside into the garden. We’ve tried to spend as much time as possible in the garden, as there will be many times when its less feasible.

It’s been a nice but challenging experience spending time together as a family. It’s not something we’ve done for this period of time. My husband and I generally work opposite shifts to each other so I guess you could say that's why we've been married so long (23yrs) and although I live and work with my parents we actually don't spend that much time together. We’re doing things together as a family like eating meals and watching TV series’, decorating and providing a takeaway service of meals. It’s strange falling into a pattern that is deemed normal but not normal for me.

I’ve been at the pub for such a long time that a lot of the customers are my friends. Despite not seeing them like we are used to, I’m still in touch with them. I’ve been in touch with one of the characters every day and they amuse me with their stories of mishaps and tales of their day.

It’s amazing to see what some customers have being doing to keep themselves active and to stop boredom in its tracks. Some customers have been wishing us well and seeing if there is any way they can support the pub and us as individuals, setting up chat groups so they can try to keep a level of ordinariness through this far from ordinary time that we are living in. The takeaway side of the business is booming and has been a lifeline for the pub. I've been completely overwhelmed at the support we have received. Its wonderful to think that in some way we are contributing to the community.

From a personal point of view, I miss the pub. I miss my colleagues, I miss the customers, and of course I miss the beer and breweries that we deal with. But the break has been good for me. The job as a director/chef is an all-encompassing life that can be 24/7, and often means putting others before yourself. It’s been nice to recharge the batteries a little bit and have some time to reflect.

I think we’ll all come back with renewed vigour and feeling stronger than ever.

Take care and see you all soon. Kerry