From Covid Isolation into the Storm!

Sarah Allen • February 19, 2022

As my self-isolation due to Covid was ending Storm Eunice was battering the South West. Even if I could get out I couldn't! I started isolating 11 days ago, I had symptoms: a sore throat but nothing else. I probably wouldn't have isolated if my family had not all been getting positive lateral flow tests, one by one the 2 lines appeared. Mine carried on being negative but their symptoms started with a sore throat and several days later the cough appeared. I knew where this was heading and suspected I already had Covid. Strangely it was a bit of a relief, a chance to retreat and not be plagued with decisions about what to do or where to go! With no questions about what we were doing for the weekend, we set up our hot tub in the garden (powered through our green electricity tariff) and settled back into relax mode. Now don't get me wrong, I know Covid is not like this for everyone. We are all fully vaccinated apart from my youngest daughter who is too young. We had mild symptoms and have the privilege of a comfortable house in which to sit them out. In some respects this was less isolating for me than the experience I have been going through for the last 17 months. A couple of days before symptoms appeared, I was in bed almost all day struggling with the exhaustion of trying to rebuild my life after cancer. The day before I cried due to the sheer exhaustion and isolation of it all. So, to then get Covid symptoms it was a bit of a relief to have something tangible, with a definite end point in sight (I know for some it is not like this). To focus on the Covid recovery, some how, placed less strain on me to recover from cancer. Don't get me wrong it wasn't all a spa-like retreat! As I took my Covid test on day 9, hoping just hoping for a walk the following day, the very faint second line appeared and I cried. Schools shut down around this moment as Storm Eunice was coming and with a red weather warning it really was time to hunker down, once more, and sit out the storm.

However, today I am on day 12. Current government guidelines state this is the time I no longer need to test for Covid and can finally leave the house! I wanted adventure, to explore a part of Devon I've not been to yet but I woke tired, my husband was struggling as well and with a yellow weather warning we decided to stick closer to home. With the mention of going out for breakfast, the children piped up "McDonalds!". This seemed like an easy option. We headed to the drive through for hash browns, pancakes and no cutlery please! We were in our camper van and certainly didn't need the single-use plastic knives and forks. We headed from the relatively calm of the outskirts of Exmouth to the wilds of Budleigh Salterton! The storm was still battering the coastline, with waves crashing on the beach and a few brave walkers getting pushed around by the wind. I poured out the tea from my flask and ate my pancakes with my metal cutlery, watching the gulls attempting to fly through the head wind - freedom!

On the way home we could finally stock up on a few items. The main one being guinea-pig supplies, namely wood shavings. Since swapping the piggies out of their cage and permanently into their run we hardly ever need to buy this as we only need it for their litter tray. As always, a trip to Pets at Home includes spending most of the time looking at the guinea-pigs with wishes of getting more!

Across the road is Home Bargains, a shop which appeals to the kids so we had a little browse. It's somewhere you can pick up a few staples like bread, cheese and cereal as well as plastic-free chocolate. Soap is almost down to nothing at home so I was pleased to spot some in cardboard, though containing palm oil it won't become a regular purchase.

Returning home from our not very adventurous outing it was, of course time for a cup of tea. I've just picked up the book 'Dougnut Economics' by Kate Raworth again which offers an alternative economic roadmap for bringing humanity into a sweet spot that meets the needs of all within the means of the planet. Have you read it?

Thank you so much to my fabulous members who support my work.
Become a member and help Rhubarb and Runner Beans grow! Learn More about how to become a member and about exclusive rewards such as access to all my newspaper columns or support on your eco-friendly journey.

Become a Patron!

< Older Post Newer Post >

Mail

Community Hub tackling Climate Change

By Sarah Allen • July 16, 2025

2nd May 2027

Beavers Return

By Sarah Allen • June 20, 2025

Are there really beavers living close to where I live?

Walking Through Treacle

By Sarah Allen • October 1, 2024

My shoulders ache; my body is tired. The smallest of tasks feel mammoth. My body craves rest but my mind has different ideas. It wants me to think, work out what to do, problem-solve and worry. I fight to quieten it but the truth is I haven't enough energy. I haven't even enough energy to put on a load of washing in the machine but my kids need clean school shirts. I haven't enough energy to make packed lunches but my kids need to eat. I check what homework they have got, lay the table for dinner, load the dishwasher, make sure the guinea-pigs are fed. My husband, thankfully, makes dinner otherwise I don't know how we would eat. The entire day is like walking through treacle. I cry in sheer exhaustion. The bare minimum is too much. Then I repeat this day after day, year after year. This is surviving, getting through each moment, each day, each year until many have passed and I can no longer remember how living truly feels. How it felt to have cancer-related fatigue and cancer-related PTSD. Thankfully, I don't have many days like this any more, though I can have a run of them during times of stress, when menstruating and after socialising (I'm still not used to it and find it very tiring). The cancer-related fatigue has gone but my energy levels are still a lot lower than they were before my cancer diagnosis and I'm impacted by PTSD on an, almost, daily basis. This has lessened and is becoming more manageable but is triggered by stress and tiredness. You can see the cycle I can get trapped in here. I'm sharing this during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness of the long-term impacts of being someone who has had cancer. Also, please check your breasts /chest. It's tough living with the impacts, mostly mental and emotional now, of cancer but I'm, of course, very grateful to be here. Early detection of cancer means outcomes are likely to be better. I found my breast cancer by chance whilst washing . Don't leave it to chance, check today and make it a monthly routine.

Living in a car-free locality

By Sarah Allen • September 6, 2024

In a world of car-dominating towns and cities, what happens if people, plants and animals are put first?

A Sister Circle for Beltane

By Sarah Allen • May 6, 2024

Sand Everywhere!

By Sarah Allen • April 30, 2024

I'm eating it, crunching it between my teeth. It's on my coffee cup, it's in my hair and my eyes. My phone has a sprinkle of it's grittiness and so has my coat! It's covering the road and is continuing to swirl across from the beach, Coating my camper van, no doubt! The beach has been flattened. It looks smooth and new. Footprints covered as soon as they are made. A few brave walkers head into the wind, hoods up and heads bowed, Walking with determination. Nature is powerful and strong in all her wildness.

Rewilding Our Gardens

By Sarah Allen • April 26, 2024

I'm going to share a little about my garden, in case you are interested and so you might be able to support me in rewilding it and making it more nature friendly. The back garden is mostly lawn. We need to keep it that way as half of it is used for the guinea-pig run, rotating it every few days. This half has currently got lots of lesser celandine, which are good for pollinators. The plant mostly dies off by the time its warm enough for the guinea-pigs to be outside. I have to pull up any remaining plants and anything else that is toxic for them to eat. The other half is wilder and left uncut. A greater variety of plants grow including daisies and ragwort. We keep it as lawn so a tent can be put up for the kids. I also like to put a blanket down and sit on it (once it's drier). Around the edges of the lawn is left fairly wild but we also grow strawberries. The strawberry patch was used by hedgehogs last year to forage for invertebrates, I should think because it was unweeded it provided a lot more for them. Though, I may have to weed it a bit this year to allow the strawberry plants to grow. The front garden was block paved by previous owners. I've got pots growing food and some with flowers. I'd like to increase the amount of food I grow in this area. I use the front garden for this as it has lots of sunshine. I'd also like to increase the plants for pollinators and have bees and butterflies constantly flying from flower to flower. That's me, how about you? What's your garden like? Extract from the Changemaker membership which I run from my Patreon page (there's also a private FB group). We are starting our new focus: Rewilding our gardens and incorporating rest as we move into the, often, busier seasons of spring and summer. It's a form of gentle activism within a supportive community and you're invited! Join for 7 days (it's free!), a month, all spring or more. Any questions? Just ask.