OPINION: Holidays on hold as lockdown long-haul forces a fresh look at the world

Well, here we are in a new year that, at the moment at least, looks depressingly similar to the last one, writes Karen Anderson.

I know that we do have that faint light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine programme rolling out and that does change the focus somewhat, but it still does not seem like the time for making resolutions.

My perennial crusade to lose a stone or so can hardly be called a resolution because I am at it all year round with little success. So, I should really save my resolutions for something more inspiring and achievable. Therefore, I am going to defer making any decision on what to go for this year until Easter at the earliest.

Yesterday, I had the disappointing job of postponing another holiday. The boy and I have got into the habit of going away together for five nights or so in February each year, leaving the hubby to fend for himself and enjoy a brief window of peace and full control of the remote! I can’t complain as we have found a great holiday apartment in an ideal location for his mate to be able to cycle over in the evenings, and for me to walk to my beloved Kelpies every morning before breakfast.

The good news is that I have just changed the dates to August rather than cancelling altogether – living in hope that things will have improved sufficiently by then. My favourite horsey sculptures sparkle in sunshine and look fabulous against a summer cornflower blue sky just as much as their metallic grandeur stands proud against the glowering winter greyness in February. They always fascinate me and bring joy.

I had a very strange lockdown experience this week. Our car needed its annual service and MOT which required a visit to Inverness. I haven’t been to town since the Sunday before Christmas, so I was looking forward to it. I booked online and the dealership called me almost immediately to chat through the steps I needed to take. At this point I discovered my trip was not going to be the pleasant solo day I normally enjoy – no entry to the garage; an appointment to drop off and another to collect; nowhere open to go and sit with a book and have a cuppa or a nice lunch; no access to my sister for a chat and another cuppa in her work or lunch out together.

What do you do in lockdown when you can’t go home and there is nowhere open?

Well, I went for a long walk beside the canal which was remarkably busy with walkers and cyclists. Inverness is so blessed with the canal and river to walk along. I find walking beside water is food for my soul. Then up to good old M&S for a salad box and a juice to recharge on the move, more walking culminating with the journey back to the garage for the car which had passed its test thankfully.

I was incredibly lucky with the weather – all wrapped up against the cold, but no rain to mar the five hours I was out and about. Had I been drenched in the first hour, things would have been quite different and quite miserable. The weird spectacle of shuttered shops still showing their Christmas windows was unsettling. I will never underestimate the privilege of being able to go into a warm shop or café in the winter again!

Karen is Mum to an autistic teenager and campaigns for the rights of unpaid carers to be supported in their caring role and involved in the decisions that affect their lives and the lives of the people they care for. You can find her on twitter @Karen4Carers.

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