. . . when your GCSEs have been cancelled by Abigail Whitehead (Year 11)

SUNNY skies, green trees, spring birdsong, flowers coming into blossom and the hum of bees, the only thing missing from this image is any people out to enjoy it.

Another day in lockdown is… much like the last really, and the one before it, and the one before that. I suppose we just have to keep calm and carry on, as best we can. Sporadic, would be an apt way of describing the new routines, while certain activities like meals remain unchanged, all the pieces in between get jumbled and mixed around as enthusiasm ebbs and flows.

Some days I feel pleased that I’ve been really productive: practising instruments and completing jobs around the house. Other days I’m deep in lethargy and struggle to find the will to do anything much.

On a positive note, I now have the time to make the most of the garden and the sunny weather (up until recently, that is).

A veritable portfolio of paintings and drawings are now pinned up around my room and one could hope that I might be improving. Books that I’ve been meaning to read for months have provided some escape also.

Strangely, working from home has only led to my parents doing more hours. I help where I can, making lunch and preparing dinner.

Being the only one in the household with nothing to do can be a trifle lonely at times since my brother is in his room completing class work and my parents are holed up in the study working.

Fortunately, although I sometimes lack human company, I am rarely without one, if not two, dogs to snore, snuffle and sneeze at me. Perhaps I talk to them more than normal — I certainly get odd looks from my mother — but their companionship is certainly worth it.

Dog walking provides a welcome distraction when approaching the subject of home schooling. As I am stuck between GSCEs, that are no longer happening, and A-levels that haven’t started yet, it only adds to the all-pervading sense of limbo. This makes persuading myself to sit down and do any valuable learning a test of self-discipline when it would be so easy to grab a drink, a snack, play a game, go outside, read a book, watch a film and so many other things rather than school work.

One coping mechanism is to intersperse studying with more fun activities like practising the piano or drawing a picture.

Keeping busy has definitely been the key to avoiding boredom in lockdown even if it is simple tasks and challenges you set yourself or take part in.

Patience will definitely be needed in abundance before lockdown is lifted. When lockdown is eased I hope everyone will continue supporting one another as they are now. If anything, lockdown has shown us what aspects of our lives we take for granted and should make us all more grateful, when we can resume them.