Move over to the legs!

I began writing this blog in the summer of 2020, little expecting it would turn out to be what it became. Which was something quite magical, and taught me at least one valuable lesson: that true happiness is often achieved through being happy with what you have - and perhaps not continually striving for more. …

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“In London the streets were so deserted I could walk up Piccadilly and Regent Street and stand in the middle of Oxford Circus.”

Tracy's Story: There were only police cars and empty buses doggedly following their routes in case an essential worker needed them.

“There was a Rector who I think had read too much Trollope or something. He kept sheep and cattle around every corner, and a pig called Augusta.”

Sara's Piddlehinton story: They were always escaping. I remember one day waking up and there were about forty sheep on my lawn.

“I think one day there won’t be no Travellers. It will just finish. Just like the dragons… or whatever, died out.”

Mary Margaret's Piddlehinton Story: But we’re survivors, aren’t we, and it makes me proud that we can survive through anything: living on a roadside, with no electricity, no water, not heating, no food. I’m proud of how them traditions get passed on.

“Calling us Gypsies is fine, but we call ourselves Romany Travellers because some of them, like wi’ me, used to roam.”

Morris's Piddlehinton Story: If they give to me and my family then I’ve gotta give something back. That is me. To me I’ve got a heart. I like to help people, not to hurt people.

“We have to put our trust in scientists. Personally, I’d rather put my trust in them than anyone else.”

Des's Piddlehinton story: The process is so well regulated, and I don’t get the sense they’re completely baffled about what to do.

I believe that everyone being in a state of fear is completely wrong. It’s taking away our power of healing.’

Magdalena's Piddlehinton Story: But actually, I am a very positive person. I feel that after the bottom line there will be an up – but I don’t know where will be the bottom line for the world yet.

“What I have now realised is that inactivity creates low points for me, particularly when it’s forced.”

Rupert's Piddlehinton Story: Although, while I hate saying there there’s ever a positive to a deal falling through, absolutely 100% I wouldn’t want to be in a big-rent pub at this particular moment.

“I wonder if life will just go back to how it was before. I think there’s the risk that we don’t remember how lovely it was when things slowed.”

Tracey and Pete's Piddlehinton Stories: We still dance in the kitchen. We put on our Country and Western music and dance around the island, usually on a Sunday morning.

“Working from home, if you’re interested in the environment then turn off the video. It demands a lot more capacity.”

Bev, Nickie and Emily's Piddlehinton Stories: It’s very rare, as a lawyer, that you have to deal with a proper force majeure and that’s been very interesting.

“I did enjoy going on the BBC, although I thought I made a right boob of it.”

Jim's Piddlehinton Story: I think it’s wonderful that they all took notice, I couldn’t believe it.

“Wearing the PPE hood meant I had a constant wooshing noise in my ears, as well as trying to listen to the hand-over or my patients’ vital signs. It was claustrophobic and exhausting.”

Abi's Piddlehinton Story: But things like the village leaving flowers on my doorstep? Hell yeah, that made such a difference to me.

“I suppose I’d say, with St Paul, that with whatever situation I find myself in, I’ve learnt therewith to be content.”

Alan's Piddlehinton Story: Mary and I met when I was... probably sixteen? I guess we’ve now been together more than sixty years.

“Whenever there’s been a disaster, in re-forming the pieces one does have the opportunity to make the world better.”

Imani's Piddlehinton Story: Although I think probably the hardest thing for young people is wondering, ‘Am I ever going to have sex again?'

“Re-opening in July, we’d worked out we’d lose £60,000 by the end of the year.”

Emma-Jayne and Michal's Piddlehinton Stories: But when we see what's happened to friends in the trade, we know we're the lucky ones.

“I was so worried, thinking we’d kill each other. But it was all actually ok.”

Elise's Piddlehinton Story: We're a strange bunch really. We do fit in but we're always... we're not rural, we're not second homers, who are we?

“Although I feel that Covid took my business away from me, at the same time I feel it’s what we needed.”

Tracey and Holly's Piddlehinton Stories: I have been very materialistic - very orientated towards earning money to provide, to give the kids as much as I could. The virus has made me think, actually there's more important things than work.

“I’m probably the best-known opera singer ever to come out of Barnsley”

John's Piddlehinton Story: Sadly, I think that the opera I knew won't exist post Covid. No more spending £5 million on a new production of just four or five shows.

“Having to do everything on our own has made us feel empowered as new parents.”

Juno's Piddlehinton Story: I was on a ward that was eerily quiet, with every person I saw wearing full PPE. So I was really touched when a nurse took her mask off at the doorway so that I could see just one person's face.