Locking Down Memories – In a Rapidly Changing World
We are living through such strange times; the world has not lived through a major pandemic for more than a hundred years and here we are experiencing something extraordinary. Our lives in lockdown feel at times totally surreal like we are just taking part in an eery film or a really scary dream, nothing feels real. We step outside our homes to walk on roads devoided of the usual chaotic traffic, town centers that are deserted, shops, and restaurants closed.
What is even more incredible about the current situation is that it is a worldwide event, we are globally sharing in misfortune. We hear news from other countries and there are so many similarities to what is happening here in our own backyards. The world is rapidly changing; keeping up and adapting is the only way to survive.
Collectively we are gathering a global catalog of memories, as our planet faces the biggest challenge of our time. What will be the lingering memories that will stay with us when looking back at this period of our lives? And as we learn to adjust to this new set of circumstances we are also finding time to re-evaluate old behaviors.
For sure, this ephemeral period of our lives will be remembered by many as a life-defining moment. Sadly also a time of immense pain for the loss of loved ones.
One day in the future, we will be placing ourselves at an exact moment or an activity that will take us back in time, to when the whole world was fighting a virus, the Coronavirus Pandemic. Could any of us have ever imagined that we would be living through such a unique set of circumstances?
COVID-19 Has Changed Our World
Without downplaying the awful tragedy of a world pandemic, there have been some interesting and very fast developments that have made our lives under lockdown feel even more surreal. In the space of a just few weeks technology has progressed at an astonishingly fast pace.
The slogan “Living together apart” describes this remarkable time in which our physical spaces have been transformed with our social and working lives now lived online. Technology has been used more than ever to keep us together. We are reconfiguring our lives to fit around the constraints of quarantine.
Every day we communicate with our loved ones via the internet, and video calls have become normal. Social distance is likely to stay with us for many months or even years. Even my mother-in-law is now a video-call pro and at the tender age of 89, she has finally accepted becoming part of the online generation. It has made a big difference to her since she lives alone, and being able to see the family via video calls has really improved her quality of life.
A virtual 25th birthday party for Jamie.
Life under lockdown has sparked a rise in “virtual parties”, even virtual pubs are popping up online, and the good news here is that you don’t need to queue to get a drink. Brian and I have recently been invited to a “Zoom” birthday party, it was only a very small group of friends, so not the raving parties that have been happening elsewhere. This type of party is probably great for introverts who can just disconnect whenever they feel like it and maybe just pretend that there is a bad connection. Who knows if this trend will end once lockdown is over, for me, nothing beats a real-life house party and face-to-face interactions.
With a simple click, we can share a lot of information online, often with the unfortunate result of poor filtering of misinformation and all the dangers that it entails.
But who can blame the poorly informed public for sharing fake news, when we see a certain world leader peddling out “cures” such as the use of disinfectant to combat the coronavirus? He suggested that injecting patients with disinfectants might help treat coronavirus. The world reacted with shock and horror.
Soon the debacle went viral, generating internet memes with funny videos and photos making headlines around the world. This event has not been great re-election propaganda for him, but at least if he does not get the job of President in a few month’s time, he can always reinvent himself as the face of the disinfectant industry.
Unfortunately, recent events have also seen a rise in racism, xenophobia, bigotry, injustice, and intolerance which are currently rife on social media.
The Effects on Physical and Mental Health
Change and uncertainty can cause a lot of stress, anxiety, and fear. Particularly for the most vulnerable in our society. Social isolation, job insecurities, fear of catching the virus, and developing a serious illness, etc will all have a huge impact on mental health. The fast pace of change brought about by the coronavirus pandemic has caught many by surprise.
People are feeling cut off from their families, friends, and even help from mental health professionals is not easily available. The current restrictions and self-isolation can have a profound and long term impact on mental health. More than ever there is a great need for the government to set clear guidelines and interventions sooner rather than later.
Money and resources are urgently needed to make an early impact on what could become another and even more deadly global pandemic. The World Health Organization has recently released advice on “Protecting your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak”. It is worth checking out their website.
The Fear of a Global Recession
Whilst it is far too early to make concrete predictions at what the negatives and/or positives will result from the coronavirus pandemic, there is some indication that leads us to believe that society will have some dramatic changes. The way we work, learn, communicate, socialize, exercise, the way we consume and buy goods has changed, but how many of these changes will be sustained once lockdown is over, is anyone’s guess.
It is, however, clear that the world economy will suffer a huge negative impact. As always some industries will no doubt prosper during the crisis, taking advantage of the situation, and being fast to adapt. But on the other hand, many will suffer great losses and go under. The possibility of a global recession is no doubt one of the greatest threats to our way of life. And how many deaths, and how much suffering, will be an indirect COVID impact from a stalled economy providing less money for health care and social needs? As always, the less well off will bear the brunt across the globe.
The Impact On Travelling
So many world economies rely heavily on tourism, but since the coronavirus outbreak, all destinations worldwide had to introduce traveling restrictions, resulting in the most severe international and domestic travel restrictions in history. Tourism decline has been a driving force for job losses all over the world, as the travel industry has been badly damaged and recovery is unlikely to be anytime soon.
Until a vaccine or other ways of controlling the spread of the virus becomes available the free movement of people will continue to be restricted. Experts predict that domestic traveling is likely to be the first to return to normal, albeit with changes in the way we do things, with new safety and health protocols being developed. Coronavirus testing, the use of digital technology such as mobile phone apps for easy contact and tracking measures, the use of face-covering, social distancing, and hand sanitizing will be at the forefront of any travel unlocking strategy.
Moving forward travel companies will have to sell not only travel dreams but also safety and support.
The impact on our personal lives here in Dorset
Since returning from our 10-week backpacking travels in South East Asia we are staying put at our home in Dorset.
Our pretty coastal town has seen livelier days.
Unusual images of a place in lockdown.
Soon after the lockdown started we both felt that it was important for our physical and mental well being to keep our day structured and anchored around certain activities. We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, there are lots of pretty walking trails, public gardens, and white sandy beaches within walking distance from us. Therefore we go out most days for a walk, run, or cycle, although always following social distancing and all government guidelines.
Running, walking, or cycling along here is what keeps us sane.
The rest of our day is spent reading, writing, house chores, cooking, watching TV, listening to music, and online talking to friends and family. There are so many great series on Netflix, Amazon Prime, BritBox, and even just on the normal TV channels to keep us entertained. Some of the series we have thoroughly enjoyed recently and are happy to recommend are, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, Ozark, Sex Education, and Broadchurch. To have a vicarious travel fix we love Race Across the World, and Great Railway Journeys (with Michael Portillo).
Believe it or not, the day usually goes so fast, and soon it is bedtime again. Some days do feel a bit like groundhog day and we talk about the good old days of being able to travel freely.
Our home town of Bournemouth would usually be full of tourists at this time of the year, but currently, the message for visitors is “stay home”, as hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. are remaining closed. The town center looks deserted, with only a few people walking around, although in recent days I have noticed numbers increasing a little. No one knows what the long term impact will be, but the British High Street will for sure look very different once this pandemic is over.
We miss hanging out and having a drink at some of our favorite outdoor cafes.
The recent warm and sunny weather has also brought more people to the beach, although numbers of sunbathers are nothing like what we would usually see in the Spring here. Even during the Easter Bank Holiday, most people stayed away.
Sunny day, but empty beaches.
The supermarket in town usually has a queue outside, with only a few people allowed in at a time, there has been also a one-way system implemented and marked areas of 2 meters apart for people to ensure social distancing. We are encouraged to pay with a card rather than cash at the cashpoint.
Unlike South East Asia, where wearing a face mask is commonplace, here in our area only very recently are we starting to see more people choosing to wear a face mask when they step outside.
A deserted town center. A shopper wearing a mask is not something we regularly see here in our area.
Although it might become compulsory to wear a facemask on public transport once lockdown measures start to be relaxed, research does not confirm that it is protective enough, but it might be a case for giving people more confidence when out and about. Although it is important to make sure that face masks are prioritized for health care workers and front line staff.
Our travel plans for touring Europe by motorhome are on hold, for now. When traveling within the UK is allowed again we would like to visit Brian’s mother in Edinburgh and also to see our adult children. We have not seen them since early January. It is unlikely that we will be doing any international traveling in 2020, but if domestic traveling becomes an option we would certainly grab the opportunity, as long as we feel that it is safe to do so.
Our motorhome (our home-on-wheels) has been in storage since October last year. Getting it back on the road and touring the UK would be a great option for us and something we would love to do. Only time will tell if that could be a possibility. Patience is the name of the game, for now, since we need to wait for non- essential travel to be allowed. Meanwhile, there is nothing stopping us from researching and planning all the travel possibilities that are awaiting us.
When will lockdown be over?
At present, there is no cure or even a vaccine to protect us from developing the respiratory disease that can result from becoming infected with the coronavirus.
In a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus and protect the UK National Health Service from becoming overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients requiring hospital care, the UK went into lockdown on April 23rd, 2020.
The lockdown measures were reviewed and then extended since April 16th for another 3 weeks until May 7th, 2020.
Since the lockdown has started, every day most of us watch the daily government briefings with anticipation and hope for signs of a decline in the spread of the virus and a fall in the number of coronavirus related deaths. The PM Boris Johnson has recently announced that the UK has reached the peak of the epidemic and we should now start seeing a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The UK government has now set out 5 key tests that would need to be passed before lockdown measures can start being relaxed:
1 – The NHS’s ability to cope is protected – This test has already been met, since hospitals have not been overwhelmed by patients so far in this pandemic, and large cities like London, Manchester, Cardiff, Belfast, etc. bed capacity has been greatly extended by the opening of the new NHS Nightingale Hospitals.
2- There is a sustained and consistent fall in COVID-19 deaths – Scientists estimate that the UK death toll has peaked and we will now start seeing a decline in the total number of deaths.
3 – Virus infection is at a manageable level – In the UK infection rate or rather the “R” value, is now thought to be somewhere between 0.5 and 1, meaning that each person infected with the virus passes it on to less than one other person. This is good news since it means that the total number of cases is falling.
4 – We are meeting PPE and testing challenges with supply able to meet future demand – Concerns over shortage of PPE remains, particularly in some care settings, like care-homes. After a slow start testing capacity has increased to about 100,000 per day, as per the government target set for the end of April 2020.
5 – We are confident of no second wave of infections – PM Boris Johnson has declared that he would not risk a second peak in the disease by relaxing restrictions too quickly.
The UK contact-tracing app is currently being trialed in the Isle of Wight (IOW). The use of the app is voluntary, the aim of the app is to identify and alert people who have come into contact with a person infected with the coronavirus. The UK app will use a centralized model, meaning the matching process will take place on a computer server. An alternative, decentralized model was put forward by Apple and Google, where the exchange happens on people’s handsets. Some countries like Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, etc. have already been using it extensively.
The trial will help NHSX test how well the system works in practice, as well as judge how willing a population is to install and use the software. The IOW is thought to be the ideal place to trial the app since it has a large population and the added benefit that traveling on and off the island is relatively restricted.
If all 5 above tests are met, lockdown measures in the UK should start being relaxed, we will hear more about what the plan is likely to look like this coming weekend. The “road map” for easing lockdown measures is due to be published on Sunday.
Public gardens near our home give us a sense of tranquility
Whatever plan is set out in the next few days to ease the lockdown measures, one thing is for sure, the coronavirus pandemic will be far from over.
I enjoyed reading this post Gilda. I have been missing your posts. Seeing Bournemouth so deserted brought a lump to my throat. It is said that in nature the animal that survives, is not the strongest, or the most beautiful, or even the most intelligent but the most adaptable. So adapt we must. By finding joy in the simpler things in life, developing a healthier relationship with ourselves and others, we may find a reservoir of abundance just within ourselves waiting for us.
Stay safe, stay well and stay hopeful.
We cannot avoid the current unexpected set of events, that are challenging our way of life in such a dramatic way. Our world is changing so fast, we can’t hide and hope it will go away. But take it as an opportunity to learn and grow. We are learning about the answers together, it is reassuring to know that we are all part of a global effort to adapt and survive. Yes for “finding joy in the simpler things in life”. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
The world has indeed changed. Sometimes it feels like l am seeing a really bad movie. Thankfully, it hasn’t been that major a transition for us since we do tend to be homebodies when not traveling. I am indeed happy that we have a balcony and our view is of green and light comes in. Had we been in our old apartment, I wouldn’t have been so cheery since it got little light. So nice that you have the trail and can go out without running into too many people. Must be nice. It will be interesting to see how this is going to pan out as far as travel and borders being open. We have friends who went back to visit family in Australia and are now stuck there, paying for their flat here still, so it’s turning into quite the expensive vacation for them. Stay safe, we will look back on this, and hopefully learn a lesson or two.
Kemkem, the fast pace of changing has been mind boggling. Like you I often feel that this whole thing is just a bad movie, anytime now the lights will go on and it will be a sign saying “The End”. I am so glad you have a lovely apartment with a balcony and lots of light. I bet the dogs are loving having you home all the time now? You guys had much stricter rules in Spain, here we get to go out to exercise daily. But I guess having the dogs gives you the opportunity to take them out for a walk and have some exercise yourselves. Such a shame about your friends who are now stuck in Australia, yep it will cost them. I have been enjoying your Podcasts, keep going and keep safe.
What a great post Gilda. Where you live looks so charming despite the quarantine. Is it a touristy area normally? We will have to visit the area when we are based in Spain. Stay safe! Cheers!
Thank you guys :), quarantine here in the South of England has not been too bad. It is such a beautiful region and yes, you definitely have to come and explore. There are beautiful landscapes and many cultural sites to enjoy. Have you been to the UK at all? Keep well and safe, lets hope that traveling will resume in a not too distant future.
Gilda, it’s good to hear from you. We are also lucky to live in a beautiful place and have some freedom of movement allowed. We have fared well through it all and love having our kids with us, working from our home instead of their tiny condo in Miami. Every day brings a new adjustment, but it has been worth it to keep us all safe. Technology has been a godsend and I don’t know if I would have been as tolerant without it. FYI, no one with a brain listens to the boob in residence at the WH, but unfortunately there are many who seem to have misplaced theirs. This thing is not going away quickly, and the ramifications will be far reaching. I think life in the future is going to be very restrictive, but necessary.
Suzanne, how lovely to hear from you. Living near the ocean does make lockdown a lot easier, particular if you still have some freedom of movement and can go for long walks along the sea front. I can imagine where you live sounds beautiful. Fantastic that you have your kids with you. Our son is working from his home in London, but he loves there and he is happy. Our daughter has her own flat in Brighton, but again being by the seaside she takes long beautiful walks daily. We do miss seeing them and can’t wait for some of the restrictions to be lifted. Definitely thank goodness for technology, we can stay in touch with our loved ones. Mr. T does give us a good laugh when he decides to let his big ego get the better of him. Take care Suzanne and thank you for visiting, I will pop over to visit you soon.
Terrific post, Gilda. When we come out of this pandemic I believe we will all have a very different perspective on life in general and certainly on how we travel. We like to think of ourselves as always prepared, but we’ve definitely learned a few lessons through all of this.
We’ve definitely adapted a new lifestyle through our stay-at-home days, I believe we’re on #52. We have everything we want/need delivered to our door and we found a young woman who does our grocery shopping. She’s been a huge help. We are isolating, as are our son and DIL so that we can continue to take care of our grandson while his parents work from home. Even if our governor lifts the stay-at-home mandates we won’t be going anywhere for months to come.
As for the story of the “president” who floated the idea of disinfectant… my suggestion is to not believe any information put out by the White House, or his so-called task force. Listen only to Dr. Fauci and other scientists. But, you probably already know that. Our numbers are MUCH worse than what’s being reported in an effort to create the facade that the US is coming out of the worst of the crisis. We believe the worst is yet to come because people are pushing out and numbers are soaring.
Life as we knew it will never again be the same. This could be a good thing, or a not-so-good thing. In the US there is a lot riding on the upcoming election.
Take care and stay healthy!
Patti, thank you! For sure we were not well prepared for this pandemic, even though experts knew for years that something like this would happen. But as always governments don’t like to invest on prevention and now we are all suffering the consequences. I think here in the UK we will have a public inquiry when it is all over, not so much as to point the finger of blame, but to ensure we learn the lessons.
I have been following your lockdown diaries on FB, sounds like you have it sussed and are doing very well indeed. I think we are all learning how to be content within ourselves and with the simpler things in life.
Mr. Fauci is a man who knows what he is talking about, for sure. It is a shame that Mr. T. lets his big ego get in the way of making any sense. Bring on the elections and I will keep fingers crossed for a good result.
Look after yourselves and keep writing your fabulous blog.
so much to absorb, so much we are experiencing right now. Few people will emerge the same as they went in…
Andy, I couldn’t agree more, we will all be deeply changed by this global pandemic. We are starting to realize now, that there are no quick fixes, we are in this for the long run. Keep well.
These are indeed strange times Gilda and it’s hard to predict what the new “normal” will be regarding travel, lifestyles and work, social norms and etiquette, etc. Perhaps – after illness, death and economic devastation – the uncertainty of what our future will look like and the inability to make any plans is the hardest thing to adjust to during this pandemic. And of course, not knowing how long this will continue … Patience is indeed the name of the game and I wish you continued health as well as continued optimism during these difficult times. Sending a hug and a hope that one day our paths will cross!
So true Anita, we need to have abundance of Patience. No point on trying to hurry things along, it just makes us feel even more frustrated. We just have to accept that our lives have changed, the world has changed and we need to adapt. It is hard though, particularly for most vulnerable in our society. Take care my friend, I will be looking forward to when our paths will cross…for sure they will.
Thanks for letting us know how you and Brian are doing, Gilda. It sounds like we are on the same track, with no international travel in 2020, but the possibility of some domestic travel later this year. In the meantime, your seaside town of Bournemouth looks lovely, especially without the usual crowds. I have used some of my free time to hike the dirt roads of the Virginia Range behind our home in Reno, Nevada. Thankfully, this area is sparsely populated and an ideal place to get some exercise, explore new trails, and maintain my social distance. Stay well and in high spirits!
Joe, it is lovely to hear from you. We are really fortunate with our surroundings and we are trying to make the most of it. Exercising feels good and I am so glad we are able to get out at least once per day, it really makes a big difference to our moods. Sounds like your area also has some great scenery? I have to look up what Reno is like, as I have not heard much about your area. Perhaps a blog post and update about how you guys are doing? Somehow I have not received your most recent blog post…not sure why, but I will visit your site later on today to catch up. Keep hiking, exploring new trails and most important keep healthy.
Gilda such a complete overview of how you are facing the challenges of COVID-19. We too feel that travel will look very different until there is a vaccine or treatment. I feel so badly for the people involved in tourism and travel. Who could have possibly predicted or imagined this?
Wonderful to see the older folks embracing technology. Dave’s Mom who turned 90 is now doing Facebook video and Zoom chats. We were to have a big family party next weekend to celebrate and now that will happen virtually.
Very best wishes from Canada. I hope things improve enough that you will be able to use your motorhome in the UK this summer. Here some campgrounds are opening in June.
Sue, it is hard to believe how all our lives have changed so dramatically in just few weeks. A vaccine or effective treatments can’t come soon enough, although there is always the possibility that a vaccine may not be possible but lets not even consider it for now. We love being able to speak to “Nanny” every day, I think the video calls have made her life a lot less lonely. I am so glad Dave’s mum has also joined in the new technologies. Virtual parties are very much “in Vogue” at the moment, so enjoy your celebrations!!! Fingers crossed we will all resume our travels in the near future. Best wishes to you and Dave.
I’m very happy to be slowly returning to normal here in Portugal, Gilda, but there is no doubt that there are many problems to solve in the meantime.
Jo, slow progress is better than no progress…we will get there. Keep enjoying the beautiful walks you do there in the Algarve.
Ha! My mother and Aunt have finally moved on-line too. It is a blessing to see loved ones of all ages on video calls. The virtual celebrations and meet up are definitely easing the separation.
You are smart to add structure and long walks in nature to your life to keep your spirits up at this time. You are fortunate to have such a gorgeous backyard. But pictures of the emptiness of the town center are eerie indeed.
Good to see you also planning for the future. Looking forward to seeing you hit the road again someday soon. It sounds like your PM is taking a measured approach to reopening.
Beautiful images BTW
Lisa, our virtual lives are saving our sanity, for sure. Can you imagine what a lockdown would be like before the internet? Even with all the bad things and the trolls that we currently see online, I still think there are more positives than negatives. We feel grateful for living in a beautiful area and feeling healthy when there is so much suffering elsewhere. For now, we remain positive and planning future travels, it is all we can do. Likewise, I am looking forward to you set sail again, you live such an exciting life. Thank you for your visit 🙂
It’s a strange time we’re living through Gilda, and one that we will all remember for the rest of our lives.
You’re so right. The world has begun to change and will continue to do so.
There really is no going back no matter how we wish we could. I only hope that lessons will be learnt and positive changes made.
Sadly, as the WHO said yesterday, Covid-19 is here to stay but there’s hope.
There’s always hope.
Victoria, in just few months the world has changed so dramatically. It is hard to get our heads around these latest events and currently there is nothing we can do to escape our predicament. I am staying positive and full of hope, perhaps one day we can look back and feel proud of how we reacted. Lessons will definitely need to be learned, so we are better prepared for a future pandemic, but also we need to take better care of our planet. Take care and stay safe.
Covid-19 sure has changed the world. But Dorset doesn’t seem to be the worst place in the world to be stuck, although it’s never something we want to be. Hopefully restrictions are starting to lift also in UK. But of course your are right, it’s far from over, the pandemic.
Otto, Dorset is not a bad place to hunker down during a global pandemic. In fact it is a lovely place to be at all times, we do feel very fortunate to live here. Restrictions are starting to lift and from today we have the new NHS track and trace system in place…but lets wait and see how good this strategy will be. Fingers crossed things can only get better. I have been enjoying your Instagram photos Otto, very creative.
Beautifully written post Gilda – we are certainly living through historical times. Australia moved very early to limit international arrivals and introduce travel bans and mandatory quarantine. This has been beneficial in really keeping our numbers lower than other places. Although there have been strict social distancing measures, we have not had complete lockdown here in Western Australia although life is far from normal. Our younger daughter decided to come back here to Perth from London for a while at the end of March. We have been fortunate in having the opportunity to spend so much time with her – she’s still working out what to do going forward. Of course we are also able to see our other daughter and family who live in Perth. It is very hard though having my elderly father and other extended family members living in the Uk with no realistic prospect of seeing them in person till who knows when. Fortunately I’ve been Skyping my dad weekly for many years now and we have simply increased that to a couple of times a week or more at present during lockdown when he is very restricted. Like you we’ve written off international travel for the rest of 2020 and I’m not sure that even 2021 will be much better. We’ll need to see how long haul flying will adapt after the pandemic and it seems far safer to stay close to home for now (well we can’t actually leave Australia as our borders are closed)! Hoping to do some local travel within Western Australia now that the intrastate borders are coming down (WA had been divided into several regions with travel restrictions between them). We’re going into winter here so we’ll hunker down and hope things are brighter in the spring! Lovely to still connect with fellow bloggers on the internet and get a window into the outside world, take care xx
Thank you Rosemay. I have heard that Australia has done well with an early response in place. I applaud your country leaders for taking things a lot more serious than many other world leaders have done. How lovely that your young daughter has gone back home for the time being. At a time like this, there is no place like home and I am sure she will soon work out what she wants to do in the future…plenty of time for that. It is sad that you will not be able to see your father for a while, but at least technology has come to our rescue. I am so grateful for Skype and video calls, since it is a great way to stay in touch with the family. I have not yet seen my adult kids, they don’t live locally and since lockdown started we have not been able to meet up. But fingers crossed it will not be for much longer. I think staycation will be the way forward, at least for 2020, like you we will probably travel near home. Take care and lets keep in touch.
So glad you guys are safe and well in Bournemouth, also that you got to see Asia before this hit and that you’re staying busy and connected back at home. These are such weird times and I really hope the travel industry can recover from this – things aren’t looking good. Hopefully you can get back out in the motorhome soon. By the way, Marvellous Mrs Maisel is one of our absolute fave lockdown programmes too!
Amy, we are so grateful for the 10 weeks exploring SEA. It was only when we arrived in Northern Vietnam that things started changing and coronavirus became more of a problem. We did manage to see a lot beforehand. Now things could not be more different, no one could have predicted…we certainly could not have imagined the current scenario. The travel industry has taken a huge hit, we keep thinking and worrying about all the lovely local people of SEA who’s livelihood depends so much on tourism. In fact all over the world people are struggling. But lets hope things will start recovering soon. I am so glad you also enjoyed the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, it is such a witty, well written and funny series, we loved it. I really like your new website “londonvegandiaries” it is so cool. I will be recommending it to some of my friends.