In this extended diary Gail reflects on living with dementia in a year of lockdown. This is also the story of how people with dementia have come together to support each other during this strange time.

Hi. It’s Gail.

I thought I’d take you all on a little trip. A trip back over the last twelve months, just remembering, as I was looking through some old photos and poems.

When COVID struck in March 2020, people were panic buying, and the shops were empty of everyday essentials. We were saddened to hear of the so many people falling seriously ill with the COVID virus, and the outcome in some cases was death.

I cannot begin to imagine what it has been like for the families who have lost loved ones during this epidemic. No-one had any idea how this virus would sweep the world, taking so many lives along the way, and 12 months on we are still facing many COVID cases and deaths. But not in the same numbers, thankfully.

The Pfizer vaccine was introduced and the first person received a vaccine on the 8th December 2020, and the vaccination programme is still ongoing today, and over thirty million people hav received a vaccination – including myself.

My twelve months were full of Zoom meetings and Facetime. And that was the only way we could see one another. That’s when we was in full lockdown. I took photos of empty supermarket shelves. I had Zoom meetings, and I shared my very first crafts on YouTube. I even took people on a beach walk, which was done over Zoom! Who would have thought we could take people for a walk while they were sat in their very own living room.

My grandsons sent me pictures and messages, just to keep me going and keep my spirits up. So much achieved by people with dementia over the last twelve months.

I did a little poem, which I did in April 2020, and it was called “We’re In Lockdown”.

We’re in lockdown
It feels kind of funny
We can’t go out
spending paper money
I have to use that square plastic card
And remembering the number
Can be really quite hard

We’re in lockdown
So no family gatherings
I love sitting around
All jibber-jabbering
I miss them all
Which is really quite sad
But it’s not going to be forever
So it’s not too bad

We’re in lockdown
Shop shelves looking empty
We were all told
That there would be plenty
Plenty of prunes and things I don’t like
There’s no toilet rolls
I can’t go for a shite!

We’re in lockdown
The streets are so empty
So backed up traffic
And there used to be plenty
No flashy cars racing down the roads
Or the rumbling of wagons
With big heavy loads

We’re in lockdown
Time to learn something new
I wish you were here
So I could show you
The things I have made
The things I have done
At this moment in time
Our life just goes on

We’re in lockdown
Just smile your way through it
Don’t let this virus beat you to it
Just keep on going, right to the end
So we can be with our family and friends

And then I think VE Day was around May, and me and hubby planned a little street party, and we brought some cheer to the little close that we live on. And it was all done in the safety of our own gardens.

We’re in lockdown
Can’t venture out
No mass gatherings
It will be a wash out
The shops are empty
Of buntings and flags
I wonder if I can sort out
Some sort of rags
I search through my loft for
Red white and blue
A few days of sewing
I made the curfew
The whole street trimmed
With bunting so high
Red white and blue
Just lines the sky
Today we remember at 3pm
Recognition of this special event
We remember and honour
The heroes of war
Like we have done
Many years before

Today it is different
It’s 75 years on
Many of those men
And women are gone
We still remember
We still respect
They are our heroes
It’s time to reflect

I carried on my crafting throughout the lockdown, and people were becoming quite low in spirits. So, I sent all my family and friends out a little bag of hugs, and I made these by putting wooden letters, spelling ‘HUG’ into a little voile bag, and attaching it to a card with a little verse
saying ‘Just thought you really needed a bag of hugs, so sending a little bag of hugs to you’. It seemed to work, as people messaged me, saying thank you, that it had lifted their spirits and made their day.

I also made potato people, which i modelled on some of my Zoom friends. We had some silly Zoom days in the beginning, and I can remember dressing as a star fish.

I became more involved with Innovations in Dementia and the DEEP Network, and I wrote another lockdown poem.

I love my little lockdown bubble
I don’t want it to end
I know it’s driving some folks
Right around the bend
I love the peace and quiet
Everything’s so still
I wonder if it’s quiet
Way over in Brazil?

I love the calm, the tranquil place
That my world’s become
I’m liking all this calmness
It’s definitely not humdrum
I wonder when my bubble bursts
If I am able to cope
Or will it send me hurtling
Down a slippery slope
I love my little bubble
It’s my new best friend
But I need to face reality
My bubble’s going to end.

And I wrote that poem in May 2020.

I joined Dementia Diaries, and I spoke at meetings, and I took part in discussions. I walked more, as I needed to feel the outdoor space, and clear my head as Zooms were so busy, and I was starting to suffer with headaches. My crafting took off big time, and my crafts had been resurrected from years ago, like my card making and embroidery. I made some masks, and I had embroidered the ‘I want to speak’ badge on to the front. This had become part of the Dementia Craftivists, and these masks were sent out to people.

We were sending messages and little gifts to one another just to keep our spirits up, and we could only meet people in outdoor spaces, so we prayed for the nice weather. I baked every week, and it was just another way to keep me occupied and keep my brain active.

I got involved in a poetry group; The Time and Place, and people came together from all over the country, and we all had a diagnosis of dementia and we all wrote poetry together. I learned to paint with watercolours, thanks to Frances. And this I really enjoyed, and surprisingly I could paint! I painted lots, and decided to raise money for the craftivism project that Innovations in Dementia was running, all with the help of people with dementia.

Crafting was shared between groups; ideas exchanged, we learned new skills from one another. I was also given an opportunity, with lots of others, to take crafting into care homes, via Innovations In Dementia, and NAPA.

At Christmas, this was a little different, as Christmas was a very quiet celebration this year. We didn’t have any big family gatherings. It was quite strange. But we made the most of our Christmas Day. We Zoomed family in the morning, and we ate lots in the afternoon, and by early evening, we was a very full belly and feeling content watching the repeats on the TV.

I embroidered some teddy bears for the DEEP, and they were given out to people who deserved a DEEP hug, and I really wish everybody could have had one of the teddy bears, as we all needed a hug. I contracted shingles, ouch! That lasted for a couple of weeks. And, my sidekick Alzheimer’s has caused me one or two issues, but nothing major, as I just carry on taking one day at a time. And if I’ve had a bad day, I always hope that tomorrow will be a better day. To be honest I can’t remember everything. That’s why I always take plenty photos and write poems.

The Time And Place poetry book was published just after Christmas. It was a very proud moment to have been involved in a part of this group. And even one or two or my poems were published in the Time and Place poetry book. It was all thanks to Keith, Jess, and Liz, and the wonderful students for encouraging and giving their help and advice to make this possible.

In January I purchased my very own camera, after seeking advice from a fellow Zoom friend, Wendy. A new world was born. Something new to occupy my day. Nature. Most of my days are all about outdoors, as I just love to be near nature, taking photos with my four-legged friend Toby. Oh, and my crafting. We can’t forget my crafting.

So it’s been a strange year. Enjoyable in some ways, as there’s been no pressure. Opportunities came that I may never have come across, and I met people that I would never have met. There has been laughter, sadness and tears. Happiness and joy. A real mixed year, shared with some wonderful Zoom friends.

So: thank you to the DEEP, and Innovations in Dementia, for making things happen. For just bringing people together.

Now all we need is a hug. And everyone needs that hug.

Thank you for joining me in my memories.