Covid Chronicles: Sandgrownuns give a snapshot census of their difficulties - and triumphs - during the dark days of lockdown
By Michael Holmes
Published 1st Sep 2020, 07:49 BST
Updated 3rd Sep 2020, 20:00 BST
From anxiety-fuelled hospital trips to bullishness in the face of danger, and from Bargain Hunt binges to stressful home schooling, life has been different for each of us despite the common difficulties brought on by the pandemic.
The Gazette hit the streets to speak to residents who gave a snapshot census of their difficulties - and triumphs - during the dark days of Covid lockdown.
These are their chronicles...
1.
Beth Lamoury, 33, of Garstang, said: "It was a bit of a change, but I have enjoyed being with them and I think they have enjoyed it too, having us as parents a bit more at home.
"Joshua (two) would normally be at nursery two days a week and Sophie would have normally been at school.
"Sophie was so used to being with friends and she loves people, so at first she was asking if she could have this person round and I was saying no.
"Joshua hasn't really noticed. He's a two-year-old. He just carries on in life.
"But Sophie has probably struggled more, but once she knew she got on with it.
"As long as you tell her, then she's fine. She gets on with it.
"They do, don't they? They adapt." Photo: Michael Holmes for JPIMedia
Geoff Woodhead, 69, who lives in the Stanley Park area, said: "I don't really see the point of masks.
"Before they introduced this a few weeks ago, we have already had six months of it in the open air, so what's the problem?
"They're making a big deal of it now, but the whole thing isn't a big deal to start with.
"They're making a bigger issue of it than it is.
"It's causing more trouble.
"We're not making a deal of it, we're just carrying on as normal.
"It's an invasion into our way of life basically.
"Maybe the whole thing is a big charade." Photo: Michael Holmes for JPIMedia
Bonny Street Market stall holder Maxine Moreley, 54, from Atherton, said: "Everybody loves to come to Blackpool.
"There are lots of seaside destinations for people to go to, but people love to come to Blackpool.
"They always have done.
"We have the Illuminations until January 3, which is going to be really good.
"If we get good weather we will probably open on the weekends.
"And we have all the attractions: the Pleasure Beach, Madame Tussaud's, Sea Life, the Tower, Bonny Street Market, the Golden Mile.
"People love to come and I do think it will survive." Photo: Michael Holmes for JPIMedia
Hilary Jackson, 79, of central Blackpool, said: "I have three children and they all do the shopping and ring me every day to see if I'm all right and if I want anything.
"I'm one of the lucky ones.
"Not only that, neighbours have all said if I need anything to just give them a call.
"I'm a war baby so we were all very together back then. "All of a sudden, maybe when I got to my 30s or 40s, everybody seemed to start doing their own thing.
"I think the togetherness is coming back.
"At the end of the day, if I catch it and I die, that's how things go.
"I've had a good life.
"My husband was a civil engineer and we used to go abroad a lot and live abroad for two or three years.
"I've been to Hong Kong, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, Iraq.
"Listening to other people in the park, some of them have got nobody.
"It's tragic, really. I know that's life and that's how it goes, but it's still very tragic.
"People can be in their houses all day and people don't even know that they are there half the time.
"It's sad." Photo: Michael Holmes for JPIMedia
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