Gransnetters share what lockdown has made them feel grateful for with McCarthy & Stone

I am grateful for spending time with my daughter. She has special needs and doesn't talk much. So I just sat with her and talked and talked to get her to open up more.

It has given me time to grieve, as my Daughter, a Keyworker died in April, aged 47, leaving my 4 Grandchildren without a Mum. I was just improving from losing my Husband three years ago, my Son & my Mum have also died, so am now thinking what next! I have to keep going for my Grandchildren's sake, but this isolation has helped me to get my head around it all, my little dog & many good friends have been my support.

I am so grateful that I have such a lovely, caring husband who always makes me laugh. He said to me that he wouldn't have wanted to be in lockdown with anyone else but me and that is exactly how I feel too. We celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary in May, we obviously couldn't go out, so we ordered a nice meal from a Thai restaurant and dressed up for the occasion. I feel very lucky that I met such an amazing person when I was only 17 years old. I knew he was different from anyone else I'd ever met and thankfully I ignored all the people who said we were too young to get married!

I am grateful that I, my family and my friends are all safe and have kept well or a healing well.
I am grateful for technology that has kept us connected.
I am grateful to the people who are working through this pandemic.
I am grateful for bosses who has put the safety and health of their employees before profit.
I am grateful that my income continued so that I can pay my bills.
I have learned that it is nice to relax and take time for myself.
I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends.

I am grateful for my garden which kept me sane because I could go out into the fresh air anytime I wanted.
I am grateful to the workers who kept everything going during the lockdown. People we take for granted but are essential and we all lean on them without knowing it.
Of course, our NHS and front line workers.

Lockdown has made me grateful for a close and loving family

While I have been shielding ,my daughter and son-in-law have shown concern for my wellbeing and practical help.I have been getting frequent phone calls,videos,photos,not to mention essential groceries and medication.In fact I have been quite spoilt.

My family my home and my garden

I am very grateful that my DH and family have so far stayed free of Covid19.
I am also very grateful that the internet has enabled me to keep in touch with relatives and friends who live further away

I've been grateful for my garden, its helped me to get outside in the fresh air and its kept me motivated as a project to complete. Thank goodness the weather has been pretty decent so we've had plenty to focus on from installing a new fence, painting the decking and looking after the lawn and flower beds.

I am grateful for the lovely weather and the walks I have been on seeing nature at it's best - wild flowers, butterflies etc.
whatsapp messages from friends and family have brightened my days. My garden has been a delight, although hard work!. Recently being able to see my daughters and grandson again in person. In the last week being able to go for a coffee (sitting outside) and finally being able to go to church again. I can't complain x

Being a 24/7carer to hubby had to be more careful throughout this terrible crisis but thanks to FaceTime such a marvelous invention I,ve spoke live and to the face to my mum sisters who live miles away and my children all grown up married or moved out so it’s so nice to speak and see them to make sure they keep safe too hubby goes to bed very early due to his ill health so I have my dogs and cats that keep me company in the evenings x ❤️

I am really grateful for my little rescue dog. I walk him twice a day, outside in local parks. Not only does he help me get up and out on days when I would rather pull the duvet over my head but being out in green spaces is so good for my mood.

I am grateful to my 2 beautiful daughters. Although they both have been working from home, homeschooling their children and walking their dogs, they have organised food deliveries for me.
They ring almost every day to check everything is ok
I am blessed

I'm very grateful to my neighbours who can shop for me and my house full of books. Plenty to keep me occupied

Just being able to relax and not have any pressures or be accountable to anyone. My husband and I have had lots of things to do in the house and garden and have enjoyed our evening meals and a glass of wine just to celebrate a hard day's work.

My husband, whilst I’ve be shielding he has taken over the shopping, a job he hates doing on his own and the fact that I’ve been a hoarder of materials and craft items so I’ve not been bored. I’ve embroidered and made my first little dress for my baby granddaughter and made cards a and gifts for friends and family as I couldn’t see them.

I am grateful for my lovely husband who helped keep me sane despite a family crisis that I could do nothing about, the fact that we had a garden, for a friend who kept us supplied with food until we could get a supermarket slot, for our internet connection which allowed us to keep in touch with family and friends, for the fact that we came through this first wave and, of course, for the NHS who luckily we didn't need to call on.

I'm grateful to the wonderful NHS, particularly the paramedics and community nurses who cared for my mum with such kindness when she had a bad fall in her apartment. I'm grateful to live in the countryside and to be able to walk my dog every day, to our postman, shop workers and refuse collectors, who have carried on their vital work throughout the pandemic. Where would we be without them all?

I have struggled I lost my job but I am greatful for
Nature
my baking and crafting skills
my garden
my health
My fitbit
my palylist
fewer cars

I am grateful for my kids we have got each other through this and no matter how hard i see their faces and im so happy.
I would like to thank the NHS for how selflessly they have acted during this crazy time

Learning about taking good quality photos as since not being able not being to see the family it made me realise how import capturing memories to look back on are real treasures we cannot repeat

I feel so grateful for the wonderful technology that we have access to. Not only can we keep in touch with loved ones visually which is a great, great comfort, but we are also able to shop safely without leaving the home in these unsure times and it also enables us to enjoy passtimes and hobbies such as yoga and exercise classes if we so wish to do so or even online learning

The weather. When the weather is sunny, I've felt happier in lockdown - it's somehow made it more bearable. With lockdown easing, there are more clouds in the sky and less nature to be seen. I'm incredibly grateful to keyworkers of all kinds - We've been especially grateful for home deliveries of groceries. My online friends have been there for me to chat to. That feeling of doing kind and good things during the main lockdown was really special but seems to have gone again now.

I will be forever grateful to my carers who visit me 5 times a day and always greet me with a smile and a cheery conversation. Nothing is too much trouble for them and I would not be able to continue living at home without them.