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

I am grateful:
to have an employer who very quickly moved to home based working and has put a lot of effort into communicating with us all.
to have adopted a rescue beagle last year who has given us so many laughs and gets us out walking
to have my adult daughter living with me as so many people have been on their own
for chocolate

I am grateful for little things, my garden, seeing the sun shine every morning, hearing the birds sing and my health. I think this situation has brought out the best in some people (including how kind and selfless they are). I am grateful to be surrounded by such people.

I have felt very grateful for modern technology. I have been able to see and talk to my baby grand-daughter via Zoom! I am most looking forward to actually travelling to see her and her Mummy and Daddy just as soon as I can

I am grateful to my hubby for always getting things done, for everybody around (several people in their 90s around here). He's also just changed the clutch in my car.
I am also grateful to the many musicians, who put on online gigs, like Richard Thompson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and singer songwriter Chris Millington, who has put a lot of his songs on youtube.

I am grateful for all I have and have been able to share with other. The kindness of people in the village encouraging each one of us to contribute what skills we have to help others. Simple things from making face masks, a buddies friend, baking to drop at peoples door steps, to a card to let isolated people know they are not alone. Most of all the courage of my daily cares getting me to and from bed each day with a reassuring smile putting their health and risk for me. Thank you for showing us all that we are all in this life together showing us a new sense of community and how we all have something to offer and the humility to receive.

I feel very grateful that my child is so chilled and enabled me to work from home while caring for him

I'm grateful for the love and companionship of my beloved dog and cat, and the renewed friendship of someone I was quite close to twenty years ago. He and I have been laughing every day through messenger and plan to meet up when we are allowed to do so.

I am grateful for my family, for our sense of humour, and for us all still having jobs, not to mention our health.

On the row of 4 houses I've lived on for the past 44 years three original couples still remain. In our 4th house our new next door neighbours are a young couple in their early 30's. We were all worried about how they would fit in but they have turned out to be a breath of fresh air. Their kindness and amazing energy are just what we needed and hopefully in return they have gained experience, tolerance & patience from us. Altogether I don't think it can get much better.....!

I have learnt to appreciate my neighbours, home and garden as I have and still am shielding with my husband. We have grown our own food. My brilliant neighbours have continued to shop for us throughout the whole of lockdown and for this I applaud them. Thank you x x x

I was put on furlough, and found the break from the rat race has really got me to reassess what i am doing with my life, and the importance of spending time with my family - and this is from someone who attachment parented her kids!

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.

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 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

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 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

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'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 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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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 ❤️