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

Like so many - I am so grateful for our day to day services
Our NHS have been superb - we have an 18yr old niece who has been working on covid wards so, believe me, we know what a horrendous illness it is.
But I'm also grateful to all the workers NOT directly involved with Covid - those nursing 'general' patients, trauma etc. Our bin men, shop workers, delivery drivers etc.
Mainly though I am so grateful that DH and I haven't killed each other! I dreaded us being in lock-down together as I have OCD and he is the opposite!
However, we have laughed more in this last few weeks than ever, we've completed, or nearly completed, many jobs around the house that would never ever have been done.
Yes, we've had 'down' times as well but us oldies should be grateful that we don't have to worry about getting back to work because the money will run out; we don't have to go anywhere etc.
I am just grateful to be alive!
Thank you everyone who has worked to me my family and friends safe!

Thank you to our son’s who shopped for us each and every week of lockdown

I’ve learnt (or more accurately, had it reinforced) what the best things in life are, and I’m grateful for all of them. Family, friends, health, a guaranteed income enough to feed you well and give you a secure space of your own, however modest, and the time to enjoy it all.

During lockdown the bonuses have been the good weather, the lack of pollution, the garden, some good walks on the doorstep, our friendly street, YouTube exercise videos, the internet in general and my books.

And what I look forward to most? Cuddling my grandsons and hugging my children. And getting back to our big, noisy, messy family get-togethers.

I am very grateful to my family who have helped me through this time. Also, to a very precious friend who has a wicked sense of humour and has kept things upbeat.

Grateful that I have managed to maintain contact with my grandchildren. In particular virtual bedtime stories, chats and virtual games. I am now an expert Guess Who player. Oldest GD and I have sent letters, pictures and jokes. I've also created projects (friendship bracelets, chive seeds, recipe sheets) and where possible provided the items/ingredients to make. Middle GD has joined in and likes her letters and jokes. GS is too busy for some of this but likes to see us virtually !

I am grateful to live on the coast and have been able to walk along the beach during lockdown for my exercise. I never appreciated it so much until now.

I'm grateful for regular phonecalls from DD and DS who both live far away. I'm grateful for regular zooms with friends and family. I'm grateful for time to make gifts for friends for their birthdays and an excuse to call round to deliver them with a socially distanced chat near their door. I'm grateful for the friends that rang me to check I was OK if they didn't see any posts online. I'm grateful that I have a garden, good health and still have a job. I am grateful to have been able to afford to donate to charities helping people who are less fortunate, of whom there are many!

And what I'm most looking forward to; the birth of my first grandchild due in just over 2 months. I just hope I'll be able to visit by then.

I am grateful for all the lovely people who have signed up to volunteer during the lockdown, our job has been to coordinate and dbs check then place them, but without them signing up in the first place it would be a bit struggle, so thank you to all of them, all of the small shopkeepers that have had stock when supermarkets havent, thank you for all the ancillary staff and admin staff who process all the patients and lastly to the frontline staff who are so selfless.

I used to attend a few social gatherings before lockdown.
I`m a disabled wheelchair user and looked forward to meeting folk for a chat. These clubs are all dependent on charities ie MS, Chitchat and Hospices.

My main hobby is sewing and so with staying home, I decided to make things for charity.

I updated my 15 year old sewing machine and got completely carried away.

I`ve made cushions, aprons, tote bags, make up bags, rag dolls, book cushion covers, and around 50 masks!

I`ve spent money I would have saved for a holiday...which wont happen now.

I`ve stopped buying fabric and use recycled duvet covers.....people are happy to give them to me.

My lockdown time has made me able to show my thanks for all those who help me and other disabled people.

I am very grateful for phone calls from my sister and a couple of close friends. With one friend in particular, we have arranged to have a phone call on the same day each week, so we both have something definite to look forward to. The posties have been great, often waving if they notice me at the window, and the receptionists at my GP surgery have been really helpful in helping me to negotiate the badly designed online system which we all have to use now (of course they can't book appointments and GPs are reusing to see anyone and then complaining if our written civvie descriptions don't give them the information they need to visualise a problem!)

I am thankful for all the small things which I once took for granted.

The sound of birdsong and butterflies fluttering in the warmth of the sun.
The fact that when I open the larder or fridge I have food
on the shelves
People talking together over the fence and sharing their concerns
Children laughing and playing in the back gardens around me

I'm also so grateful for the bigger things
My daughter, a paramedic, working long hours but still smiling even when people are rude or abusive

Seeing my other daughter who lives thousand of miles away in Australia wave to me on the screen and say that she can't wait till we all meet up again.

Keeping my husband who has a lung disease safe and free of the virus.

The thought that this WILL all end one day.

I'm grateful for so many things....grateful for the hope that keeps us going and grateful to those who make that hope possible.

I have been most grateful to have a job that I can do from home. Many have not been so lucky and I can not imagine having to worry about health and finances (the two biggies!) at the same time. I have tried my best to support small local businesses who have been hit very hard. I am grateful to hear that many have weathered this time and are beginning to bring ‘life’ back into many communities. I am grateful for their strength and creativity in keeping essential services going .

I am so grateful that I have been working all the way through the lock down and very grateful that all my family are healthy and safe, And I thank god that we have got computers and Telephones because were would we have been without them.

I felt grateful to have a garden, we've developed it a lot over the last few months. Also for the Internet which allowed lots of family contact. ?‍?‍??

I'm greatful to have a wonderful daughter and son in law who did my shopping, collected prescriptions and listened to me when I was feeling down, My young grandchildren for their homemade cards and video calls, my dog who gave my days structure and a lady who always took the time to wave and give me a smile as I passed her house when I took my dog on her daily walks

I'm most grateful to the postman and mail order delivery drivers, who kept me in touch with the world. And to my local launderette, which continued to do washing, ironing and dry cleaning with a free collection and delivery service. Always collected and returned promptly by a lovely lad, wearing a mask but I sensed his smile.

I am grateful to my daughter for bringing my grandchildren aged 4 and 7 to my house without telling me. I have mobility problems and it was so lovely giving them a cuddle and kiss (even through a glass window ?!)

Our cats have been a comfort, but I am most grateful and thankful for my better half. He has always looked after me well and cared for me for 30+ years, but during lockdown has done a brilliant job of keeping me well shielded and protected. He has gone the extra mile doing all the shopping, not only for me, but another neighbour who has to shield and an elderly customer of theirs. He has kept providing supplies of pet food for all 3 of us too (total 3 cats & 2 guinea pigs). He has been very careful about wearing gloves to handle items, fill up with fuel, taking his own bags etc + doing a total back-to-brick renovation on the new property pretty much on his own. He has baked for me and the neighbour (we have the same food allergy too, so know anything safe for me is also OK for her). He has spoken to both of his parents several times every week, sometimes buying things online to send for them. He stayed away from work for months and now only has contact with his business partner (who also spent a couple of months seeing only his parents in the one household). They are working, but not taking any jobs that would involve going through the house, not accepting food or drinks etc - a totally different way of working for them but they are both being sensible in minimising any potential risks, even turning work down. And on top of all this he is cooking for me, helping when I need it for baths/personal care etc. He is even posting mail for me and that is something he doesn't like doing and used to forget a lot, but he knows it is important to me. He really is one of life's genuinely nice people, a good guy, my best friend too. If I were lucky enough to win this voucher I would be more than happy to let him view the list and select a store so that, for once, he could treat himself to something. It would be a lovely way to be able to say thank you with more than words.

I have to say the idea of being in lockdown was much worse than the reality. I was able to exercise daily in the beautiful surroundings of Exmoor in wonderful weather so thank you to all the rangers and volunteers working for Exmoor or the National Trust for keeping our countryside so accessible for us all

grateful to my partner for all the help he has gave me and all the help he has gave our elderly neighbours too during lockdown

I have come to realise over the last few months that I don't need to keep buying STUFF. Use what I have, wait for things to run out rather than stockpiling,

My wife and I have had health issues for many years - but I am really grateful that we haven't had any "new" ailments. I'm grateful for the love and support of our children and grandchildren who each have their own problems to deal with but still concern themselves with ours. We have family chats through Facebook and whats app - which lifts our spirits. I'm grateful too for my membership in a church which organises zoom Sunday School classes; so I get to see a lot of friendly faces at least once a week, as well as the frequent phone call from several of the members who show genuine concern for us (including the young man who shows up every few weeks to mow my lawn and the lawns of several members who need his help (while he has a family of his own to care for)). I thank God for so many good things in my life!

All through lockdown I have missed the little thing of my granddaughter's touch. I adore her hand in mine as we walk together and the way she cuddles up to me when we are watching a television programme.

Hi everyone in the lockdown I am
Just so grateful to my kind and wonderful neighbours who have looked after and helped stray
Cats and they helped me feed and care for stray and feral cats as I feed them all from my garden. One neighbour has bought me an outdoor cat den to shield them from the rain and cold. God bless them all it’s really made me appreciate all the good in the world. ?