Diary Entries

1219 Entries collected

RECENT ENTRIES

Name
Cheryl Ross
Location

Richmond Hill NSW 2480
Australia

Mum passed away one week after her Aged Care home went into lockdown. She was a loving mother, a caring grandmother and a very proud great grandmother. Mum did not die from coronavirus but her death was related to it. Her name was Hazel. She was ninety one. Leading up to lockdown we were able to see her for fifteen minutes daily. Mum was not mobile but her mind was very active. She worried not about herself but about her family on the "outside". Were they keeping safe? Did they still have their jobs? Was there food on the table? Did they feel too isolated? Trying to stay calm for her became so important but she saw through our bravado as she tried not to watch the news. The staff were kind and caring but the quick visits, the "distance keeping" and not being able to feel a cuddle began to take there toll. Then lockdown happened. Despite daily phone calls Mum's blood pressure began to sky rocket and she suffered a massive stroke. A statistic not counted but one that is keenly felt.
Name
Putland Student L
Age
15
Location

NSW
Australia

I am a 15 year old boy and I'm in lock up in lockdown. I have been trying to show my family how to use this zoom app but my family are too old to use the app. Because we not allowed vist's or cant even see my friends or brothers or sisters. You cant even get toilet paper no were you have to wait to they restock. I cant go to court because covid 19. I think I have a better chance of getting out when I am in front of the Judge. When I was in my room I was I put all of my items in my pillow case and work on my arms. When Im lockdown I have been thinking about my family and mates. I never been abel to read or write it only took me 2 month to read and write. They teachers showed me how to stretch out the word's and sound them out. 1 leart how to read and write in lock up and now I love to write.
Name
KB
Age
35
Location

NSW
Australia

If I’d have known two months ago, that my last night out would be at a speed dating event that I’d randomly signed up for with a colleague I barely knew, I’d have pocketed the cash and bought shares in Zoom instead. Amazingly, I have come full circle and have signed up for yet another speed dating event exactly two months later. This time it’s online via Zoom. I think this might be highlighting my need for connection or maybe just plain old fashioned validation. I read that Tinder recorded it’s highest ever number of messages sent so I am definitely not alone in this need to connect. Let’s hope that this time I can find someone worth connecting with.
Name
jesslyn
Age
12
Location

Australia

In my 8 weeks of isolation I have been baking with my mum and doing the things I have never have done before like make ice cream,make play doh, built a fort and we played balloon tennis. In isolation I haven't been out for 8 weeks and when I get out the house I feel sick my experience of isolation what pretty boring nothing to do and couldn't see my friends.
Name
Mayah
Age
12
Location

Figtree NSW 2525
Australia

Something positive about COVID-19 is that because kids and adults have to stay isolated at home, they have built as a family, and I have definitely felt this connection with my family and me. Also a negative comment from my self is that most of us can only go to school for one day not one week and I am disappointed by this because I miss my friends and teachers, even though we have FaceTime and Zoom meetings it is still not the same as us seeing each other in person. This virus has made people feel unsafe because toilet paper and hand sanitizer has been a big concern to all, but we are slowly becoming better and controlling our selfs to work together to slow this virus down as much as possible. One thing that has been slowing it down is the people that have been isolating at home with family. And when this COVID-19 thing has passed things will be different for everyone, and people have been adapting so well to the new rules that the restrictions that were at level 3 in Australia it did mean that schools were only for children for who’s parents were at work and some parents or adults did loose there jobs during this time and it has been hard, but the restrictions in Australia have been lowered because people have been Listening and they have been staying home. So even though everyone has been through a lot during this hard and difficult period of time I am sure we can get through it together and we can help each other as well. So reader, just remember us Australians have gone through so much so everyone even YOU reader just remember also how lucky you are.
Name
Anne Jakes (80) and Anne Sneap (102)
Age
102
Location

Fisher ACT 2611
Australia

CORONIAL EXERCISES FOR CENTENARIANS Some folk are motivated And need no exhortation To do their daily exercise While we're in isolation. There's those who've painted houses And made them nice and neat, But we're too old to do this And so we can't compete. On cold days when it's raining, They're inside lifting weights, Or zooming into yoga To push up their heart rates. But we wish to re-assure you, So we've made a weighty list Of daily exercises That we never miss: First thing every morning We JOG our memory: No need to go out running, You surely must agree? After this exertion We SQUEEZE into our clothes, And when putting on our slippers We almost TOUCH OUR TOES. The cats check out our BALANCE As they smooch around our legs And our arms receive a WORKOUT As we scratch their furry heads. We decide that we will check out Our FLEXI-BILI-TY Doing knitting, reading, crosswords With a cat upon each knee. And government departments Have us CLIMBING walls JUMP on line they tell us We're not taking any calls. We RUN OUT of forbearance, We RUN UP huge phone bills While others are out planting Lots of daffodils. So we try to LIFT our spirits With vodka, rum and gin, Plus LUNGES on our walkers When our heads begin to SPIN. WEIGHT LIFTING and WEIGHT BEARING Did we hear you say? Our scales keep on confirming We're BEARING more of us each day! We cannot understand it, What on earth can be the cause? It seems our house is needing Rooms with double doors!
Name
Anonymous
Location

Australia

Isolation was extremely challenging for me. I know everyone else is struggling because this is a new thing for all of us, but I feel like this isolation has hit me harder than others. Everyday was just really stressful for me and I felt like I was slowly breaking down. I thought there weren't any options when I was behind on work and I was never going to catch up. I actually thought that maybe if I dropped out or worse that I would be free from all this stress, but it just put more pressure on me. Is my future ruined? Am I going to be able to get into a university? I was always arguing with myself whether I would become a total failure or if there was another opportunity for me to redeem myself. The first day of school back, I started crying because of all the pressure and stress I was under. I'm so glad I don't have to feel that pressure anymore. The teachers were very understanding and I had the courage to go to class. I'm so happy that the teachers understand how stressful this isolation is for others like me and I'm glad they were able to calm me down just before I went to class otherwise I would have been a mess.
Name
Ciara
Age
12
Location

Australia

Hi, My name is Ciara and i'm twelve years old. Isolation has been very boring for me and my family, but also fun. I get to do box breaks with my dad, read lots of books and sleep. It's been very hard to deal with isolation because I can't see any friends and see family, online learning has been hard because the teachers aren't there to help you at all, and the work is just handed to you and has to be handed in by a certain day. I have been doing Physical exercise with my Dad and sister for 6 weeks, I also do Zoom meetings for my Ice Hockey so we can keep our skills up so when we come back we are ahead with learning. I had to stay at home for 8 weeks and not go anywhere because my parents are afraid that we're going to catch it But I have to keep my family and friends healthy Can't wait until all this COVID-19 stuff is over and see friends and family again
Name
Ava
Location

Australia

Hey I'm Ava, Isolation has been a strange time for all of us with online work and schooling and social distancing. As a student its hard focusing on my work while at home and having to email and wait for a reply from teachers instead of getting a straight answer in a usual class at school. Staying at home all the time has been a little boring, I like to get up and go out to go to school and see my friends and family. At first online schooling was a bit nerve racking but I got used to it. I didn't get to see my friends or family much but we did stay in contact through technology which was ok. However some good things did come out of isolation such as spending more time with my cat, being more creative with art, riding my bike more often and of course watching Netflix. I just started high school and even at the end of term 1 I had to stay at home which was a little stressful especially with submitting work online. Isolation has been a slow experience so far and I'm definitely looking forward to things slowly going back to normal.
Name
Dean
Age
12
Location

NSW 2221
Australia

Binge watching, gaming and doing anything you possibly can on the internet to stay connected. But haven't you realised we are just doing the same thing we do every weekend playing the same games and watching new things on netflix. Why not try something different like building puzzles or drawing. There are so many other things we can do in this time in lockdown. You can play with your family and build cubby houses with your brothers and sisters. Working at home is a struggle and people are dying from this pandemic but I think that this pandemic could be not that bad. Nature is coming out finally in a long time. Can't anyone see how the animals are happier and the earth looks like it hasn't felt this good in ages. This pandemic has ups and downs but it's different.