Dear LPG,

When self-isolation was first explained to me I was as frightened as anyone.  The thought that my age made me particularly vulnerable was a worry and, having seen the news as the whole situation has been developing, I had an idea of the consequences of not following the advice.

I had been living alone for a while and have a small family.  I have a sister who emigrated and only one son.  I felt lucky in a way because, about five years ago, we decided that it might be a good idea for me to move in with my son, his wife and their two children.  So he sold his flat and I sold my house and we found ourselves a bigger one with all the room we would need to live without getting on each other’s nerves.   I have my own two rooms and the whole place to myself during the day, when mum and dad are at work and the children are at school, and it all worked smoothly.  It seemed like the ideal solution for all of us and it means that they will get the most out of what is left when I am no longer around.

This worked perfectly until everyone was forced to stay home all the time.  At the beginning of all this, it was agreed that, because of all the commuting the other members of the family had done before the lockdown, that they should do their best to self-isolate from me, even though they live in the same house. This meant meals in my room and chats with family members from my door, through masks which I found a little distant. But after weeks of lockdown, my grandson and granddaughter are now getting on each other’s nerves, which makes for occasional loud exchanges, and I am also worried that the relationship between my son and his wife is getting a bit frayed. My daughter in law is obviously missing her work terribly while my son tries his best to work from home where he tells that it is really hard to concentrate at times.

So it appears that, as this virus continues, our nice big house has developed a virus of its own.  We are learning that our usually cordial family is finding it quite hard to function normally and our nice big house is shrinking! Is yours? 

VL, Brockley