Like a huge number of places in the world, Malaga is currently on lockdown. The latest news points to the situation lasting well into April and possibly May too. And like a huge number of people everywhere, my personal and professional worlds have shifted. On a daily basis during Malaga lockdown, I’m struck by new thoughts, sensations and experiences. This blog puts them down on ‘paper’ – feel free to add your thoughts in the comments.
5 things I never thought I’d see
Unusual situations lead to unusual sights…
- A hoopoe family grazing unperturbed in the park opposite my house. I have seen them before but only furtively. Now the park is empty (another first), maybe they’ll be permanent residents. (Check out this gorgeous bird if you’re not familiar with its beautiful feathers.)
- So many men hanging out the washing. Yey to that one and fingers crossed it lasts beyond Malaga lockdown.
- The street cleaning van sweeping our pavements twice in a week. They usually visit our neighbourhood once a month so this is a real first. Again, here’s to this continuing long into the future.
- So many events and activities on Facebook that I want to go to and have time to schedule in my diary.
- My running shoes sitting forlornly in the corner 😉
5 things I never thought I’d hear
I don’t know about anyone else, but all my senses seem to have heightened over the last 2 weeks.
- So much birdsong. I usually hear it first thing – the blackbirds in our park get up before the dawn in spring – and last, but during the day it tends to be deafened by the noise of traffic and people. It reminds me of Berlin where we heard birdsong all day every day during our visit in 2009. Here’s to hearing this every day from now on.
- Absolute silence and so often.
- Such loud applause every evening at 8pm. Everyone in my neighbourhood (and there are a lot of us) comes out onto their balcony or leans out of their window to applaud health carers everywhere. And then there’s the music, the shouting and the fire engine sirens too.
- So many fantastic concerts and performances organised by so many people. Close to you by the Couch Choir is amazing.
- So little from my neighbours. Ours is quite a quiet block, but even so we usually overhear a heated conversation or two. So far, so quiet.
5 things I never thought I’d feel
Emotions seem to have come into their own during Malaga lockdown.
- Such enormous gratitude for so much. Those little things that we often take for granted such as having a home that’s big enough to pace; family WhatsApp groups; 24/7 company; a separate home office…
- So exhausted after day 1 of my 30-day dance challenge. Super-creaky inner thighs. And there I was fit enough to run the Malaga half-marathon (now taking place in November)!
- Such amazement at Guide to Malaga web traffic stats for March. I’m used to 25,000+ visitors a month, but this month has knocked the figures out of the park. By 26 March, the site had welcomed over 34,000 people.
- Cheered that someone was reading about Christmas in Malaga on Guide to Malaga! How many shopping days are there?
- Inspired and daunted at the same time about what’s next. That’s a new emotional combo for me.
5 things that haven’t changed at all
Despite being stuck inside and such a different situation outside, some things remain exactly as they were before the Malaga lockdown.
- Onka Shipping continue to send me 2 spam emails a day. No attachments, no clicks, just a list of what they’re shipping today.
- Nature carries on as usual. I don’t why we’re marvelling, but spring in Malaga is as gorgeous as ever. In our park (in the hero image), the wisteria is blooming marvellously, the hedge has flowered white and the leaves have appeared on the trees. The extended sparrow family that lives in our airvent in the kitchen is building this year’s nest as busily as last.
- People’s refusal to believe facts.
- My working from home.
- The need for words (good news for all us copywriters!) – kind ones, reassuring one, factual ones and entertaining one.
Share your thoughts on your lockdown
It would be good to find out what new things you’re seeing, hearing and feeling on your lockdown. Feel free to comment below. And meanwhile, stay safe and strong!