Approaching 10 Downing Street
*tap on the door*
Hi Boris, it’s me, I’m part of the millions of people who are vulnerable and shielding because of Covid who have been forgotten about by you and your government. Any updates on when we can have a normal life again?

There’s only one way I can describe what 2020 has been like as a disabled person – forgotten about.

Before I really delve into this post, I just want to say that what I’ll be writing in this post is based on my opinion, but I’m sure that some of you may agree, also, the majority of this post was written before tier 4 rules came into place.

It feels like centuries ago since the first lockdown in March was announced by the government and we were all told to stay inside. I was at my Grandad’s wake when it was announced by Boris that the pubs, bars, restaurants or anywhere where the public can go were going to be shut as of midnight that very night. I went home with my Mam and I knew I would not be venturing outside for a long time.

What followed was six months of staring at four walls, sterilising every parcel that came to my door, learning Spanish on Duolingo and not baking one single bit of banana bread.

There were times that I watched those Covid updates on BBC and waiting for Boris to give us vulnerable people, most of the time, a non existent update about how people were shielding would be allowed back into society safely. Sitting in my armchair wondering if this nightmare of 2020 will ever end.

I’m just going to say it, being vulnerable to a virus bloody stinks. Not being able to hug people, being stuck indoors watching the world from the inside, watching and seeing people being completely selfish on social media in terms of having house parties during lockdown, telling people to back off if they come within 2 metres of me and avoiding contact with family and friends altogether to keep myself safe has not been my idea of fun. It’s hurting, it really is.

As you can probably tell from reading that last paragraph, my mental health has suffered. I’m anxious a lot more than I used to be, I feel a lot angrier as a person after seeing so many selfish b*****ds do whatever they f*****g please cause they think Covid won’t affect them in any way. One aspect of all this is how people have treated the vulnerable and elderly on social media. Writing tweets saying to just lock up the vulnerable and elderly so they can get on with their lives is not sensible – it’s just plain idiotic and beyond selfish. It feels like some online have a total disregard for the vulnerable, it feels like we’re being ostracised for being disabled and vulnerable to a virus which could make us seriously ill. People do realise that the vulnerable have lives to lead? We don’t want to be locked away forever. We don’t want to be watching the world from the inside.

I also feel that I’ve become a little bit of a hypochondriac. Any little change in my body or how I feel within myself physically, I’m going into a blind panic thinking that I’m getting the virus, when it’s just simply a bit of cramp or hayfever.

My physical health has taken a bit of a battering also. My lung function has dropped a little and I’m struggling to regain that 10% back. Being stuck indoors felt ok in March, it’s now December and those who are shielding should not have to carry on like this. Mentally, it’s cruel. Physically, it’s extremely unhealthy.

When news of the vaccine came filtering through, it felt like there was a glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Some celebrated, some were critical, some were sceptical, some said it was really going to be a tracker device imposed by the government (ignore those a***holes.) A vaccine will give me the chance to live some sort of normal life again. To get out from the house, enjoy being outside again, meet family and friends away from my front door, a chance to just have my life back.

I’m asking those who are flouting the rules every five minutes to please take a moment and think of those who are desperate to be doing the things that you deem is ok to do. There are some, including your grandparents, who have been stuck indoors for so many weeks and months and we’re hoping to get our lives back, it’s you that’s stopping us because you can’t be f*cked to follow the rules.

Honestly, people have spent less time in prison as I’ve done this year in my own house. I love my home, but there’s only so much you can bake, watch and say to a cat.

I, and so many others, don’t want to be forgotten about anymore.