March 26, 2020

Lockdown Blog 7: Finding the Silver Linings

Firstly I'd like to send my best wishes to all of you fans, wherever you are in the world. I hope you, your friends and your family are safe and well.

As I am sure is the case for many of you, we are now in full lockdown in England. I have been self-isolating at the family home in Warwickshire for over a week now, so I am starting to get used to this strange new way of life!

Our roster includes my mother and father, sister and her boyfriend, and a friend of ours. We also have our three pets: Daisy (our labradoodle puppy), Barley (a King Charles-Chihuahua cross) and Jasper (the ginger tomcat). The only person missing is my boyfriend who I can now not see for another three weeks (after an already nearly-three week tour to America) [crying face emoji].

However, I have been finding that there are many silver linings to this grey cloud we find ourselves under.

Since the lockdown, we have all assumed different responsibilities; I have had the pleasure of being the house chef...a job that I am realising is not only important for maintaining our energy levels but also for keeping up morale. I have really enjoyed finding inventive ways to combine ingredients to take advantage of left-overs or things that need to be eaten soon. It has also been fun to discover new ways to eat; for one meal I made sweetcorn fritters and instead of sitting down, everyone lined up to collect a perfectly-fresh fritter as soon as it was made, before eating it within a minute. The problem was that there was no time to eat my own!

All this family time has brought us even closer together, and made us realise what we are capable of when we act as a team. We have had time to relax in each other's company at our daily afternoon tea, enforced by all of us, as if it were a legal requirement to drink tea and eat cake! And each night we have had drinks with my boyfriend (over video chat which has been fun).

It may also surprise you to know that, having done my personality test (as recommended by Johnny), I discovered I am the most extraverted kind of introvert! So, whilst, of course, I'd prefer to be out and about making music, I am not uncomfortable with spending time at home (and, for once, having a routine!).

It's also not like there is no work to be done. Being a King's Singer primarily means performing and recording music, but there are many things for us to do behind the scenes too! So I am taking the opportunity to get to grips with my task list and I'm not bored yet. Once I have made a bit more progress, I may eventually get to fulfil my wish to do a Bond movie marathon, which would involve getting our VHS-player up from the cellar! (I used to collect James Bond memorabilia, you see.)

While I work, I have a view of the street on which I live, and it is lovely seeing so many people out in the sun walking getting their allotted once-per-day exercise at the regulation 2 metres from each other. Personally, it's been great to get up to speed with running again too. I have been taking Daisy to a friend's farm with my dad, and as he walks around a particular field, I do a few laps running getting very muddy in the process. Daisy likes to stretch her legs by running between us and showing off that she is way better at running that me!

I, of course, recognise that this is a very worrying time for everyone in so many different ways, for me included as many of my family are in the higher-risk category.

But I hope that, amidst all the concern and stress, we can find some good emerging out of this crisis. I hope that we as a society become more resilient by recognising the benefits of being in touch with our local communities so that we can give support and friendship to others, and receive it when we are in need. I hope it brings families together, and us all closer to nature.

And I hope that I get to see you again soon. 

Until then, 

Eddie

Instagram: @edwardbutton1