These are the things I am most looking forward to after 12 weeks of 'shielding' due to the coronavirus outbreak

People have been robbed of their last precious moments with loved ones, left unable to say a final goodbye to those who have died and been heartbroken by the cancellation of weddings, dream holidays and other special occasions.

There is less than a week to go until the UK Government will look again at the current coronavirus lockdown restrictions and see if it is time to relax them.

But for me, and around one million others on the ‘extremely vulnerable’ list, there are still between six and eight weeks at least to go until we can think about leaving home at all.

It seems like a lifetime, but it’s important to remember that these restrictions will eventually change.

I’ve been thinking long and hard about what I’m most looking forward to after my self-isolation is over.

Like so many others, I’m really missing my family and friends.

I’m lucky enough to be self-isolating with my husband, a Type 1 diabetic, who is also at high risk if he were to fall ill with Covid-19.

But one of the first things I’ll be doing when I’m allowed to go out will be visit my parents.

I miss our twice-weekly visits where we have our tea together or a cuppa and a cream cake when we’ve been food shopping.

Speaking of which, I never thought I’d be so desperate to visit a supermarket.

We’ve been blessed with a network of amazing shopping helpers during this time, but it can be quite hard work to think of every little ingredient I need for breakfast, dinner and tea, seven nights a week for almost seven weeks.

Our nieces and nephews have waved at us through the window as they’ve dropped off a drawing or gone by on their bikes – but it’s hard for them to understand why we can’t play or have a cuddle like always.

If I’ve learned one lesson from this time at home it’s to be grateful for your loved ones and the time you share, as you never know when it will be cut short.

*Tweet me at @DebraFox_ to tell me how you are coping in self-isolation and share your story if you too have had to shield due to the risks of coronavirus.

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