With the Covid-19 lock-down in place, suddenly 70's TV series Survivors feels like a documentary - Liam Rudden

ONE week into the lock-down and it really is amazing how easy it is to change your daily routine.

Survivors

At least that’s what I’ve found since battening down the hatches at the end of business last Friday.

Self-isolated initially because of a three-day bug - to be honest, I slept most of those first 72 hours - by the time I was back to my best, the decision had been made for me... the Edinburgh Evening News was to be produced with the whole team working from home.

I can only imagine what newsprint legends such as John Gibson would have made of such a proposal, the very concept must have seemed like science-fiction back in his day.

Having never worked from home before it has certainly been a bit of an eye-opener and I’ve discovered that my phone and laptop can do things I’d never imagined possible.

I’ve even taken part in my first Google Hang-out, yes, late to the party I know, but you have to remember, talking to numerous people at once as their faces pop up on a screen in front of you was something only the likes of Captain James T Kirk could do when I was a kid.

As to that routine I mentioned, well, there might be no pubs to chill in over a pint as you catch up with all the news from friends, regulars and staff - a big shout out here to all the gang at the Theatre Royal, hope you’re all safe and well and locked away - but I have found myself spending more time texting and messaging people in a way there never seemed to be time for before. I’d also failed to realise memes were such a valuable currency for alleviating boredom.

While books and radio have long been my go-tos when needing to relax, a slew of new podcasts have been filling my time too. Of course, not everybody is so lucky. For many, this will be an anxious, lonely time, which is why it’s worth dropping anyone you know who might be in this situation a wee line every now and then. Better still, give them a call. Sometimes just listening as they get to speak their fears aloud is all it takes to help.

With more and more days like this stretching before us (if those in the high risk group are being advised to stay in for three months I reckon that’s at least how long we’ll all be affected), I’ll be looking through my collection of old TV series in the coming weeks. One of my favourites growing up was Terry Nation’s Survivors, strangely, it was about a global pandemic.

Looking back it was scarily prescient, especially the first episode. Consequently, some of the scenes coming out of Italy and China and the stories I’m hearing from friends in London seem frighteningly familiar. It’s another reason I’ve found it so easy to settle into my new post lock-down routine. If fact, if anything, I’ve become just a little bit paranoid when I do have to go out, although right now, that’s probably a good thing.

Until next week, stay safe, stay in and stay healthy.