20:37

Today I became an aunty for the second time this year! My younger brother and his wife welcomed into the world a baby boy early this morning.

As 2020 comes to a close our family has plenty to give thanks for. While this year has been tough because of the pandemic, we have all adapted to the new norm in our own respective ways and continue to keep in contact virtually. As a family unit we have had more video calls this year than ever before, with some of them running for hours at a time! Though the physical distance is there, the emotional bond has gotten stronger. Seeing my nephews grow and also watching my brothers tackle parenthood is heartwarming, and I am so grateful to be a part of that. There will be struggles and tough times along the way but as a close-knit family we can get through it together.

22:20

During this pandemic I have definitely been appreciating quality time with others more because it has become so rare. Current rules in the UK vary from region to region and even in different cities. In Edinburgh we are still not allowed to enter into another person’s household. We can meet outdoors or in public places but not in homes. With quality time being my preferred love language (both giving and receiving) it has been difficult during the pandemic to feel that same closeness with others. I started off in March with several chats and video calls, but as the months have passed by the novelty for these has dwindled.

On Tuesday I dropped off some gifts for my younger brother and my sister-in-law and got to see them very briefly. Though we did not speak for too long it was nice to see them in person and to catch up. Today I went for a dander in the rain with my friend and we ended up in a cafe. We chatted for a while as we had not seen each other properly in so long. It also felt somewhat normal to be laughing and joking in a cafe again.

As the pandemic continues and the number of cases rises everyday, it is easy to feel gloomy and uneasy about the situation. The dreary Scottish weather also hasn’t helped in lifting anyone’s spirits. As we all adapt to the new normal we need to remember to reach out to others too. A small message to say hello, a gift out of the blue, a catch up in person – all of these are things we can do to brighten someone’s day.

21:09

Our technology is so advanced in this day and age that it blows my mind. As a 90s child I grew up with dial up internet, VHS tapes and chunky Nokia mobile phones. Now we have smart phones which we can do everything from; oh how times have changed!

Recently I had to contact a major online company and there was the option for them to call me. I entered my phone number, clicked a button and then I got the call within seconds. This is scary yet impressive! What a remarkable world we live in where we can do everything from a screen and through an internet connection!

02:25

Messaging through text or any other form of e-interaction is a way of keeping in touch with people who you can’t be physically with at that moment in time. It is a way of communicating and having a conversation while in reality you may be hundreds or thousands of miles apart, even spread through different time zones and continents.

While messaging of this form has its benefits, it also has its downsides. Here are a few issues that I find quite irksome:

1. One word replies: sometimes there are more than one word, but they don’t add anything to the conversation nor do they keep the chat flowing. Examples would be ‘Ahh I see’ or ‘Okay then’. When people use these on me I feel like I have nothing to say in response, also it means it is up to me to carry on the conversation with a new topic. In all honesty it makes me feel like what I said prior to the one word reply is unimportant or uninteresting to the other party, something not worth a proper reply to. When someone talks to me I reply genuinely, with interest, asking questions where necessary, and most importantly I keep the conversation flowing.
2. Overuse of any form of laughter: ‘Lol’ is a word I cannot use, I physically loathe it with all of my being and typing it here makes me feel uneasy. The fact that people use it as a conversation filler is ridiculous, no one genuinely laughs all that much. I use ‘haha’ now and again but only in times where I truly find something funny.
3. Typos: a personal pet peeve. I always correct myself when I type something wrong simply because I need the satisfaction of knowing I spelt it correctly. As someone who pays great attention to detail I feel like even through text chat spelling is crucial.
4. Lack of personal touch: I’ve always liked the old fashioned way of communicating through letters. There’s something about seeing your own name handwritten on an envelope, unfolding a letter and reading words someone personally took the time to write to you. I know that nowadays letter writing has become lost in amongst the e-mails and Whatsapps and whatever else we use to communicate because it isn’t efficient. Letters can take days (even weeks!) to be delivered while a text can be sent in an instant. There’s something almost romantic about receiving a letter that someone personally wrote to you, something which tells you that you mean more and are worth the time. Holding a mobile phone and reading a heartfelt message through the screen is not the same as holding the handwritten words on a piece of paper.