Mal & Marion Tabb: "The Pandemic Year" (So Far)

Sat at home, late February 2021, following our local morning walk "from the front door" UK Lockdown 3.0 seems to rumble on interminably. Looking back a year, by this time it had become clear that we were heading for a season that most of us had never before experienced.

Our year had started well, the calendar was full from the beginning of March onwards and we'd enjoyed plenty of time at the climbing wall through December, January & February.

At home we were preparing to have a new bathroom fitted as one of our "winter projects" and mid- March was busy mainly with freelancing engagements for local outdoor centres. We'd commented on how much we were enjoying the above average amount of time being spent in the Lake District Fells working with groups.

In the days leading up to UK Lockdown 1.0 we spent a day out together on Ullswater in the canoe and a day in the Northern Fells with Charis climbing High Pike and Carrock Fell. From memory March 2020 was a cold but fairly dry month.

On 10th March 2020 Coronavirus showed its face at Charis' school when a teacher returning from a half term holiday in Northern Italy sadly tested positive, by the 12th March school closed (not to open again for many weeks) and on 23rd March the first Lockdown began. Marion was unwell right at the start of this period: fatigue, new persistent cough and a high temperature. We'll never know whether this was "the virus" or just "a virus" as widespread testing was yet to become available, however, she recovered and nobody else was affected. The un - seasonally warm, sunny and dry weather made the early part of April feel like some sort of surreal novelty - an unexpected and unplanned break from "normal". Early morning exercise; short local walks and bike rides became the norm we even ran our cancelled Easter Canoe Trip "virtually" from the back garden!

High Pike Summit, with Charis, on a cold windy March day 2020

Virtual Expedition, April 2020

Novelty that it was I don't mind admitting that by the middle of April I was climbing the wall and the weeks that led up to a relaxation of restrictions later in May were often a frustrating time.

However, the good weather continued and evenings spent in the open canoe on Ullswater and a day on Sands rapids on the River Eden heralded the beginning of at least a temporary "new normal"

Evening on Ullswater & Day at Sands Rapid, May 2020

Still no work at this time but as restrictions eased further we began to get out in the fells on a regular basis - this was to be one of the highlights of the Pandemic Year as Marion went on to add a total of 54 new Wainwrights to her tally before Lockdown 3.0 ultimately curtailed all out of town activity. Days on Steeple & Pillar; Blencathra; the Far Eastern Fells and even the North Pennines were much enjoyed. We even became geriatric boulderers - a day on the sandstone of St Bees in baking June sunshine with dolphins swimming in a mirror calm sea was special!

Marion on Pillar Summit

St Bees in the Sunshine with Andy Johnson, June 2020

July thankfully saw the re-start of our Community Programme - it was so good to be seeing folk and catching up again; late July marked the start of possibly the busiest time our business has ever known as the "Great British Staycation" gained momentum. We've never seen the Lake District so busy, it wasn't always pleasant but the injection of finance was welcome from a work perspective. This all continued, punctuated by a significant birthday & Marion qualifying as a Rock Climbing Instructor - what an achievement(!). Lockdown 2.0 in November effectively ended our working year.

Community Micro-Expedition (Andy-J, Thompa & Maccy), August 2020

Foundation Safety & Rescue Training Course, Scottish Borders 2020

Marion's last day of prep for RCI Assessment, Twistleton Scar, September 2020

Pandemic 60th Birthday Celebrations, It was great to get to celebrate at least with the Carlisle contingent of the family, October 2021

So, what of the rest of the year? It was a real joy to work with Rock UK's scaled down Instructor Training Programme for a few days in autumn & to get away on expedition with them to Loch Awe. Wintery days in the fells proved as enjoyable as Spring and Summer. Christmas saw us all self isolating after Marion's positive Covid test on 21st December (thankfully only mild symptoms were experienced) & January saw us back in Lockdown. What a year!!

However, we thank God that we and all our family are well but recognise that this has been a difficult year for many. We will be forever grateful for the support and blessings provided by friends, family, clients and colleagues throughout this "strangest of times". We now look forward with much anticipation to: vaccination; an easing of Lockdown 3.0; and hopefully a "new normal" somewhere on the near horizon!

Well, that's it by way of a catch up, we'll try to post with greater frequency - thanks to everyone for reading!