The harsh grinding of the rusted gate hinge pierces the night’s silence as

it opens. Stepping into the overgrown garden, the violent thorns claw at

my legs. Vengeful roses trap the unobservant in their painful grip.

I step over the snake pit and head up to the porch.

The black house looms over me, its eyes staring down with a piercing

light. The curtains close abruptly.

I have been seen.

In this suspended blink, I take fleeting action. I turn to run, but realise my

mistake. The ashen branches of formidable trees lunge at me.

Even nature has turned against me.

I look up to see a silver eye gazing back. Cratered sclera; ghostly white,

it seems to roll itself; disappointed that I have fallen into the trap of my

own intrigue. I lean against a pillar and I am ambushed yet again.

The snake slithers over and wraps itself around me.

I am bound by fear.

I seek clarity, and desperately stare to the sky for guidance.

I am ignored.

Cassiopeia stares into her mirror. She does not avert her gaze.

The snake whispers to me its venomous words with drawn-out syllables.

The more I deny it, the tighter it pulls me.

The sky clouds over. Everything is dark.

The only purity that remains is a butterfly. It flits just out of my reach.

The butterfly hovers above the garden. The fury of nature reaches out to

drag it down, but it flits out of their grasp too.

Hope.

The symbol of life; how it changes and ends swiftly.

The glistening aura; it radiates virtuousness.

The unachievable soul ascension we dream of.

My thoughts are diverted. Steps are heard from inside the house.

The butterfly smiles at me as the reward of unending time beneath limbo

reaches out a wrathful hand. I unwillingly embrace the black sulkiness of

the Stygian Marsh, and gaze beneath the rending hatred to see more

anguish and torment.

Am I to perform this waltz for all of time?

The vicious snapping and snarling; the savage loathing.

It is surely wrong to envy the sullen hatred of those beneath the river.

They lie gurgling; choked by the rage that consumes their soul.

With alacrity, I accept the future, whatever outcome it may be.

The snake lets go and returns to the brambles from whence it came.

I am no longer submerged.

The butterfly lands in my hands. I am elated by the touch of hope.

The return of reason. I open my eyes.

The sun shines.

Nature doesn’t want me dead; the flower beds house peaceful bulbs.

The calls of songbirds fill the air around me.

The doorbell chimes as I press it.

A friendly face greets me.

I hand over the bunch of roses, and the butterfly flies away.

Although lockdown may take us apart

And stress out many,

It’s all part of Earth’s beautiful art

That we will never take for granted.

We are forever thankful for the many life savers

That we will never forget,

Who are applauded for by us and all the neighbours

And deserve all the praise they get.

Everyone following the rules are heroes

And should be proud of what they’re doing.

Because sooner or later the cases will be down to zero,

And we will all get through it.

There is no stopping,

we continue to move ahead.

With the countless efforts helping,

Even the guy DJing for the street in his shed.

There is a lot going on in this lockdown period

And many lessons to be learnt.

But one thing that will never change -

Our fire inside will never be burnt.

We have come so far

As one big community,

To keep everyone safe

And find an immunity.

We have come so far; we will never stop trying.

As we come closer to finishing the journey,

And put an end to all the crying.

But in the end, it’s all one big lesson we’re learning.

August 3rd, 2013

“So, your name is?” I asked the girl who I was showing around my apartment. She was average height, with a sheet of dirty blonde hair that fell gracefully down her back, very pretty, and carrying a white rose. She was dressed in a flowery, beige dress with a silk blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

“Misty,” she told me, holding out her hand. “Misty Day.”

“Where do you come from?” I asked, intrigued by her. She had that aura about her that drew you in and enchanted you.

“New Orleans,” she replied. There was an American twang in her voice.

“Did you take the bus here?” I asked, glancing out of the window and noticing there was no car parked outside the apartment.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Not many people ride the bus this far,” I said as the smiling Misty looked down at the radio on the kitchen counter. “Are you running away from something?”

“Myself, mostly,” Misty replied, twiddling the dials on the radio. “Do you listen to Fleetwood Mac?” she asked suddenly, a grin appearing on her innocent face.

“Stevie Nicks’ band? Off American Idol?” I asked, smiling too. “Yeah, I was almost named after her. Do you like them?”

“Oh, I love them,” Misty sighed dreamily, sitting down on my sofa and smiling. “The lyrics speak to you so much.”

“I guess they do. So,” I said, sitting beside her. “Tell me about yourself, Misty.”

Misty looked at me, and her piercing gaze made me feel like she was reading my mind. “You’re a very trustworthy person,” she said to me, leaning forward and taking my hand within her heavily ringed one. “I’m going to tell you a secret that I know you’re not going to tell. I’m a witch.”

I stared at her, not sure what to say. “You’re what?”

Everyone knew her.Everyone wanted to be her.She walked through the corridors of the school in glory.Jealousy filled the air as she walked past from her fellow students.She walked with grace and glory with the two people she supposedly loved the most by her side.Whether they truly were is unknown.Chloe and Charlie were known as her minions throughout the school.She was known to be perfect by most people who knew her.A lot of people loved but not all.There were a few people that hated her but not many, most adored her.She was pretty, good grades and cared for her family and wanted to always wanted to help people, to give.What wasn’t to love not leaving out that fact she was popular.She was a girl with dream; a big dream.She wanted to be famous, to be known by all and she wouldn’t stop until she was and she was willing to go extreme lengths to become it.Maybe this was the cause of her down fall.She wasn’t all what people thought she was.Everyone knew who differently but no one knew this yet.Secrets kept to keep her safe.Secrets that could of saved Alex if people knew.

It was a small quiet town.Nothing interesting ever happened.No excitement just a normal simple town.Until… 23rd April.Thats when things changed.Mystery and disaster struck the town.The day where Alex went missing.Where questions and worries filled the town.Where was she?Who was she with?The biggest question was if she was okay?Everyone wanted to try to find where she was for themselves.Everyone thought they knew her best that they knew where she would be.This is where secrets started to be revealed.Secrets of who she really was.The fact she wasn’t as perfect as she made everyone believe.She was friends with people,

that she acted like she didn’t know.They had also found stashes of money hidden in her room.Even though she was missing she still had everyone's attention.More secrets were waiting to be spilt about Alex.Who knows what she has been hiding?

Describe the scene as doppelgangers meet in the queue at a coffee shop, including their reactions.

As she walked into the coffee shop it felt like a warm hug embracing her. The coldness of the outside was replaced by a gentle heat that made her loosen her rainbow-striped scarf and take off her thick bobble hat. She could hear the hiss of the coffee machine as it made the flat white milk, frothy and bubbly. There was a bubbling of excitement in the cafe from the chatter of groups of friends dotted at the various tables, small groups of people huddled around cozy tables, talking animatedly to each other. A lone man sits, drinking his tea, a pot for one, and reading his newspaper, glancing with annoyance at the gaggle of women gossiping on the table next to him.

As she joined the end of the queue, she glanced longingly at the rows and rows of tempting pastries and scrumptious cakes lining the counter, her mouth watering with expectation; golden cookies, moist and rich chocolate cake, fruity muffins, thick, white iced buns. The blackboards overhead were full of colourful chalk indicating prices and special offers. As she inched closer and closer to the front of the queue, she tried to make up her mind which one to choose. She breathed in, the smell of deep, dark, inviting coffee beans overpowered everything else.

As she inched forward in the queue at the counter waiting for her drink entranced by those sweet treats, she accidentally bumped into the woman in front of her. She immediately apologised but as the woman turned around she gasped in shock. The other woman was just as surprised. The women were identical, some would say like twins swapped at birth. Both women were the same age, had long dark curly hair and deep brown eyes. It was almost as if they were both looking in a mirror. “Who are you?” said the one girl.

‘Who are you?’ exclaimed the other.

It was almost as if time had stopped still as their eyes fixed on each other. The silence was broken by the barista behind the counter shouting in a shrill voice, ‘Next, please!’ The staring between the women was broken. ‘Isn’t this nice, twins out for a coffee together,’ the barista continued.

‘We’re not twins, I don’t even know her,’ the woman tried to explain.

It’s not that bad

It’s not that bad waking up at 9.00am

No rush, schools at home again

What day is it? Who knows?

Wearing PJs is my choice of school clothes

It's not that bad, sunshine and cleaner air

Football in the garden, dodgy home-cut hair

Playing board games and doing daily exercise

Helping people, clapping hands for heroes saving lives.

It's really not that bad to be able to say

That I'm safe inside my house day after day

Having fun with my family, learning a new skill

A cleaner, healthier world outside my window sill

It's not that bad going on the xbox, talking to friends

Making the most of this time before it comes to an end

So for now, I'm a grateful and chilled lock-down kid

Writing this poem to remember the great things I did.

Angelou the Muddyspot

Looked for his friends very quick.

He's the size of a cow,

And has the tail and nose of a pig.

Going on the underground

Made Angelou feel dizzy.

On his way to the waterpark

He sipped his drink - it was so fizzy!

Going down the big blue slide

He thought he saw a pink hat.

But no, was he very wrong -

It was Fluffy the Sphynx cat.

When he was with Fluffy,

He saw another friend.

It was Rapid the Tortoise -

He was going around a bend!

On their way back to the farm,

Together they were at last.

Angelou felt hopeful

That his future will be brighter than his past.

In the deserted, hazardous world outside my window lies each single family of four choosing to be in their house or their garden, some seeking entertainment while others seek peace.

I see a car staying in the same location for weeks, not moving. I also hear two little girls playing in their garden and being entertained by bubbles.

In the distance, I see a husband and wife sunbathing in the warm long grass, whilst in my neighbour’s garden, I see a man and a woman entertaining their little girl with a picnic and a small paddling pool.

After looking at each house, I see my mum, dad and sister on the trampoline, each taking turns whilst one of them takes care of the barbecue and the other watches my sister.

Today, this is life from my window.

Adapting to the new government rules is difficult for everyone. For people with learning disabilities and autism, it can be even harder to cope with changes in routine and a lack of control over situations. Despite the numerous challenges, we've been hearing stories brimming with kindness, compassion, courage, and togetherness and we will soon be together after this war.

Finding the positives of Lockdown

LOVE AND CONNECTION AT HOME (EVEN BETWEEN SIBLINGS)

ONLINE VIDEO CALLS AND QUIZZES WITH FAMILY, KEEPING IN CONTACT WITH LOVED ONES.

COMING TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY, CLAPPING FOR THE NHS.

KEEPING FIT WITH ‘PE WITH JOE’. GETTING THE FAMILY TO JOIN IN.

DOG WALKING UP THE MOUNTAIN, TAKING IN ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.

ONLINE SCHOOLING, TO KEEP OUR BRAINS WORKING.

WRITING STORIES IN ONLINE ENGLISH LESSONS.

NEW BEGINNINGS…… NEW MEMORIES.

Love and affection spread around

Opening up to family

Continuing to work but also having fun

Knowing I am safe

Doing my bit to keep NHS workers safe

Owning lockdown as if it were normal

With family and friends at the end of the phone

No one is ever alone!

Families unite from 6ft apart,

Technology evolves to keep everyone smart.

Pollution decline across the earth,

On land and at sea, a natural rebirth.

Learning new skills with time on our hands,

Determined a virus will not stop our future plans.

Rain, rain

I departed the bus, which I exited only a few blocks away from my house. Upon leaving, the bitter, icy wind caught my nose before engulfing my body. The winter sky was like a widow, darkened and weeping. The torrential rain poured on top of me, seeping through my thin, cotton jumper. My glasses had been invaded by droplets of rain that almost completely covered them, leaving little room to see through. With every step I took more and more water excessively inhabited my shoes, freezing my feet and toes.

Hair soaked and eyes blinded, I managed to walk another block closer to my house, all the while being bombarded by substantial amounts of arctic water. I quickened my pace as the sound of pots and pans began clanging from the skies, which was soon followed by a devilish flick of lightning striking in the distance. Heart racing and head banging, I buried my hands in my trouser pockets seeking a little warmth, which was absent all over my body.

Relieved, I saw my crumbling street sign in the distance from over the top of my glasses. I was close to home. The rain swam through each strand of my hair, intertwining it into knots and bows and dancing down my neck when it had done so. My frozen fingers reached deep down into my saturated pockets and pulled out the key to my front door. Despite numbness coating my entire body, my hands especially, the thought of entering my warm home again gave me hope. Swiftly, I clicked my key into the large door and pushed it open with force before leaping inside. Immediately I melted, like a lollipop in the sun, before the beautiful aroma of fresh tomato soup trailed from the kitchen and blessed my lungs. I was happy to be home, and in from the rain.

You could say that it's COVID-19, like the virus,

This year I'm trendin', ugh,

Let me just kill this track, spill these facts,

Then I'm on to the next thing,

But let's take this t’ing serious,

Please stay safe and don't get infected,

Love to the families who've been affected.

You could say that it's COVID-19, like the virus,

This year I'm trendin', ugh,

Let me just kill this track, spill these facts,

Then I'm on to the next thing,

Let's take this t’ing serious,

Please stay safe and don't get infected.

Less pollution in our waters.

Observing the beauty of our planet.

Clapping for the NHS and key workers.

Keeping in from the sun to stop overheating.

Deciding to make better choices for the future.

Opening our minds to continue to preserve our environment.

Walks with my family.

NHS working hard for us to stay safe.

Lockdown means growing and learning new skills,

Like learning to cook or making meals.

Training for volleyball and lots of keep fit,

Playing piano and writing stories.

Discovering places in lots of books,

Listening to all my favourite songs.

Watching wildlife in our garden,

Sitting in the sun lazily,

Like the neighbour’s cat under our tree.

Smell of lavender drifts through the breeze,

The birds chirp and the bees buzz.

Butterflies flutter, landing on the flowers.

The sound of music rings through the house

As we all practice our musical skills.

Boys on guitar,

Me on piano,

While our mum practices singing.

Binge watching my favourite TV

Like anime and Disney.

Playing board games and having a laugh,

Making a scrapbook,

Drawing sketches,

Taking pictures.

Using Skype to stay in touch

With people we love very much.

Little things to make time count,

That’s what lockdown is all about.

Little things to touch people’s hearts,

Little things to thank everyone for.

Stay safe.

Stay home.

Save lives.

The Positives of Lockdown.

All over the world we have seen people help one another,

Keeping their distance yet coming together.

Everything around us has been so peaceful,

And were all going to come out like different people.

There are so new things we can learn to do,

All depending on the things that interest you.

You may learn how to cook, sew or knit,

you may enjoy it, but you’ve always been overlooking it.

You might be missing a friend,

But remember this all will end.

Just focus on the family you have around you,

And forget about the things that make you blue.

In times like this we all need to come together,

And everyone needs to help each other.

And you need to make sure you’re not being foolish,

By only thinking of yourself and being so selfish.

Positives of Lockdown

Sun shines down on a healing world.

The bright blue skies as clear as ice,

No toxic trails creating pollution.

Life has slowed, as I stand here contemplating,

Sisters, one enjoying kicking the fluorescent football,

waiting for GCSE results,

the other working tirelessly towards her degree.

No time with Dad until weekends,

Which makes them extra special,

His work is busy and constant, but he has a job and we have money.

Mum baking and making exquisite dishes,

For us all to enjoy, whilst juggling home and schoolwork.

Energetic, spotted Dalmatian sprinting up and down the garden,

As fast as a Formula One car.

As lockdown continues family time extends,

Quality time, time for each other, supporting, assisting.

Just being there for each other.

Legendary Lockdown

2020 arrived and I could not wait.

I’d written a bucket list to complete with my mate,

It was also the year I would become a teen,

But instead came the pandemic of Covid-19.

On March 23rd the lockdown began.

We all stayed at home, every woman, child and man.

I thought this would be the worst year of my life,

And rumours and panic on social media were rife.

But lo and behold from the depths of despair,

Came a story of positivity I feel I must share.

A new breed of hero became favourites of mine,

Nurses and doctors and those on frontline.

We clapped every Thursday on doorsteps at eight,

To respect all the NHS workers we rate.

We spent time with our family, and all got to talk,

We went out every day for our exercise walk,

And instead of us being at the end of our tether,

We spent weeks on end basking in glorious weather.

So 2020 is not what I thought it would be,

But its weeks filled with love and positivity.

Learning TikTok dances

Outside spaces gaining use

Cookies, cakes, lots to bake

Keeping parents up to date with new trends

Dreaming of seeing friends and family

Online classes acquiring ICT skills

Wearing summer clothes in the scorching sun

New way of learning independently

My Moment of History

I think people today help and care much more

Attitudes have changed saying hello is no longer a chore

Drawings of rainbows in windows and clapping on the street

Supporting the NHS people who are tired on their feet

Communities have joined for the old and the young

Helping out with shopping and friendships have sprung

Using Zoom to speak to the people who we care

Keeping connected and smiles to be shared

Our planet is currently resting and now can breathe

No pollution and greenhouse gas it’s hard to believe

No planes in the sky but just clear and blue

So the animals must be happy and like this too.

At night I can see satellites soaring through the sky

Even blazing shooting stars faster than a blink of an eye

Hedgehogs rustling and hiding in the night

Even a bat being picked up by the street light

Even though we must fight now to protect our earth

Just think of the good things and realise what they’re worth

So the lesson to us all when all said and done

Let’s make our world a much happier one

Lockdown positives

During this disastrous time, we can use the opportunity to exercise, revise and reflect on the memories that have gone. Take time to just sit down and talk to each other. People all over the world are coming together every day to make this world the best it can ever be right now.

During this time, you can Facetime family members. You can get your schoolwork done at home and remember to be thankful for this, because we are lucky to have that opportunity. When you go back to school thank your teachers and bosses. Also, remember to thank your family and parents for keeping you active in this current era.

Lockdown Positivity

This is a time to be positive, with community spirit and supporting the NHS. Things like saying hello, asking how others are, and calling family members always helps to improve their mental health. Furthermore, people are shopping for their vulnerable neighbours and family. People are singing and DJing for those in their street. Despite a time of social distancing, as a community, people have never been closer. It has become a tradition to come together and clap every Thursday and show our appreciation for the NHS.

Families are spending more time together by watching movies, discovering arts and crafts and gardening, providing people with new skills and hobbies. We are becoming a healthier nation as thousands are walking their dogs, joining in with Joe Wicks as he does his HIIT programme and running miles every day. Furthermore, families are having more time to prepare healthy meals and are enjoying them together.

The pollution is getting better and waterways are cleaner, helping the wildlife and giving us all cleaner air to breathe. Industry is slowing down giving us cleaner air which is helping the planet. There has been a notable reduction in crime, which is helping the police in this period.

Positives of Lockdown

Although it may not seem like it, there are many positives to lockdown. Here are a few.

Since lockdown has started the community has gotten closer. For example; clapping for the NHS; helping people who can’t go shopping. Lockdown has also helped us to reflect on our great memories and show us how lucky we all really are. Another really big positive of lockdown is that we have a great new awareness of our actions towards the environment. There has been a reduced amount of crime and the world has been mending itself. It shows everyone that we are a big part of climate change and that we can still help our world.

Positives in lockdown

You may not believe it, but there are a few positives for being in this lockdown!

One of the positives of being in lockdown is that humanity is coming together to overcome this pandemic, and maybe one day we will be able to say that we are out of lockdown. During lockdown we are also spending more time with our family which makes families become closer.

Considering less people will be going outside there is a decrease in crime and violence. Whilst in lockdown we are finding new ways to learn whilst at home and are doing well at it, as well as exercising and cooking. Humanity is supporting the key workers out there by singing, dancing, putting rainbows in their windows and showing respect to all the people that have to work extra hours during this pandemic.

More people greet each other whilst on their daily walks whilst still staying 2 metres away to show respect. Many more people are starting to read more, write more, exercise more and respect more. I think everyone should treat this pandemic the way we have been told to.

Thank you.

Positives of Coronavirus Lockdown

Due to coronavirus, the strategy of lockdown has been introduced to the globe. It's a new way of living for everybody due to the the pandemic. After all the devastating losses families have had to face, Covid-19 is slowly going away according to BBC News. So, in the remaining time period of lockdown, what are the positives?

The positives of the Covid-19 lockdown are many in my opinion, but my main positives are the following.

Staying at home safe and sound protected from coronavirus is helping the community because the disease is not spreading. This means less people will get it, less people will catch it and lastly less people will lose their lives to it. Also, by staying at home, we are protecting our national health workers (the NHS) from bringing Covid-19 into their home and to their family.

On an environmental scheme of things, the coronavirus lockdown has had its benefits. The wildlife, along with the planet, have improved significantly. Here are a few examples I've picked out:

· Happier Wildlife

· Cleaner Air

· Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In conclusion, staying in lockdown will help stop the coronavirus from spreading to more people and it will also be helping the wildlife and our planet, due to everyone being more respectful of our surroundings and of what we have.

Positives of lockdown:

• The community coming together to help others. For example, delivering food to vulnerable people during the life-changing Covid-19 pandemic.

• We will all be safe if we stay at home and we will save lives as a result.

• Carbon and greenhouse gases have all been reduced.

• Wildlife has been protected so that means no disturbance towards wildlife occurs.

• Spending more time with family.

• Technology has enabled us to stay in touch on phones, computers etc.

Paragraph:

There are many positives of lockdown even though it may feel like there aren't any. For example, the community is coming together to help vulnerable people who can’t get to the shops by doing the shopping for them. Also, we will be safe because the NHS are helping us, and we are staying at home.

There is a decrease in the use of carbon and greenhouse gases. This means that the planet's air will be in a safer condition. In addition to this, there has also been a decrease in wildlife disturbance. This means that animals can live happy lives.

Finally, you can spend more time with family and technology has evolved to let us stay in touch with friends and family on the phone. This means that we have a way of communicating with relatives that live far away.

Rain, Rain

Write a narrative set in the rain. Make the weather central to the narrative.

It was raining. It was cold. Sleet swirled around the face of the girl as she walked down the dark street. Even the streetlights seemed depressed; their lights buzzed and flickered pathetically as if they wanted to die, much like the girl. The rain sure wanted her to. It was coming thick and fast, falling in heavy, ice cold droplets onto her pale, snow white skin.

It was hard to tell whether it was rain or tears rolling down her face now. Cars raced past, dangerously fast. The rain fell harder. The girl wrapped her coat around herself and tucked her hands into her pockets to retain some warmth. The air was biting and nipping at the part of her face that was not covered by a thick balaclava that seemed to serve as a barrier for her tears.

The girl had never believed in symbolism. When studying poetry, if the curtains were blue, it meant the curtains were just blue. If it was raining in that story about the sad man, it just meant it was raining. She never thought it reflected depression, sadness, loneliness, even suicide. But everything has to have double meaning.

The rain was reflecting the girl’s mood. She was alone. Nowhere to run to. No home. Of course, in the evening she’d lost her only light in the world, the rain came down like this. She’d have to camp out somewhere; a stowaway. Her best friend, a homeless scoundrel like her, was dead. She’d seen it. The last crimson trails of her friend’s life dripping across the road and down the drain.

The rain knew. It did. It knew her pain. As the girl found a safe, suitable corner around the side of a large building, she crawled into her sleeping bag. She was soaked by the rain, feeling like a wet dog as it dripped off the split ends of her hair. It started to snow. But as snow usually was, it wasn’t a graceful fall. Not to the girl, anyway. To the girl, it was a taunt. As the night went on, the storm got worse. It didn’t stop for days.

View from my window

Gazing out of my bedroom window is something I have been doing more of recently since lockdown, awaiting the day when I can finally see my friends and enjoy the freedom I crave. The jigsaw puzzle of garden fences with varying tones of brown separates us. They give me a snapshot into the lives of the people that own them- those lives are those of my neighbours. At present they are lifeless, apart from one lone Golden Retriever, who sniffs the ground in search of any BBQ remnants. The gardens await the mowers, the TikTok addicts, the paddlers and the sun worshippers. Each piece of the jigsaw is set up for the people that live there and mine is no exception.

There’s the BBQ for dad, sun-lounger for mum and my teenage sister and gymnastic equipment for me; the energetic one! The time spent there has allowed memories to be made which will be reminisced for years to come and shared with future generations. The recent sun has spread its fiery fingers over us all bringing happiness in this uncertain time. It has seen more use these past few weeks and has been reclaimed as my family enjoy time together. The shed anticipates the later arrival of the ‘rooftoppers’ who gather there at 7pm for a daily catch-up, from a socially acceptable distance of course!

Next door proudly displays 16th birthday banners which are a sad symbol of the party that won’t be happening as planned due to the pandemic.

As the houses wake up then so do the gardens…..

Dear Seren in a few years,

I hope you're doing well and have made some amazing memories since writing this letter. At the moment I'm in year 9 and I'm writing this letter from home because we have no school due to the coronavirus. It's so boring being at home all the time and I'm missing all my family and friends a lot. I'm also missing school which I never thought I would say.

Like I said, life at the moment is very boring. Days are feeling like months and months are feeling like years. So far we've been in lockdown for 7 weeks! Our last day of school was on the 20th March (my birthday). So far we’ve spent many birthdays in lockdown like Nanny Rena, Ben, Jack and Phoebe as well as Easter but we still managed to get chocolate luckily. I've had loads of work set from school which is keeping me busy most days but some other things that I have been doing to keep me busy are; going on a daily walk, doing exercise in my garden and I’m always talking to my friends on Facetime. I am also learning a new skill which is sign language to help communicate with Jack. I wish it would just disappear and everything will go back to normal but I know that won’t happen. How much longer will this last? I'm just hoping this doesn't last much longer.

Hopefully when you are reading this you know what you want to do in life like, what you want to do as a job. I have no idea yet but I've chosen my options. I have wanted to do many jobs in the past such as; be an interior designer, teacher, dancer and I've even thought about being a nurse at one point. I wonder if any of these jobs came to reality? I have so many questions I want to ask like; Did you do well in your GCSEs? What A levels have you taken? What University are you going to? Are you still in the same friendship group?

I am really gutted at the time this has happened because I'm missing out on quite a lot that I had planned. We’ve had to cancel a holiday of a lifetime to Disneyland Florida. Also, my school trip to Disneyland Paris and maybe even skiing with the school if this lasts much longer. Where have you been since writing this letter? Have you made it to Disneyland Florida yet? One place I really want to go back to is Denver, Colorado to see Grandma Jane. Have you been back there yet? Hopefully you have. My hopes for the future are to travel as much as possible and spend lots of time with family and friends.

I've recently done a tap exam which I got a merit for but my ballet and modern exam this year will be cancelled now so when I go back to dance, we will be getting ready for the show. Are you still dancing? Also do you still play netball? Since I can't do netball at the moment I have been practising shooting in my garden so when I go back to playing games I can score lots of goals.

I hope you enjoyed reading this letter in the future, and hopefully it will inspire you to write another one for a few years’ time. I'm going to put this letter in a box along with some photos and small objects to open in 5-10 years’ time. Fingers crossed this letter brought back lots of memories and I'm excited to read this back soon.

From,

Seren in the past x

Covid-19 hit. The streets are empty, cities are silent, factories are empty, and the skies are quiet. Aeroplanes parked up in bays, abandoned and still. Motorways like ghost roads stretching between each of the muted cities and towns. Scenes that at first were so mind blowing, and yet now we are almost accustomed to our new way of life.

Pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have fallen across continents as countries fight to contain the spread of the virus. The world has seen a huge transformation in a very short period of time, bringing with it positive change for the environment. As a race, we are in the middle of the biggest battle, whereas the world around us has started to repair and heal. It is a truly remarkable trade off that personally fascinates me.

During lockdown we got to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth day. On this day we saw skies clear of pollution, wildlife returning to clear waters, flights scrapped, and crude oil so worthless that the industry would have to pay you to take it off their hands. It was an Earth day that environmentalists could only dream of! Although with Covid-19 ravaging the world with its destruction, it's hardly something we can be pleased about. It's a very double-edged sword in that respect. It is also not enough, say scientists. For example, the cut in emissions are still less than we would need every year this decade to avoid disastrous climate impacts for much of the world. I suppose you could describe this situation as the worst possible way to experience environmental improvement, and just shows us the scale of the task!

How people react to the return of normalcy after the pandemic will define us. Will we have a ‘green recovery’? Will we seize the opportunity to create jobs in renewable energy and in making coastlines more resilient to climate change?

In my opinion, watching things unfold and the media reporting on scenes such as the Himalayas being seen by the Indian people due to the mist of pollution lifting, and jellyfish and dolphins reclaiming the Venetian waters back is amazing. Lions lounging on roads normally filled with safari-goers in South Africa and bears and coyotes wandering around the empty accommodation in Yosemite are all wonderful scenes, and I think it reinforces my own belief that we are only guests on this planet. It's our job to respect, care and create a safe home for us all alongside Mother Nature.

The Benefits of Lockdown

My Shakespearean Sonnet.

Walking around on a hot summer day.

Getting fresh air with trees flying around.

Watching the cute ducks I just want to stay.

Picking up my tired feet off the warm ground.

I love it how we all clap on Thursdays.

To thank and support all the NHS.

We can all try to help in our own ways.

Don't need to worry about how I dress.

Homeschooling all day and then call my friends.

Get to eat in lessons, it's just the best.

I have loads of fun, that's where my day ends.

I go to sleep then wake up as you guessed.

If you just think about all the good things.

You will notice all the nice things life brings.

Looking for positives in lockdown is easy.

Overall, my favourite is spending time with my mum; I know it sounds cheesy!

Community spirit has become better.

Keeping in touch with loved ones requires a letter.

Damage to the environment is being repaired,

Our experience with tech to the elders, we have shared.

When this is over, we will celebrate leaving our homes but will be glad that this

New way of living that has now become became our norm...

The Positives of Lockdown

In every situation there are silver linings. While many of us may not be using our time indoors to write the next great novel or master an instrument, there are gentler ways of finding potential in the pandemic. With a slower pace comes an opportunity for discovery and the realisation that, often, we don’t have to go very far at all to feel the enrichment of the world around us. By connecting with it, we naturally fall in love with it, which invigorates the conservation and sustainability movements too. There’s a lot to love on the doorstep if we just allow ourselves the time to pay attention and develop a fresh perspective. Noticing the small things that we pass on daily, hour-long sojourns can be a huge source of comfort and fascination – watching the journey from bud to bloom on that one tree, spotting how the same plants behave differently in different gardens and observing the wildlife beneath our feet is the ultimate in mindfulness and comes with all of the associated benefits. If you feel the need to make it more obviously constructive, take inspiration from London Forest School teacher Rachel Summers and chalk down tree names on the pavement as you go, creating uplifting and educational graffiti for those who follow in your footsteps.

The Positives of Lockdown!

If you're bored at home being stuck in lockdown then here are some of the things that will keep you busy and entertained through lockdown, as well as being the positives of lockdown.

1.The first positive is that you can learn new things such as:

Cooking

Dancing

Gardening

Pottery

A new game on a console or a board game

Art

Sewing

And there are so many other things to learn

2.Another positive is that they waters are clearing, and the plastic pollution is dropping by a lot.

3. A third positive is that you can go on walks and explore new parts of your neighbourhood or a field. For example, I live opposite a bunch of fields and there is a woods that I have never explored before and now we go there and explore the woods nearly every day.

4. Another positive is that you can play on your console all day and not have to get ready. And you can stay in your pyjamas all day!!!

5. You can redecorate your room or tidy it if it’s messy.

6. You can explore your garden and plant plants for the wildlife.

7. You can get closer with the family that lives with you and you can research your ancestors and see who your family was. You can see if you're related to anyone you know and didn’t know that you were related to.

8. You can FaceTime your friends all day long.

9. The ninth positive is that you can make posters of rainbows to support and encourage others to make posters for the NHS!!!

10. The last positive of lockdown is that animals in zoos are roaming around the zoo and not being in their cages.

The Positives of Lockdown

Lockdown has brought many bad things into our lives. Possibly losing family members, not being able to see family or friends and being stuck in the house. However, some good does come with the bad, such as nature returning back to our lives. Since we have been in quarantine, Mother Nature has been saving herself. We’re using less fossil fuels, letting animals roam free, and recycling more. This has made the environment 20% better so far; quarantine is good.

Since the lockdown people have needed us more than ever. Our neighbourhoods are coming together to help each other with simple things, even keeping us all amused during this tough time. From clapping on Thursdays, to helping put bins out if they’re in strict lockdown; quarantine is good.

The Positives of Lockdown Poem

Lockdown is a scary time

so, I thought I would write a rhyme.

COVID-19 we have to hide,

We all have to stay inside.

Lots of time with my family

fills me with enormous glee.

Watching movies on Disney+

Stops us making lots of fuss.

Decorating my room to make it look cool.

I really don't want to go to school.

Clapping on a Thursday night,

rainbows in windows they are so bright

Joe Wicks workout every day,

Smiling all the time in May.

Being creative with arts and crafts,

I don't like to do my maths.

Nans and grandads can’t see me,

but safety really is the key.

Staying in my pyjamas all day long

hehehehe!

Facetiming my friends such a lot,

I really have lost the plot.

Lockdown isn't so bad,

so just be happy and not sad.

The Positives of Lockdown

Get to spend time with our family.

Get to relax...

Play Xbox,

Learn new skills.

I learnt how to make a ham and cheese toasty,

Learnt how to make lasagne

Go exercise!

Get creative!

Try new things!

Do exciting things!

Facetime Nan and Bamps.

Speak to friends on Facetime

Eat food,

Have a takeaway

Concentrate on work.

The virus

Bored, she lay on her bed. Silent. Nowhere to go. It was as if the world was frozen. Everyone was frozen in their houses, with no escape. Inside was what we considered safe. Streets and parks were bare. People only went outside for food, essentials and exercise. The supermarkets were like tidal waves, waves and waves of people rushing inside. Desperate to buy hand soap, toilet paper and food. In there, no one cared about the social distancing. Back at home wasn't much better. She was stuck at home with her two annoying older brothers and her older sister. Thankfully, she had her own room but that didn't stop her brothers from annoying her. When their parents were out of the house and she was trying to do work, her brothers would put their music on so loud the house was pounding. Her sister wasn't as bad as them but she enjoyed teasing her at any chance she could.

It was night-time, and all was silent. She couldn't sleep. Twisting and turning. Trying to get comfy, but it was as if it was impossible. She finally gave up and she turned on her TV. Smash! She jumped out of bed in fright. She went down the stairs to investigate without hesitation. She quietly walked down the stairs. She opened the door, and there she saw it. It was the virus. Before she could get away it got her…

What a Kiss Can Do

Even people who are fine,

Can use a kiss from time to time.

Whenever you're feeling sad or down,

A kiss can help remove that frown.

And even when you're happy and smile,

A kiss can make it worth the while.

Some people might say otherwise,

Well, they just don't know a kiss can feel like paradise.

But I do know, and now you do too,

There will always be a kiss for you.

With my pen I could write a joke to make you laugh and bring a smile to your face.

With this pen I could recall a memory of a time we’ve spent together.

With this pen I can encourage you to work hard and fulfil your dreams.

With this pen I can tell you how much I have missed you whilst we have been apart.

With this pen we can be close when in reality we are actually far apart.

In the year 1142 this was the Middle ages, there was a manor house owned by Master Grebbin he is generous and many people respected him. But he cared a lot for his religion . He was catholic and if you wasn't you would you would be treated unfairly. He was plump with a wig made from fair hair. He had a army of well trained knights I was one of them. We were brave and noble most of us were rugged and powerful our armour had a bronze skull on the shoulder armour. On our arms we had aluminium spikes which had a tiny bit of copper to give it a red affect. We also had wolf fur on our waist which had dried blood on some of the hairs to frighten our enemies we also had a hooded Cape with a Celtic dragon pattern.

Master grebbin told me and some other of my men to invade and take more land. So we set up our horses mine was Brown with small white dots around her legs and head with reddish hair. So we set off only carrying our weapons with a bronze skull on them and some pieces of food. We found a nice, large area that was being used for farming. Me and my men tied our horses up so they didn't freak out and run away. We found a advantage point we set up camp and then one of my mine took out a bow which had two bronze skull connecting the wire and then went to his horse and took arrows out of his bag. He told us to lie down he took arrow and placed poison on it then he aimed it with his bow he pulled back slowly. He let go it turned in the air and landed In the enemy knights chest soon after he turned to the next guy another good hit he killed almost all of the enemy's using a bow and the enemy's didn't even know them.

Their were getting attacked. My men said “fire the bow at him.” he said “no it's too risky where are gonna have to go down their.” Me and my other men looked and saw what he meant their was 5 of us and 10 more left of them. So we chose to ambush from the front and the back and both sides so we ran down the hill. We all we had different weapons because we had different talents. One of my men called aldwin has a sledgehammer with a skull on the handle another one of my men called aldis uses a spiked mace with the end of mace as the brass skull. Favin uses a longsword with a brass skull on the handle. Me, Odin I use a battle axe that has brass skull connecting the blades. So we ran down the hill and cornered the last couple of enemy knights and we slashed, bashed and crushed them until their was one left we left the one guy to survive. He ran into a Forest and entered a swamp and saw a old broken hut he tried to swim

Towards it but he drowned before he could get there. But what really happened was a witch that looked like she was in her twenties killed him by making the swamp water into a solid block of mud. Me and some other men got told by master grebbin to venture into the woods to see if there was more land but what happened will never leave my mind for two reasons first reason we never saw it coming. It was the first proper time I was scared. I will tell you the other reason later. So we entered the unknown and we saw a skeleton hand underneath a large area of mud. we kept travelling and we suddenly felt like we were being watched from someone or something we split up because there was 20 of us we split up into 5 teams one team went north. Another went west and the others went deeper into the woods I went east with my team close around the skeleton hand. We heard one of my men cry for mercy.

We thought it was a enemy's team ambushing us. Then the trees started moving around me and men were worried. We saw a old broken hut some of my team started disappearing others flew straight up into the air while others sunk to the bottom of the ground. Then I saw her the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I was on my own as my team all died so I ventured further then I was close to the house I got off my horse and walked through the doorway. I saw a cauldron full of what seem to be a purple substance I dipped my finger in and then I heard a woman shout, “no!” It was the girl from before I took my finger out of the cauldron I asked “what is it?” She replied, “a potion to enter other realms.” “very dangerous stuff so don't touch.” I said, “I'm odin the son of ulric.” She says “I would be more comfortable if you took off your helmet.”

I heisited but then I took it off slowly revealing my face. She told me her name which is luella. I asked how she knew what was in the cauldron and she replied with, “I'm she,” hesitated. I said, “go on.” she says, “a Witch! at this moment I felt sick I didn't know how to react or say or anything. I said, “I'm a knight,” she said, “I can see that,” she chuckled. I said, “u do know what happens if u get caught?” She says, “yes which I find unfair do you? I said, “I never meet a witch before.” She says, “that's not what I asked.” I said, “I know and I dont believe its fair but if you have commited murder well that's different. She said well yeah that's true. “Do u trust me?” she asked I said, “it depends.” She says, “depends on what?” I said, “well what will happens if I say I trust you.” She says “I need to know if I have to kill you.” I said, “I trust you alot.” She laughs, “I already knew that.” I asked how she said, “I read your mind before you entered my house.” I spent some nights with with her to

to make it seem like I have died in battle. but then I didn't want to leave so me, her and my horse stayed. Ok time to tell you why it didn't leave my mind we both got really close and then we thought to stick together until we die and then after a few months we got married. Her goal was to go to a different realm with me because the last potion was a potion for a the right guy to come into their life which I guess was me. My goal is to have a happy life with her with children. I trained to be witch like her but I ended up failing a lot I turned myself into a rat for a hour. So I gave up on that and I carried on training as a knight and the next year she finally made the right potion and we jumped into the cauldron and it was paradise I made us a nice home while she cared for the children which happened a couple of months after we jumped into the cauldron.