The First Day

'Better Days' are the days that I've already been living, spending quality time with my wonderful family, arranging massive group videocalls with the family I've not seen or spoken to in months/years, and going on small adventures with my sister, truly appreciating the nearby countryside and canal walks. Days without having to stress about work, or money, due to an insurance payout from a car crash last year that arrived just in time. Being able to go barefaced, thus clearing my skin of spots produced from makeup. Falling in love with writing again, and music, because I have time. Baking and cooking the odd cake or meal from the days when I used to love cooking.

Lockdown has been kind to me and my family, and has brought us closer, has strengthened our bond, I'm not saying we don't argue, but we resolve it faster than we ever have. We are lucky, as there are some in far worse situations. I feel for them wholeheartedly, those who are trapped with people who make life hell, those who are trapped with the sick and the dying, those who are forced away from their families and friends, alone in their homes that feel more like prisons.

But this challenge isn't about who is more or less fortunate in these times, so what is the first thing I'd do, on the first day out of lockdown? If I'm living in an ideal world, and my foot injury is healed enough to wear shoes comfortably and walk medium distances, then I'd go for breakfast at my favourite local pub; The Savoy.

The Savoy is a favourite, because I used to go there with friends when I was underage, sipping on an orange juice and eating chips, hiding in the corner until we were kicked out. Later on in life, I worked there in the kitchen, for just over a year, and I loved it. It restarted and grew my love of food, and afterwards I (very sadly) quit and moved on to a spanish tapas bar as an assistant chef. Nowadays, it's the pub we go to on almost every occasion, and it's cheap menu makes for a great place for pre-drinking before a night on the town. It's also loved for its cheap breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, so it's basically an all-round favourite.

So, In the morning of the first day out, I'll wake up, stretch, shower and put on a pair of skinny blue jeans and a random baggy t-shirt I like. After putting on some minimal makeup, I'll set off to Savoy which is about a 10 minute walk from my house and meet a small group of friends inside for breakfast! I'll be having an orange juice and the full english, I like my food! This consists of;

- 2 slices of toast

-3 Hash Browns

-2 Eggs (fried, scrambled or poached)

-2 Pork Sausages

-2 pieces of Bacon

--1 Mushroom

-1 Tomato half

-1 portion of Baked Beans

-2 portions of Butter

After eating and letting our food digest, chatting and darting outside for the odd cigarette, we'd probably head up to the CBD Art Cafe, called Total Health cafe/Mams Gallery. My mother owns it, my father an investor, and it's where I work, making coffees and CBD edibles, cleaning tables and helping my mother with her art classes, sometimes modelling for life drawing or Portrait classes. It's a lovely little place, with 2 websites for either side of it.

Working there is the best job I've ever had, with the gorgeous decor, the plants dotted all over, the artwork all around, the countless books, and the lovely customers who don't stay strangers very long at all! The atmosphere is wonderful and relaxing, so why wouldn't I want to go there on my first day out? Me and my friends will probably buy some CBD coffees and hot chocolates, and munch out on some infused brownies or rocky road because none of us can resist even after such a large breakfast, and I'll help make the drinks and clean up a little, and chat to my mum who is really my best friend as well!

Over lunch rush, my friends will probably leave to go about their daily plans, a couple may stay but it's unexpected. I will get to work making orders and talking away to the regulars whom I love and respect and have been sorely missing!

When it slows down, with permission from my mum, I'll head back into town to meet my best friend of 10+ years, Giorgia, and go shopping in Primark and Boots to grab some cheap clothes and makeup as we usually do, I'd probably pick up a dress and some shorts, and the underwear with straps that I get every time, and then we'd walk home and drop the bags off at mine.

I have a brother and sister, I am the eldest by 6 years, then my brother, then my sister. Both are quite sporty, although my brother would probably swap a football for a PS4 controller anytime. Giorgia and I would take them to one of the 3 parks we usually go to; Faringdon Road park, Queens Park, or Turner Park. Faringdon Rd Park being the closest, it'd probably be the chosen one.

We'd play catch or football, the adults would pause now and then to fuel our nicotine addiction, before grudgingly getting back up to run around a while longer, secretly loving it. As the afternoon turns into early evening, we'll make our way back and start getting ready for the night ahead. We've been planning a campout for weeks prior, and want to be well prepared...and pretty.

We pull on our costumes for the night- 2 confident women. Dresses, patterned black tights, fake eyelashes, disguising our features with makeup. As the 'mom-friend' I'll be making sandwiches, packing water bottles and a first aid kit, along with a spare tent and sleeping bag. Just in case. Portable phone chargers that have been rotationally charged for the last couple of days, wet wipes, toothbrush, a new toothpaste bought earlier in the day, makeup bag, toilet paper, 4 lighters, marijuana, an umbrella even though I've routinely checked the forecast every day for the past week, ibuprofen, paracetamol (yes, both, just in case), earphones, pyjamas, a change of clothes, 4 sets of underwear (just in case), tampons and pads even though I'm not due for another week, fluffy socks and lastly a camping chair. Giorgia will have a much smaller bag, but will contain a bottle of gin and a bottle of lemonade and whatever else she thinks she'll need. We'll fill the cooler with ice and a couple of beers, but it will mostly be used for the drinks that others are bringing.

We'd do our checks and douse ourselves with enough perfume to fill a football stadium and when our phones are fully charged and we feel confident enough to walk out the door- I'd remind her to bring a set of trainers as she shouldn't wear heels in a field. And a jacket, just in case.

I live near a canal which leads to fields and countryside, which is probably where we'd be heading. We'd alternate carrying the cooler as its quite large and heavy, and arrive to the party fashionably late as always. The tents would mostly already have been put up, and although I trust my friends, I would have to double check the pegs.

The music would be loud, and probably not a song I like, so we'd demand control over the music, and not many people can say no to Giorgia, or to me, so we'd win privileges (My favourite playlist linked below). Just as we're about to pour ourselves a drink, we'd realise with horror that... NO CUPS!

We'd frantically call the last to arrive to "Pleeeeease pick up paper cups on your way over! We completely forgot!" and share a beer or cider between us, waiting for them to arrive. On their arrival, the fun truly does begin with drinking games and shots and drunken dancing to our favourite songs. A few of us will end up making out with each other for dares or just because we're drunk, but it won't mean anything, it's just fun!

Depending on the company and conversational subjects, there may be an argument but most probably one of the girls will have some kind of breakdown but in the future we'd remember it as a 'bonding experience', except for me, I usually feel very uncomfortable when faced with emotional outbursts so will probably awkwardly hug whoever it is and offer her either a shot or a cigarette and then escape ASAP! I don't claim to be a good friend, I know I'm actually quite flaky and unreliable, but the next day when all has been forgotten, I'd probably be the only one to check up on her and figure out whether she's really having some issue or whether it was just an alcohol induced outburst of exaggerated nonsense.

As the night progresses and things start quietening down, the weaker ones will retreat to their tents, whilst the survivors stay up to watch the sunrise (at which point I'd probably make some pun about my name if nobody else does it first), it will be peaceful, and we'd probably realise how tired we are in that moment. Giorgia and I would either end up sleeping together or if her boyfriend is present, she'd go with him and I'd fall asleep with another friend instead. I'd eat a sandwich first in an attempt to soak up the alcohol to lessen the hangover, and take a bottle of water to bed along with some paracetamol for the morning. It would have been a great first day, but I'd be very happy to get back home!