9 silly reasons why I secretly don't want lockdown to end just yet

What's On editor Laura Nightingale explains why she doesn't want the lockdown restrictions to ease too much, just yet

Family means everything to me and while I'm pining to give my parents the biggest hug in the world and my nana a kiss on her cheek, I'm reluctant to watch lockdown measures ease too quickly.

I appreciate the country - and the world for that matter - needs to get back on its feet but I want to keep my loved ones wrapped up in cotton wool, safe from coronavirus.

I'm not normally an anxious person, but over the past two months I've experienced what many battle with day in day out.

Normally an avid shopping fan (I have 74 pairs of shoes), I return home from my weekly supermarket trip panicking I may have picked up more than just groceries.

A creature of habit, I've now got used to lockdown life.

But I am already getting worried about things changing again and people not following the guidelines of keeping two meters apart, even though I'm desperate for this pandemic to be over.

Below are some of the things I've actually enjoyed during lockdown.

No doubt you will be able to relate to a few of them.

1. Speaking to friends and family

I've spoken to my friends and family more the past nine weeks than ever before.

Whether it be by telephone, text or video call, we chat daily checking in to see how everyone is coping and feeling.

Every weekend my girl friends and I make time for group video call, most times with wine, a few times without.

Before lockdown we would go weeks without seeing each other due to our individual busy lifestyles.

2. No gym

I frozen my gym membership in March and I've not missed going one bit.

Instead of being cooped up among sweaty bodies, I've discovered a real love of running outdoors.

Being surrounded by nature in the fresh air has really given me time for myself and to escape the worries surrounding us.

I can't imagine hopping back on a treadmill.

3. Save petrol

I put a full tank of petrol in my car two months ago and I've not had to fill up once.

We left our second car to get dusty.

As I'm working from home and my husband furloughed, the only trip we make is to the local supermarket only a few miles away.

With many of us conscious about our finances at the moment, saving money on petrol is a great help.

4. Hair cut

I've got long box-standard hair and I don't dye it (yet...) so two months of not going to the salon isn't a bid deal for me as I went twice a year anyway.

In fact, I've felt rather liberated not having to blow dry it nicely or wash it as regularly as I normally would.

Video calls don't show grease as well as in real life, I think.

My husband however used to get his hair styled every three weeks and despite my attempt of shaving his messy mop, an expert is needed really.

The same feeling of liberation applies with not slapping on make up, putting on high heels or wearing any clothing that requires ironing.

5. The commute

My husband and I both commuted to work and it has been lovely not having to factor in an hour drive to and from the office every day.

I don't miss rush hour, school traffic or middle lane hoggers on the motorway at all.

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6. Perfect excuse

I know this sounds awful, but I know others will relate to it.

Being in lockdown has given us the perfect excuse to wriggle out of certain events we'd prefer not attend.

May it be a social event, the gym or a work thing, we haven't had to come up with a far fetched excuse when all you want to do is sit in your pyjamas on the sofa.

7. Nice breakfast and lunch

From starting the day off with blueberry pancakes to tucking into poached eggs on toast at lunch, working from home does have its benefits.

I haven't had to spend all Sunday afternoon meal prepping for the week ahead or scrubbing the plastic lunch box you accidentally left in your car three days ago.

There have been no soggy sandwiches, wilted salads or boring breakfasts and it has been great.

8. More time

With more time on our hands at home, we've been able to catch up on more Netflix series, get round to doing those diy jobs and just enjoying each other's company.

Having got married last summer, my husband and I have been able to have dinners in the garden, paint our spare room together and even celebrate birthdays just the two of us.

9. Drinking wine

Finally, for some reason sipping on a G&T at 2pm in the afternoon or sharing a bottle of wine most nights has become the norm - and I like it.

Whether it's due to the lovely warm weather or simply being 'something to do' on a day off, we've got through more booze during lockdown than ever before and it has been a nice treat.