Saved by A CHAT

Lockdown left one woman too panic-stricken to leave her house - until she found a way to help herself, and others

- SARAH WHITELEY

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown impacted us all. But while most people couldn't wait to get out of the house once social restrictions were relaxed, others had become too anxious to take advantage of our new-found freedom.

Wendy Norman was one of these people. 'Staying at home had become too much of a habit,' says the 62-year-old from Norwich. 'I found myself making excuses, even to myself, about why I wasn't going out. It has only been since the start of this year that I have rediscovered my confidence and the joys of meeting people in person again - and it's all down to a very special scheme.'

Before the pandemic, Wendy was extremely social. Despite living alone, she was often out of the house two or three times a day to attend meetings for her two jobs - running a virtual PR agency and working as a business coach - plus meeting friends for long lunches and catch-ups on weekends.

Even when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2018, Wendy didn't let that hold her back, often going out in compression gloves to stop the pain. Yet, when lockdown was announced and Wendy was instructed to shield because of her health conditions, she didn't find it a chore to stay in.

'I actually enjoyed the slower pace of life - I certainly didn't miss the 6.30am meetings,' Wendy recalls. 'I'm quite happy in my own company and because I spent six hours a day talking to people at work, I didn't have the chance to feel lonely?

Instead, Wendy filled her spare time with painting and drawing, having the occasional chat with her neighbours over their garden fence.