Hi everyone,

Wanted to do the sum up a bit earlier this month as I have a post planned for the 31st, and also I don’t feel amazing currently so I am trying to write whenever I have the chance, but more on that later. October, like many months in 2020, has been odd and all about getting used to now the new normal, with a few hiccups along the way, but we are here yet again, which means it could have been worse!

To start of the month, before local lockdowns in my area started, I decided to get a little friend to come along with me on the journey of uni stress, covid and general life. So again off I was to pets at home and welcomed little Sahsa into my life ❤ She’s adorable and after sending Pickle back to my best friend, I could not last without a little hammy in the house, at first she was a little sceptical about being held etc but she has gained some trust to us now, loves to play and is excited to be out and about around us in the house. At the same time, my boyfriend got a hamster too, a Syrian, and is in the midst of training him too, he’s a bit more jumpy so well see how that goes.

At the start of October, me and my dad started swimming again, taking advantage of the pools being open and such. We worked quite consistently with it until we both got sick but hey, no one is stopping us from going again after we are past this illness unless we go into lockdown, but that’s the only thing! I enjoyed it as I like exercising in this way much more than going to the gym, it just finding the time for it in this busy schedule as always.

Also managed to get out on to a little date night before my sickness too, for dinner and a movie, which seems to come in hard these days as we both noticed that we have very little time for anything, even each other, during uni times, so we are trying to keep on top of that too. Everything was empty though, the restaurant and the cinema, probably due to fear of the virus and frugal spending now, which I understand, but it was odd being in an environment that is usually so busy, so quiet.

University, as probably mentioned in Septembers sum up, is in full speed, with all lessons and tasks taking over all day time for me. There is now more work on my dissertation being done, which is again stressful, I have never done an assignment so important in my life before so there is a lot of pressure, but also I find it enjoyable in a way as this is something that I am completely in charge of, it’s my research, I make the restrictions and rules, so exciting but nerve recking. The one upside for me is no presentations and exams this whole year, so thanks Covid, the only good thing you have done so far.

So having October be okayish is fine by me, but at the end of October it went all downhill from there, my dad brought home the rona from work. I know, daunting, but something we have to deal with, its been nearly 2 weeks now and he is still a bit ill and not 100% so we are still stuck at home. Then I got it a week later, well I think I did, I have, not left the house since he got sick and now I’m sick so its the only explanation really, I am awaiting test results but 99% sure I do. My symptoms are not that bad, all the typical ones, except a really runny nose, but I am well enough to sit here and write this for you, so it can’t be that bad. Everyone is different though and I count myself lucky to be going through it so smoothly. The only big boo I have is I had to cancel my Halloween plans with my boyfriend, boo, but it’s all for the sake of safety!

I hope you have enjoyed my post on the October Sum Up, not an exciting month, lots of stress and illness, lets hope for a better November! Keeping up with friends and having uni on my mind has been good, keeping the mind active. The only big good thing this month is my nan hit 70 yesterday! All in good health too. Also, writing may not be the best quality, as I get better so will it so be patient with me!

Love, Kasia x