Lockdown Blog – Karen Roberts

Easter weekend passed by and like all right minded people I spent it at home, so I thought I’d put finger to keyboard and share some of the occasionally random thoughts that I am sure many of us are having during this time – of family, friends, community and of course Pontypridd RFC.

I am fortunate in that I am able to work from home, it has been the main thing keeping me sane over the past few weeks, a 9 to 5 routine with something positive to concentrate on. Not easy though as conference calls and e-mails cannot replace actual, in the same room, human interaction.

Of course, like everyone, I am missing my family especially my two grandsons – thank heavens for social media which at least makes keeping in touch easier for all of us.

Keeping in touch with our wider social circles is not quite as easy, and you have to wonder about the longer term effects on many of the things we have taken for granted. If you are reading this then I assume that rugby – especially Ponty – plays quite a part in your life too. It is not just the 80 minutes (or 120 depending on the ref!) on the pitch that matters, although there is nothing quite as satisfying as coming away after a victory against our nearest neighbours.   It is more than that, it is a whole social network, a community of people who may have nothing else in common but who all come together for one purpose.  For me and my group Saturday during the rugby season is a whole day out, and any excuse for a trip away linked to it and we are off.  It is a large part of my social life and a part I am missing.

The lockdown, essential as it is, is going to have a huge knock on effect on clubs, and we are not the only ones who were struggling before this. Everyone involved at Ponty RFC has put in a tremendous effort over the past year or so bringing the club back on a more even keel. It is going to be far from easy to pick up again. Not only will the club itself be suffering financially, but lots of fans will have been made unemployed or seen their wages cut substantially, and our sponsors too will have been affected and may be unable to contribute as much as previously.

And then of course there are the social and mental after effects of the lockdown. After weeks or maybe months of being told we cannot go out and must maintain a 2 metre distance from anyone else, are we going to be able to just get back to ‘normal’ and happily congregate in our hundreds? It is not going to be that simple for some.

But we are nothing if not resilient and I hope that our Ponty family keep safe and well and sometime soon we can pick up again. And don’t forget “Always look on the bright side of life.”

Karen Roberts

(Rhondda girl, Ponty supporter)

*How is your social separation going? Send your Lockdown Blog with image to: media@ponty.net