The Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared all schools to be closed on the 18th March due to the significant rise of the coronavirus pandemic. My mum, siblings and I have been shielding since the beginning of lockdown and nobody can exit or enter the house (except my mum of course, due to shopping for important resources!). Although I have been studying all of my subjects for when I have to go back to school in September, I really miss spending social time with my friends and family. I have been isolated at home with my mum, younger sister and brother ever since Boris Johnson announced lockdown on March 23rd. Whilst isolating at home, I have been in my room playing on my Xbox, and revising during the pandemic hopefully fingers cross I go back to school in September. When I go back to school as a Year 10 student, I want to ensure that my knowledge has been expanded and that I am ready for anything that comes my way. As well as being a bookworm, I have learnt a lot of new skills during lockdown like baking, cooking and being green on my fingers. The first food I learnt to bake was a cake. I watched videos on YouTube when I stumbled across a channel which provides videos on how to cook and bake a variety of foods. I saw Jamie Oliver making cake and clicked on the video as I wanted to start off by making something simple and easy. The next day, my mum went to our local Tesco to buy a few missing ingredients to making our next ingredients. When she came back, I made the cake in the kitchen whilst my siblings were playing in our backyard. It took about thirty minutes to prepare, and twenty minutes to cook. After I left the kitchen, I was in my bedroom lying on my bed just thinking to myself, "Is this going to be really good? Will my family like it or not? Will I forget to remove it out of the oven?" All sorts of negative thoughts flowered my head, but I had to restrain myself. So, I went and did exercise for a few minutes, just to calm myself down from doing anything absurd. Soon after, my phone rang, and it was 20 minutes. I rushed to the kitchen to remove the cake out of the oven to see my results. The cake hadn't burnt, overcooked or undercooked. It was just the perfect cake, and I was so pleased with myself of my creation. I honestly wanted to eat a small slice of the cake, but I thought that I should wait to eat it with my family after dinner because if I had tasted it before anybody else did, it would be considered as cheating, right? Soon, it was 6:00pm - time for us to have dinner. I set out the dining table (like I always do) and brought my siblings so my mum can serve us our dinner. She had made basmati rice, gravy, and grilled chicken. As a topping, we had salad. Whilst my mum was washing her hands, I was DYING to try a little bit. The food my mother makes is so beautiful, appetizing and delicious. After everyone finished eating their dinner, I washed up the dishes, and told everyone that I had secretly baked a chocolate cake without my mother's concern. My mum wanted to bake something herself, but I wanted to try that chocolate cake recipe, so to be honest, it was worth it! Everyone was excited to try my cake, especially myself because I was craving to eating out this chocolate cake as it was my first ever time baking. When my family took their first bite of my cake, they all thought it was lovely. They were all complaining about where I learnt how to make a chocolate cake as I had never tried baking before. I thought to keep it as a secret, as that's what most chefs do when making their signature foods, so I thought to do the same! Other than that, however, being in lockdown may have been the best thing that ever happened to me. Trying out new skills and becoming closer with my family is something that I should do more often, because before lockdown, I was hardly in the house as I go out for a 40-minute walk in the local park sometimes, or I was used to just being stuck in my room to use my phone or using my laptop, and rushing around, but I have now realised that family time and slowing down is more important than those 2 things. I can't wait to cook/bake again when my mother allows me (I haven't even asked her if I can do so ever since the chocolate cake!) as it brings happiness and joy to my family, and that's something I really love to see. I hope that this story brings you and your family together. Stay safe during these hard times and make the most out of it!