Stories of life and people
"I'll be honest with you Tara, I only remembered about this about five minutes ago and I haven't put any makeup on," Jaz laughs. I laugh, telling her she looks fab, and that the video won't go anywhere, "that's fine then, all good." Jaz, the baby of our group from our time spent living in... Continue Reading →
“I’d probably say my lockdown experience is really boring,” Natalie laughs. We’ve not spoken in nearly five years, bonded by an unforgettable induction experience when we both started a new job on the same day. Her voice and accent is exactly the same as someone I know here in Christchurch, and which is strange. I’m... Continue Reading →
“I started lockdown a week or so before everybody else, because I knew what was coming. I kind of risk assessed myself, as you do.” Lily anticipated she would be in the shielded category. “In the UK, they categorise people who are at risk. There’s ‘vulnerable’, who’s anyone over 70 or anyone with an underlying... Continue Reading →
The screen comes into life as Sam joins the call and I immediately start laughing. His hair is all stuck up in different directions and looks crazy wild. “What the hell is going on with your hair?” I laugh. “I’ve just got out the shower, this is what it looks like,” he replies, in his... Continue Reading →
“My glasses are dirty, hang on,” Lis says as she takes them off, “I was going to clean them while I was upstairs having a nervous wee but I forgot.” She cleans them with her t-shirt, making small talk about how the glasses she’s wearing are at least 3 prescriptions old, before putting them back... Continue Reading →
Pie comes into view on the screen, a baby strapped to his front. “Long time no speak Pie, look, you’ve had another child since I saw you last! In my head your first one is only about 9-days old.” As I say that a little face pops into view, all curly hair and loud voice... Continue Reading →
It's like the end of an era. A friend said, "it feels a bit sad almost, like it's the end to an exceptional time." He's not wrong. We went into the heavily restricted Level 4 lockdown when there were only a few cases in New Zealand and no deaths. Compared to the rest of the... Continue Reading →
“I’ll probably get emotional, just a forewarning,” Katie preempted before we started our chat. “My lockdown landmark has been the shift into the final quarter of my visa, and...I’m already going to cry,” she laughed, her eyes welling up. Katie is in New Zealand on a two-year Working Holiday visa from Canada which is due... Continue Reading →
Charlie’s South African accent pours out of the speakers while her giant smile fills my laptop screen. I’m instantly relaxed. “My life in lockdown is the same as any other Kiwi family, I guess. Trying to stay positive, having fun with the kids, taking advantage of the time we have together. Keeping it as positive... Continue Reading →
