I recognise the sofa on the screen, and realise Bev is back in her house in Cheltenham. She’d spent the previous six months with her husband Rich travelling through Europe in their motorhome, and I ask her how she feels to be back. ‘It’s nice being in the house but I’d rather be in France. It’s FREEZING,’ she laughs. Bev was in Portugal when COVID19 … Continue reading French sunshine
‘I was like, let’s just stay home forever,’ Clare said in her wonderful Northern Irish accent, laughing at the screen when I asked her how she found lockdown. ‘I found it pretty good. I’m really introverted, so the opportunity to stay at home in my own company, for an unknown amount of time, just seemed brilliant. I felt safe here, confident that Jacinda was in … Continue reading Watercolour riches
This week I should have been heading to the airport, steeling myself for the 29 hour journey to London via Singapore. My bag would’ve been light, ready to bring back belongings I haven’t seen for nearly three years. I’d have enjoyed the two flights, excited about my trip and the novelty of flying, despite the amount of travel I’ve done. I’d have taken ear plugs … Continue reading What I would’ve done…
Alex pops onto the screen. He has a beard. He starts talking and I hear some words about having sunburn and working in the garden but I’m distracted trying to figure out whether I’ve ever seen him with a beard. It’s a long time since I’ve seen him. ‘It’s really hard to explain. It feels like it’s gone really quickly, but it also feels like … Continue reading Diazepam and dog walks
I sit on the rock and think about all the times I’ve been here, at the top of Mount John, but I’ve lost count. I think back to the first time; March 2014. I wore my green walking trousers and a black t-shirt that was a size bigger than I’d usually buy, the result of months of backpacking indulgence and infrequent exercise. I was mesmerised … Continue reading Mountaintop moments
‘When we first went into Level 4 [total lockdown], it was a little bit like slipping into a parallel universe. All of a sudden, I was still carrying on the same, but everything around me was very different. No traffic or people, petrol was really cheap and you could park anywhere in the city for free. It was a bit bizarre. Not paying for parking … Continue reading 111 what’s your emergency?
I’m still making my morning cup of tea when Dylan comes on screen, and it’s less than a minute before he’s promising to send me a mercy parcel of Yorkshire Tea, shocked at the barbaric tea conditions this Brit has to endure here in New Zealand. I laugh and ask him how lockdown’s going. ‘Weirdly OK, weirdly OK. I’m not insane. Well.’ He looks up … Continue reading Mercy tea, yoga and Pat Butcher
Jenny laughs, when I ask her how lockdown is going. ‘Well, I’m quite enjoying it, I have to say, although it’s been a real emotional journey, from absolute, acute, ridiculous, over the top oh-my-god-I’m-going-to-die-tomorrow kind of anxiety at the start, with me making out my will and all sorts.’ That anxiety went away a bit for Jenny when the UK actually went into lockdown, because … Continue reading Live the life you love
Scott spent lockdown with his girlfriend, who moved in with him when the UK lockdown was announced. It went well, with Scott wishing he’d asked her to move in sooner, and they celebrated their anniversary with a BBQ and local adventures, rather than the sailing trip with friends they’d originally planned. Generally he’s felt fine, but has missed family and friends, having to celebrate birthdays … Continue reading Planes, sailboats and faffing
