Glasgow, Scotland Living in this part of the world, when good weather comes you know to make the most of it. Usually, this means scanning the seven-day forecast and plotting trips to the mountains or coast as soon as a chance of sunshine reveals itself. Currently, the geographic boundaries of opportunity are somewhat smaller- anContinue reading “Wild foods for wild times”
Category Archives: UK & Europe
Loss
United Kingdom Please note this post contains content that may be distressing to some readers. Approximately four weeks before the UK government announced that we were to go into lockdown due to a worldwide pandemic, my husband and I found out that I was expecting our second child. Our daughter is almost four years old;Continue reading “Loss”
The Blackbird Show
Madrid, Spain A concrete planter next to the subway is no decent home compared to the coniferous forest, the blackbird’s natural habitat. But these are the kind of situations you have to deal with when you grow up in a city like Madrid, where housing price is absolutely nuts. March is the month in whichContinue reading “The Blackbird Show”
Go Home, Stay Home
From Maine to London Days before the quarantine became mandatory, Nils, my British fiancé, spotted the homemade sign taped to a second floor window in the block of brick flats across the lane. “Go Home, Stay Home” it read, in colored pencil. We could see it from our kitchen. I’d caught glimpses of a womanContinue reading “Go Home, Stay Home”
Inaaya’s life under lockdown
London, United Kingdom Hello. My name is Inaaya Shah. I am an 11 year old girl living in coronavirus-affected England. Life here has changed a lot for me. School has shut down for one. You might think that’s perfect for me but it is not. You see, I’m in year 6 at school. I wasContinue reading “Inaaya’s life under lockdown”
Reflections from a London household
London, England ‘It’ all seemed so far away – China! And even when ‘it’ reached Italy, maybe having decided on Brexit, it was ‘over there and we felt removed from any threat. But….. we are all connected’ and this ‘Runway’ disease knows no borders. The Lockdown though, we should have anticipated it (other than toiletContinue reading “Reflections from a London household”
Frontline to Backline
From the UK to the Persian Gulf I’ve spent 14 years working for the NHS. Spent a variety of years tasting many specialities spending days and nights walking along various hospital corridors. After this I decided to become a general practitioner and for the last nine years this is what I did until 14th FebruaryContinue reading “Frontline to Backline”
The shower dilemma
Paris, France I would have never imagined that the number one topic of discussion with my friends would one day be about how often we are showering. Two weekends ago, I started this discussion with some friends on a group video call. Ever since, we have been keeping each other updated of our shower time,Continue reading “The shower dilemma”
One step beyond
Pisa, Italy “When in April the sweet showers fallThat pierce March’s drought to the root and allAnd bathed every vein in liquor that has powerTo generate therein and sire the flower;When Zephyr also has with his sweet breath,Filled again, in every holt and heath,The tender shoots and leaves, and the young sunHis half-course in theContinue reading “One step beyond”
Accidental pandemic mini-break that should have never have happened
Aberdeen, Scotland & Colombo, Sri Lanka My feelings are mixed about what is probably the last “adventure” I will have for a long time. (When I say adventure, I am not including whatever spiritual and mental journeys we are all supposed to be making during the lockdown, according to the online influencers and self-righteous lifeContinue reading “Accidental pandemic mini-break that should have never have happened”
If you believe in darkness, then you must believe in light
West Midlands, England I do not fully know how to explain the time we are living in. In conversations with close friends, I find myself repeating versions of “guys, seriously what the hell is going on, it’s like the world is on pause….”. As a humanitarian, I am trained to almost instinctively act at aContinue reading “If you believe in darkness, then you must believe in light”
A mild case of Covid
London, England Last week, I overheard my husband telling someone on the phone that I was ill. Within a couple of hours, that person’s partner, in another continent, messaged to see how I was as they’d heard I wasn’t well. Covid has given the term viral a whole new meaning. I’ve been thinking about theContinue reading “A mild case of Covid”
Fairy tales in confinement – cosmic wisdom vs. Covid-19
Florence, Italy 6 April 2020, day 29 of Covid-19 confinement. Once upon a time, there were approximately 200,000 tourists visiting the city every day. Even though I have lived in very packed places across the world, I was never a big fan of those crowds of people. It can feel like fast food, but forContinue reading “Fairy tales in confinement – cosmic wisdom vs. Covid-19”
Fica em casa
Lisbon – Portugal, April 2020 I am a roadie……catering department. I have toured for 12 years supporting artists and crew, from tiny theatres all the way up to stadiums and festivals. Mainly the UK but also throughout Europe and the US. In recent years, I have been working nine months out of 12. My partner is Portuguese andContinue reading “Fica em casa”
Let me entertain you
Coulsdon, England Entertaining a little human during lockdown is my new job. I work from home as a copywriter, and I’m also a part time SEN key worker at a local school, so I’m a bit busy with that. But nothing fills my days more than my nutty little toddler and his many daily discoveries.Continue reading “Let me entertain you”
Clapping time
Malaga, Spain Every day at 8pm, people in Spain go out to their windows, balconies, and terraces to applaud for healthcare workers and all the essential personnel (cleaners, supermarket sellers, pharmacists, etc.) as a way of thanking them for their courageous work during the COVID-19 outbreak. Since the beginning of the lockdown, which started aroundContinue reading “Clapping time”
Making the best out of COVID
London, England My heart goes out to all those personally and collectively affected by the COVID situation, there is a great deal of suffering out there… but right now, I feel it’s important to make the best of whatever situation we find ourselves in so here are my appreciations…. This deliberately goes back to basics…. Continue reading “Making the best out of COVID”
Sara’s lockdown experience
Birmingham, England For the last 2 weeks, I have not left my house due to the coronavirus. It has been good and bad in many ways. During the coronavirus I have done the same thing in my spare time, playing with toys and watching TV. The weather this spring has been very warm and sunnyContinue reading “Sara’s lockdown experience”
Adjustments and Silver Linings
Biggin Hill, England Ever since schools shut, life has been completely different. The first two weeks were incredibly stressful. Trying to comprehend what was happening to us, and restrictions on our lives building by what seemed like every 24 hours. Luckily, we still have some freedom. Up to an hour exercise each day. We doubt, however, thisContinue reading “Adjustments and Silver Linings”
Holding out an olive jar
Buckinghamshire, England I live in a small block of flats, over a couple of floors, and get on very well with two of my neighbours in particular. Each of us live alone, so it’s nice to have kind and reliable people so close by. In normal times we’ll quite often go for an evening walkContinue reading “Holding out an olive jar”
Lockdown in Rhyme
London, England I wish I could turn off the world and have a real lockdownWhere no one was bothering meWhere no child made a soundJust snuggled up to meWhile we watched the TVWhere the Tesco Man delivered everythingIncluding Beer, Chocolates and some proper Tea
42 Days Later
Pisa, Italy Six weekends ago, we were celebrating a birthday. The highlight was a trip up the coast to Viareggio for carnevale. We wondered a bit about crowds and flu and whether we were being foolish: The seafront, with its gorgeous Liberty style buildings, was crammed with life. Kids dressed as Elsa and Superman, thrilledContinue reading “42 Days Later”
To my daughter, when you are older
This dad wrote a letter for his young daughter to read when she’s older. Dearest daughter I’m writing to tell you about a very strange development in the world. This has happened very suddenly and you may well remember some of these details in the future. Earlier this year, a strange virus started making someContinue reading “To my daughter, when you are older”
Running Free
London, England Running during lockdown lets you see a whole new side to the city. One of the challenges with running in London is the busy streets – the dodging of pedestrians, stopping at crossings and the constant stop-start of the central blocks. Take away the people though, and it’s amazing – street after street,Continue reading “Running Free”
Global narratives springing from a pandemic
London, England A few days into social distancing, I started thinking about how to capture my experience of locking down during COVID-19. I realised that living around the world has helped to prepare me. This isn’t the first time I’ve been in lockdown; I’ve managed before with a limited range of items in the shops;Continue reading “Global narratives springing from a pandemic”
The Lockdown Lens 