It is almost one whole year since the pandemic started to take hold worldwide, and since we entered our first lockdown. How the world has changed since those early days! I wrote a tweet about it a few days back: 'does anyone remember how strange it felt the first time you went out wearing a... Continue Reading →
All Closed: A Poem about #Quarantine
The park where my children used to play; My eldest’s school;My youngest’s nursery;The bustling barsAnd sculptures by the sea: All closed. All closed,Abandoned,Cordoned off;As if unloved, un-longed-for, undreamed-ofThrough dark enduring days:All lies. Lies which daily rule our lives;Lies, damned lies and statistics:50% of this group die while70% of that survive,But then againWho lives? Who lives in isolation?Who... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries 26: Lockdown Easing
Malaga Province passed into 'Phase 1' of the Spanish lockdown de-escalation plan on Monday. There are 5 phases to the lockdown plan, starting at Phase 0 which is the strictest regime, under which we had been living for the past two months. With each stage, quarantine measures are relaxed, enabling a gradual return to 'normal.'... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries 24: On the Move?
The French Government announced yesterday they are imposing a two-week quarantine on anyone arriving from Spain, apparently in retaliation for similar measures imposed by the Spanish Government. Prior to that, free movement across Schengen borders was allowed, as far as I'm aware. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and transiting through two additional countries en... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries 10: Consumerism Halted
In today's post I take a look at what's happening (or not happening) 'out there' in what used to be called 'the real world.' Commercial activities have been stripped down to the bare minimum, and many people have been brought to question their whole value system because of this. Empty aisles Yesterday, I ventured into... Continue Reading →
6: Finding Balance
6 days in, I realise I'm a quarantine rookie. From the moment I wake up, everything is getting on my nerves. Try as I might, I can't seem to get a moment's peace, I can't get on with my work, I don't get my son through all his schoolwork, and I end up being mean... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries 1: 15/03/20
01/03/20 - 80 cases02/03/20 - 120 cases03/03/20 - 160 cases04/03/20 - 227 cases05/03/20 - 280 cases06/03/20 - 389 cases07/03/20 - 605 cases08/03/20 - 999 cases09/03/20 - 1648 cases10/03/20 - 2000 cases11/03/20 - 2242 cases12/03/20 - 4334 cases13/03/20 - 5753 cases14/03/20 - 6070 cases15/03/20 - 7750 cases The first case of Coronavirus was reported in Spain... Continue Reading →