Lockdown: 5 years on
5 years ago, we went into lockdown for the first time in the wake of a global pandemic. It was the first year of our shared trauma.
2020 began with a magical pre-birthday visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour before coronavirus (COVID-19) violently displaced us all into the 'Upside Down' the week I collected TARDIS hot wheels Mk I (the timing was purely coincidental, I swear).
In the months that followed, stranger things were witnessed as we grappled with life in the surreal ‘new normal’, tried to balance our mental health and utilise technology whilst making sure those without internet access weren’t left feeling more isolated in the age of Zoom.
The sudden passing of loved ones (not COVID-related) served to brutally underscore the febrile nature of life. Not for the first time, fair weather connections crumbled as long-lapsed ones re-established during turbulent times. All the while, I endeavoured to share life skills obtained in the wake of a life-changing childhood trauma...
Social distancing is something I learned long, long ago as an only child undergoing years of rehabilitation following an unreported head injury (circa 1977). With a vivid imagination, the creative arts have always afforded sanctuary in the darkest of times. Collaborating remotely with talented folk was an extra special privilege.
Inspired by Instagram posts, a love of toy photography was rekindled for the first time since Star Wars and Action Man ruled department store aisles during The Empire Strikes Back.
Seeing a tweet immortalised in Doctor Who Magazine (DWM) was a highlight. The fan community had rallied together during lockdown and I couldn’t be prouder to be a Whovian.
Family and friends, working on the frontline, were the real superheroes as I binge-watched DC's Stargirl and Normal People. This series resonated and awoke dormant feelings of imposter syndrome from the safety of home as I self-isolated due to high-risk from coronavirus.
When Imperial College London approached me (along with others) to volunteer for home testing against the invisible enemy (the classic Doctor Who serial of the same name was broadcast whilst I was in children’s hospital), I didn’t hesitate. Subsequently, I continue to participate in a cognition study post-pandemic.
TARDIS hot wheels became a safe haven as I ventured out only for essential journeys (to shop for ourselves and shielding neighbours) during lockdowns and shifting tiers. The Weeknd, Dua Lipa and Kylie were the uplifting soundtracks.
Of course, on this anniversary, we’re all still navigating through our experiences of a shared trauma, remembering lost loved ones, and listening empathetically to people’s stories, which is vital.
As in 1977, I’m lucky to be alive, thanks to the NHS! 🌈💙 xx