I haven’t read many writings about how the pandemic affected freelancers, namely those who are normally confined within four walls because of the nature of their work. You might think that we had been working from home anyway, so it wasn’t a big change. Or wait… was it? I am sure our experiences differ but there might be similarities too.
My workload significantly increased partly due to the fact that the world switched into online mode. Loads of new platforms had been created, strangely or not but new businesses sprang up too, spreading information seemed to be more important than ever, especially in 2020. However, my already limited contact with the outside world decreased to no contact at all. I am usually happy with my own company, but this time even the smallest interactions were gone for a very long time. I have had more than one breakdown over the past 20 months but giving up wasn’t really an option. I am fully aware of what’s going on in the world, beyond the pandemic, and compared to that, my issues are insignificant. Thinking into it does help in some twisted way.
In the last 20+ years travelling was part of my life, and it was part of my (research) work too for a very long time. The last time I travelled was in February 2020. I spent a few days in London for a jewellery master class held by the British Library and I could meet a few friends too whom I haven’t seen for a while. (Jasmin, that Indian place was so good!) Shortly after coming back to Hungary, all sorts of restrictions had been introduced in many countries. Later, when some of the restrictions had been lifted, I started planning various trips again, I had brilliant ideas for short and longer stays too. It’s safe to say that I would make an excellent tour organizer! I had to cancel all of these trips though, things changed too fast and too often. And my conscience also spoke up against non-essential trips while people were dying in their thousands.
A couple of weeks ago I started dreaming about an other trip, a birthday in London. An other, only mentally essential trip. I wanted to get away and I needed some sense of normality again. Then came Omicron and new measures had been announced in the UK over the weekend. A kind reminder here regarding this variant: contrary to what the news and various communications suggest, not Africa is to blame for this new scourge!
I have nearly booked my flights but I haven’t had the time to research all the things I would have needed to arrange before/after arrival (passenger locator form, EU digital COVID certificate, lateral flow test…). I would have lost lots of money, should I have found the time to sort out everything, but I don’t feel much relief. I am back to work now and continue waiting for a time when I can see people and places again whenever I wish to see them.
