A state of waiting

My home is a two floor maisonette flat in a two storey block of 16 flats with a communal garden at the back and balcony facing the front door of the flats on the first floor. I live alone.

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I am using the front room to watch TV and eat my meals.

In what ways has the coronavirus pandemic changed the way you use your home?

I have started to do lots of jobs in the flat but most of them are left uncompleted e.g. sorting and discarding unwanted objects.

Sometimes I try to sort out the things that littered around me.

How do you feel about your home? How have these feelings changed?

I feel like I am in a state of waiting, of transition, as if I am waiting for the go ahead from somebody or something to continue with the rest of my life.

How does staying at home affect your relationships?

I am uncomfortable with it and try to ignore what is happening around me by distracting myself with other things.

What do you appreciate most about your home? What do you find frustrating?

Being alone is the best thing about my home. Not getting any thing done is the most frustrating.

How has lockdown changed your habits or routines at home?

I spend more time at home pottering around doing nothing or odd jobs. I have made draught excluders from recycled materials for the front door. I have moved a large plant outside my front door into a big pot in the garden. I've aired my large rug in the garden washing line.

How is your sense of home affected by your neighbours or those living nearby?

I had coronavirus symptoms and my neighbour Raju left me homemade south Asian meals, and items of food, newspapers and magazines during my convalescence.

Other friends from nearby dropped off food and goodies too. Others called and/or sent text messages.

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