'The Loco-Lockdown!'

The elephant in the barn - the lockdown. Time away from the restoration has put added pressure on to finish within deadline, which was always going to be tight on the original timeline. However 'Lockdown' life has given much time for contemplation and reinforced that determination to get as much done as possible and raise awareness and funds for the MND Association. In other words to push on regardless when restrictions lift.

Time has not been wasted during the Welsh Lockdown, although research into the waggon and builder in particular, has proved difficult with many museums & institutions closed due to Covid-19. So to while away the many hours that have become suddenly available to me I have been able to pick up my paint brushes once more.

Lost in Lockdown

Everyone will have their own 'Lockdown' stories and experiences and I expect in time that some of them will be revealed either on social media or reported in the news. For some it will have been an extremely difficult time, with many pressures and problems to overcome. It will have meant dealing with untimely grief, in an unnatural way due to Covid-19 and watching loved ones suffering, unable to reach out to them physically, for and to comfort. Some will have lost their livelihoods and struggled with mounting debts. Many will have not been able to see and hold loved ones in different households, towns, cities, countries. For others it will just have meant DIY, boredom and not being able to go out for a pint. A planned event that has been cancelled or postponed.

With the now digital age we have safely lived online for the past weeks & months. The streets have been empty. Keyworkers had been working round the clock to keep things ticking. Entertainers have kept us entertained either from their own homes or in studios with skeleton staff. We have all lived and coped throughout this pandemic in different ways and while normality seems a distant memory, I hope we'll get back there eventually. To you all - Be well and keep safe.