My name is Sam Wilson. I grew up in Invercargill, where I attended Southland Boys’ High School. 

Around four years ago I moved from Dunedin to London. I am a Financial Planner based in the city, so I usually spend most of my week out and about meeting existing clients and referrals. March is usually the busiest time of the year here, as most city workers have their bonuses confirmed and the end of the tax year is approaching. This year was a bit different. For the first few months of 2020, we watched as China, and then Europe grappled with the impact of COVID19. With London being such an international city, it was only a matter of time before the impact was felt here. 

Sure enough, after days of rising case numbers, we found ourselves watching Boris Johnson on the BBC announcing that everyone should work from home where they could. This was swiftly followed by a full lockdown for all but essential journeys away from home. In the days that led up to this, trains into the city became noticeably less crowded and the streets quieter. One by one, restaurants and cafes in the city shut without the usual custom to keep them busy. In a city that is so lively, it was a very eery feeling. 

Since being confined to home, things have felt relatively ‘normal’ than the days commuting into an ever-quieter London. Work continues, mainly via video conference. While the city is empty, the surrounding boroughs feel alive with people. With everyone working from home, the streets and parks are busy with people out for their permitted daily exercise or essential food shop. Sure, people now step to the side as you pass to avoid close contact, but otherwise you would almost be forgiven for not noticing we were in the middle of a global pandemic. However, every now and then, something happens to remind you. Whether suddenly noticing the lack of planes flying overhead, or perhaps more soberingly, seeing someone on oxygen being taken from their home to a waiting ambulance. 

All in all, there is a sense that everyone is just trying to get on with life as best as they can under the lockdown.