Furthermore, my colleagues have been understanding of each other throughout. Recently, I read somewhere that we are all in the same water but in different boats. I like this analogy. We are all living through a pandemic, but all have different situations facing us at home and at work.

I have always been interested in art so when I was actually advised to find a hobby that would help me relax, I joined an art group and an online watercolour school. During the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation this hobby has been a wonderful activity that takes my mind away from Zoom and to a different place.

My working pattern changed quite dramatically during lockdown up until a few weeks ago when the schools went back. As a single parent it was impossible to work “normal hours”, and there was never any expectation from RKES management that this should be the case – something I was very grateful for.