Objects that have sustained us during lockdown:

Eithne: camera, recorder, oximeter. I’ve been photographing neighbours for this project, making a podcast of my   childhood memoir, and measuring oxygen levels when suspected of having Covid-19.

At the start of lockdown, I focussed on writing my non-fiction book on child migration and recording my childhood memoir for a podcast. Then I became ill, perhaps with Covid-19. My neighbours have been great. Over-the-fence chats, help with shopping and gardening, daily exercises led by Conor from the adjoining patio, have kept me going. When I started to feel better, I began photographing people in the street with objects that have sustained them during lockdown. This has been a great way to interact with people at a social distance. I’ve been iridescent with rage at the government’s treatment of the pandemic – the slow lockdown, lack of PPE and effective track, trace and isolate measures along with the disproportionate effect on black, Asian and other non-white communities. I hope the Black Lives Matter movement leads to change but I’m not overly confident. Insecurity is the nature of the day and Brexit looms.