Caroline Kendall
Objects & acts of resilience

 Coffee: I’ve been buying nice coffees and dairy free milks to try and recreate the coffees I’d treat myself to during a regular working week. I’m not exactly a coffee snob, but drinking a good coffee at home does evoke a brief sense of normality for me.

Creativity: I’ve been teaching myself dressmaking and during lockdown I’ve sewn five dresses, and also crocheted a cardigan. I also draw and write in my journal. I’m a restless person, I can’t sit and watch a screen without something to keep my hands busy, whether that’s drawing, sewing, knitting or crochet. The process of doing those things is also an important distraction from the stress of the current situation. 

Connection: Living alone, keeping connected to family, friends and the Brownie Pack I lead has been really important to me. Zoom is great, but sometimes a proper letter or card is what’s needed to brighten someone’s day. During lockdown I’ve realised how lucky I am to have such a brilliant support network around me. 

Self-care: Small acts of self-care have been really important to me during lockdown.

Audio: Podcasts and audio books have replaced the usual office chatter as the background to my working day. I listen to a lot of true crime and history podcasts, but I’ve also been listening to audiobooks, including Moll Flanders and the BBC dramatisation of Emile Zola’s Rougon Macquart cycle: ‘Blood, Sex & Money’. Music has also been helping; I pity my neighbours having to listen to my out of tune singing!