July. After months of insecurity and much dithering by our government in the UK, we ventured out, cautiously, even actually leaving London. Though the first time we did felt as though we were breaking some sort of boundary law. We had become accustomed to our little bubble in South East London!
The number of deaths were dropping, many countries seemed to be on top of things during June and July and in the UK, Summer was possibly the best we have had in donkeys years. The beaches were rammed, traffic was back to it’s chaotic routine in London and there was a relief of sorts in the air.
We remained cautious, a virus that killed and affected and infected so many, does not pack its bags and go after 6 months. We kept our distance in supermarkets, rarely went out socialising and met small groups of friends outside.
When our neighbours generously offered us the use of their villa in the South of France, we snapped it up. After the final copies of the first volume were sold in August, I was, to be blunt, knackered! It wasn’t just illustrating quite harrowing stories, but the behind the scenes. Organising and packing 2000 + parcels to be sent around the world, customs, Royal mail drop offs, returns, missed parcels. Yes I was ready to slam down by the pool for a few weeks.
Just before we left in August, stories were coming in of more infections around the world. Chaos around travel, more ridiculousness from the Government, mini lockdowns and tiers coming into play.
We arrived in France at the villa at the end of August, with a plan to stay for 5 weeks and relax. So I had time on my hands. France was going through a surge in
