My office is part of a government agency that never closed during the shutdown, so I still went to work most days... but nowhere else. Even the grocery store and the gas station, my only stops, are directly on the route between home and work.

My job usually involves a fair amount of travel around our county and southern Arizona, so it felt really strange when my world suddenly got so much smaller. This map represents the 23 miles between home and the office.

I feel lucky that my job is still there. And if I'm going to see the exact same sights every day, I am glad they are pretty sights. But it does make every day feel very much the same.

None of us were ready for what this year has brought . As we were bombarded with more and more bad news we all had to find ways to cope with the situation and try to shelter ourselves and our loved ones from the constant negativity. Everyone has found their own way to do so. And, alas, being preoccupied with our own cause we, as a human beings, once again managed to leave a trail of devastation in nature, with millions of masks and plastic gloves littering the streets and ending up in streams that carry them into the oceans...

The whole experience feels to me like a movie where we broke off into an alternative universe on fragmented floating islands as the world we once knew has faded away. I added A few words and images to remember this moment.

To map the lockdown moments of the last 2 months, I decided to draw and map the different monsters who I have gotten to know who live in the different spaces of my house ( I think the Toy Monster was my favourite!). Outside our safe area, filled with our pets I have created a maze, marking out our go-to neighbourhood spots that we can no longer visit these days.

During the lockdown in Malta and Gozo, it has been allowable to walk for exercise and this is the walk I have taken on most days. It starts downhill but the track up to Fort Chambfray is a great heart attack hill

i always do these activities during quarantine.

Some places that I have visited around the world virtually while staying at home!

I miss going out and just using basic things as google maps. My house which during initial week felt like a box soon expanded as a space. It became my new world. I realised going from one location in my house to another itself can be seen as a journey. Each room served a purpose similar to how spaces outside are. My kitchen was the newest trending restaurant, my new office was my once neglected desk etc. Similar to google maps, there were routes and paths with more traffic than usual. Therefore, decided to map this moment literally.

This place is my world at the moment, every walk starts from here. I love chatting with the neighbours- from a distance!

Lot of things to do while in quarantine!

Daily Routine During a Pandemic

this style of book is called a “lotus fold” and it very much reminds me of a folded map. i wanted to make this one into a diary of this time. the peaks and valleys of the book mimicking the highs and lows of my emotions.

seeing a story that the earth is slowing healing itself while we have been hiding away, a HIGH.

my mom learned that an ER doctor she had worked with contracted coronavirus while saving other people. while i’m thankful my mom had just retired before this all started. that was sad to hear. a very LOW.

a HIGH was watching people band together in the beginning, like on 9/11. people helping each other. quietly waiting in line outside the grocery store and letting the older people know they could go to the front of the line without anyone grumbling.

a friend of mine announced he was looking to rehome his dog because his financial situation was affected by the pandemic. everyone was trying to convince him to find another solution. that was a LOW day.

Life with two little ones and the biggest things on our minds during this time cooped up at home together.

Some animals spotted wandering on the streets around the world during the lockdown.

Our routines have changed in a way they never have before. What does your perfect day look like now? If the days are getting all too samey I like to make myself an itinerary... like being on holiday but in my own house. I set times to visit certain areas, to do certain activities, to (video) meet with friends. It helps me stay positive.