Tag Archives: covid-19

new restrictions for january 2021

11 Monday Jan 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, sevilla

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jan 11-25

Here they are, the Christmas hangover restrictions for the next two weeks. Meanwhile the new Covid strain, which is supposedly 70% more contagious, is still being taken around Andalucía by people who insist on having “their old lives back” and taking non-essential trips. At least they’ve closed the regional borders again. Also a shout out to those people who have to go out and about town every single day, cramming into shops and bars. What the fuck is wrong with you? These next two weeks are going to be very telling in terms of new cases and deaths. I’ll be spending them mostly at home, as I have been doing since, um… March?

covid christmas

23 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by in christmas, coronavirus, covid

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covid christmas eve

This photo by Associated Press photographer Emilio Morenatti @emilio_morenatti, who is based in Barcelona, just ripped straight through me. It encapsulates so many of my feelings about the pandemic, this very difficult year we’ve gone through, and especially about how people have responded to it. Because this is the reality of the coronavirus. This photo shows hope and courage, as well as tragedy and indifference. I know I go on about this but how could anyone risk doing this to someone else? For all of those who have gone away on a Christmas holiday or who just couldn’t stay away from friends and family – just this one fucking time – THIS is what you have put at risk. Not just yourself, and your own loved ones, but also someone you will probably never meet. It’s truly heartbreaking, witnessing so much callous selfishness.

But I am also left in awe of the frontline essential workers who are still at it, in spite of not being shown the respect and consideration they deserve. It’s because of them that I haven’t totally given up on humankind. As you know, I’ve been on my own since March, haven’t left the city (heck I still barely leave my house), I don’t have friends over to visit and I’m extra careful whenever I’m out. So it’s unlikely that I am a carrier. But since I don’t know that for sure, I’m being careful not just for myself (because if I catch this thing that’ll be me in a body bag) but for all of us. Hopefully there will be a return of social conscience in 2021, though I wonder what it’s going to take to make that happen or if it’s even possible. What do you think? And how are you feeling?

Mortuary workers take off their protective clothing at the entrance of a building decorated with a Christmas tree, after removing the body of person who allegedly died of COVID-19 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 ~ Emilio Morenatti

 

refused!

02 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, home, work

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refused (3)

So… FUCK. Today I received by certified mail the official refusal of my application for the Ingreso Mínimo Vital, kind of the lowest you can go with begging for money from the government. This was because they cut me off from the monthly assistance for self-employed (autónomos) in June, because I had taken a break last year in August from social security payments since I had no work that month. I mean, a LOT of us seasonal workers do this, because otherwise you are paying 300€ a month even though you’re not not making a penny. So we sign off. And apparently they don’t give a fuck about the previous ten years or more that we have been duly paying in… miss a month you are fucked over.

I had government assistance (700€ a month) March-June, which of course doesn’t cover my basic living expenses but hey, it was better than nothing. Then they issued an extension of this aid, but suddenly I wasn’t eligible if I hadn’t paid into Social Security every month during the previous year. Bear in mind this was my first “baja” in almost ten years. Didn’t matter. I was cut off. So of course at the beginning of July I signed off again, because I was actually unemployed, no longer running a business and clearly not able to keep paying 300€ a month. And now they are saying that as long as I am signed off I can’t apply for any other self-employed assistance. Catch-22.

So a few months ago I applied for the Ingreso Mínimo Vital (400€) and also for rent assistance. These are the two things you can apply for if you’re actually rock bottom, but it turns out I’m not eligible for those either. I honestly don’t know what’s expected of us, and by “us” I mean all the self-employed in Spain who are being hung out to dry in this Catch-22 situation.

I’ve spoken (again) to my landlord and he still doesn’t want to lower my rent, it seems he would rather take his chances of me moving out and somehow not being left with an empty apartment for several months. But just the idea of moving just breaks my heart… for now I will hold on to this place until I can’t any more.

The whole of November I was caught up with my only paid gig since March – another article for Decanter. And despite the stress, insecurity and anxiety that I suffered over it this past month, if they asked me to do another one tomorrow I’d say HELL YEAH. 🙂 And not just for the money. It just felt great to be focused on work again and to be doing something.  And so now it’s back to wondering what I’m going to do next.

How are you guys doing?

streeteries

01 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, restaurants

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streeteries

Learned a new word this morning. Streeteries. A new term for enclosed outdoor eating spaces (think it was first coined in NYC). And yes, you don’t really want to be using that word. Or go to one of these places. My friend Julie @woollygee sent me this photo today, taken in northern England. I mean WTAF. How is this any different from eating indoors? In fact, it’s probably worse because it’s a small enclosed space without proper ventilation. Can’t you just SEE all those Covid droplets forming on the inside of the plastic??? Looks like a giant petri dish to me. With a lid.