While casually scoping through files on my laptop, I came across some old photos taken in Liverpool that ignited flashbacks of the nation being removed abruptly from their comfort zones, albeit only briefly; nevertheless, it seemed like an eternity.
Yes, I am referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, an era recognised for its challenges, particularly during the first initial lockdown period. Even before the pandemic landed, if you had a general idea of what an actual “lockdown” entails (for those who did not know, all they had to do: ask Google), when it eventually came to the crunch and the first nationwide lockdown arrived at our doorsteps, it was still a shock to the system due to being in a situation unprecedented in our lifetimes.
What struck me the most was how public areas in Liverpool came to a standstill, transforming into mysterious realms of society. At numerous moments, it was as if I became a protagonist on an apocalyptic film set outdoors, waiting for the film director to shout “cut” so normality could resurrect itself again. You know? The inevitable hustle and bustle we would expect to see in any city like Liverpool. Unfortunately, that was not the case until the government lifted restrictions.
With each lockdown thrown our way, we knew the prognosis was not good. An en masse of people had no choice but to temporarily leave their offices and transform their kitchen tables into makeshift office desks until it was safe to return to offices. I became lucky enough to continue working in Liverpool’s city centre area throughout the pandemic, which was a blessing.
As we observed the world spin off its axis, I became entangled in a conundrum. Being a born and bred Londoner, I relocated to Liverpool years ago. Throughout the pandemic, my family stayed put in London, and I decided to put my social life on hold in Liverpool until things became less hazardous.
Apart from work, I needed something else to do to cure the boredom. So, I decided to take photos and capture the uniqueness that lingered in the air. Each weekday at 8:30 in the morning, I would leave my house in the Kensington L7 area and head to work, of course, with my phone close by, ready to take photos. And even though I had to clock in at 11 am sharp, leaving earlier gave me extra time to explore and take more shots of Liverpool’s ghostly scenery.
Liverpool is a thriving city; however, whenever we were knee-deep in the lockdowns, it sometimes felt like I was walking on quiet country lanes. So much so that occasionally, I stepped off the pavements and walked on the actual roads for a few minutes. Of course, it is safer to cross any road at the pedestrian traffic lights. Still, when the traffic lights turned green in the lockdowns, there was no fear of constant incoming cars heading in my direction.
Interestingly, when the streets and roads were empty, it made a nice change to breathe in more fresh air in areas known for heavy traffic in Liverpool, not inhaling those usual carbon emissions from cars, vans, buses, coaches, motorbikes, etc. On occasions, existing in the lockdowns was similar to living the ultimate solitary lifestyle.
I always toyed with the idea of seeing myself saying goodbye to city life. And relocate somewhere quiet and idyllic, like the countryside. But, after all the lockdowns, I had a self-discovery moment, and now I can no longer envisage myself doing such a thing.
I enjoy the unpredictability that goes hand in hand with the city lifestyle. Such as being taken aback by different buskers’ performances or frequently chatting to a variety of friendly folks you may meet on nights out are all common occurrences in cities like Liverpool.
With Liverpool being a resilient and friendly city, Scousers were able to bounce back and roll out some well-needed positivity when faced with the adversity we all experienced in the pandemic by creating posters stuck on their windows to try and uplift the community. These selfless and kind acts are just some of the wonderful things you would expect to see in Liverpool: a friendly city that looks out for one another in times of crisis.
