At the time of my last article, I was just about to start my new job as a disabled people’s employment champion with the Welsh Government.
How time has flown, and I am now six months into that role. Our work to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities is going really well but, so far, meetings with my colleagues and businesses have all had to be online.
As you can see from the photo, I am working from my home workstation provided by the Welsh Government. I am really looking forward to having face-to- face meetings with everyone before too long as I am sure we can have an even bigger impact then.
Now that I am fully vaccinated and due to have a booster jab next month, I am feeling more confident about returning to a new normal life.
Wales has just eased most restrictions but we are still being cautious in the way we go about resuming the sort of activities that we saw as normal before the lockdowns came in.
In the lead role in Miss Brown to You, which toured the country for three months
Out and about again
Finding homes for supported living can be difficult. Lisa Brown is bringing property investors and care providers together to design and create accommodation to meet various needs.
I have been able to go swimming again at my local leisure club and have been meeting up with my boyfriend at open mic and karaoke nights, which we
really enjoy.
At first, it could only be “chair dancing” but now we can dance the night away properly. I can also now enjoy shopping in our busy Cardiff city centre although that felt very strange at first.
Socialising with friends who I have only seen online for over a year is really special and something I have looked forward to for so long. I am particularly looking forward to our weekly dance classes starting back soon, and we met up for a few drinks recently to get in the mood.
For over a year, all my meetings as a community councillor have had to be online but we have still managed to get our work done.
I have particularly enjoyed being a member of our climate change and wellbeing sub-group, which is leading some really important work. We are due to have our first face-to-face catch-up at a coffee morning in the next few weeks.
The vital importance of looking after our environment has been headline news in many parts of the world in recent times, and even our small local group can make a contribution. We have been getting young people in our community involved in events such as village litter picks and recycling schemes.
I have been involved with my drama group for many years now and, back in 2008 and 2009, was lucky enough to tour the UK professionally with Hijinx Theatre touring productions.
Playing the lead role of Emily Brown, a Second World War evacuee, in Miss Brown to You was my first experience of working alongside professional actors and I learnt so much. So many people dream of what it must be like to tour the country for three months in the back of a van with a group of
professional actors and a stage manager… I was lucky enough to do it twice.
Being involved in live theatre and the buzz you get from an audience is so special but it is also such a thrill to go to the theatre to see productions, especially musicals. I have missed this so much over the last 18 months but “the show must go on” and I am so looking forward to our next visit.
Our own drama group normally met weekly to rehearse for our annual show at the Wales Millennium Centre but this has been another casualty of the pandemic.
However, we have managed to meet weekly online to plan our next production and this has allowed us to keep in touch socially. Our first live rehearsal will be an extra special day to look forward to.
Over the past few years, we have enjoyed some wonderful family holidays, especially in Tenerife and Croatia. As we move closer to that sense of a new normal, to be able to return to those lovely sunny places that I have missed so much will be even more enjoyable than ever.
Let’s hope things keep improving and we can all enjoy living life as it used to be.
