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Francesca Borisov, from Hove, says she’s spending a lot more time outside.
“The weather’s made a huge difference. I used to go to wine bars before, but of course I can’t do that now. I have been drinking a lot less and I’ve been walking everywhere.”
Francesca says that at the beginning of lockdown she sat down on a bench with a glass of Prosecco at the end of a long walk. The police questioned her just as a photographer was passing.
“I ended up in the Daily Mail. There was a picture of me and a policeman with the headline ‘No Fizz please: A Brighton drinker is moved on.’ I only had one tiny flute. The next day I had phone calls from friends telling me I was in the paper. I couldn't believe it!” Words by Daisy O'Clee.

Jonathan Evans, 34, has been finding the recent changes to his life difficult to cope with. He works in props and was due to start a new job on a television police drama set in Brighton, but the series has been postponed because of the pandemic.
“Before, life was going great. I was on holiday in the south of Spain on my way to Morocco when I heard that a state of emergency had been called and I had to get back to England.
“Lockdown has been really terrible. I’ve had no work and have just been bashing through my savings. I even got turned down for a job at Tesco because I didn’t give the right answers to the multiple choice questions in the interview.
“I have OCD and I live with people who don’t respect the rules. There have been strangers coming into the house, so I’ve bought a microwave and haven’t been into the kitchen for weeks. I had a slight fear of infection and germs before, but now I feel that nothing is safe and I’ve had days when I’ve washed my hands 30 times or more. It’s been eight weeks of new behaviours and I know it will be really hard to break out of that. I have sleepless nights. Exercise has been the only saving grace.”
He added: “When I go to the shops I’m in an anxious blur. If I pick something up, I don’t put it back because I worry that I might be carrying the virus and could be spreading it to other people. So I get home and realise I’ve bought four jars of Marmite. It blows my mind the way people don’t seem bothered about social distancing.” Words by Daisy O'Clee.

Ross, 60, was sent to the UK to go to boarding school when he was 12 and has lived here ever since. He works for DHL. He thinks he’s had Covid 19.
“I got ill and had the most horrendous symptoms,” he said. “I’ve had colds and flu before, but nothing like this. I lost four days. I had a very high temperature. I hallucinated. In the end I just sweated it out. I’ve come to the belief that most of us have had it. I don’t think much of the lockdown. I don't think anything would have stopped this virus.” Words by Daisy O'Clee.

Awanjie, works in a care home looking after older people. She said she thinks the UK came too late to lockdown but she is impressed by how well people have responded to the restrictions, staying at home to protect the vulnerable. She says that when she’s not working she’s enjoying spending time in the communal gardens where she lives. The first thing she wants to do when Lockdown is over is to meet up with friends. Words by Daisy O'Clee.

Lucy Ashworth, 38, lives with her partner Rob Vonglass, 37.
Lucy works as an administrator for a networking business called the PCD Club. She says they have been innovative in how they have started to schedule events in response to the pandemic, switching quickly to online alternatives.
“There have been lots of new challenges but I’ve leaned a lot and I’m happy that I’m still working and being paid.”
She added: “Weirdly, because we both work from home, the weeks haven’t felt that different. It’s on Friday night, when you want to go out and meet with friends that it’s hard.”
Rob finished his degree in illustration a year ago. He has been furloughed from his bar job and has used the extra time in lockdown to pick up new clients and to work on his portfolio.
He thinks he had the virus just before lockdown started. “I had a temperature for three days, I was so lethargic and achy. It felt like I’d been hit by a bag of oranges.” Words by Daisy O'Clee.

Amy Engles, 39, moved from London to Brighton five years ago. Her job in motion graphics has been put on hold during lockdown. She thinks she may have had the virus, suffering from a high temperature and a 30% reduction in lung capacity. Since then she has started experiencing wheezing and thinks she may have developed asthma. In spite of this, she is loving having more time to herself to exercise outdoors and says her lungs are continuing to recover.
“I’m having quite a nice time, but I kind of feel guilty about that, like I should be saying how difficult I’ve been finding it. It’s been years since I’ve had this much time to do the things I enjoy. Normally I’d be commuting to London and I’d have loads of deadlines to meet. Now I go swimming and cycling. She says it’s the perfect time to try something different. “Last week I bought some roller-skates. I haven’t been on a pair since I was 11.” Words by Daisy O'Clee.

Pang Siwanart, 53, came to Brighton ten years ago from Thailand. She runs Thai Wellness Massage and Spa on Preston Street in Brighton. She had to close the business at the beginning of lockdown, but says help from the Government has meant she isn’t worried about money and has been able to relax.
“I have more time to do the things I enjoy. I am exercising for two hours every day - some cardio and some exercises to build up my muscles. And I have more time to cook, which I love. I have been quite happy.” Words by Daisy O'Clee.

Kim Steggles, 36, lives with her husband Scott and their five month old baby, Rudi.
“I’m the sort of person who doesn’t worry about things until there’s a problem. And we’ve been fine so far. Scott and I both work freelance in advertising so I’d saved up for maternity leave anyway. It’s been nice to be together as a family.”
Kim says it’s been hard not to be able to take Rudi to see his grandparents, but that they have made sure they regularly keep in touch through video calls. She has also missed seeing friends and going in the sea.
“I want to go paddle boarding and swimming but I haven’t done it just in case something happened to me. I didn’t want to risk putting an extra strain on the NHS.” Words by Daisy O'Clee.

James Bannister, 41, is a project manager for a decorating firm, but he hasn’t been able to work since lockdown started.
“I’m on my own so I’ve been a bit lonely. I could have carried on working, but my van broke down, which is frustrating. I have had a lot of time on my hands. I have been doing a bit of dog walking to help out my elderly neighbour, Tina. I get a lot of girls’ numbers when I’m out with the dogs. It’s a great way to meet people!” Words by Daisy O'Clee.

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