How idyllic life was turned upside down by coronavirus chaos
Former Express & Star reporter Helen Barklam moved from Lichfield to Spain last year. Here she reveals how her idyllic lifestyle in the sun has been plunged into chaos as she finds herself in the middle of a Coronavirus lockdown in Fuengirola.
I am sure many people will be saying “oh boo hoo, I can think of worse places to be stranded”.
In many ways they are right. I am currently writing this piece on my terrace. The sun is shining, there isn’t a cloud in the sky and I am watching the beautiful blue sea lapping on the beach.
But please allow me to delve a little deeper and help you to understand how scary and utterly devastating this pandemic is panning out to be.
I run my own online business retailing nutritional products.
When I came to Spain I decided to get a job here to help me settle into Spanish life and meet new people.
It has worked brilliantly. In just a few months, I have an amazing group of close friends, I have started to learn the language, my social life has been fantastic and I have been working in the tourism industry – talking to people about holidays on a Spanish resort every day. Perfect!
Now, all of a sudden, I feel like I am living in a weird sci-fi movie and I am not sure when it is going to end.
I am here in Spain alone. My husband has been working in the UK in the exhibition industry, and it has been a busy time. He was due to join me here at the end of April.
