‘You don’t need to open your bag, love. Just put it on the tray.’
‘Oh, that’s new!’ I said, surprised.
‘Yeah, we’ve got shiny new machines now. You can go through now.‘
As I waited for my handbag on the other side of the airport security scanner, I wondered how long those machines had been in use. I slowly realised that I hadn’t been in an airport for a long time, let alone been on a work trip. I’d been so worried about the logistics of me leaving the house for an extended period of time, I hadn’t thought about what it would feel like to be in an airport again.
It felt glorious. I love airports, always have. Before I became a carer, I was lucky to have travelled a lot and have have lived in different countries so I feel excitement rather than worry at the prospect of a trip. In the departure lounge, I quickly found a spot for me to settle in with a latte and the book I’d been trying to read for 6 months. Bliss!
I was on my way to Paris to attend the AI Action Summit. Not a respite trip, as it was for work, a workspite trip – if you will. I loved every hectic second of it. Yes it was intense with lots of running around and not a lot of breaks to eat or sleep, but for those few days I was simply Laura Barnes; another conference attendee. I spoke to interesting people about interesting things, I wore clothes other than yoga pants, and had to remember my make up routine. There wasn’t one mention of care, of me being an unpaid carer, or of grandma. I admit, I didn’t even think about her for the first 3 days of the trip. Please don’t tell her!
For non-carers, these things might seem inconsequential but to carers who are often physically and mentally trapped in their houses, the ability to go out and interact with people about something other than caring is a great luxury. One that I’m very grateful for. This is why enabling those unpaid carers who can to work is so important, it is not only good for them (and the country) financially, it is also good emotionally. It reminds us there is a world beyond caring and we are valuable beyond our caring roles. I was happy to be able to focus solely on work and not have to think about anyone else for a change.
I don’t feel rested in the physical sense, I’m as tired as ever, but I feel refreshed mentally. I’ve made myself a promise to make an effort to leave the house more often, despite the logistics and stress involved, it is worth it and makes me a better human and carer too.
Number Eighteen, in the corner 