A Hawke's Bay woman captures London's lifelessness in lockdown

A usually bustling Borough Market in London is now eerily quiet due to the United Kingdom's third Covid-19 lockdown. Photo / Bryony Williams

A former Hastings resident has been using her hobby and side venture of photography to show the emptiness of London during the pandemic.

London and the whole of the wider United Kingdom were put into a third lockdown this week.

Bryony Williams currently resides in Tooting, southwest London, and has been taking pictures of the usually bustling city during all three lockdowns.

London had 10,150 new cases of Covid-19 on January 7.

Williams said the vibe of the place has changed with the restrictions forced upon them.

"Knowing that nothing is certain here and things can change at the drop of a (uneducated) hat, taking each week as it is and not planning too much seems to be the current mindset," she said.

Williams has been living around England's capital since November 2013 and has spent most of her adult life there.

She also works in Tooting as a learning technologist at St George's, University of London - but has been working from home since March 23, 2020.

South Bank in London, empty due to the UK's lockdown restrictions. Photo / Bryony Williams

Williams said it's frustrating having to watch a government "bumble around making U-turn after U-turn.

"But as I am in a job which is fairly secure my weeks are busy during the day, sat at the kitchen table."

The new nationwide lockdown which came into force on January 6, requires people to stay and work from home if possible, with schools and colleges closed and is expected to stay in place until mid-February.

The technologist said although her job is in a comfortable position some sectors are really struggling.

"It is heartbreaking to see the hospitality industry suffer because the government can't make a clear decision," she said.

The Hastings Girls' High School old girl said her Christmas wasn't dissimilar to her last few, spending her morning and evening Skyping and Zooming her family in Hawke's Bay, but this time while in England was at Tier 4 restrictions.

"I spent the day with my partner, the flat cat, eating plenty of food and drinking bubbles," Williams said.

Not a single person in sight by one of Piccadilly Circus' Underground entrances. Photo / Bryony Williams

The keen photographer, who has more than 4000 followers on Instagram (@findmeintooting), considers herself lucky that she'll only have to put off a planned trip back to New Zealand until it is safe.

"I'm aiming for Christmas 2021 – two and a half years since seeing my family," she said.

As tough as she said it is watching life carry on in New Zealand, she has no plans to permanently move back to the southern hemisphere yet.

"I know many fellow Kiwis over here would agree, I don't know how I would up and leave a career, friends, support networks and relationships."

Williams said she is also trying to stay optimistic about life in lockdown and has her fingers crossed that the government can stick to the vaccination plan - getting those most vulnerable protected.

"This time in restricted living has reminded me of what makes me happy, what we actually need in life to get by and how humans can adapt when needed. Slowing down isn't so bad after all."