Just seen Mum via FaceTime for the first time in ages. Living so far away means travelling there cannot be done on a whim and over the duration of this pandemic, has been impossible. Haven’t seen her in the flesh for nearly a year. Big brother went to see her today at her care home and despite testing negative for COVID and having full PPE available, was not permitted to be in the same space as her. As she was escorted down to the Perspex partition behind which he was waiting, her face lit up with a big grin. She waved back at us as we shouted and gesticulated our greetings via his iPad. Couldn’t quite get the intercom coordinated to pick up what we or she said but I could see her mouthing our names as we alternately hove into her view. She looked happy, well fed and well dressed with her trademark glamour of earrings and lots of pearls and beads around her neck, but, due to lack of hairdressing availability, her (admittedly neatly brushed) hair was long and straight, devoid of her normal soft and carefully tended curls. We were not able to have any form of conversation due to the multiple interfaces that got in our way, and her limited attention span, but seeing the recognition and delight in her face was lovely. Now feeling unexpectedly emotional with the realisation of the distance between us – physical, technological and metaphorical. I know if I flew down there I wouldn’t be able to get any closer than I did tonight, and our visit would really only last a few minutes but despite knowing that, I want to go more.