Lately I’ve spent more money on hospital car parks than I’d like. Yes, we’re in one of those seasons. First came my own kidney issues, then came an ailing parent – entirely unrelated, but such is life. On some days I’d leave one hospital as a patient, to go to another as a visitor. And did I mention the car park charges? Well, if I have to pay twice, I might as well mention it twice.

As a self-employed freelancer, two months of cancelled work has come at a cost – not just monetary, but the enjoyment of doing a job I love. I’ve missed performing. Even motorway traffic has been an underappreciated luxury. When my health improved enough to get back on the road, I felt oddly glad to grind to a halt on the M25 as it allowed more podcast listening time with nowhere else to be…

Paul Kerensa is on tour around the country. Paulkerensa.com

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This is an extract from an article published in the September 2024 edition of Reform