Early in the year this pandemic took the whole World by surprise, bringing changes to the way we live and work. Unless working in-house, translation can already be a solitary task for most, requiring many hours of work in silence and isolation. Going shopping, seeing colleagues and cooking for friends are essential activities to relax and distance ourselves from the texts but seem now to be enjoyable habits of the past. Although we have been very busy during the first half of the year, national and regional lockdowns restricted our usual social habits. Now we use online shopping even more, call family and friends on the phone, instead of visiting, and limit our movements in general. We will never be able to thank enough to all those of you who regularly pick and deliver parcels and other shopping to us.

Mónica Machado is an English into European Portuguese translator, specialised in Oil and Gas, Mining and Geology, Environment, Hydroelectric Power, Renewables, HSE, Shipping and Business Legal Areas, working for Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries, such as Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe.

Graphics from https://www.everydayhealth.com