Yearly Archives: 2020

We are nearly there, the end of 2020… hooray. It was a challenging year for sure. It is now nearly the New Year and undoubtedly the time to be more optimistic, despite the news. So as we leave the year … Continue reading →

Friday was of course Christmas Day in the UK. With some of us plunged into the purgatory of lockdown, before or after, it felt different this year… dare I admit, actually a little less stressful, less rushing about and more … Continue reading →

Well, the festive spirit (the one I have been trying to find) seemed to evaporate this weekend with the announcement of new sudden restrictions for the holidays. Christmas has been cancelled in our house. With New Year already banned it … Continue reading →

Another lockdown week, another weekend, and that cooped up inside feeling is starting to return again. This lockdown period seems harder than the first somehow… even though the restrictions are less… there is something psychological going on it feels… the … Continue reading →

Slowly this month, across Europe, we have been reentering a new period of lockdown… France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Ireland and more all have new restrictions… whilst closer to home… Wales, Scotland, NI and last night (yes on Halloween) England … Continue reading →

The clocks went back this weekend, so woke up an hour earlier this morning (it felt), and darkness certainly descended an hour earlier tonight… time to put the fire on and a cup of cocoa I think…! Still, the observations … Continue reading →

It was all Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, in the news here this week and lockdown restrictions are all starting to get a little confusing, to be honest. This being said with cases and hospital admissions now increasing, we … Continue reading →

A new full lockdown really seemed to be impending this weekend… what with cases rising and regional restrictions already in place. However it is also thanksgiving this weekend in Canada, a good reminder to be more thankful for what we … Continue reading →

With a very wet and rainy weekend, it has started to feel as if autumn has really started to settle in. Observations for this week I have been finding plucky rogue courgettes in the garden the last few weeks, but … Continue reading →

This last week was a whirlwind, and obviously with various economic support and lockdown changes announced last week things are going to change again… and soon. Still, these are the observations for the week. Nearly everyone I spoke to last … Continue reading →

What seemed like a quiet end of last week appears to have taken quite a turn over the weekend with rumors of a centralised approach for COVID payment holiday collection, what sounds like some AML control issues and more talk … Continue reading →

Traffic jams are starting, with people clearly outside and in the office last week. It was quite a full week, and like many people, was glad for the weekend, and some warmer weather. The last hurrah before autumn maybe? Observations … Continue reading →

A return to school this week was also a return again to getting up early… it was all a bit of a blur – it felt early. However it did mark a step towards more normality so I hope is … Continue reading →

It’s a long weekend here, so an extra day off. Things really do seem quite normal again, certainly with the traffic. Thoughts for this week. Video call etiquette. This is sending me into a spin… on or off?… There are … Continue reading →

This week you could feel summer winding down with many people starting to drift back from the last of their holidays. Just another week and with a revving of engines everything will be back to full strength… Observations for the … Continue reading →

The hot weather broke this week and somehow working inside seemed easier, looking at the rain rather the sweltering days earlier in the week… the observations this week. Lots of us have been growing vegetables during lockdown, myself included… I … Continue reading →

Back in the swing of things this week after a brief break. Caught up with quite a few people together with, of course, a large email inbox. So have been in a reflective mood… the thought for the week… the … Continue reading →

The weather held, which really has been great news for all of us taking staycations… even when WFH, with the shorter commute, it has been easier to make more of the weather, which has been a real advantage too… observations … Continue reading →

It was a little different this week with the first week of summer vacation and some really nice weather in the UK… good thing is I have been able to get out and about a little more… some observations for … Continue reading →

The summer holidays here, restrictions are easing (for now) and there was a sense of making up for lost time this week… a sense of normality is returning… holiday trips being booked, days out with friends and at work investment … Continue reading →

With lockdown easing, it feels we are all seemingly trying to return to normal (with even a £30bn package to help us do so). Hotels, B&B’s, and holiday accommodation are starting to open and bookings have gone through the roof. … Continue reading →

Lockdown really started to relax this week, with traffic jams to the coast, pubs open, and even getting your haircut. As it relaxes, is a little glimpse of our future normal now being seen? Observations for this week. Watching how … Continue reading →

This week we had some great summer weather, the beaches were packed and it was announced the bars/pubs will open; the daily COVID press briefing has now been cancelled and even Joe Wicks’ daily PE workout has scaled back… no … Continue reading →

This week was busy, plenty to do at work. For most people, those I speak to, activity does seem to be ramping up…. indeed frenetic in some areas… I just hope these are green shoots (a micro-indicator) for a wider … Continue reading →

This week, with the nice weather and relaxation of restrictions I have been able to get out a little more… and judging by the increased traffic noise so have most people. This has been a welcome relief from the last … Continue reading →

Lockdown continues to slowly ease in the UK, it is increasingly hard to remember when out… Queue lines are closer and everything feels very laissez-faire. Tensions abound, however, with demonstrations in the UK and around the world. A cause which … Continue reading →

Another interesting week and it does feel like we have all forgotten lockdown even existed. Maybe it is the weather, maybe we are just used to it, but there is a sense that everything feels more normal than maybe it … Continue reading →

The psychological relaxation of restrictions seems to continue apace with traffic on the roads and beaches full, but the question top of mind this week is where next now… the observations for this week. The volume of internet memes definitely … Continue reading →

It seemed like this last week the world decided enough is enough and we are all ready to get back to normal… restrictions were being lifted and it felt like the lockdown pressure went down somewhat at home and work… … Continue reading →

With some nice weather* have been feeling the need to get out and do stuff this week…. the risk is still there of course, not much has changed, but this is going to get harder in the summer for sure. … Continue reading →

It is now the start of week 7 and it feels like we are getting used to remote working. It is no longer new, we understand how it works now and feels that some of the more dynamics are starting … Continue reading →

Observations from last week. The initial reaction and shock from the first few weeks seems to have faded somewhat, and saw some more normal BAU activity recommence… however, still expecting to see more economic impacts feeding through this week Working … Continue reading →

Week four of UK lockdown and things are starting to feel somewhat surreal. A beautiful sunny weekend, yet not allowed to be out… everything seemingly quiet, yet grim news on TV. Still, it is important we continue and it is … Continue reading →

Another interesting week of experience under the ‘official’ lockdown in the UK. This last week seemed more normal or at least routine… albeit long. It was a welcome respite from the dramatic changes the week before. However there were of … Continue reading →

The UK has been in ‘official’ lock down this week due to Coronavirus. As with all new experiences you learn new things about yourself, the people and processes around you…. especially early on. Here are my observations from the first … Continue reading →