I can’t remember when I discovered that introversion was a thing. It wasn’t widely recognised during my childhood. But what was recognised was being different. Children were expected to behave in a certain way in social contexts. I was under 5 when it was noted that I did not behave that way. In nursery classes I was shy and would head to a corner of … Continue reading Introspective
It all starts with a few weeks off. I’ve got a rare bit of time to relax out of my usual routine (which from March onwards has never been much of one anyway). I tried to do nothing. But there seems to be a whole host of admin tasks, household maintenance and things I usually put off to deal with. They range from important to … Continue reading Hanging on the phone
The theme of the moment for me is re-evaluation and trying to work out what’s next. Or being ready for anything! The winds are changing, Mary Poppins style, as the events of 2020 continue to turn our way of life upside down. It’s so hard to write about the process of letting go of things in life when you are not sure what will replace … Continue reading Another roll of the dice
The latest contradictory message from the government came with new proposals to reduce obesity. This was hot on the heels of the ‘Eat Out to Help Out‘ plan, encouraging us to go to restaurants in August with a 50% discount incentive. Lose weight, but also eat steak and chips. Stay alert! It’s confusing stuff, considering most of us have experienced hardship this year ranging from … Continue reading Body neutral
We’re in a remote working revolution driven by a pandemic. Thank you 2020. But what does the future of working hold for us? Are things getting better or worse? Office life Like many I’ve spent years working in offices. The first one was a concrete cube on the Hanger Lane gyratory, a massive roundabout in West London. I learned how to navigate office life there … Continue reading Working in the future
I’m angry. It feels good to say it. I only register a small amount of guilt for this unlikeable, unfeminine emotion. Maybe one day I’ll have none. This year I’ve spoken to people in senior jobs where I needed to enlist their specialist skills. These were not just senior professionals but leading, highly paid professionals. Men at the top. And my experiences left me questioning … Continue reading Am I the expert?
During lockdown I wanted to keep my mind busy with learning. I need not have worried that I’d be bored since I still had a demanding full-time job, but gaps did start to open up where I would previously be out and about. In those new hours was a chance to explore personal interests. One of these was an online course on The Science of … Continue reading The science of happiness
It has been impossible not to lately. The death of George Floyd in the US after a police officer knelt on his neck was the catalyst for widespread protests. It shocked us out of our Coronavirus news coma. Black Lives Matter demonstrations happened all over the UK, reminding us that this is both an international and a local problem that we need to address. We … Continue reading Thinking about race
As lockdown starts to ease across the UK, spending time with other people is coming back into the realms of possibility. I’ve been angry, perplexed and at times despairing at how the Government advice has never addressed the mental health aspects of remaining isolated or socially distant from all others. Too often it seemed the face of power was a middle-aged white man in some … Continue reading People are more than 2D
As we enter week 7 (8?) of lockdown in London, it strikes me that my life now has similarities with caravan holidays from my youth.Back before I’d ever been on a plane, Summer holidays were taken in Devon. It was roughly a 5 hour drive from Stoke-on-Trent where I grew up, punctuated by an overnight stay in Bristol to visit my grandparents. I remember the … Continue reading Caravans
