Lockdown/Covid Check In
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@mn5 said in Lockdown Check In:
@tim said in Lockdown Check In:
First haircut for about 5 months. The old lady next to me said "That's a big improvement from when you came in."
Ponytails on men are never a good look.
Doesn’t matter if it’s on a pony or a man. You lift it up and there’s a horse’s arse underneath.
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@mn5 said in Lockdown Check In:
Ponytails on men are never a good look.
Explains some of weird haircuts the AB's have then.
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Well, looks like another weird Christmas for the Meldrews and their extended family
Last year was all about keeping Mrs Meldrew's parents safe and providing 24/7 care which meant the usual vast Christmas gatherings were buggered. Still, we had some memorable moments with virtual Christmas dinners, charades and other party games - though the virtual monopoly was a bloody disaster.
Mrs M's father passed away last week (a good death, not unexpected, a great age and surrounded by his children) and the funeral is a week before Christmas which kinda puts a dampener on the usual Christmas excitement and frivolities.
We're hosting the extended family in Cornwall for New Year so just hope that will be a page-turner. Though Covid seems less of an issue this year due to the UK booster jab roll-out, people are still being cautious but the end of the shitshow does look to be in sight.
Not complaining, life is pretty damn good really and better than most.
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Good to know you’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel. That is the feeling in the Cato household too.
The future ex-Mrs Cato and I had a much needed short break down your way, albeit further west. Peaceful atmosphere, long beach walks with the mutt, decent pubs and restaurants but the main thing was getting together with loved ones.
Only two days but I was like a new man.
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@catogrande said in Lockdown Check In:
but the main thing was getting together with loved ones.
This. Mrs M may be with her 2 sisters in Kent but i can only give limited support until she gets back. Which is a bit of a downer
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Returned to the office yesterday for the first time since June. (Are no longer Lockdown Check In's allowed?)
Way less productive as expected, just too many people around to interrupt workflow. Essentially had a 2 hour lunch as we all just sat around chatting when we finished eating.
We've been having weekly Zoom catch ups but two new staff started during lockdown, it was interesting seeing them in person as it's always slightly different than they appear on screen.
The one anti vaxxer in our office caved in and got her first vax a while back, but funnily she doesn't get her second until the day everything is opened up (15 Dec I think) so she's still WFH.
Worst things about the return: 1. I forgot that Sydney is basically an ash tray in the morning and late afternoon. It's been so pleasant avoiding it all these months. I alway give a sideways glance when Oz trumpet their low smoking numbers; 2. Basically the only food place to closedown near my office during the lockdown was my favourite salad place. All the shitty food places have survived. 3. Coles (supermarket) no longer stock the awesome $1.75 donuts I used to get to eat on a Thursday while in teaching and learning committee meetings. Although, likely good for the waistline.
Was a one day return, it's my rostered WFH day today and we have Xmas lunch tomorrow so wont be much work done.
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@nepia said in Lockdown Check In:
Returned to the office yesterday for the first time since June. (Are no longer Lockdown Check In's allowed?)
you're dead to us
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I've been back five days a week for the last couple of months. I'm yearning to WFH, even if it's just a day or two each week.
I enjoy the office vibe and it's nice being around other people but having to trudge into the city everyday is just wearing me down. How did we use to do that every day?
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@kiwiwomble said in Lockdown Check In:
@nepia seriously though, a little jealous, i work announced they were opening up again....but were still enforcing a mask around the office rule, was really disappointed so only expecting to go in on days for xmas parties
If we had students on campus I'd self mask and only leave the office to go to the loo and get coffee/lunch. We have a high % of anti vax students.
Next week I'm only in the office for 1 and a half days, and then the following week I'm down in Melbourne for the week - so not really a proper return.
@barbarian said in Lockdown Check In:
I'm yearning to WFH, even if it's just a day or two each week.
I'm so glad my direct boss fought the CEO and CFO to get us a WFH day. It will definitely be my most productive work day.
On the trudging into work, I have a 20 odd minute walk and I walk everyday (listening to podcasts) anyway so I'm not fussed by that. I made a declaration when I moved from Manly that I'd never take a job that isn't within walking distance from home. Since then my longest commute has been the 45 min walk to Fox Studios which was fine mostly except for mid summer when I'd be drenched in sweat when arriving in the morning.
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yeah, I've gone back into work for a coupe of days a week the last two weeks, still a ghost town, with most people working from home.
I dont mind going into work, but having days working from home as well is apreciated especially for days where meetings can be in non conventional hours.
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@voodoo said in Lockdown Check In:
I'm in 2 days most weeks now, much prefer being at home, mostly so I don't have to put pants on.
Had a lunch at Barangaroo today, was heaving!
That was the first thing I noticed about the city yesterday, how busy it was. And I walked Barangaroo way home and was the same, Xmas parties everywhere. Cockle Bay is quiet though.
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I much prefer working in the office!
While I'm more productive WFH, I dont like it.
Found out today my support/assistant is unvaccinated so from tomorrow he is WFH now until whatever changes allow him back.
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@taniwharugby I find I'm craving the routine of getting into the office. As much to get to the gym as anything else though. At home I am really shit at switching off or taking a break, but avoiding the commute has been great.
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@paekakboyz my drive is pretty good, 30 mins on a bad day, 20 on a good day (about 20km each way) so is neither here nor there.
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@barbarian said in Lockdown Check In:
I've been back five days a week for the last couple of months. I'm yearning to WFH, even if it's just a day or two each week.
I enjoy the office vibe and it's nice being around other people but having to trudge into the city everyday is just wearing me down. How did we use to do that every day?
Before Delta hit I had my work agree to allow me to do 2 days WFH every week. I sold them with "it allows me to get all of my admin type work done uninterrupted and will also provide me a better work life balance if I don't have to commute every day". Like you I just couldn't handle doing 5 days a week in the office with the commuting.
Now that Delta is out I've been at home for months, and they've just said I would need senior management approval if I want to come into the office under either red or orange, which I absolutely will not be seeking as I'm happy at home spending more time with my boys. So I'll be WFH for a fair while yet.
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There is no doubt I am more productive at home for certain tasks - reading a long document, writing a submission, a long period of concentration. But for the business, there is a massive benefit to us being back in the office for chunks of time - overhearing conversations, offline impromptu chats, mentoring juniors. Can't do that at home.
I don't ever see a world where people work 5 days in the office again. It's done. I reckon a 3/2 split works for me, whichever way it leans. I like not commuting and getting that time back, being able to be more flexible in my day for the kids and the dog.
I also think in-person meetings are not going to recover to more than 50% of what they were, even if we spend 4 days in the city - it's just more dead time walking/cabbing across town, longer intros and small talk (getting sparkling waters and coffees), inability to do back-to-backs
The key for us is finding what works for everyone individually, then balancing it with what works best for the growth of the business. I reckon structuring our week as a team to be in the office together 2-3 days makes sense, with the other days being used for task-orientated stuff at home.
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Apart from 7 days right at the start of lockdown when I had to self isolate I have been in the office all along.
I've really enjoyed it. Commute in lockdown is only ten minutes. It's been like WFH but in a more pleasant environment because for the first six weeks I was the only one here. I'd go for walks around the building and got so much more done without staff interruptions. I've been able to leave the office at 5 instead of 6 or 7.
Until last week there was only one other guy but the word came down from on high everyone had to go back to the office. I expressed my misgivings because some staff were uncertain and the business is screwed if anyone gets Covid and we have to shut down but was told effectively to shut up and toe the line.
No one is allowed to WFH. At least half the staff are scared to be here. Mask up all day long. It's quite depressing and I'm back to working 13 hour days.