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Post by MartinT on Dec 20, 2020 11:14:12 GMT
How was it for you outside of music?
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Post by Clive on Dec 20, 2020 12:36:50 GMT
I had expected to retire (again) but there’s no point, I might as well continue to earn money and not draw on my pension. We had been expecting to travel a fair bit, mostly in the U.K. I worked from home anyway but with weekly travel to London...which of course hasn’t happened for months. Work is easy but dull. I can’t complain as I have a job and it’s well paid. I worry about our 28 year old daughter who was wanting to change jobs but now prospects are on hold.
So...I’m ok and recognise I’m fortunate. I feel sorry for the debt and prospects which the young face.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 20, 2020 12:38:20 GMT
For me, I got COVID back in March and so did Ruth, a direct result of us both working in a school. It was rough, but not nearly as bad as for those who ended up in hospital or worse. I had a very hard time getting my blood sugar back under control, a weird side-effect of the illness and very worrying at the time as I couldn't even see a doctor. It took me two months to stabilise but then everything came back to normal. My health is better than it's been for a while, so that's a relief.
The hardest thing I did was to change jobs - utter madness. I was head-hunted by a leading independent school and they made me an offer I couldn't resist, despite the 40 mile commute each way. Starting a new job in pandemic conditions with remote everything is not something I'd recommend. Saying that, it's worked out well and I don't look back. The stress levels are high but I repeat my mantra "tick-tock, four years to retirement".
We pretty much finished all the room renovations in the barn so everywhere looks smart. Upkeep of the garden is a constant problem but we just have to throw money at it as it's way too much for us to manage. Now I have two weeks off and I've never needed it more.
Hopefully next year will be better.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 20, 2020 13:36:37 GMT
How was it for you outside of music? Don't understand What else is there ?  |
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Post by Chris on Dec 20, 2020 17:49:02 GMT
Sounds insensitive but for me it’s been superb! Got knocked off on furlough at the end of the Feb trip : knew I’d be off for a while so bought a new bike. Mrs and I got a wee bit COVID. She was worse than me - I just fired hot chillies at it and rode my bike. Never even noticed it.
I then did a lot in the garden..plants that attract bees,bird feeders all stocked up and then started feeding the Fox Cubs every night and made pals with them.
Eased up on the booze,got my weight down and my fitness up. Long baths every night,clean shaven every day. Had a nice collection of speakers to play with too!
Built a smoker for on the bbq and stepped up my cooking too. Visit my folks to make sure they’re ok.
Wish life was like this aw the time. Apart from aw the ill folk.
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Post by Slinger on Dec 20, 2020 18:14:27 GMT
It was a pretty shite year, end of. There's a Hell of a lot more people who are a Hell of a lot worse off than me, I know, and I feel for them too, and it angers me that I can't help do something about it. At least in the "good old days" I'd have been marching and carrying a placard at the very least. This will be my third Christmas without my late wife, and being stuck indoors for most of the year and at times not even being allowed to see other people, hasn't helped lessen the feelings of loss. It can be difficult sometimes, this "moving on" malarky; when there's nowhere to move to, and no one to share the journey with you. I can't really say more than that, other than, in broad strokes, I feel as if I am now politically homeless after almost 50 years of being politically active in one way or another. Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.As Dylan Thomas had it. I'm not thinking of popping my clogs anytime soon, but the opportunity, and the ability, to " rage" once again would be welcome. Happy New Year, everyone.  |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 20, 2020 18:21:59 GMT
the ability, to " rage" once again would be welcome. You do a bit of that here and it keeps us informed and raging a little, too. Keep it going! |
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 20, 2020 20:35:32 GMT
I've done with raging.
It did nothing to help, and I'm sure it was not good for my mental health.
Facebook was the worst for depressing negative vibes - I'm seriously glad I gave that up this year.
If people want to hurt others, or fuck up the planet, there's really nothing I can do about it.
I can do my best to behave decently myself and every few years I get to vote for someone who I hope will do the least damage. That's all that most of us can do.
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Post by John on Dec 20, 2020 20:48:45 GMT
It been a strange year I had to support my Mother a lot as she had a pacemaker fitted.
Work for a few months in March to May was very patchy Like many people I worried if I have a job
I had to help with the organisation move to online training this went better than expected and very proud of what I co-created.
The people I work with have found the changes even more difficult I seen so much fear within families and also bravery too.
I had to re-think so much of my the work opportunities we provide had to close down so got people to do work like helping in foodbanks. I am running quite a few online groups around best practise in the field I work in. I enjoy this.
I think the first few weeks I found the hardest with the Lockdown but then I started to get deeply into breathwork and mediation I got back into playing my guitar and really went to town with my system.
I decided rather than rage against the machine I do what I can to help this has always been my way and I think in times of crisis even more important to follow those values
I been there for my friends in the darkness Helped run a course on Loss grief and Covid 19 for professionals I co-run a community group looking at how we still make it work for the people we support in these crazy days I am part of a trail vaccine program as I want to be part of a solution I continue to support people and do my best to make a difference
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 20, 2020 21:27:04 GMT
.... That's all that most of us can do. Except if you're John who does amazingly wonderful things! |
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Dec 21, 2020 9:40:23 GMT
Pretty much as normal for me other than being furloughed for a few weeks, being classed as an essential worker it’s been business as usual otherwise. Not sure if I’ve had the dread disease or not- was working at a site in London back in March installing a new transformer from Italy, they were flying in Italian engineers on a weekly basis and we caught what seemed to be a cold from one of them. Minor symptoms so I don’t know if it was COVID or not.
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