Crispy Note

When necessary I'm well up for a national lockdown but these last 10 days of self-isolation have felt quite tough. I've barely slept all week and made some... questionable... decisions.

• You're reading the words of someone who now uses a Sony a5100 for a webcam, and has a microphone boom arm on the way. Improved A/V equipment makes up for tired, unintelligible babble right? It does, right?
• Maybe there's something to be said for a tired, YOLO attitude. After months of putting it off, and feeling slowly more isolated, I finally reached out beyond my day-to-day work bubble for a friendly catchup and support in the way of a career conversation. It was really nice and surprisingly invigorating.
• I ended up taking a day off as a wellness day* which was a huge help also. I almost feel guilty for taking it but need to shake that attitude. My intention was to lay in a dark corner with a duvet, but with space to breath I actually ended up sitting outside in the sun assessing my competencies against the FT's career progression framework. After the chat earlier in the week, and in a better mindset thanks to the wellness day, I thought of way more positive examples.
• I'm ready to get stuck in and actively pursue promotion! 💪 My manager is supporting me 🙇‍♂️
• A potted tree in our garden dried up whilst we were away. And yes, in honour of our cripsy tree, I believe I did sing an alternative snippet of O Christmas Tree to a small group including our Chief Product & Technology Officer.
  🎶🎶 🎶
  O crispy tree,
  O crispy tree,
  How lovely are your branches!
  🎶🎶 🎶
  Yes I'm pretty confident that did in fact happen.
• I've finally had my first covid vaccine shot now our self-isolation period is over. The centre I went to was near Sheffield University. When did students get so frightfully young? 😱 Get out of my way kids! Don't you see I'm old, frail, and in need of vaccination.

Reader, getting a vaccine was great but I leave you with the biggest news: We ate the last of the sauerkraut I made in London. That is, the last of the cabbage we bought from veg man. I miss him dearly. We never said goodbye. 🎻

*A wellness day is a kind of informal paid leave that the FT has offered Q1-2 this year, on top of existing leave. It's designed to help people with the stresses and complications of the pandemic.