Support – word of the week

Well, this has been a week and half, hasn’t it? I don’t think we’ve talked about much else than the corona virus and what measures to take. Beginning of the week, a delivery man shared that he had just listened to a news report that didn’t include any coverage of the virus, which seemed news worthy in itself. Probably the last for a while.

On the home front, the uncertainty of school closures has caused a headache. None of my children are vulnerable, but we do have exams coming up this summer. It’s difficult to keep up the energy needed in the lead up to exams, if there is talk of dates being moved and classes being cancelled. It is unsettling. Also, courses are not complete yet.

We’ve talked through several scenarios and none of them are the end of the world. We can’t control what might happen. We can only control what we do, which is to keep on preparing.  Fortunately, school seems switched on and teachers are preparing online resources. Keeping it positive as much as possible.

Work has been crazy too. We support a lot of companies, in terms of IT, and I think I’ve taken calls from almost all of them wanting to talk about home working. Fortunately, we’ve put in the foundations already, to enable most desk jobs to move almost seamlessly. There are so many good tools now that make this easier than, say, 20 years ago. Or even 5.

You’d have to have lived under a rock this last week, not to be aware of the panic buying. In the tech/home working world, the equivalent to toilet rolls and pasta are headphones and laptops. We don’t hold stock of either, so order as we need them. Not usually a problem. This week, they have been flying off the virtual shop shelves, as we talk to clients, which has been challenging in fill their orders.

I’m sure we’re not the only tech support company that has been putting in long hours this week. I can imagine versions of us around the world doing the same. Trying our best to keep companies working. So they can keep the world, and the economy, ticking over.

We’re cutting down on all the office visits we can. We don’t want to spread the virus. I love that there seems to be a positive, growing theme emerging in the UK, today, that we should all assume we have it and do everything we can not to spread it. Especially to those who are vulnerable.

(Finished knitting the main part of my raspberry waistcoat. Just the borders to go!)

I phoned my parents this week, to check on them and offer support. Both are in their 80s. They seem fine and well organised. They’ve thought it through, I’m glad to see. I can see where I get my planning ahead trait from, after listening to their preparations.

Last bit of advice was from my mother. She told me to eat tomatoes*. So, seeing as she is my mother and I always listen to her ( and I know she’ll read this), I shall eat my tomatoes. And wash my hands.

Good job I sowed some tomato seeds last weekend.

*(for general health, not as a cure)

Joining in Anne’s word of the week. My word is support.

Word of the Week linky

7 comments

  1. ohh I must get some tomatoes 🙂 I’m glad you are able to offer so much support. We are not at exam stage yet so we are biding our time, being careful and making sure we are ready to go lockdown at any moment. I’m vulnerable and my family know it, which appears to be causing them much anxiety. Well, apart from my husband who is just upset about the cancelled football 😀

    1. I can imagine it would cause anxiety. Sounds like you are preparing well for a potential school closure. All you can do. Sorry about the football. Enjoy your tomatoes.

  2. It is all very worrying. I’m glad that the school is trying to organise extra support and resources to help those preparing for exams – it must be so hard having that uncertainty hanging over you in the run-up to exams. I’m glad you’re able to work from home and are providing support for others trying to do the same. I’m lucky that I mostly work from home anyway, but our family business is in the events industry so this is definitely going to be a tricky time for us. We’re using it as an opportunity to catch-up on much-needed admin and maintenance for now. Your parents sound like they’re as prepared as they can be – that’s all any of us can do at moment (and keep washing those hands!) #WotW

    1. There are some jobs that can’t be done exclusively at home. Events is definitely one. Worrying time in the industry. The only way to cope with the exams is to carry on as if nothing will change. Everyone is in the same boat. Keep safe.

  3. I said to my fella after this week I miss hearing about Brexit. lol
    The kids are dying to be off school and college, me not so much but it’s not big years for them. I would have be panicking this time last year when my teen was taking her GCSE’s. It must be such a worry with all the uncertinty.
    I’m glad your parents are OK. I read about tinned tomatoes selling out last weekend. Your mum might be on to something. x

  4. It seems like the level of concern about the coronavirus has gone from zero to panic here in the US in just a day or 2. Schools are closing here too. I feel badly for parents who now must scramble for child care. We had 2 trips canceled, which I am disappointed about, but completely undersatnd. Stay safe!

  5. Majority of the shops we have been to have bare shelves! Which is quite frustrating when we have to drive quite a while to get to our closest supermarket. Even the online shopping slots are full for the next week or so.

    I’m glad to hear your parents are keeping well. We are doing everything we can to try and remain safe and also not spread anything. Craig is at a really high risk with having hardly any immune system. It’s a scary time.
    Stay safe x

Comments are closed.