Ho Ho Holidays… almost

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Chris Warburton

This Christmas season is certainly shaping up to be unusual. Mine has so far been less singing carols and sipping hot chocolate, more eating mince pies and watching box sets on TV. Still, we have a week or so to get in the festive spirit, so will be making an effort now, I may even get the Christmas jumper out… observations for last week.

  • Most of us now type all day every day. This is the time of year when I notice just how much out of practice I am at handwriting… it’s getting more difficult too… must practice in 2021.
  • We have a recent trend of street food vendors visiting locally for take out food… Is this a consequence of fewer music festivals and events? Absolutely not complaining mind you as it’s delicious.
  • Workwise everyone is still full steam ahead. There is definitely a sense of making up for lost time from the spring. I am wondering, with lots of people working from home and the office being just so accessible, how many of us will actually work between Christmas and New year this year. Tempting maybe, but sometimes we all do need a break… which I think needs to be the plan!

Have a good week everyone… @chris_w_tweet

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Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards*

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Chris Warburton

Most of this year we have of course been focused on the COVID pandemic, its impact on the economy. We are out of full lockdown and settling into the latest set of restrictions. Over the last week, not much has changed.

Most of us are now just looking forward to having a break from it all. Certainly, if you look at the crowds at the shops, we are somewhat trying to forget about it. Christmas is simply a welcome distraction.

The actual main news this week was Brexit, which has burst back into our consciousness. Specifically, this was the prospect of a no-deal, which by all accounts is now looking increasingly likely, and grim. With plenty of reporting on the impacts that we could see it would be another economic shock in addition to COVID.

It is the topics no one wants to talk or think about. For reasons of sanity, not to mention keeping friendships, we have learnt it is a best to close this part of our brain. It has been best avoided. However, it really is now upon us.

A story that neatly illustrated some of the future complications we are going to face was that of a Belgian customer. They purchased a UK property, have since moved to the Netherlands and are no doubt renting out the property for income. They have just had their UK current account closed, forcing needed action… what to do?

This is by no means the most significant potential impact (third country data impacts, tariffs and travel restrictions spring to mind), however does illustrate how this is is all going to get very complicated, very quickly, with knock on impacts on loans and lives.

What is clear from this week is real impacts are now looming fast. It is something that we will need to come to terms with, deal with it and have strategies for soon.

We are not quite there yet, something positive may happen this weekend, but it is time to start thinking ahead.

Try to have a good weekend everyone… @chris_w_tweet

* Søren Kierkegaard

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Out of sight, out of mind…the boxes that need a home

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Chris Warburton

Chatting with a neighbour this weekend, we both commented on how this year feels to have passed so quickly. At times it has felt slow, but looking back the year now seems to have flown by. I think it is the lack of variety, especially lately… hopefully, this changes with the end of year holidays… observations this week.

  • Mid-week I found myself, trying to put my glasses on top of the second set I was already wearing… I am not sure what has happened with lockdown, but I think I need a new prescription?!
  • With all the video calls we are all becoming familiar with people’s home offices now… even had a couple of appearances from cats this week… Now, I have strategically placed boxes of stuff (piled in a corner out of sight) and as this seems to be getting more permanent, it needs to find a home.. sounds like a year-end home project!
  • Workwise, I have really become inspired by a couple of discussions on the use of future tech.. seems we are mainly automating what we already do, but with the crisis, there really is an opportunity to completely reinvent processes… we will seem more of this in the new year I reckon.

Have a good week everyone… @chris_w_tweet

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