Monday

I do find myself wondering about the long-term mental health implications of this crisis. We’re making massive changes to our lifestyles and economies to keep many of our most vulnerable alive. And that’s the right things to do.

But the consequences of that decision will be with us for years to come - long after (hopefully) a vaccine has been found, and the restrictions end.

For example, as a self-employed worker, the abrupt closure of my work pipeline, along with the government proving support for all categories of worker apart from us, is having a corrosive effect on my self-confidence. While it’s not their intention, I’m sure - it sends an unintentional message that “you lot don’t matter”. Couple that with abrupt cancellations and work conversations going silent - it’s brutal.

Isolation and lack of reinforcement is part and parcel of being self-employed. And most of the time I can handle it. But right now, it’s taking every bit of willpower I have left.

I’m up. I’m dressed. I’m working, doing my best to keep the clients I have left, and figuring new things I can offer that people might want to pay for at a time like this.

This afternoon I’ll swap in with my wife and be home school tutor for my kids.

The only way is forward.

Well played, Beach Deli. Well played.

A sign on a van saying that no toilet rolls are stored there overnight.

Highly socially distanced beach walk. Hoping the idiots who are carrying on as normal don’t take that from us as well.

A Tory rebellion for the self-employed?

10 Days That Changed Britain:

There is a growing Tory backbench rebellion on the lack of measures aimed at self-employed people. MPs expect Sunak to have to “go further” once again next week to protect the self-employed.

Good. Because we really have been hung out to dry so far.

That’s one way of social distancing.

Doing Brownies at home.

Not one of my better timed recent purchases…

“Does anybody remember the old days, the days before, when we used to have coffee shops and pubs, and people used to go to work in offices?”

“Stop being weird, Dad.”

Looks like the whiteboard has arrived - ready to start delivering courses remotely.

Look, I know the world doesn’t need more “how to work from home" pieces. But I wrote mine anyway, because, unlike most people who have been writing them, I’ve actually being doing it for eight years…

And I mean it about the clothes and plants.