The Extreme Staycation

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown This is an excellent article by Tarek Iskander who is the artisitic director at Battersea Arts Centre. In it he talks about the performing arts world using this time to address the issues in theatre before we launch back in - what we had wasn't perfect and now we can change things: https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/opinion/the-arts-after-covid-19-lets-fix-the-things-that-werent-right-before I think it's a sound point that this is a moment in history that could be used to fix some problems and one that we could apply to many elements of our daily lives.  Where have our priorities changed?  What is essential to us now? For example: many people like to work from home or have the option to do so.  Before the lockdown I know of many friends who were denied this by their companies saying it wasn't possible, or just doesn't work for their company.  Well clearly, that's not the case.  It is po...

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown When presented with a large expanse of time I think it's human nature to try to fill it. I have loads of plans, things to do and I bet I won't do half of them.  Here are some I imagine we share: Read those books/journals/magazines you don't normally have time to Spend time learning a language Finish that boxset Pick up the instrument you always wanted to learn/have neglected since school Garden Filing Get ahead on my tax return Part of the reason we won't do them is that actually we don't have any more time.   Many people will still be expected to be working full time, just in their pyjamas, so there goes 8 hours. Lots read on their commute - commute is a lot shorter: especailly if you have your laptop in bed. Kids - usually they are at school for the majority of the day, now you have to be teacher/online learning enforcer and their after-school club One thing we might get i...