Still?

We have all made changes. We didn’t expect them to be here still though, did we?!

Outbreaks, fears of outbreaks and self-isolation returned within 3 days of schools returning. I consider myself very fortunate to hop on a computer (not literally, I am aware that would have dangerous consequences), but to be able to change at a moment’s notice was not too difficult in teaching style for someone who has the luxury of working from home today.

I imagine rearranging child care and work to suit schools in line with covid policies, would be more difficult to manage. I don’t envy working parents. I do wonder how, within this lifestyle does a decision be made to increase national insurance?! We are doing the best we can with the resources we have in a society that doesn’t know whether it is coming or going. Quite literally, and some might say even more so in Northern Ireland right now, with Brexit confusion on top of a pandemic. Still?! Okay we cannot access certain services YET neither can we have them posted to us because according to some geographers we are ‘international’ to some countries (including the UK)? Isle of Man- I feel your limbo state!

Working in education and music in 2020-2021? Perhaps the less I say, the better and YET, if I don’t say it, does that imply I have accepted this for what it is? Is this the real thing? Well it clearly isn’t fantasy!

Like many employees working online, I have made changes to my setup. A faster internet service provider, using camera stands to increase camera ranges, adjusting lighting to give students the best online learning experience I can. Will my national insurance be taxed heavier? Why I believe so. Will I get the same amount of work as pre-covid? Apparently not. What can be done if my payees are unable to work because they are minding their own children who have been sent home from school and are just managing on reduced wage? Well that reduces my wage too and my household as a unit. First world problems? Not really when this domino effect means we all are facing impact in its many faceted shadow.

Meanwhile, the electoral registry ‘update reminders’ have lately been flying through the door on flyers enough to make even the least environmentally friendly person trip on their way outside. Climate change impact still being printed on glossy, coloured paper? Is it just me or is anyone else out there slightly frustrated at the stupidity and contradiction which rules the decision-less country/ies we ‘currently reside’ in? Don’t worry about picking up my microphone. I have no more work this day.

What can be done? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. Please be environmentally friendly. Please be kind and think of others. If we all were given the power to be the change we want to see in this world, let’s try to apply that now.