Day 35, Level 1: Planes, vaccine, Venice, insights and words

Well suffice to say our Level 1 is pretty much life as normal. Don't recall the last time I saw someone wearing a mask. Concerts, sports events, eating and drinking out, it's all back on the menu as though lockdown never exited. I'm not big into the crowd stuff - but we're going to a concert on Saturday night.

I'd rather be travelling. But that's for the future. 

A plane flew over the house at 11:30pm tonight while I was on the computer and all around was silent.  I haven't heard that sound in months. Even though I've sat at my computer into the night virtually every night for the last two weeks. To be sure, a solitary plane late at night gets my attention! We're not normally on the flight path, although in the "old days" planes did pass overhead several times a day. That is a rare sound indeed!

Quarantine and closed borders are still a thing - but perhaps with this new vaccine that's being mooted as viable, life will move forward a few steps. Having said that - the thought of the vaccine worries a bit. I not anti-vax - but I'm also not big on putting drugs and potions into my system unless totally vital. I could put all the pills I've ever had in my life into my cupped hands. And the juice from injections I've had would pool in the bottom. I am not big on pharmaceuticals if avoidance is possible But I'm a good girl and I do take my statins for cholesterol, and it is doing the trick. 

Such a short research time with this Covid vaccine though - what if the testing has been totally underdone and everyone who is injected becomes debilitated or dead in 10 years time!?!? Not wanting to scare the bejeezus out of anyone but just saying ... I'm wary - but I'm also positive. If it can get me travelling again, I'll take it! I'd rather die in 10 years time from Covid or its failed vaccine, having sated my travel passion, wanderlust and seeing friends afar than live until I'm 100 stuck in the same place because Covid didn't let me go anywhere. Not everyone will think that way - but boy I do! 

Some Venice pics from 2009 trip ...

Rialto Bridge

Santa Maria della Salute Cathedral - and Peggy Guggenheim museum (on the right of photo)
This way to the Venice Marco Polo airport by water taxi - what a fun expedition that is!
A must-do in one's lifetime. Everything about Venice is a must-do in one's lifetime.
Only one doesn't have enough lifetime to do it all!
Especially with Covid!

On to more mundane things ... I had an MMM Day today (massive marathon meeting)!

I had taken on a contract to capture the discussions of a strategy session for a law firm - via Zoom. Went from 8.30 till 6.30 with a break at lunch. Pretty heavy going - but with Brett being a lawyer I'm as much across partnership and client issues and how they manifest as anyone who isn't a law partner can be, so nothing too untoward there. Without some insight into that it would have been really heavy going. 

Another chunk of the session was around Wellbeing - I spent a number of years involved in facilitating workshops on all this stuff in the 2000s. So nothing untoward there either. Except for me to lament that it has taken law firms almost 20 years to get to the point of embracing this sort of thing!! And most still don't! And some just won't. Sigh.

I actually found it really interesting. It was like stepping back into those workshops I used to do, except this time as an observer without input. Suffice to say I was itching to say something - but not my place as I was just there to capture the discussion.

I did love the honesty and frankness of the discussion - around work/life balance struggles and becoming more authentic and open etc etc. Lawyers are generally hopeless at all that stuff, this I do know! There was also some fireworks - and personality clashes. The GM is a reasonably feisty and vociferous female (go you!) and I can kinda see how she winds up the pale male stales - but at the same time she's rocking them along!

I love the insights this sort of work gives me, in a very anonymous way. I appreciate the fact I confidentially get inside organisations and see their inner workings. It gives me huge insights on top of insights, that's for sure! It's been a long time since I've been part of a meeting as emotional as this as far as a professional practice goes. Good on them. They're really on the verge of moving forward if they keep at it! Keen on getting proper coaching, personal development and all the rest of it. Yahoo. Go forward and conquer. Too many law practices resist all this and get stuck in the heavy mud. Especially the bigwig big name ones who think they're above all that!

Nothing's easy in business - but recognising and acknowledging that is half of it. The other half is to get advice. I have to say the consultant they had on board today was magnificent with his guidance. 

Sam rang tonight - he said the London lockdown is very random - cafes, bars, restaurants closed - but markets open and they can go out and about. The weather doesn't sound much different to here - except without the rain!  And warmer by the sound of things. Today was freezing again - winter clothes, total chill factor. Which country is heading for winter!? 

He's working from home, they all are. Non-essential travel is off the cards. But otherwise it sounds like a lockdown without being a real lockdown.

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Words for Friends 2 ...

Several friends have been doing Words for Friends for a while - a sort of online Scrabble. I finally joined up! I have to say it's a great way to fill in a bit of time while I'm waiting for something, in limbo, need a micro break, am watching something on tv (I can never just watch something on tv, have to always be doing something else as well - whether doing a crossword, ironing, cooking, eating ...!)

Anyway, I now have abut 10 games going at once. You can make your move whenever you please - in 1 min or in 24 hours or more. 

I've currently got games going with Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Dumas, 99 Cents, Trina P, Gardenia Girl and more. No idea where they live but suspect many in USA. Probably enjoying the respite from Trump Dump shenanigans. I'm holding my own, and have only lost 2 games so far! There are some crazy words - and then there are words not recognised, like squaw and ra and other indigenous ones I've tired (Ra being Maori name for the sun). Definitely a US game!

Anyway, the thing amuses me when I have a couple of minutes to spare. I'm not sure how long my commitment to it will last as it's just a game, and the app is kinda all over the show, with lots of ads and whatnot - but it's kinda fun for the moment! And I'm learning some new words - some of which are mighty dubious! 

It is running my phone down more quickly than ever. But it is also rather addictive!