Wednesday 29^th April

We’ve had floods. We’ve had fires. We have pestilence. And this morning the BBC warns of a low flying meteorite today. It misses, but apparently, in astronomical terms, it was a close thing. On Friday I have to attend, from home, a Licensing Hearing at work, and today the organiser practices with “Microsoft Teams”. I click on my invitation, the laptop dials in, but doesn’t connect. I receive an e-mail asking if I am going to join, or not? I reply that I am doing my best. It seems that I can be heard but not seen on Teams. I can neither hear nor see my colleague. I switch from Firefox to Microsoft Edge and am notified that only “Chat”, typed messaging, is permissible on my device. We give up, and I call IT, who spend a while head-scratching, concluding that City Council internet security limits Teams on a non-Council device. I will have to join in by phone on Friday. Friends have commented that our local Sainsbury is quiet during the afternoon. Today Chantal finally gives in to temptation, finishes work early, and sets off on her first shopping trip for six weeks. Over the next 3 hours I receive joyful and excited WhatsApp messages with images of a near deserted store. She browses, and purchases, clothes, kitchen accessories, garden lighting and other “non-essentials” before eventually reaching the food aisles. She arrives home with a satisfied smile and several shopping bags. Thanks to a quiet store and “scan-and-go” technology, social distancing was not a problem, and the mental-health benefit is obvious.

Posted: Thursday, April 30th, 2020
Category: News and Views from the Oakstump
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