Last week and the week prior to it were all about organising a surprise birthday party for my partner Bob, via the wonders of Zoom. Virtual birthday parties have definitely become a thing during the lockdown, with some of my friends and my kids’ friends upping the game when it comes to showing someone how much they care.
Compilation videos seem to very popular at the moment and I’ve been involved in a couple of these over the past months, some with Oscar-worthy results.
My partner is not active on social media and, as a result, it took considerable effort to find those I wanted to invite, separating out his real friends from acquaintances. Thankfully, I have a reputation for being somewhat of a sleuth/stalker, depending on who you are talking to. Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook (which he didn’t realise he was still on), old email invitations, requests for JustGiving donations, I tried them all. Raymond Chandler would have been impressed, were he still alive.
It really was a labour of love. As the day grew nearer so did my level of anxiety. Would he actually enjoy the experience, would anyone turn up, was I doing this more for my own benefit than his own? I felt as nervous as I did back in February appearing as one of the finalists on Jews Got Talent. #shamelessplug
Thankfully, I pulled it off and 90% of those I had invited turned up as expected, at the correct time, despite three being located in a different time zone from London. The look on his face when he saw one familiar face after another pop up on his computer was worth all the effort. Phew! Am I glad THAT’s over.
Moths in Lockdown
It all started a year ago when I noticed that all my nice sweaters had holes in them. Then I peeked under a wardrobe and the carpet looked as if it had been eaten by someone with a voracious appetite. The moths had moved in and ever since it has been a battle, of which I’m clearly the loser, to prevent them from invading and settling in every room in my home.
After a very long thread last June on NextDoor with neighbours clearly familiar with the problem, I thought I’d smoked and sprayed them out of existence. Then three days ago, I noticed a small hole in the carpet in my hallway, which led to the discovery of many more holes until all I could see where holes in every carpet, in every room. It’s like suddenly noticing a bit of mould in a shower tray and then realising that in fact there’s mould in every bathroom or dirt around light switches or anything else that is totally invisible one minute and then seems to be everywhere you look the next.
After spending the past couple of days spraying the carpets again and setting smoke bombs in all the rooms, I was feeling like maybe I’d got on top of it. Then I noticed a moth crawling up the bedroom wall last night so I guess not. Samples of completely fake but realistic-looking wool carpet samples are now winging their way to me as I know when I’ve been defeated. Moths 5, Suzanne 0.
On being adaptable
This week I’m spending time admiring those that are adapting their business or service to survive lockdown.
A random list:
Out of Hours, the community created to support those with a side hustle, have gone online. Every Sunday, they run a Power Hour (usually held in a venue) a chance to do ‘50 minutes of deep work on the things you’ve been putting off, and make progress week on week.’
My friend Monique Roffey has been getting rave reviews for her book, The Mermaid of Black Conch: A Love Story and been using Facebook Live to host readings. Do buy a copy if you can. I have.
By Chef Jen, personal chefs who cook in your home is now doing meal deliveries, around Central London. They create a brand new menu each week with meat, fish and vegetarian options - plus mini-meals for kids. Treat yourself to something yummy at around £8/head.
The fabulous Sophie Parkin, the hostess with the mostest and proprietor of Vout-o-Reenees member’s club, has been giving cocktail classes via Instagram.
If you’re lucky enough to live in N8, N4 and N22, Lockdown Lasagne is preparing classic lasagne for £5 a pop, with free delivery, prepared on the Horney Park Road. DM via Instagram to order, Friday and Saturday only.
How are you adapting your work in line with lockdown? Let me know. I’m curious.
As for me, I’m immersing myself in customer research around home-sharing. If you are over 50, have an empty room, a lodger or are a live-in Airbnb host, I’ll pay you £25 for 30 minutes of your time via Zoom to run some ideas past you or anyone you know that fits the criteria. E: suzanne@silversharers.com
Keep safe, stay well and subscribe if you want to be amongst the first to receive my latest newsletter.
And stay alert, whatever that means.
Suzanne