My work hasn't stopped, but as i work a rotating shift pattern which repeats itself every so many weeks i never know what day of the week it is anyway.

As it happens i am off today because it's an official rest day, i get a lieu day but it's worked out in my schedule throughout the year, the only two bank hols i get off whatever happens are Christmas Day and NYD, rota'd in Boxing Day again this year, no complaints, its part of the job, but as Andy says the day of the week means little any more, suits us because SWMBO is retired.

One job i used to have to go to work on Christmas Night, that was a little weird with the roads even quieter than the initial days of the current house arrest.

One year I was 'asked' to work over part of Christmas to carry out a test of some steam boiler equipment over at a hospital in West London. It actually gave me something to do on the two days after Boxing Day and also got 4 holidays in lieu of extra payment.

A rotating shift pattern to include weekends may be a useful way of firms and organisations catching up on lost time, given people can work (say) 1-2 days at home and 2-3 in the office, then swap over for colleagues to keep up the 'social' distancing in the office.

Things appear to have generally settled down, with problems slowly being resolved, worked around or ignored. I can't wait until the barbers re-open though - my haircut now resembles that of a 1970s-early 80s football player..

I thought you were retired too Brompt or are you semi-retired? The clap for carers has been good in our road too, with distanced conversations going on for quite a while.

I took voluntary redundancy from the Civil Service in 2013 when the Quango I was latterly posted to went on David Cameron's Bonfire. Got immediate pension and did being retired for a year or so but got (a) bored and (b) under Mrs B's feet. Volunteering at Citizens Advice led to an offer of paid work in 2015 and I've done two or three days a week ever since.

Currently focused on Universal Credit so pretty busy.

We got to know our neighbours quite well when we moved in here in 1998. It was a new build so we all took up residence within a few weeks. Spent quite a lot of time comparing notes over problems with electrics, plumbing etc but that settled down. Still chatting amiably as/when in the road during summer but as kids grew up and flew nest less and less contact until now when the Carers thin or VE day provide an excuse to gather for a drink etc - it's always somebody's birthday, anniversary etc.

Edited by Bromptonaut on 26/05/2020 at 17:11