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old_black ([personal profile] old_black) wrote in [personal profile] geowench 2020-04-22 10:23 pm (UTC)

Here in Sydney we've probably had less COVID-19 cases and less deaths than you (OK 170 deaths, my state 33 deaths) but we're taking it very seriously - as mandated by the state government. Like you, I feel somewhat guilty that I am one of the lucky ones who can work from home. Many people here will be suffering financial hardship,although, to their credit, the Federal Government is providing a certain amount of financial support to people and businesses. Donald J Trump has a useful role for us in providing a constant source of 'amusement' and reason to exclaim "How can Americans take him seriously? How can they stand living under his regime?"
The sight of Americans gathering, with their guns, to demand to be allowed to do whatever they like is just jaw-dropping, but I guess that 'spirit' is what America was built on and people like us who were apparently happy to be under the thumb of the British for almost our whole modern history are equally laughable to you!

I like working from home, but I am basically misanthropic so that's not surprising. My manager, however, insists on regular (3 times per week!) video meetings of our small admin team. I think there are many people (my manager being one of them) who love face-to-face meetings at any time and they find any excuse for a Zoom or Teams meeting when a simple 1 paragraph email would work just as well.

THe Business School, of which I am a part, has been told by the university that due to a loss of students that we have to save $7.7 million in the remainder of 2020. We have been told to take leave to help with that $7.7M and so I am taking one day per week leave now. I guess that garden is going to be getting some more attention, and a bit of long-overdue cleaning up junk could be on my agenda.

That you didn't mention your spider bite must be a good sign!

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