MPI In The Sky

My Dear Princess and Dear Fellows,

It was a very surreal atmosphere at work all day today. Word came around that everyone was working from home full time from Monday.

This came as a relief to me. As you know, the previous advice was that we'd be in the office 50% of our time. Caro mentioned this to one of the doctors she has just recruited (emergency medicine) and he told her this policy was worse than useless. 

So we had a big Skype meeting with the big boss, who was actually very good. Very clear and very calm. All the same, people's instant messages kept scrolling up by the side of the meeting. Mostly, they were questions, but when he said he'd been in a meeting with the PM, a message flashed up: "SAY HI TO JACINDA FROM US!!!"

Well, I thought it was funny.

People seem very emotional about it. In fact, on the train this morning, there was an announcement that all tickets would have to be paid for with contactless cards from now on. No more cash. The announcer caught her breath halfway through, as if choking back a blub. 

It's an odd atmosphere. Is what I am saying. 

At work, Smock remained grumpy about it, but there were some tears from some of the more fragile members of staff. Tanvi seemed upset, although that was less to do with the virus and more to do with the fact that this means her last day at work was today. That's it. She will be working for another 2 weeks, but then leaving for her new job. 

We had some nice chats today. I told her about Blip and I showed her my recent entry about GroceryBagGate. She thought it was funny.

I will be very sorry to see her go. She has helped to keep me sane in these post-Lemon days. While the big meeting was going on, she started making her emergency shopping list.

"Wine... hand sanitiser... anti-bacterial wipes... chocolate... did I say wine?"

I wondered if there was food in there. "I already have rice. And eggs," she told me. 

"You know I'm writing today's blip in my head, right?" I asked her. 

So that was that. It is most likely MY last day at the office too. My contract ends on April 17th and will not be renewed. I'm a little concerned about what happens after this - probably finding another contract will not be as easy as I thought - but hey. We'll figure something out. 

And that's it kids. From here on I'll be isolating with the rest of you. I went shopping on the way home. And picked up the essentials. 

Wine... chocolate... more wine...

S.