I’ve had a stack of library books sitting on the side since before the start of the UK’s first lockdown. Aside from the pang of guilt and hope that fines have been waived, I’ve recently started wondering what the future of libraries might look like, post Covid19. A niche worry admittedly, but I only rediscovered […]

If you type ‘effect of the pandemic…”, “effect of Covid19…”, or “effect of lockdown…” into Google, the top suggestion always ends in “on mental health”.  A report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlights that in late March 2020, 49.6% of people reported strong feelings of anxiety and anxiety scores averaged at 5.2 out of 10, […]

The group-chat. It’s a love-hate relationship. During the darkest depths of the UK’s national lockdowns, the group chat was undoubtedly a lifeline. The little bubbles of chatter were about the closest we could get to casually hanging out with a group of friends. Okay, there’s Zoom, and that Houseparty app. Is anyone still using the […]

The local cardboard recycling bin seems to be constantly overflowing. If I ever walk past on the blessed day it’s been emptied, I return home to remove the small pile of packaging that’s undoubtedly been accumulating by the front door. I’m not particularly proud of this fact, but it certainly seems I’m not the only […]

As of February 1st 2021, the Isle of Man had no “unexplained” cases of Coronavirus in the community and its residents became free citizens once again.  They waved goodbye to masks and social distancing, and schools and businesses were reopened. In pictures of Douglas’ busy high street shoppers are arm in arm, pausing to browse window displays. […]

Video conferencing and remote working are damaging creative talent. Such is the opinion of global brand expert Martin Lindstrom. It’s something of a two-pronged attack, with both the intense schedules of Zoom calls and calendar invites and the unstimulating nature of home working up for debate. While remote working has proved a vital lifeline for […]

When Professor Ernő Rubik first developed his eponymous Cube, originally intended as a learning tool for architectural students, the internet as we know it and our digitally connected lives would have seemed something out of the movies. However, 2020 was something of a PR triumph for this unassuming little Cube.  Officially introduced to the world […]

I appreciate that this may not be the most original blog piece of the past year, but wow, I am amazed by the extent to which I have been ignorant of the wonder of bird life up until now! The moment of dawning realisation? A recent visit to Hyde Park. A socially distanced stroll around […]

For many of us, 2020 has been the year of lockdown holiday daydreams. In research commissioned by Booking.com, a huge 95% of their respondents reported having spent time looking for vacation inspiration during the weeks of restriction.  Unsurprisingly, the poll into our changing travel habits also revealed a continued shift towards staying local. So-called “doorstep […]