Being Buttons

Returning to the office and an introduction to blended working

Returning to the office and an introduction to blended working

The return to the office is something that I’d started to build up on my head. Anxious about returning without being double vaccinated, but not wanting to go to an office that was socially distanced and with lots of new rules, it felt an awful lot easier just to stay at home. However, I knew that once I’d started to pull the plaster off, I would find it much easier to adapt to. I’ve been really lucky as my work have been pretty flexible about how and when we start to return. It was strongly encouraged that we used the summer to start getting more used the the office environment again, before a blended approach would be in place from the autumn. Deep down, I knew I would be fine going back but I had found myself getting stressed about silly little things so decided it was time to rip…

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A few highlights from Summer 2021

A few highlights from Summer 2021

Happy 1 September! Call it a hangover from my days at school, or thanks to the fact that I still work in an education environment, but this time of year always makes me think of fresh beginnings. In some ways it feels more like a time for new year, new starts than the beginning of January and I think that’s partly helped by the fact it’s not dark by mid-afternoon. However, it’s also sad to be waving goodbye to the summer months and knowing that before too long it will be cold and dark again. The summer always goes by in a bit of a blur; partly because it’s the time of year when I can be most busy at work, but also because there tend to be a lot of plans. One minute it’s May and then the next it’s September. It doesn’t help that the seasons tend to…

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Freedom is on the horizon: a few thoughts on the end of lockdown

Freedom is on the horizon: a few thoughts on the end of lockdown

What does ‘freedom’ look like to you? At some point, possibly in May, I optimistically told myself that I wouldn’t be writing about lockdowns and coronavirus anymore. I would actually be able to get back to blogging about day trips and possibly even travel (she whispers cautiously). Yet here we are with ‘Freedom Day’ almost upon us and I couldn’t be less excited. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed the taste of freedom that I’ve had so far. Getting to go on holiday for a week in Scotland was wonderful. Being able to see family and have friends to stay have brought moments full of joy. But there’s something about the rising case numbers and the thought of all restrictions disappearing that makes me feel tense. Let’s face it, I wouldn’t be heading off to a nightclub any time soon anyway, but the thought of anything going and it being…

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Reflections on a Year of Living in Lockdown

Reflections on a Year of Living in Lockdown

For approximately half of the last year I’ve been living in lockdown. As we pass the anniversary of the first UK lockdown I reflect on what it’s meant for me, my relationships and my work.

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Lessons Learned from a Year of Working from Home

Lessons Learned from a Year of Working from Home

I’ve been working from home for a year now. It’s something I’ve got used to, but am still acting as if it’s a temporary measure. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned in that time.

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