Kicking back

摘要

Outside the office window, on the drive, are two cars. One hasn't turned a wheel in six weeks at the time of writing - fittingly, its last outing was to Editor PM's to collect equipment for review -while the other has just done short local shopping trips when the daily queueing became too much and the need for a trolleyful became pressing. Welcome to life in lockdown, hi-fi reviewer-style, and the most remarkable thing is that it's pretty much unremarkable. There's a marked lack of cabin fever, gate fever or any other kind, thank goodness, and to date the hi-fi industry has proved capable of delivering equipment for review. As for adapting to the lockdown, which may be all over by the time you read this but probably won't, so far I've invested in a new computer monitor, had the odd meeting via Zoom or Teams or whatever -though I can't say I enjoy them that much - and basically kept calm and carried on while watching the world go quietly crazy beyond the front door. This isn't an 'I'm all right Jack' diatribe, ignoring the plight of all those now without work. And I'm not overlooking the devastating effect This Thing I Have So Far Managed Not To Name has had on those who have lost those close to them. Neither is it some dystopian prediction of the new normal where things will never be the same again. But it's been interesting to see how some businesses have adapted to how things have changed. Some have embraced the change forced upon them while others have seemingly just given up.