As well as expanding our vocabulary – how many of us can honestly say we had ever used the word furlough until recent days? – this pandemic has shone a light on public spirit. For sure, it’s brought out some of the worst – yes, you with your spare bedroom stacked high with toilet rolls, we mean you – but also some of the best. Many would rightly single out doctors, nurses, shelf stackers and delivery drivers and Diary wouldn’t argue with any of that. But we’ve also been quite taken with the efforts of Ministry of Defence infrastructure director Sherin Aminossehe. On Twitter as @ArchiDame, she has been putting, in her own words, “a bit of time aside each day to do a bit of art away from the challenges of the day”. A “bit of art” hardly does it justice; these are intricate drawings of London buildings, flowers and places further afield. They are really quite beautiful and, in taking Diary’s mind off the news, qualify as an essential service. She is even taking requests, telling us: “It’s been lovely travelling the world through people’s drawing suggestions and whilst it will never replace their holidays or places they wished they could go to, I hope I have at least cheered them up a bit!” Indeed you have, Sherin. Enjoy RICS (main image) and HM Treasury and give @ArchiDame a follow. You won’t regret it.
And the beat goes on
If you are after an example of coronavirus can-do attitude, FTI’s Jenna Rorison has set the bar pretty high. Not content with focusing on one thing to keep her busy during lockdown, she has gone for the trifecta; education, education and – um – drumming. “I am learning a language,” she told Diary, “and I have just signed up for a course at the Open University too. Also, I have an electric drum kit being delivered this week so I can pick up my drumming again. Turns out there is a lot of time in the day when you are only commuting from one room to the other.”
Tech to the rescue
A big shout-out to the US architects which have teamed up to manufacture face shields to protect hospital workers during the outbreak. Firms including Grimshaw, KPF, BIG and Handel Architects are using their own 3D printers and laser cutters to make visors for frontline medical staff as part of an open-source project. The visors are being based on open-source files created by Swedish 3D-printing company 3DVerkstan. Simple and brilliant in equal measure.
You can’t spell D-I-V-O-R-C-E…
…without C-O-V-I-D. Something which the clever folks at Divorce Negotiator have clearly spotted. “With the entire country confined to their homes due to the Coronavirus, Covid-19 pandemic, it can only be expected that stress levels within the home will be at their peak,” they write to tell us, in case we hadn’t noticed yet. “Home-schooling children whilst working from home can only add another layer to the pressure on a married couple’s relationship. During these strained times in the home, sharing the household chores and childcare, and perhaps trying a new hobby together can help people get through the weeks ahead.” Fingers crossed that does the trick. But, if all else fails, the D-word is still available. “If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot bear to spend another moment with your partner, and the only option forward is divorce, then it is still possible to apply for a divorce.” Moving out, on the other hand, maybe somewhat more tricky…
Now that’s a Diary story
This week, we were delighted to hear from long-time EG reader John Barnett FRICS. How long? Well, he confesses to being “much indebted to the Estates Gazette” because he placed an advertisement with us back in February 1960 from which he was offered his first job in property with Harman Healy and Co. So, we go back a way – and he writes to tell us that a vintage publication came to his aid during the lockdown. “Although I am feeling well at 80 years of age, I have gone into self-isolation for the last two weeks and have been working from home,” Barnett says. “I had forgotten to take home my Parry’s valuation tables so was very pleased to find in my briefcase my 1973 Estates Gazette diary which included these tables, and this has enabled me to complete my valuations. You may not have been born in 1973 [indeed, Diary was not] but this little diary is 4“ x 2.75“ and has been extremely useful over the years. It may be somewhat behind the times as it quotes the cost of building a detached house with central heating was £7.50 per square foot! I wonder how many of your Estates Gazette readers still have one of these.” Stay safe and well, John, and we can’t help but wonder the same thing – and if anybody will still remember the modern incarnation of the EG Diary in almost 50 years’ time…
