I write this in the hope that you're all keeping well, staying in and staying safe. If you're a key worker, thank you for everything that you're doing to keep this battered country hanging in there.
Odd times, these, aren't they? Selfishly, I moped about a bit for a day or so as things quickly fell apart around us; the sudden loss of a lot of work, the probable delay to our wedding (August suddenly feels a bit optimistic for a huge gathering), not being able to move into our dream home that we've just bought, the potential delay of filming the feature film in July, the cancellation of the Edinburgh Fringe, the cancellation of so, so many gigs...but then I realised: there's a lot of people who are in a really bad place, right now. I'm fine, I'm obviously totally inconvenienced, but I'm safe, future wifey and I are eating well and doing our best to not get too down about the postponements of these huge life plans we'd spent a long time making, we have just enough money to be comfortable. Many haven't, if this had happened three years ago, I'm not sure what I would have done.
I'm gradually adjusting to these new life changes. I get it's all temporary, but nobody knows how long 'temporary' will last, of course. I've bought an electric drum kit for virtual teaching and I've converted our conservatory into a little workspace - computer in one corner, drums in another, notepads all over the floor. Teaching online has been a challenge but a few weeks in it has now settled, that's both me and the students all working around any technical tomfoolery. I've also been teaching my Write a Thing course which has been a joy, and have also launched drum lessons for people in isolation who don't have a drum kit - more details here.
Outside of the teaching work, I've finally finished writing my new book, Edinburgh in August, which will be released later this year, as well as the editing of the film version of the same name. I streamed my play, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late, to a live audience on Saturday evening, in conjunction with my friends at the Art House in Southampton and I've had to learn how to record drums digitally, using Logic Pro, very quickly, so I could accept the offer of being We Are Sound's house drummer for their new series of virtual LockJam gigs. It's a steep learning curve, but technology aside, also a great musical challenge, having to learn a new 12-song set every week. If anything, although I'm not out there gigging like I used to be, I'm drumming more than ever. And writing loads, too. None of it is any good, yet, but something will come from this strange time, I'm sure.
Most importantly, I've been trying to keep my working hours to a sensible amount. I'm a total workaholic and, until the lockdown, I hadn't taken a day off since Christmas. It's fine, I love what I do, but when you're stuck indoors, in the same room, it's easy to go totally mad sometimes. I'm now working 10am - 6pm weekdays, 11am - 3pm on Saturdays and I have Sundays off. I'll probably stick to this when the lockdown is lifted. Probably.
Anyway, I do hope you're coping okay. If I know you (which if you're reading this, I probably do) and you're struggling, drop me a message, I'm always available to chat.
Stay safe,
Paul