Adam's Blog

Tag: covid19

  • Finally face-masks are required…

    Finally face-masks are required…

    Yesterday I was so glad to see everyone in my local Tesco was finally wearing a face mask.

    4 months after the point at which everyone logically should have been wearing them anyway, it’s only now that they actually have to. Better late than never I guess.

    My recommended face masks are available here.

  • What I’ve learnt about the virus which has had an incredible impact on the whole world

    What I’ve learnt about the virus which has had an incredible impact on the whole world

    My bullet-point list of things I’ve learnt about this crazy Coronavirus so far:

    • It originated in Wuhan, China, where it was transmitted to humans via some other undefined animal in a market.
    • It is incredibly efficient at transmitting from human to human in close proximity.
    • Mortality rate is estimated to be at least 2%, which is quite a few people due to the transmission efficacy.
    • It shows up with a variety of flu-like symptoms in most people who contract it.
    • It is exceptionally dangerous to the ‘at risk’ groups: the over-70s and anyone with a fragile immune system.
    • It can be contained where very strict human-movement measures are put into place, and where testing and tracing is used.
    • The far east has been the most effective at containing the virus (China reported just over 3k deaths and then it all cut out; the UK is at 9k deaths; the USA is now over 18k deaths and it doesn’t seem to be calming yet).
    • The west has been incredibly poor at containing it (governments trying to be liberal failed miserably).
    • The UK initially thought ‘herd immunity’ would be wise (letting the virus run loose), and then adjusted it’s irresponsible policy when it realised the health system (NHS) couldn’t cope with such an idea. The Netherlands also favoured herd immunity, but with an apparently stronger healthcare system.
    • The economy in every country has suffered immensely, with a lot of industries being completely suspended (such as mine).
    • Most countries now are operating with some form of ‘lockdown’ policy in place.
    • Healthcare workers in most countries are the most valued people in society right now. They are doing an incredible job while being underpaid, and while being under-armed ‘soldiers’ trying to save vulnerable people in the UK and other nations.
    • A vaccine might be available in about a year from now.
    • No-one knows when ‘normal’ life will resume…
  • The UK government’s £0 support for my business during the pandemic

    The UK government’s £0 support for my business during the pandemic

    As many of you will have noticed, the government is cheering on employees and sole traders, giving them comfortable financial support in circumstances where they cannot currently be employed.

    Unfortunately for some (such as myself) I don’t fall into the above categories as I am a director of a company who relies on dividends rather than salary to be paid. Given that my industry (entertainment) is basically on pause for a very long time from now due to the circumstances, it seems that the government is being more than a little unfair.

    A petition has been started as this situation does not just apply to me, but millions of people. Please find the time to sign it as we need some serious help. Thanks for your time 🙂

    https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-small-ltd-company-directors-to-get-government-support-like-the-employed-and-self-employed

  • When your property agent adds £2k to your service charge during COVID19 pandemic…

    When your property agent adds £2k to your service charge during COVID19 pandemic…

    Some things wind me up slightly, but this one is an absolute corker. My property management agent (Chamonix aka Shambles-Nix) has added close to a whopping £2k to this year’s service charge, at the precise time when no-one (normal) has spare cash due to the Corona pandemic.

    Why have they added so much? Due to the UK’s property cladding crisis (which was caused by Grenfell). The building was identified as requiring a new outer layer installed.

    Is it an actual charge? No. It is just a ‘reserve’. This is the point that really stings. If it was actually something that had happened, and required payment then fair enough. But the company seriously think that at the start of the biggest crisis in recent history, it is viable and sensible to add this incredibly large ‘estimate’ to the service charge.