For context, just in case people stumble into this
once life is back to normal (whatever that ends up looking like),
this is written and published during significant social distancing
restrictions in Britain due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For the benefit
of the international audience reading this immediately, as well as a
future audience, we’re currently (22nd March 2020) being
asked not to gather in any sort of group, not to socialise, to work
from home if possible, not to go out except as necessary or if we can
ensure a minimum 2m distance from anyone else (they want us to still
get exercise seems to be the main reason for that). Workplaces are
shutting down or going to remote working. Bars, restaurants,
theatres, cinemas, cafes have all been asked to close, except for
selling take-away food. The government is offering grants to
employers to help cover salaries of people who might otherwise be
laid off. Panic buying continues
to empty supermarket shelves of toilet rolls, soap, some tinned
goods, and bread (among other things).
Now, in the
context of all of those other things, this next feature is fairly
unimportant – but it’s the reason for this blog post, so it’s
going to have some prominence.
