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Change happens – the City, London

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During the lonely, lockdown days of 2020 we were in the City, in London, and walked as far as we could, whenever we were allowed. There were not many others about.

Liverpool Street Station was under wraps during that time, but we were able to walk around the various blocked off sections to the quieter, completed bits. The photograph above is of Exchange Square, which is between what might be called the back of the station and The Exchange Building on Primrose Street. Broadgate Tower is across the road, to the right of where I am standing to the take the photograph. To the left of the photograph, and out of sight, is the reclining figure of the huge, Broadgate Venus – five tonnes of curvacious, patinated bronze, sculpted by Columbian artist Fernando Botero.

Today, while walking with a friend in the City, I decided to show her the now unwrapped Liverpool Street Station. As I expected, Broadgate Venus was where I last saw her, but what I did not expect was all that had been laid out before her – the curving, densely planted flowerbeds, the soft-stepped fountain, the mature trees, and so much green grass. It looked beautiful, and was crowded with office workers out for their lunch breaks. I presume Broadgate Venus is delighted.

(The yoga lady in the image above, photographed in 2020, would today have been standing in a flower bed, somewhere in the bottom left quarter of the photograph below, with Broadgate Venus, even further to the left, just outside the frame.)

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

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A postcard from home, about working from home

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I’ve done a fair bit of working from home recently, and from way before that, now I come to think of it. Most parents do, and for most people there is a lot of work to do at home even before you add in ‘working from home’. So, maybe we need to rephrase this issue as: ‘resting the workplace’.

There are plenty of angles to this debate, too many for a postcard, but here, as I see it, are some of the complications involved.

  • One – there are plenty who do not have a comfortable, or perhaps quiet, place to work ‘at home’, and would love to be employed away from the domestic space.
  • Two – there are many whose jobs mean that they cannot work from home.
  • Three – for the ambitious it can be important to be seen and known in person by their employers and colleagues, and going into work may be the most meaningful way of achieving this.
  • Four – the workplace can be socially important.
  • Five – for those with families, caring responsibilities, or pets that make ‘throughout-the-day’ demands on their time, it is easier to be based at home, especially if there is an appropriate work space.
  • Six – most commutes take time, cause stress, and cost money.
  • Seven – ‘work’ is being taken over increasingly by technology that can be used remotely (if humans are required at all).
  • Eight – ‘home’ often involves family and community, and for the lucky, green space, all of which, if time and the right effort are put into them, can benefit the well being of all of us.

To me it seems that the pros and cons of ‘working from home’ seem fairly balanced, so perhaps the time has come for ‘work’ to take ‘home’ more seriously – to allow ‘home’ more time, to show it more respect, and perhaps to borrow some of its ideas about green space and community.

Of course, nothing is as simple as a one person, postcard debate!

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

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A meal out in a town I barely know

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Recently, after a day helping with a house move, I spent a night in a bed and breakfast in Cheltenham. The meal out that evening felt essential – something to restore us, somewhere relaxed, with good food, not too expensive, and not too far away. A quick hunt online found me La Petite Brasserie, and a table for that Saturday night.

It was an easy walk to the restaurant, energised by the music and chat pumping out of the pubs, all bursting with customers. Everywhere felt busy and the mood upbeat.

La Petite Brasserie was tucked in amongst a neighbourhood of small businesses. I stepped inside having no idea what to expect. My first impression was correct – it was very full and there were no tables free. After a little discussion, and cheerful rearrangement, a table was found, and the house movers arrived.

We settled in for what proved to be a wonderful night of friendly service, delicious extras, and beautifully presented, tasty dishes of freshly-cooked food. My starter was a small cheese soufflé served on thin slices of juicy pear, followed by a main of four miniature portions of different vegetarian curries, each served with tiny poppadums and the best chapati I have had. The wine, an American pinot noir, fitted in perfectly.

Two and a half hours later, after an evening of real texture and character, we wandered fatly back towards our beds.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023