A lot has happened since your last Globe IFA update. The current coronavirus pandemic has impacted on all our lives, giving us time and reason to reflect. As we adapt to working from home or come to terms with self-isolation, these can be worrying times.
But it’s also been a period of enormous nationwide positivity. From weekly claps for NHS staff to acts of charity and kindness (such as Captain Tom Moore’s incredible fundraising efforts), the country has banded together in inspiring and life-affirming ways.
Business as usual
Here at Globe IFA, we understand that challenging times might bring with them the need to make difficult financial decisions.
We are adhering to the government’s rules and have been working remotely since the lockdown was imposed. But we continue to dedicate our time to providing you with the best possible service and advice, based on our wealth of knowledge and experience.
We hope that as far as your interactions with us are concerned, there have been no signs of any transition at all and that you’ve experienced ‘business as usual’.
Life under lockdown
In the spirit of nationwide positivity, this month we bring you news direct from our colleagues’ home offices. Stories of animal distractions, clear skies, and battles with social distancing.
Blue skies and the end of selective deafness
Director and IFA John Pickles has this account of his life under lockdown:
“Life is not all bad under lockdown. The weather has been largely fine, the sky blue, but with aircraft almost completely absent. Living near to Heathrow airport, as I do, that is a real blessing.
“The downside to this is that my usual excuse for not hearing my wife – excessive aircraft noise – is now redundant. She’s more certain than ever that my selective deafness is a result of me not listening to her.
“When venturing out in the car now – for essential supplies and medicine – the journey takes much less than half the time it would normally, the roads all but empty. A journey on foot, however, takes twice as long, zigging and zagging in order to remain the prescribed two metres from fellow walkers. The route zigs and zags and then does it all over again, ad infinitum.
“People must surely know what two feet means – they’ve got two of them. If they’ve got a dog or a cat, they even know what four feet means. But six and a half feet? That seems to be beyond the people I meet, jogging past in the middle of the pavement, resolutely and obliviously.”
Potential clients on the doorstep
Tom Fawcett, Director, and IFA has used his time remote-working to become better acquainted – albeit not by choice – with the local Amazon delivery driver:
“I never appreciated why my wife had such an extensive wardrobe.
“After a few weeks in lockdown, having just met the Amazon man for the umpteenth time I’ve got to know him extremely well. So well, in fact, I’m considering signing him up as a client so I can get something back for the amount we spend keeping him in work!”
The joy of noisy neighbours
Office Manager, Jane Hilsum, is enjoying her time at home. She says: “I can hear the neighbour’s chickens clucking away as I work, it’s lovely.”
Spring Watch: an early lockdown release
Finally, spare a thought for 19-year old Trudy, who recently emerged from a self-imposed annual lockdown into the midst of the current crisis.
Mortgage Advisor James Male has this to say:
“Trudy was bred in the UK and was given to me as a 50th birthday present. Back then, Trudy, a Hermann’s tortoise, was the size of a 50 pence piece.
“When she was young, Trudy lived in a vivarium when it was cold, spending warmer weather with a couple of guinea pigs.
“Over the last ten years or so we don’t see her from September until around mid-April (this year it was earlier due to a mild winter) and we now know which bush she digs herself under.
“Previous to hibernating outside she was in my beer and samosa fridge in the garage in the bottom compartment in a cardboard container loosely wrapped in paper.
“She is very tame and when she can’t be bothered to graze, she will appear by the back door to be fed.
“She also thinks dogs are giant guinea pigs and waddles after them.”
Get in touch
We are living through testing times at the moment but remember that we’re here for you. If you’d like to discuss the impact of coronavirus on your long-term planning, or any other financial matter, get in touch. Please email hello@globeifa.co.uk or call 020 8891 0711.
