What are you reading?
"The Swarm" by Frank Schatzing. It's this ecological thriller, where the world is experiencing a sensational series of natural disasters because of what humankind has done to the Earth and oceans. On second thoughts, maybe a novel about catastrophic, apocalyptic events was not a good choice during a pandemic.....
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What are you watching?
I've been re-watching old episodes of Grey's Anatomy. I'm pretty sure I've now seen this show enough that I should automatically be granted my medical licence. Don't judge me. And of course now that the new season of Lego Masters has started we have to watch that with our son (who is of course now hassling me to buy more Lego...).
What music are you listening to?
Mostly in a bit of an Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi mood at the moment.
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What are you cooking?
I've always loved baking and the pandemic hasn't changed that. Plenty of cookies ... cake ... pastries. Yum!
How are you staying fit, both physically and mentally?
I made a promise to our son that when he learnt to ride his bike, I'd buy one too so we could do family bike rides. Well, turns out the extra time at home during a pandemic was all he needed to master it, so I had to keep my word. I haven't ridden a bike for years, but fortunately its, well, like riding a bike. So now daily bike rides are a thing that's helping us all stay fit.
What's the one thing keeping you sane?
Being able to laugh and joke and have fun with the family, and realising how good we actually have it. We have our income, our home, our family is all healthy, we have food and unlimited internet ... we really have nothing to complain about.
Are you working from home? If so how's that going, if not what's work like for you now?
I'm working from home. As a university academic many parts of my job haven't changed, as so much is online anyway, but having two people working from home while looking after a child certainly brings with it some challenges!
I miss my students - we're now lecturing and holding tutorials via Zoom video calls, and they're coping so amazingly well, but I really miss that in-person interaction. And I miss working in the lab - not a good idea to try and replicate that at home!
What's something positive you've witnessed or experienced since the coronavirus hit?
People looking out for each other. Whether it's a phone or video call to check in with friends or family, or helping an older neighbour with shopping, people seem to be taking care of each other, which is the greatest thing to see.
What have you learned about yourself amid the crisis?
I'm not good at sitting at a computer all day. I need more variety in my work day.
What's your advice for others to cope with the crisis?
If you don't come out of this quarantine with new skills, more knowledge, or having started that home business, then you never lacked time, you lacked discipline. Ha! Yeah right! You DO NOT need to be productive during a global pandemic. If you want to learn to bake, knit, speak Russian, or take an online yoga course you can. But you don't have too. Surviving is enough, so cut yourself some slack, throw the kids an iPad, and watch all the Netflix that you want. Whatever gets you through the day.
- Dr Mary McMillan is a lecturer at UNE's School of Science & Technology and she writes a column, Science Matters for The Armidale Express.
