If you find yourself reading this article, it is not unreasonable to assume that you have maxed out on family togetherness and are seeking some “work-related” respite to recharge your batteries.
Let’s face it – we’re all out of practice when it comes to spending time with loved ones.
So welcome, sit back, relax and enjoy some musings and ramblings.
Deja vu all over again
First and foremost, I hope the festive season is treating you and your family well.
Christmas really feels like the first proper landmark we’ve experienced for a while. Bank holidays were a bust, summer was chaotic but still somehow tedious, and the rules have changed so many times that it’s a wonder more of us aren’t wandering the streets in our pyjamas clasping our reusable cups and calling out for coffee.
They say a sign of ageing is when you feel that the days are long but the years are short. I still find myself stumbling when I have to say 2021 – it feels like we’re stuck in some sort of infinite time loop and it is still March 2020. Although the novelty of lockdown has 100% worn off.
Having never worked from home before, it was initially quite nice to have a bit longer in bed, easy access to the fridge and a reasonable clocking off time. Those were simpler times.
But while some parts of life seem to have stagnated, others have just continued – seemingly unperturbed by the presence of Delta, Omicron and all of their delightful cousins. Companies were bought and sold, people moved jobs, regulation changed and rich people got richer.
2021 marked six years for me at International Adviser. I’m still shocked at how much the industry we cover has changed during that time. I cannot imagine what it feels like for industry veterans who have been around for decades.
I am currently peeking at 2022 through my fingers. I have a morbid curiosity about what it will bring.
2022
The IA team will be back at our WFH desks on 4 January; sending out daily news bulletins and keeping you up to date with the latest trends and developments.
If the above hasn’t quite bought you enough time away from the family, you can take a look back at the big and interesting stories of the year, our very own Robbie Lawther and Cristian Angeloni have each written a retrospective.
You can enjoy them here at your leisure.
Until next year, and on behalf of the team at International Adviser, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Best wishes,
Kirsten Hastings, editor
