Rachael McKelvey

• Four-day working week results are in
• Old Neighbours is back
• Latest ONS data drop
• The weird people who want actual food before pancakes
• New hairdresser, who dis?

Four-day working week results are in
A whopping 92% of UK firms who took place in the 6 month trial say they will keep it, that’s 56 of the 61 firms who took part in the study. The study shows that results were fairly consistent over all workplaces regardless of size, the trial included big business and charity, from banking to retail to recruitment and despite 9 organisations pulling out from the study covered over 3000 employees.

The top line of the data is fascinating, a reduction in sick days, improved staff retention, average revenue increase, burn out down and massive improvements in employee well being but the real interesting stuff is in the actual report because the devil always is in the detail.

I really liked the Perspectives from the Shopfloor’ section towards the end of the report, where social researchers gleaned testimonials about the day to day impact the study has had on staff, the impact of the changes in the ways of working and the real insight that gave senior leadership is wonderful, and while it can be argued that studies like this are self selecting and made of future thinking, staff orientated senior leaders, just let us dream for a moment will you.

Old Neighbours is back!
This is the best thing that has happened to me in quite some time and this is not me being dramatic. While new Neighbours is not back until later in the new year, Amazon Freevee has acquired some of the old school episodes and they dropped this week. Hello 2012.

They will now be launching episodes for different era’s every month until new Neighbours launches at the end of the year.

I absolutely cannot. It’s been an emotional week in the RaeMcK household and there is a small hole in my heart and that requires good neighbours who become good friends. 2012 was a classic year, all the good characters with all the good house shares. My heart is full(er).

Latest ONS data drop
This weeks 2021 census data drop was marriage and civil partnership status in England and Wales and it’s a doozy, marriage rates are at the lowest level on record and the median age of those getting married is steadily increasing.

The data is starting to show that women are marrying later with more than half of women aged 34 or less are now not married, which is a 10% increase over the decade, which I hope reflects women’s choice in marriage and the ability for it not to be your leg up in life. It’s nice when data reflects social and cultural changes.

My most unpopular opinion is that there isn’t anything in marriage for women, but I can afford to have this unpopular opinion, while I think if children are in your future than marriage potentially offers something for women and children, but until needs must (when our health declines or we are old) then it’s a definite no from me, even if his surname is marginally cooler and easier to spell than mine.

The weird people who want actual food before pancakes
They walk amongst us, but they are wrong. Pancakes are a whole food. Despite last Tuesday being Valentines Day, the best bit about it was the fact that this Tuesday was pancake day.

For someone who does not understand Yorkshire puddings I do go hard on pancake day, I’ve not been “well” in recent years, functioning but not well and last year we did not pancake one bit, because “wellness” but this year I went hard, with zero preparation just whipped up some batter in the morning and I had 6 for tea as a complete meal.

The weirdo in my life had tuna, cheese mayo in his two…I went in all sweet. Every single one. Will I regret this? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

Dear reader, within 3 short hours it was not worth it. Please remind me of this next year.

New hairdresser, who dis?
I hate the act of having my hair cut…always have, I have a lot of incredibly thick curly hair and some trauma from childhood from relentless well meaning grown ups under the illusion that neat hair involves hairbrushes. This week I tried a hairdresser who specifically cuts curly hair, trained in the ways of cutting volume hair.

It was the most enjoyable haircut I’ve ever had, pain free, quick (2 hours as it was a first cut, will be 90 minutes next time) and informative…tailored very much to my hair type and curl pattern.

I am sat here on day 3, still mildly in love with hair (curly hair love is a journey and it will be at least 6 months before it’s THE CUT) after 2 sleeps and a whole day of sweaty yoga. I don’t know why I haven’t done this sooner.

Current watch:  Last Week Tonight With John Oliver – It’s back after 3 long months… I absolutely love John Oliver, back when he was in the UK, when he was on The Bugle with Andy Zaltzman. Every week John Oliver takes on the weeks news in the States and delivers it with laughs…I don’t know if you have seen the news at all in recent years, but this is not an easy gig. Each week, Oliver covers a little new around the world and the States and has a feature piece on something that fundamentally doesn’t work in the system and while its focus is the US, it’s lesson and moral are universal. Oliver and the team are not scared to take on some big names and call things out for what they are but despite covering some of the most heart breaking topics, it is done well and somehow leaves you feeling hopeful. If you get a chance to see some clips on YouTube, do!

Current read: Stuffocation living more with less by James Wallman – Trend Forecaster (cool job) James Wallman shares real life experiences of those giving up on consumption alongside some useful social narrative on how the minimalist movement started and how stuff is essentially taking years off our lives. Do you own stuff, or does stuff own you? I was sceptical when I first started this book, but I really enjoyed it and it definitely gave food for thought. I have unwittingly become an experientialist in recent years and am in the processing of downsizing my stuff & had probably come to a halt on that, but this book reignited a fire, with some insightful questions to help do the work, with some interesting research and hypothesis to really get you thinking.

Most Impactful Listen: 99pi – Orange Alternatives – It’s been a year since the invasion of Ukraine and while there has been a lot of news, this gorgeous podcast episode was the perfect way to make time to be present to this fact. The episode focuses on anti-war graffiti and protest art, the history behind it and how it has evolved in Russia during this conflict in a country where protest is hard. Protest art has a huge legacy in the Soviet Union, they talk to Waldemar “Major” Fydrych who help found a political art movement across Poland during the 80’s. This podcast is well worth your time.