A day out today - a different experience, reflections and more

I've practically worked 100% from home since 2018/2019 even before the word 'pandemic' became anything, thanks to my consulting career. But being forced to stay at home during the COVID-19 lockdown era came with all sorts of experiences and emotions altogether.

Fast forward, working from home is more common than ever. I still work from home most of the time but came across some interesting facts that 44% of UK workers work from home, or work hybrid. This is definitely an increase from whatever it was in the pre-COVID era. Going out today made me appreciate , what goes on out there, and today I experienced a few interesting things that made me reflect.

1 - You can buy anything (possibly everything) online

At a major train station today, I noticed a very short queue at the ticket machines. WOW! Many years ago, there were lots and lots of people queuing at these machines to purchase tickets for same-day travel. What has changed? I can see how being forced to stay at home has awakened the inner spirit of online purchases, which we are all familiar with (unless you're just anti-technology). The picture I shared above was taken during peak period. Times have changed.

Let me share another experience. In 2022, we need to change our car. If you've followed my previous posts, you will already know how much I love 宝马 cars. Believe me, we upgraded from a 1 series BMW to a 2 series BMW without going to the dealership. I was shocked when I was told I didn't need to come over. In fact, Henley Cars informed me they didn't keep all the cars on site anyway. I inspected the car online, and that was enough. Well, after driving BMWs for a few years, it wasn't exactly a new experience. Deciding on our next car, and after the whole 'paperwork' was completed online, the car was delivered to us at home within 72 hours (of course with the opportunity to return it, if there were any issues). WOW! Ordering a car is no different from ordering a chinese takeaway these days. Go online, click and buy!

2 - Less people carry cash

Seeing I had about 30 minutes to wait for my return train, I had to hang around the station for a bit. I decided to carry out an experiment and monitored to see how many people, within my 30 minute window, will withdraw cash from the cashpoint. No one! This is very interesting because the cash point close to my local barber shop always has people waiting to use it. My summary is simple. You can do a lot without cash.

This is not an 苹果 ad by the way, but I walked through every train station barrier between Birmingham and London (and within London), scanning a QR code from my phone or tapping my Apple Watch. Convenience is really built into these devices, and I am glad a lot of public services (e.g. trains) have embraced modern technology. This has actually been there for many years, but it's good to see how wearable devices such as smartwatches enhance the customer experience even more.

So unless you're going to the carwash or your local barbershop, you probably don't need that cash. Many of these local services take card payments now anyway.

3 - Tourism is a big thing all year round

Without going into the history of Birmingham and the Bull, there's a massive bull in the Birmingham New Street Station called Ozzy, thanks to the Commonwealth games. I didn't even pay much attention to it at first, but after seeing lots of people taking pictures in front of it, I realised how much of an attraction it is. To be honest, even the much smaller bull around the Bullring shopping centre is a favorite for selfies and group photos. Which brings me to tourism. It's interesting how many things out there attract public attention. This is not limited to tourists who travel into the country, but anyone who cares to enjoy the different sights and scenes of various cities. The other day I walked down the bridge in Westminster London and saw all sorts of surprising things. From people taking pictures, to money gambling games, I saw it all. Comparing this to the lockdown era makes me realise how caged people must have felt staying at home.

4 - People are suffering, hurting and dying out there

Mixed feelings. Sad about the bombings in Israel, pained about the innocent lives lost. These topics are very sensitive, and my aim is not necessarily to bring attention to any country or apportion blames, but to bring attention to the reality that someone out there is in pain, hurting or worse. In fact, this happens everyday, even in the midst of our life realities. While we are set to eat our next meal(s), take a break to enjoy a nice holiday, or retire to a relaxed evening with our loved ones, the truth is, some don't have the luxury to even sleep in peace.

I saw a group of protesters in the train station, and right next to them were Police officers, probably managing the situation to ensure it does not escalate into violence. I left the scene with a reminder to never forget what goes on out there. Regardless of the history or the cause, in our own way, as humans, we must find ways to support, reach out, help, and at the very least show empathy to a world in need. In our personal lives, and through CSR activities, there's a lot we can do to make our world a better place. My last word on this point is an AMEN!

5 - Gratitude, thanks, appreciation....every part of me is thankful!

I left my car at the train station as early as 530am this morning to catch my train, thanks to the 'Park and Ride' system. This is a service available in many train stations across the UK, allowing you to park your car without charges, right there in the train station car park. Really appreciate this, because it would have cost me more money to take an Uber (taxi) to the train station so early in the morning. Taking an Uber back home would mean I would spend twice the amount. I have this habit of staying in the car for a few minutes before I embark on my journey, in appreciation for everything, and the first thing I was thankful for before I drove back home, was the Park and Ride!

I am also thankful for people. I have a very small team in my company My Centre Office , and while it's calm most of the time, when customer demands come, we give it our best shot, to deliver the excellence we promote. I am super thankful that I have a team that care to keep things running even when I am away. Super shout out to my team.

I am also thankful to family. Any type of travel is a family agenda because there might be a change to school pick/up drop off responsibilities and so many other activities that may need to be moved around. Without a supportive family (wife and kids), career/business is just an impossible venture honestly. Life cannot be done alone, so let's continue to appreciate who we have, while we have them.

I end my piece by saying it was a good day to go out today. I've been out a lot recently, but I think I wore my reflection hat today and it opened my eyes to a different reality.

Did you enjoy reading this? Which bit resonated with you most?