20 April 2020

Milligan Life Under Lockdown: Melanie Taylor

Milligan Life Under Lockdown provides a unique (if not amusing) insight into each of our team’s new normal, working from home. First up, it’s Head of Retail and Relations, Melanie Taylor.

What’s your working from home set up?

Wherever the internet is working best at that moment in time. I’ve been in ‘my office’ – my son’s bedroom/desk, kitchen, sitting room – you name it. Our internet is particularly poor which is not very helpful so I keep dropping out of Zoom, Teams etc. – maybe a good thing! Our internet provider is on it though – could have improved service next week! I am sticking to my usual routine when working from the office – only difference is that my husband, Steve makes me lunch, I can sit outside and I go for a walk every day. So, it’s actually better than office life in that respect!

Have you dedicated any lockdown time to learning a new skill?

No… Not yet. Depends on how long this self-isolation goes on for.

What’s the best and most challenging thing about working from home?

The internet… Surprisingly enough! Steve and I are getting on well – I thought we might be at each other’s throats by now, but apparently not.

What are you reading at the moment?

There’s masses of ‘stuff’ to read at the moment – my inbox is inundated with articles on Covid 19 and the ramifications. Too many to mention. Some of the really decent articles have made there way onto our Knowledge Hub. Then there is the competition as to who can post the funniest/rudest/most moving contribution on WhatsApp – And WhatsApp in general, not just Team Milligan. This is calming down a bit now but was prolific in the early days!

What are you listening to when working from home?

Usually have Radio 4 on – Anna Maxwell Martin is currently reading Mill on the Floss at 10.45!  Or sometimes LBC – quietly.  Steve listens to Talk Sport so a lot of talking goes on in this house.

What’s your snack and drink of choice?

Really trying not to, but if desperate it’s the chocolate hobnobs!  If more desperate, I found a bottle of Berkeley Square gin in the cupboard which is very drinkable over ice… after 5pm of course.

To read more about or get in touch with Melanie Taylor, click here.