How we spent lockdown ...

As we emerge blinky-eyed from our homes in Melbourne, the most locked-down city in the world, we thought we’d share what some of the Speller International team have missed, learnt, and are now looking forward to in COVID-normal.

What have you missed?

CEO Damien Ross: My kids’ sport and school. My kids are in quite formative stages of their lives and to miss out on key life experiences such as camps, parties and sport has weighed on me a bit. I’ve also missed events, going to the pub, and seeing my good mates for a drink and laugh.

SAP Recruitment Consultant Keely Shay: I’ve missed going to Geelong to see my parents and friends. I’ve also missed going to group exercise classes - I find it hard to stay motivated on my own!

SAP Recruitment consultant Scott Anstey: I really missed going to the football on the weekend with my brother and best mate to see my beloved Tigers (AFL) play. I did get a little taste of this between lockdowns at the start of the season which was great. It’s just not the same watching on TV.

SAP Account Manager Brad Lister: Playing and watching sport, especially the social interaction that goes along with it.

Senior Recruitment Consultant Chris Oughton: I’ve really missed playing soccer and going to F45 (gym). Exercise is important to me but instead I’ve been playing poker online and with friends and drinking beer and whiskey so a big difference! I’ve also missed going out for lunch and brunch with family and colleagues and travelling interstate to meet clients.

Where do you want to go when you can travel again?

Damien: I had a big US trip booked last year, which we had to cancel. I want to go overseas next year as my eldest son is nearly 15 and family holidays will soon be a thing of the past for us.

Keely: We had planned to go to New Zealand for our honeymoon last year which we obviously had to cancel, so it would be great to plan a trip there.

Scott: During the past two years, I have had numerous holidays cancelled including a six-week European summer vacation, which included Croatia, Italy, Turkey, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, and The Netherlands. I would love to rebook and finally do this holiday.

Brad: Everywhere! First trip will be to Albania or Canada to introduce our baby Patrick to his overseas family.

Chris: Queensland because I have a trip booked with the family, and then the UK to see family so they can finally meet their granddaughter!

Any quirky online purchases during lockdown?

Damien: I bought a record player and went on a bit of a purchasing binge of vinyl records.

Keely: Painting by numbers has been my new passion, as well as a Nintendo Switch! They’re both great ways to pass lots of time.

Scott: It’s technically not an online purchase however I purchased my first home in January 2021. I bought an off-the-plan apartment in Thornbury and it’s due for completion in late 2022-early 2023.

Brad: It is not online shopping, but I made a permanent 3 x 4-metre elevated putting green and chipping area in my back yard.

Chris: I bought DJ decks at the start of lockdown then upgraded to fancier ones by the start of the sixth lockdown. I have a profile on Mixcloud and have done about 25 mixes, which has been great fun and a great time filler.

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