Walking into the Shadows

Since my last post, I've been thinking about all the offices, concert halls and workplaces in London and around the world that are standing empty.  There are probably one or two facilities people checking in on them occasionally to make sure there are no leaks, or maybe a cleaner knocking some dust off the furniture.  The Shard, the Walkie Talkie building, the Royal Opera House, all the cafes and restaurants, all empty.  Rows of empty desks with blank monitors, water coolers with no-one chatting about last night's TV, chairs on tables, curtains drawn, windows with no one looking out at the views.  Ranks of velvet covered seats with no one flipping them upright to let someone pass.  Polished wood bars with beer taps that no one is pulling and rows of dangling glasses, gathering dust.

We speak in hallowed tones about the burgeoning wildlife, but I expect the mice, rats and cockroaches are having fun in these places too.

We rightly praise the NHS workers and key workers, but I think it might be time to say a thank-you to all those facilities staff, who are walking into dark and echoing buildings regularly to make sure they are ready to open up again when the time comes.