LIFE IN A BUBBLE: Chegs Chisholm
Chegs Chisholm is co-founder of Incommon and a company director of MLAB.
Where is your bubble and who is in it?
Hāwea Flat with an 11-year-old tween boy, an eight-year-old queen girl, a sourdough-making-constantly-working husband, two bored dogs and a cat with an attitude problem.
What does an average lockdown day look like for you?
In week two, I’ve found myself waking up way earlier than before the C19 lockdown. I suspect it’s thanks to sleeping in and not having to work until late at night during the first week. Once awake, it’s a matter of saying goodbye to the husband (he commutes 10 metres to our annexed building to work), then I feed animals, feed kids, negotiate device time, walk, run, garden, feed everything again, watch Tiger King and then, somewhere in between that, I work on MLAB projects, talk to clients and help with Incommon.
How has work changed?
It’s tricky and it’s not structured. We’ve always worked remotely and fitted work in around our lives, but now it’s even more of a challenge. Typically trying to do work before the kids get up and in between baking, creating and reading sessions with the kids.
What are you doing for exercise and general wellbeing?
Long baths (with wine), bike rides to Hāwea, OCDJ Lockdown Lounge parties with mates (on Houseparty) of a Saturday night, across-the-street- or fence convos with friends/neighbours and lots of gardening/landscaping.
What's happening in the store cupboards?
We stock up large most of the time, so didn’t really have to worry about rushing to the supermarket on lockdown. Although we did pandemic shop B-Effect beer before they closed (they’re clients, so it’s support :)
Right now, we’re basically playing Paper, Scissors, Rock to see who has to go to the supermarket. We’ve saved heaps on not buying incidentals like ice creams and treats or little grocery top ups. We’re making do across the board. It’s really interesting to see the bank balances and our approaches to what we actually need change.
Who's in the kitchen and what are they cooking?
Absolutely the husband. He’s home (he usually works from Gore), so not only are we getting sourdough baked two or three times a week, we’re getting fed delicious, complex flavours – a complete contrast to my bland, beige portions. Plus the kids are baking up a storm. I may need a new, larger wardrobe post C19.
What are you reading/watching/listening to?
Reading: The news (all the time), articles about think tanks and The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt).
Watching: The Tiger King, kids movies, romantic movies like The Notebook and DJ’s on lockdown. Oh and I binge watched all of the Twilight series one night.
Listening to: The Pong Su, The Next Big Idea, Cut through Inc. and Without Fail podcasts. And on tunes, it’s everything from Beethoven to Chase and Status, Bob Dylan to Global Funk. What can I say, it’s eclectic.
What is the luxury of time giving you?
I feel like my heart has stopped racing for the first time in years and my mind has gone quiet. It’s quite nice to have new ideas and concepts emerging from that quiet space. And I’m spending a lot more time cuddling my kids or just ‘being’ alongside them.
What are you missing?
Riding or running with my friends. My kids having their friends around. Places to walk that aren’t my immediate block. And hugs! My friend Cat Pat is the ultimate hugger and all I want right now is one of her squeezes.
What are you not missing?
Rushing. Timetables. Driving. Having a husband living in Gore.
Are you learning anything about yourself during this time?
I don’t mind isolation and I’m actually quite comfortable hanging with my family (so long as they’re not asking for more device time).
What would you like to take with you into post-Corona Central Otago life?
The space in my brain to be creative and calm. More time using video apps to talk to family and friends living in other parts of the country/world. More lounge parties, but maybe with more people in the lounge with us.