What did you do today.

[Primarch]

But by then you will probably be on to another and (most likely knowing your aptitude and skills) a better position.

Sorry, have you ever actually met me?

I should be going back to work at the same place, with the same conditions as soon as this all blows over, assuming that both my company and my client are both still in existence at that point. I'm going to have to speak with my employer on Monday about salary payments, paid leave, government compensation and all the rest of it.
On the other hand, not having to sit on a crowded train every day definitely makes me feel more at ease.

Personally, my company has shuttered up once again to ride out this lockdown. Starting tomorrow my section is basically working from the house.

I don't know how you feel about remote working, but it'll save you commuting time and you'll have a more relaxing environment to work in. Just put some brushes and paint next to your computer for those long, boring meetings.

*sigh* I dunno, here in Mie we had a week of entrance ceremonies, including my son's school entrance ceremony this morning, then I went to work as usual in the JHS I'm stationed in.
Then at about 4ish today, it was announced that all the schools in Mie would close until Golden Week.
What can ya do?
*sigh again*

Yeah, those Mie kids, travelling internationally and spreading those foreign germs all over your beautiful prefecture.

I guess closing down schools is one of the few areas where the prefecture has the power to make a difference. Even with Abe's announcement, it's really just a strongly worded request. My client is actually staying open for now, but encouraging workers to remote work where possible. As I don't have a remote system in place (they use their own VPN network and don't want to use their PC's on an unsecured system) and they can't force my students to come to work just for an English lesson, the client decided it would be easier to ask my boss for me to be furloughed.

[jus]

@prim: no chance of me getting my old job back then eh?

[Primarch]

@prim: no chance of me getting my old job back then eh?

You can talk to Ono-san and let her know you're back in town and looking for work. You may not get your full time position back straight away though.

[Konrad]

My client is actually staying open for now, but encouraging workers to remote work where possible. As I don't have a remote system in place (they use their own VPN network and don't want to use their PC's on an unsecured system) and they can't force my students to come to work just for an English lesson, the client decided it would be easier to ask my boss for me to be furloughed.

One of my private gigs are like worried about security too and said, no remote lessons. I mean, really. I'm not a security expert, but I don's see how Zooming or Skyping, "So, what did you do last weekend?" conversations is a risk. I mean, if I was into industrial espionage, I'd already be in their system. Maybe I'll have to make industrial espionage a side-line.

[Primarch]

@Konrad - There probably is a lot more cash in espionage and blackmail than in teaching.

[The Other Dave]

To be fair, Zoom is turning out to have *really* bad security. Like, "lectures getting hijacked by random weirdos exposing themselves and the teacher not being able to shut the meeting down" bad.

On-topic, I've put painting on hold til I can get some more miniatures, and have been continuing my crawl through Blackstone Fortress - I've been honest with dice and such, but despite a few hairy moments am still doing OK. Tonight I should be ready to assault the final stronghold that'll unlock the last mission and that mysterious sealed envelope of loot.

[me_in_japan]

Today I played my first ever game of D&D, and on Zoom, no less*. It was a lot of fun, and I'd actually recommend it for anyone who's of that persuasion and has the prerequisite tech (I was on my iphone, others on their home PCs). I daresay as DM you'd need a bit more aptitude for it (we had Grim Ironjaw ably running our game), but as a player it's a really simple, effective way to do things. Could even, poooooossibly be used for stuff like underworlds, especially if both players had all the pieces set up on their own boards so's they could keep track of things at both ends. You'd maybe also need a separate camera and screen, so the camera could be placed to record the board (ie facing downwards, or at least angled in that direction), with the screen placed where you can see it. Likewise, MtG could be done the same way. May be worth considering, for when times get desperate?

Anyway, I hope y'all are keeping safe. Here in Mie, it's business as usual. I'm off back to work for week 2 of my new job in elementary and JHSs, Mrs MiJ has her school's entrance ceremony tomorrow, and the two little MiJs are off to elementary school as per normal. It's fine here. Everything's fine.

*with a notable absence of weirdos exposing themselves. Well, of hackers doing it, at least.


ooh, btw, that reminds me. Where should a chap go about getting D&D type minis? Obviously overseas sources may be a bit hard to come by these days, but any suggestions for now or future purchase options would be most welcome. *edit* Actually, @Prim - it occurs to me that, given your stupendously expansive quantity of minis owned, there could be the possibility of a trade involving some Bones and some MtG cards, perhaps? It's just a thought - at the mo I dont even know if minis would be helpful to the game I'm playing just now.

pps While I'm at it, does anybody have any recommendations for where to get a cheap laptop computer (or specific recommendations on brand/model)? I need one for work, and don't really fancy spending a penny more than I need to. But, it would also be nice if the thing functioned acceptably quickly, and could, fr example, run Zoom and MtG:Arena. Always very grateful for advice on such matters. Cheers in advance, all *bows*

[Primarch]

@M_i_J - Sure, we could work something out. I'd generally recommend Reaper for D&D minis, especially their Bones range anyway, so passing a few your way should be doable.
What are you looking for?

@ToD - People used to call me crazy and ask why I needed so many minis. Though I probably still don't need as many as I actually have.

[Jye Nicolson]

@M_i_j glad you enjoyed D&D! A lot of people are getting into it during lockdown, I've even had a game with the folks at work who are making use of Roll 20 to have a map and move things around. That being said you don't even strictly need that for D&D and many other RPGs don't even need a map at all, so it's a hobby that's surprisingly remote play compatible.

For my part I'm nearing the end of the assembly journey but I haven't secured any magnets yet (local Joshin didn't have any, and I opted out of the last Plamojuku trip after the emergency declaration). My Invictor is missing a right arm, Bjorn's assault cannon will probably end up attached by blu tac for the meantime and the Centurions might just go together without weapons for the time being*. Then there's just yet another start collecting box to put together, though my crazy plan to turn monopose Infiltrators into Blood Claws with Repentia parts might be too ambitious.

Also just took delivery of a 6x4' mat, having finally acted on my envy of @job 's sweet mat, and some terrain and objective pads. Now I have a few armies lying around I think I'll indulge in some solohammer to try to get my head around the rules properly and be able to play faster once we're all back in person again. I'm not sure my wife had that in mind when we were thinking about how to make use of the tatami room, but as we know any space left empty will inevitably be filled with Warhammer nonsense



*They are back of the line for getting painted in any case, Wolves can't take them and I'm not sure White Scars even want the Devastator version so I probably need to do them in Dave's Scythes scheme for souping in as Imperial Fists successors or whatever.

[Jye Nicolson]

On-topic, I've put painting on hold til I can get some more miniatures, and have been continuing my crawl through Blackstone Fortress - I've been honest with dice and such, but despite a few hairy moments am still doing OK. Tonight I should be ready to assault the final stronghold that'll unlock the last mission and that mysterious sealed envelope of loot.

Let us know what was in yours! There's quite a few variations as I understand it.