Rose: OK. “Opening video chat.” …nothing’s happening. Emily, did you move the router again?
Emily: Yeah, Sorry, I was watching TV in the bath! Rose: Put it back, I’ve got work!
Emily: Sorry….
Rose: Four flatmates and London’s worst internet connection. Ideal.
OK Rose, peaceful thoughts. Deep breath. You - are - calm.
Oh my god this loading symbol - what is wrong!? I hate my computer. I hate it.
I’ve watched it absolutely freaking out for way too long. Come on…
What’s the matter - no, look, it’s getting slower, I swear! If the screen goes blank
then I’m gonna yank out my hair. Yank in, three… two….
Rose: Oh, stunning, we’re in!
There they are… My thirty little blurry colleagues. Ooh - Rachel’s done her kitchen!
Rachel: Hey Rose. Tim: ‘Morning Rose.
Jeff: Hey Rose - you get any play in this weekend?
Rose: I mean yeah, if you count practising keepy-ups on my own as - Jeff: Hey, Amber! Great to see you!
Rose: …getting play. I actually smashed my personal best so…
Moved to London thirteen months ago today.
Jeff: Welcome everyone. Thank you, as ever, for making this work over so many different timezones.
Rose: I always wanted to be part of it and I was finally here to stay.
Jeff: Let’s get those kids some sporting gear!
Rose: My sister finished school, Dad said I’ve got nothing to lose
Drops me at the train, brought along the girls from my Tuesday night football five-a-side
Everybody cried! Kissed me on my way and here I am
So here I am. When everything stopped! When the world stopped spinning!
And what I thought was a new beginning Turned out to be a room and a screen and a
ten-pack of sanitiser.
What do you do - when everything stops?! When the system crashes
They close the shops! The siren flashes! 'Cause I’ve been here a year, spinning wheels,
in this room smaller than a thimble. Desperate for more but my life is a loading symbol!
Jeff: OK - so sports clubs are re-opening and we’re moving the schedule up to what
we outlined in Scenario D, i.e. a fourth fundraising blitz.
Rose: Nine-to-five online’s exhausting, set me free.
Jeff: We are beyond grateful to be joined by the amazing web-design team in San Francisco
Rose: I’d trade it all right now for bolshy crowds and buskers bumping into me
Jeff: Volunteering their time and skills for free
Rose: Working in my room, I end up feeling gloomy and dazed. I need a hug a day, think
that’s just the way I was raised.
Now they’re few and far between, we’re just waving on a screen.
Can’t believe that life has come to this!
What do you do - when everything stops. You arrive in London
And then you watch as it all comes undone and all you do is digital meetings repeating indefinitely.
What do you do, when everything stops .When the world’s best city
has been turned off - and it ain’t that pretty. And suddenly the life that you want
is on hold till a year or later Feels like you stepped on an out-of-service
escalator. And all the time, this voice is in my head… saying
“Rose, if you’re struggling in London.
If it’s too hard and you need to go home where everyone loves you.
Then nobody would judge you”, but I know if I give in
and go home. If I don’t keep moving forward when I’ve
waited till I’m twenty-five years old to start my life the way I want.
If I don’t stand my ground, however much home’s pulling me
however much I’m tempted to go back I’m going to stay and live my life and be
myself but I am lonely! I need to stick this out but I am lonely!
I’m making myself proud, I know it’s only for a while.
Jeff: So we’re gonna have UK kids back on the courts - back playing - within nine weeks.
Rose: Patience is a virtue that comes hard to me.
Jeff: …we also have awesome new T-shirt designs in the works which are super-cool.
Rose: And though I’ve definitely improved this year it’s hardly going on my CV
I’m not backing down, I’m staying till this town breathes again. That’s around
the bend, I’ll own my independence till then. Cause that’s what I said I’d do. I’m brave, I’ll see this through.
Stand my ground till life begins for real! I’ll wait it out! when everything -
Jeff: And Rose - does everyone have the message calendar for June? Rose: Yup, It’s in London Shared. Jeff: Thanks Rose!
Rose: Stops! When the life I wanted is back in the box, but I won’t be daunted. I’ve managed here a year so a few extra months will be child’s-play
What do you do when everything stops? When your life’s beginning and then it’s not? When your world stops spinning?
You double-down on patience and praying for change any day, mark the time because I’m sure my life can’t be far away because that’s what you do when everything
Stops.