#WFH Diaries: Jemima Monies of adam&eveDDB

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world, we're checking in with people in the creative industry to see how they're doing. Here's an update from Jemima Monies at adam&eveDDB in London.

Give us a one-line bio of yourself.

Deputy managing director at adam&eveDDB, currently trading as adam&everywhereDDB…

Where are you living right now, and who's with you?

A granite cottage in a little village called Zennor on the north coast of Cornwall, where my husband's business and family are based—with a 1-year-old who doesn't stop moving and a 3-year-old who doesn't stop talking. 

What's your work situation like at the moment?

A mishmash of video calls and childcare. It's not ideal but also lovely to see everyone in their individual settings, with their little people and fluffy things in tow. And I'm grateful to be working, given everything that is going on in the world around us.

Describe your socializing strategy

We celebrated my husband's birthday last night with a Zoom party, which was fun … but after days of video calls, I'm quite happy to have a semi-solitary gin in the garden or glass of wine by the fire.

How are you dealing with childcare?

It's tricky but we are managing, and I'm just thankful that we are all currently healthy. We are lucky to be in the middle of the country, overlooking the sea, so lots of space for the kids to roam without seeing anyone. My mum is in her cottage next door, which is super handy for us, not so much for her!

What are you reading?

Not much other than emails, the news and nonsense on WhatsApp.

What are you watching?

By the time the kids are in bed and I've clocked off, I generally just want to hit the hay, but we have managed to sneak in some episodes of Homeland.

What are you listening to?

Various combinations of the monotonous tunes coming out of the baby monitor, Anjunadeep (my husband's music obsession) and my daughter singing "Let It Go."

How are you staying fit?

Ironically I'm exercising more than I have for a long time… I've been doing Peloton classes on my phone, and I've started running, which I have never ever enjoyed or thought I could do, but I'm loving it. To the extent where I get flashes of crossing the London Marathon line and then remember the most I can currently do is a 25-minute jog.

Have you taken up a hobby?

Do retro board games count as a hobby? Mouse Trap has just arrived (if you don't recall it, you can watch the ad here) and Screwball Scramble is on its way.

Any tips for getting necessities?

We've been getting food box deliveries from local cafes and shops that are trying to stay afloat (along with eggs and milk from my husband's family farm). Aside from that, get to know your neighbors. Our street in London has a WhatsApp group and everyone has been helping each other out with groceries amongst other things—it's genuinely heart-warming.

An awkward moment since all this started.

Nothing specific springs to mind. Generally looking bedraggled on every video call… I bought a carry-on size suitcase of clothes down here so I am rotating about three outfits.

Best work email you got since all this started.

A video call invite to virtual "Fernando Fridays," where our beloved head of security, Fernando Libreros, high-fives everyone with his "smiley face card" to officially signal the start of the weekend.

An aha! moment since all this started.

I edited a film of my husband's friends giving him birthday messages from afar and set it to his favorite track—I've never used any movie editing software before, and while it was super amateur, I was quite proud of myself! 

What's your theory on how this is going to play out?

However it does, one thing is for sure: I will never complain about getting the Tube to work ever again…

See the full #WFH Diaries series here.

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Tim Nudd
Tim Nudd was editor in chief of the Clio Awards and editor of Muse by Clio from 2018 to 2023.

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