views from lockdown – Week 2 – 14 April

‘A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to differ from a rose. It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower.’ Marianne Williamson (1952-  ), US author and social change campaigner.

Everyone’s experiences of life in lockdown is different – that’s OK. My Chap and I are both furloughed which is fine for us.  I won’t dwell here about the rising death rates or on how tough it is for some people and families.  I am doing my best to support the organisations helping people in tougher times than us (local Food banks, women’s aid, Mustard Tree, Wood Street Mission and the many groups making PPE/scrubs).  Remember, you’re not alone, and it is OK to not be OK – there are people and organisations who can help.

Again this week, I am joining Sarah from Life in a Breakdown and Bex from Futures and other contributors too.  We are sharing how we have got in the past 7 days in lockdown in the UK. Huge thanks to Sarah who shared and linked up with my first post last week.  You can read it:

• views from lockdown – week 1 – 7 April 2020

Each week we are answering these questions:

1. How are you feeling/coping?

I’m still feeling OK, all things considered.  I’m using many of my coping strategies like yoga, mindfulness, crafting and getting out in the fresh air to help me.  Tulips flowering in my garden and around my locality are really lifting my mood.

My home and garden are my safe place anytime, not just now so that helps.  I’ve got plenty to do in the garden too.  My Chap is busy on the heavy jobs in the garden like digging.

I am really tired and in pain from my osteoarthritis but that’s nothing new.  The pain isn’t at the top-level it can reach.  Luckily, I sleep ok because of medication and I’m happy to get at least 8hrs at the moment.  I know this is OA pain is made worse by background anxiety.

2. What are you doing to keep yourself occupied?

‘Working’ days

Online learning, blogging and photography as well as gardening and crafting.  I’m making some silver clay jewellery this afternoon for birthday presents over the next month or so.  I find it so relaxing as you need to concrete carefully what’s on what you are doing.  I’ll post some photos of my pieces soon, but I’ve written about silver clay before.

On a Monday, I join in with a long-running link up called In a Vase on Monday run by Cathy from Rambling in the Garden.  We both have tulips in our vases this week:

• Tulips and time for crafts – In a Vase on Monday – I’ve got Queen on the Night and some unnamed pink tulips
• www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/in-a-vase-on-monday-decisions-decisions – white Exotic Emperor

Evening routine

In the evenings, we’ve been watching a variety of films and TV. I watch channel 4 news a couple of times a week as otherwise I’ll overwhelm my head.

• cookery/home shows – Masterchef is a favourite any time ofthe year. Particularly enjoyed Simon Wood – previous winner and owner of Wood Restaurant in Manchester who was hosting the contestants last week.  Love Wood and have been a few times – we have booked for later in the year too.
• Sci-fi Ive enjoyed The Madalorian very much. I restrained myself from binge watching it. It has a very strong western and samurai vibe to it.   I can now enjoy ALL the memes.
  I asked my sci-fi geeky friend for something similar;  she recommended Firefly (2003) which was produced, and some episodes written, by Joss Whedon.
• Films – we watched Knives Out – we thoroughly enjoyed it, excellent acting and a bit dark.
• Gardeners’ world – but as usual I’m not doing what Monty says I should do this week 😉.

Yoda loves Tulips as much as I do 😉

3. How are you dealing with everything at the moment – are you self-isolated, going out for essentials etc? Has this changed?

We are only leaving the house/garden to go for local walks or a run, along the Bridgewater Canal, fields and Worsley Woods are close by our home.  We are so fortunate that there’s so much open space and woodland is nearby.  People are social distancing too – luckily the paths are wide.

My Chap goes to our Lidl or local small shops like co-op about once a week.   We aren’t having food delivered at the moment.  We are so fortunate that we both like cooking, and My Chap is seeing this as an opportunity to delve into the cookbooks.

4. What advice do you have for others?

Keep talking to people you love and care about.  It’s OK to not feel OK at the moment. We are in the middle of a world-changing experience. Do the best you can for you and don’t beat yourself up if you think you should do more – you don’t. 

I’ve been enjoying talking to my pals on zoom meetings, so we can see each other at the same time 😊 I’ve been more organised about planning these too – especially catching up with my women’s institute crew

Follow the rules – stay home, wash your hands and keep supporting the NHS.

5. What have you bought this week that others might like? Especially if from a small business.

I’m not buying much online at the moment.

I bought this pin badge – ‘hello my name is go away’ for my friend who works as a medical secretary in the NHS – she’s still in work every other week but has a long term health condition so really should be working from home full time.

It’s designed by Ben Cameron (doodles by ben) who also runs a fab quirky monthly pin badge club. You can find him on twitter and etsy too.

• www.twitter.com/ben_cameron
• etsy.me/3cbPT4K – Hello my name is go away badge

6. How has your routine been this week? (Question by Don’t Cramp My Style)

I’m keeping to a fairly good routine during the ‘working week’– getting up and breakfast before 9am – working on projects on the laptop for a couple of hours whether it’s online learning, writing or editing photos.  Lunch in the garden with My Chap – then gardening, something creative and finally a walk around the neighbourhood late afternoon (as it’s not as busy).

Easter weekend was just weird for us – we would usually be out and about in the hills or by the coast.  Instead we are home, but it was good.  We did quite a bit around the garden – I hunted around and found seeds to plant some are salad and tomatoes.  I’ve got more flower seeds to plant too so that’s on my plan for this week.

7. Have you planned anything for once lockdown is over in the past 7 days?? (Question by Don’t Cramp My Style)

Not really – Just what I’d thought about doing before – visiting friends, family, seaside and gardens.  My Chap is busy working out which of the postponed races he can commit too.  It’s dire for the companies that run these races as they’re all compressed into September to November or postponed until next year.
It’s also had a massive impact on fundraising for charities too – we have been sponsoring and amplifying our pals who are motor neurone disease fundraisers.  Becky’s husband died of MND 20 years ago when their children were toddlers.

However, don’t think you MUST support a charity, MUST fundraise, MUST volunteer, MUST learn a new skill, MUST exercise.  Just do what you can for you.

8. Anything else?

Take care everyone and have as good a week as you can.

Carpe Diem,

Love Bec xx xx xx

Follow my view from life in lockdown

• views from lockdown – early March, working from home
• views from lockdown – week 1 – 7 April 2020
• views from lockdown – week 2 – 14-April
• views from lockdown – week 3 – 21 April 2020
• views from lockdown – week 4 – 28 April 2020
• views from lockdown – week 5 – 5 May 2020
• views from lockdown – week 6 – 12 May 2020
• views from lockdown – week 7 – 19 May 2020

*****

I’d like to thank Sarah for including (and sharing) my week one post.  Here’s week two from Sarah and Bex:

• www.lifeinabreakdown.com/life-in-a-lockdown-2
• www.ialwaysbelievedinfutures.com/life-in-a-lockdown-linky-week-2

If you’d like to join in with Sarah from ‘Life in a Breakdown’, Bex ‘from ‘Futures’ and the contributors – Click the picture below for the link up info or look under their posts:

Not got a blog? just email yourself your answers to these questions 🙂