views from lockdown – week 8 – 26 May 2020

This week in Manchester, it has been very sunny.   More people seem to be out and about on the roads, in the parks, and at the beach – leaving rubbish too (grr!).  I see many people ignoring social distancing on my walks around my locality.  The furthest I’ve walked from my home is about 2 miles.  I’ve been walking about three miles a day (and have to cross busy roads to get there too).  I fear for the 2^nd wave of infections and deaths.  I’ll write more another time about my thoughts around the inept communication from the government.

I decided to write about the early part of the pandemic before I forgot about it. This covers early march until lockdown day (23 March 2020).

• views from lockdown – early March, working from home

I’ll write another one covering the first week of lockdown to 1^st April soon.

Australia lock down news

Meanwhile, this week, in Australia where my sister-in-law and nieces live their lockdown is easing – they can have 4 people over to their house at one time – with social distancing and regular hand-washing.

They’ve had 102 deaths in the whole country  – this is less than the number who have died at the very good regional hospital near me in Salford.

One niece is going back to face-to-face school today – she’s is in the first year of the Australian equivalent of A levels.   My other niece is studying online, as she’s a 2nd year at uni.  My sister-in-law and all her organisation are working at home.  She says it’s all going well.  I wish I lived in Australia where they have competent, credible governments at both nationally and at the state level.

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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.

Big thank you to Sarah for mentioning my blog too. 

Here are the questions:

1. How are you feeling/coping?

I am just absolutely knackered.  My arthritis pain is the worst it has been for months.  I think it’s because there’s so much uncertainty.  I’m doing everything I can to keep us safe.  I am using face coverings when I am in a shop (this is rare) or in busier places outdoors too.

I’m also finding the ineptitude of the government tough – I don’t delve into social media often and I’m still following the virology, epidemiology and public health experts.

Mindfulness and Yoga

I’ve scheduled in more guided mindfulness into my week – which is definitely helps me.  I’ve found more online mindfulness classes for people with long term conditions like me.  So I’m hoping that starts soon.

I’ve done more hatha yoga classes this week – found a new teacher called Marie who’s also local to me in Salford – Opening Doors Yoga (www.facebook.com/Openingdoorsyoga/)

2. What are you doing to keep yourself occupied?

‘Working’ days

I’m watching some silver clay jewellery ‘how to’ videos.  I learnt to make silver clay jewellery, a couple of years ago and am steadily improving my skills.  I am making some pieces for my nieces for their birthdays which are coming up soon.

• How to make a silver clay pendant using a texture – for Beginners

Should I start selling these earrings?  I’ve got lots of different designs I’ve made.

Gardening

Planting petunias, planting out tomatoes and other veg.  Watering the plants every evening is relaxing too.

Evening  routine

In the evenings, we’ve been watching films, TV and listening to music.

• Virtual Chelsea Flower Show – Loved it
• Films – watched ‘Chasing Ned’ a sweet film about an Irish man winning the lottery.  It’s an old film but lovely.
• Zoom chats 🙂 talked to some pals I’d not seen in about six months and some former work colleagues which was just lovely.

We go for a walk every day either late afternoon or after we have eaten.  Our walks are getting later because it’s so hot and also there are fewer people around.

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

We haven’t changed what we do – #StayatHomeSaveLives – and won’t be for the foreseeable future.

4. What advice do you have for others?

Follow the experts – Office for National Statistics, the Scottish Government (!), and the British Medical Association.  Have a look at the Australian Health Boards if you want to see how to organise easing of lockdown properly too. 

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

I bought this gorgeous irregular choice handbag from Lottie’s Attik in Lincoln.  I’ve been looking for ages for a bag to go with my purple wedding dress and irregular choice candy whistle shoes.

• www.lottiesatik.co.uk

We got married in Sept 2017.  My wedding dress is really a posh party dress – I’ve worn it about 6 times since then.  It’s two layers of chiffon and and satin and is ballerina length (just below my knee).  I felt like a Queen wearing it.

It was made to measure for me by the wonderful ladies of legend bridal in Great Harwood in Lancashire – they make incredible alternative wedding dresses.  They have asked me to write about the process of designing and making my dress for their blog.  I’m so thrilled. 

• Find them on Instagram www.instagram.com/legendbridal

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

I got an email on Monday asking me to come back from furlough on 1^st June. I’ll be working from home anyway (2/3rds of the team are furloughed but they are bringing me and another colleague back).  I haven’t processed returning to work so I’ll write about that next week.

So I’ve got lots of things I must sort out this week at home, which I’d been putting off.

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

Nope – We have quite a few gigs postponed to next year which is understandable.  I think it will be a long time until I’ll be back inside Manchester Arena.  My Chap thinks that running event’s like marathon’s will be postponed again until next year.

8. Anything else

Creativity

I bought another wooden plaque ‘plant lady’ so I’m looking forward to doing that.

• www.instagram.com/cotton_clara

I’m planning to make some silver clay pieces this weekend.

Flower in my header photo

This is phlox a small, ground cover alpine which loves the sunny weather – it’s in our front garden.

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How has your week been? Let me know in the comments. 

Stay at home, stay safe and protect your community and the NHS.

Carpe Diem,

Love Bec xx

p.s. I finished this on Sunday eve (oops).  Everything ran away with me this week.

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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

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Here’s week eight from Sarah and Bex:

• www.lifeinabreakdown.com/life-in-a-lockdown-8
• https://ialwaysbelievedinfutures.com/life-in-a-lockdown-linky-week-8

If you’d like to join in with Sarah from ‘Life in a Breakdown’, Bex ‘from ‘Futures’ and the contributors. Answer these questions and join in:

1. How are you feeling/coping?
2. What are you doing to keep yourself occupied?
3. How are you dealing with everything at the moment – are you self-isolated, going out for essentials etc? Has this changed?
4. What advice do you have for others?
5. What have you bought this week that others might like? Especially if from a small business.
6. How has your routine been this week? (Question by Don’t Cramp My Style)
7. Have you planned anything for once lockdown is over in the past 7 days?? (Don’t Cramp My Style)
8. Anything else?

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 🙂