It is nearly five weeks since the Prime Minister announced the UK lockdown to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. During this period we have all been encouraged to stay at home except for a range of activities:
– shopping for food and other necessities;
– to exercise alone or with someone from the same household;
– for medical issues, including providing care to others;
– and to travel to and from work.
We are becoming used to spending more time at home with many taking advantage of the opportunity to catch up on their favourite television shows, read and listen to music. Others are learning something new and engaging in favourite hobbies, projects, gardening and DIY. Well done to all who have finished what they started!
Arts and crafts, as always, remain popular. One member is engaging in classes that her art teacher is conducting over YouTube. Another has been trialling making non-medical face masks in the event that the Government guidance on the wearing of masks should change.
The Clap for Our Carers campaign has proved very popular with many of our members joining their local communities in recognising the work of key workers with a collective round of applause at 8 pm on a Thursday evening. One family reports that they “clapped again this evening and our youngest was whacking a frying pan with a wooden spoon.“
Similarly rainbows are popping up in windows around North Cumbria as a reminder to stay positive in these difficult times. In the North Cumbria village of Newton Arlosh there is a scarecrow competition. Residents have been encouraged to create and display the scarecrows in front gardens to celebrate the work of the NHS and other key workers.
Keeping in Touch is always important and many are turning to digital means to chat with family and friends using applications such as Skype and Zoom. The branch is also using Zoom to hold weekly meetings at a similar time to when we would normally be operating our day centre.
Further photos of the activities that our members have been doing can be found in the gallery in the Photo Album entitled The Lockdown Continues. The gallery can also be viewed below:
