Booooored

Haven't had time to get bored and have been self-isolating for 16 days! Sorting out a way of our WI book Group to keep going, setting up other online Apps to keep in touch with grandchildren, be able to join in my granddaughter's first birthday party tomorrow, shampooed all the carpets (not one for housework so they really needed it and no excuse now! daily walk, major gardening and also clearing a space for a new pond, planting seeds, catching up on Portrait artist of the year, Picard and Safe, contacting friends and people in our community by email, WhatsApp, skype or facebook messenger to check they are ok, trying to work out how to keep our newly revived WI which had doubled its membership this year going, working out how long I can amke our food stocks last with a weekly order from the village shop - don't want to order more often they are so busy, sending some seeds to my grandchildren, writing some treasure hunts to email them, daily walk down the deserted lanes for an hour, not even been able to get in my studio yet but lots of ideas mulling and have saved lots of sites offering online learning, read the radio times and Gardeners World magazine free online from our local library . . . I could go on

I thought I was very organised and decided tht I would learn to crochet and ordered (through Amazon) a beginners guide, yarn and crochet needles. They all arrived last week, with exception of the crochet needles - and now they tell me they cannot deliver them. I am so annoyed and disappointed so now besides practising calligraphy I do not have another new hobby to occupy myself. So, yes, I am going stir crazy.!!!

Something to dip into. Celebrities talking about their favourite song. Found it whilst looking for programmes Terry Waite might have been on. He spent 5 years in solitary confinement as you will all know. Puts me to shame- moaning already!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgj4/episodes/guide

Pittcity.Love the ducks !!

Had a bath went for a walk, played my tin whistle, spoke to and texted children, checked emails etc. Washed handles. Made evening meal as husband was tidying shed. He said if I stand beside him tomorrow night he'll teach me how to make dinner ?

Pittycity

I've just planted some seeds in the greenhouse - they are about 2 years old so I'm not sure if they will germinate.
My theory is that the desert blooms after about 10 years when the rains arrive again so fingers crossed!

I've just fed the ducks!

I washed my hair today.

Answered the phone to the receptionist who was just checking we are still alive.

Downloaded an exercise app. Looked at it.

Gardening, window cleaning, painting by numbers, jigsaw, reading thank goodness for the kindle no need to go out to buy a book, baking, household chores. Miss my friends though. No the same on the phone

I’m so glad to see you Bradford. After your post about your DGD you seemed to have dropped off the radar.
Did she go back to the U.K.?

As I am normally isolated for a lot of the time, and quite like it, my days are progessing pretty much as they always do.
As an elder of a large Maori organisation, I will receive at least one phone call a week (I could have one daily if I wish) to check my welfare and am in regular contact by email or phone if I have an urgent need.

They will bring food (or medication) to the house if any of us run out - and support us in any other ways.

I wish this applied right across the board to all elders and other vulnerable people and perhaps this crisis will highlinght that need so something is put into place.

There's got to be some good to come out of this.

Good explaination Chardy

Abnuyc123 you have cheered me up no end,love your sense of humour.

I think for some people, it's not the lack of things to do, it's the lack of motivation. What's the point of getting up or getting dressed etc? Undoubtedly that is the start of depression.
There's no point in the 'pull yourself together' mentality. That person has to fight it themselves.
A little reward for a task completed (or a task started?)
As this weird lifestyle continues, please watch out for this happening to friends or family.

Washerwoman
Well said.

Being bored is one thing, being a frontline worker whether NHS, police, supermarkets workers, delivery drivers etc. Is quite another.

As my younger, fitter but isolating neighbours said "we are the lucky ones"

Finally tackling clearing out the loft which hasn't been looked at for years. No excuse not to do it!

Have you access to a phone, and enjoy a chat? Use both to help others. The key sentence for gransnet posters is " Other volunteers will provide support calls to elderly people who are in isolation and at risk of loneliness. "

From the Guardian - "Yesterday 500, 000 people signed up in the first day to join a scheme to help those confined to their homes because of the coronavirus.
About the scheme - www.goodsamapp.org/NHS

"People can join the scheme in four different roles, including as a community response volunteer, which involves “collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home”.

Patient transport volunteers will support the NHS by driving discharged patients to their homes, and NHS transport volunteers will move equipment, supplies or medication between sites. Other volunteers will provide support calls to elderly people who are in isolation and at risk of loneliness.

Volunteers, who must be over 18, fit and healthy and able to pass an enhanced DBS check, will be directed to tasks via a responder app that they can switch to say they are “on duty” when available."

If you cannot get essential supplies these people will help you. If you are bored out of your skull, or are going round the bend with nothing to do or no human contact, then you can help yourself at the same time as helping others, by phoning someone in a worse position than yourself. This is in England, but other parts of the UK either have their own schemes or will be copying it soon.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/astonishing-170000-people-sign-up-to-be-nhs-volunteers-in-15-hours-coronavirus

Cleared out the bathroom cupboard yesterday - oh dear!!!

Why did I have 4 bottles of Nit Lotion in there?
Out of date bottles of Tea Tree Oil.
Various bottles of Body Lotion from those 'gift sets'.
'Bath Crystals' - I live in a flat with a shower - no bath!!!!!
Empty box off cotton buds.
Used razors - not taking the blame for those!!!!!

Part tins of Deodorant / Body Spray / Moisturising Cream - all will now get used before anything else gets opened!

Surprised to find that I only had about 1 inch of shampoo left in the bottle though - and no spare one in the drawers . Had to go out yesterday (medical reasons), so popped into B&M for shampoo and a bottle of washing up liquid - then straight back home in a taxi!

I'm saving a small fortune on Coffee Shops etc .

We are in lockdown in a hotel in Perth. We came to WA from SA a week before they closed the border but as we hadn’t been here for 14days, we’ve been in Australia for a couple of months, we have to be isolated so....Today
We get up as late as possible and have a cup of tea

Then we decide what to have for breakfast. Not a lot of choice as the hotel has dispensed with the chef.

Then we shower etc.

Then we decide what to have for lunch. Then we order it.

Then I cut our toe nails, carefully over the clinical waste bag that we have to put everything we touch in.

Then we ate lunch.

Now we are watching the Iron Maiden on tv.

For the rest of the day - I WILL do some exercises, some ironing, look out of the window and watch life going on on the sun shine. Read a book, luckily I have three.

Thank god for technology and my contacts with the outside world.
Hopefully we’ve only got 2 days left, if our plane flies. The last one didn’t.

It’s going surprisingly quickly and tomorrow we have to change the bed. There’s an extra bit of fun!
I’m counting my blessings, so many people are having a much worse time than us, however I will be glad to get home.
Home will be easy?

Counting my blessings daily.
Dcs have key workers jobs which is a worry but they are amazing sending hilariously uplifting what's app messages and talking to us several times a day.Lots of lovely chats by phone with friends.
Grateful for my home, lovely garden and ability to get out with our dogs. Can do a lovely walk from our doorstep.
Our garden is going to look its best ever with no visitors to see it !
Gardening jobs a priority until it rains then jigsaws, books,sorting photos, general cupboard tidying.
Neighbours all chatting from their driveways.Some more senior than DH and I so will shop etc if they need us to.
And I have to go out to check on my housebound mum and do her cleaning as her cleaner not coming.Still paying her as mums money goes in regardless and we agreed don't want to lose her or see her struggle.
Best wishes to all those truly housebound.Hope you are getting support.

Great new thread here :-

www.gransnet.com/forums/coronavirus/1275111-Links-to-useful-resources-during-self-isolation

I'm reading, sewing, knitting and making calendars. Also I'm trying to get out of the house to have a walk before the crowds, I just can't stay at home without some fresh air.

aonk, Elle Anne …

Abnuyc…. Thanks for that!

hollysteers … silly thing to say, and not necessary.

mbmb … Yes I have that background feeling of being unsettled and anxious.
As you say it's a marathon not a sprint.