Tales from The Shire

Cheery_Daff

Glad you're making good progress with some of your household tasks Fortune As of last night we've been told we're to work at home and not go in at all, but I can't imagine that will lead to your levels of productivity in my case... Still, I think we will share your feeling of there being no other people in the world (we can only see one inhabited house from ours, our neighbour who is 89, but who has plenty of lovely local types popping in to take him things - i think the best thing I can do right now is not to introduce him to anything I might have picked up while out and about). 

Strange and eerie indeed. 

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Glad you're making good progress with some of your household tasks Fortune As of last night we've been told we're to work at home and not go in at all, but I can't imagine that will lead to your levels of productivity in my case... Still, I think we will share your feeling of there being no other people in the world (we can only see one inhabited house from ours, our neighbour who is 89, but who has plenty of lovely local types popping in to take him things - i think the best thing I can do right now is not to introduce him to anything I might have picked up while out and about). 

Strange and eerie indeed. 

I think you might find levels of productivity go up Cheery.  In the absence of any social events I find I'm getting bored already.  It's a great cure for procrastination!

We have 5 houses in our little hamlet including ours.  Only two of which we can see from the house.  Both of those neighbours are elderly with underlying health conditions so are self-isolating as we are.  We can hear a little traffic noise from ours sometimes but even that is lessening.  We have sheep in the bottom field at the moment and the wildlife is very active right now so at least there is some movement and life around.

Take care

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

badmemory said:

I think we are all lucky to have this place to keep contact with people, even if we are anonymous.  We are able to "talk" to people, to order online etc.  What worries me are the people who have very little contact with the outside world at the best of times & can't order their shopping online.  Lack of human contact is very bad for your mental health & if your mental health deteriorates that tends to be followed by your physical health.

Personally I am not looking forward to the enforced 4 month self isolation (I'm over 70) & I am fairly antisocial.  But I also do not like being told what to do!  Although to be honest I would be surprised if they actually ENFORCE it, because after all the more of us they kill off the greater the NHS & social care savings they will have.  They have already indicated that they will not be treating us in hospital!

Hello BM 

I've seen some very reassuring and positive action from local communities.  Our town is setting up a community help group who will deliver food, medicines, run chores, etc for those who are self-isolating.  They will be putting leaflets through doors to make sure those not on the internet are aware.

It's going to be hard on everyone but, if we each do a little something to help others, we can lessen the blow.  We are self-isolating because of my underlying health conditions.  I believe I would survive the virus but, I might need medical help and I don't want to add to the pressures on our NHS.  If I ignored the Government's advice it could mean that I take the treatment that another desperately needs.  We are able to self-isolate so I think it's the right thing for us to do.

We are having a think about what we can do to help whilst in this position and may offer to 'buddy' someone who is going to be on their own whilst isolating.  We might be able to spend some time on the telephone with people.

In the meantime we will be regularly contacting our friends, neighbours and family and connecting (virtually) with as many as possible.

Take care BM and reach out if you need to.  There are plenty of people out there (and here) who want to help.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Procrastination... nope.

I've spent a few days in suspended animation whilst taking the gravity of the situation in.  Yesterday I seemed to rationalise and 'got up and got on'.  We are in this for the long haul and will need to develop some coping strategies if we are to come out the other side unscathed.  So...

• I reached the bottom of the ironing pile.  Not for long as washing is on the list of chores for today 
• I did some gardening.  I intend to find the bit of the garden which needs attention most and tackle that first.  When I run out of puff for the heavier work I'll move on to something lighter, like pruning, until I completely run out of speed then I'll call it quits
• I had a think about the veg patch planting and have put together a seed order.  We won't be using our fun money for social activities this month so I'm thinking of using that to get a cold frame so I can grow from seed
• DS2 called.  He's self-isolating alone so I made sure I had a long chat with him
• we had porridge with prunes, pear, apple and mixed seed for breakfast then leftover soup and risotto for lunch and supper.

No more procrastinating for me

Mr F is desperate to "do something" to help but is restricted because of having to self-isolate to protect me.  I think it's important to focus on what we can do rather than what we can't so we're having a think. 

In terms of maintaining mental health I'm going to make a point each day of recognising what I'm grateful for, what has made me happy and what has brought me joy, so...

• I'm so grateful we have this house.  It's a great place to be when you can't be anywhere else
• I'm happy I can take positive action to improve my situation
• Being out in the garden in the dry and a little sunshine bought me joy today

Wishing you all happiness and moments of joy even in these difficult times.

Fortune x

themadvix

I think everyone's gardens are going to be very well tended this year! I like the idea of a cold-frame - at the moment we don't have anywhere to grow things from seed either. I may borrow that idea.

It's amazing, but there does seem to be a lot to be grateful for, even in these difficult times. Maybe, especially because of these times - the basics come into focus more.

Cheery_Daff

Don't know whether it's helpful (er, or whether someone actually said it on here, sorry!) but there's a list somewhere of museums that have free virtual tours, plus concerts etc that are being streamed for free. I also saw a list of online university courses you can take for free. Some of us are going to be extremely well-educated by the time this is all over!

PurpleFairy26

It's very sensible to do practical things during self isolation. Not only to keep busy but also to have a sense of achievement if we can't get out. I've got gardening (including growing some things as at least I won't have to dredge round the SM for it 😂), yoga, knitting Christmas presents and making curtains. I should also sort some boxes in the loft at some 
point. 

I'm also making of list of activities for the smalls and have the link to the virtual museums @Cheery_Daff talks off which will be included in their list. 

rtandon27

Fortune & ladies - thank-you for sharing your positivity! All your plotting and planning has brought a huge smile to my face and lifted my spirits.
Working from home for the foreseeable future means a very full and hectic day but thankfully no two hour commute for which I am very grateful 😆
Also very thankful that working from home means there is an extra layer of protection for OH who has underlying health issues.😊

Fortune_Smiles

themadvix said:

I think everyone's gardens are going to be very well tended this year! I like the idea of a cold-frame - at the moment we don't have anywhere to grow things from seed either. I may borrow that idea.

It's amazing, but there does seem to be a lot to be grateful for, even in these difficult times. Maybe, especially because of these times - the basics come into focus more.

We're planning to extend the veg patch this year.  Last year's efforts were largely succesful so we're going to upscale production 

I think you're right MV - especially because of these times.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Don't know whether it's helpful (er, or whether someone actually said it on here, sorry!) but there's a list somewhere of museums that have free virtual tours, plus concerts etc that are being streamed for free. I also saw a list of online university courses you can take for free. Some of us are going to be extremely well-educated by the time this is all over!

That's good to know Cheery - thank you.

Fortune x