So many people are really stepping up at the moment, it’s heartwarming. These people and organisations will be remembered when things become a ‘new normal’. I have no doubt we will never be the same again. which is NOT a bad thing!

Tracking The Spread in UK

Each day brings new information on ‘the time when the world changed’. This morning my dear friend Helen forwarded a ‘tracking App’. The research is led by Dr Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London. Awesome!

Here’s the link https://covid.joinzoe.com:

Take 1-minute to self-report daily, even if you are well. 

Help our scientists identify:

• High-risk areas in the UK.
• Who is most at risk, by better understanding symptoms linked to underlying health conditions.
• How fast the virus is spreading in your area.

I’ve downloaded the App on my phone and intend to log in and ‘report’ each day. I encourage you to do the same.

I read a recent article by George Monbiot today too, having watched the amazing Jacinda Ardern addressing the nation again last night on YouTube after putting her toddler daughter to bed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMA6Gz82iiQ

George suggests: “The worst possible people are in charge at the worst possible time. In the UK, the US and Australia, the politics of the governing parties have been built on the dismissal and denial of risk. Just as these politics have delayed the necessary responses to climate breakdown, ecological collapse, air and water pollution, obesity and consumer debt, so they appear to have delayed the effective containment of Covid-19.” https://www.monbiot.com/2020/03/22/prescription-for-disaster/

Time will tell I guess.

Inspirations

Last night we chatted and laughed a lot with our dear friends Gav and Helen in Guiseley, Leeds. This evening Barry chatted with Fred in Sheffield. What a marvellous time to connect with people you love?

This morning I heard a woodpecker nearby. I didn’t see it. But I heard it. I cant recall having this experience for a very long time.

And is it just me, or is the sky bluer these past few days? Clearer? The sunrises and sunsets more beautiful? The stars shining brighter during the night? There’s a tiny golden slither of a moon out tonight. I can’t recall seeing one quite so slithery ever before. My theory is a lot of the new clarity is due to a lack of plane trails and vapours! Back in Gisborne, where Barry comes from and I emigrated to in January 2005, they have hardly any air traffic. The sky there is blue 80% of the time. The stars are prolific. Just saying …

I’m also reminded of how, when I returned to UK in July 2002, from my first stay of nine months in NZ, and subsequently had to get all my stored ‘stuff’ back, I wondered why on earth I had most of it. How many people are now wondering what the meaning of life really is? It’s not work. It’s not the accumulation of wealth. I loved this quote from ‘growing bolder‘ on Instagram today:

An Abundance Of Free Resources

I’m in awe of the amount of resources that are usually paid for that are being made free (thank you Martin Lewis). I’m signing up the ukulele lessons. What do you fancy?

There’s free online learning. Learn a new language. How about brushing up (pun intended I think!) on hair and beauty techniques?Gain free qualifications. There’s a list of ten. Check them out.

One Day At A Time

Our planned cruise into Liverpool on 13th May has been cancelled. They said there’s no point as there wouldn’t be anyone around or anything open! Ah well, another time for that tick off the list of canals and places we haven’t experienced by narrowboat.

The towpath in Nantwich continues to be busier than we’d like. There’s a notice at the start of the path on the road below, but it seems few people reading it. Still there are groups of folks merrily chatting and wandering, a little too close for our liking sometimes! The latest from the CRT website states: “We are advising people to limit their use of the towpath and to be mindful of people living on boats, and if possible, avoiding stretches where boats are moored against the towpath. People should strictly observe social distancing at all times, following the latest advice from the Government.”

I asked Barry (nicely!) if he’d go to the supermarket today. I’m extremely grateful to still have work in my online job. Barry doesn’t like food shopping at the best of times bless him, but he went without complaint and navigated the interesting new system of queuing and distancing himself from others.

Another glorious sunset this evening keeps our spirits up – as well as the other spirits of course! Cheers everyone. Please share any of your inspirations each day, and free resources you discover. I suspect there’s an awful lot of people out there who have no idea what to do with themselves now they aren’t able to work in a ‘normal’ way …

Kia kaha. Be strong.