jeanniejeanniejeannie.co.uk BLOG 18th May 2020
CORONABOBS ISOLATION DAY 62 – Diary of a Self-Isolator Saturday 16th May 2020
This is the first day of the first weekend in lockdown were the general public is allowed to travel as far as they like in a day as long as they can return in the same day. Our youngest daughter brought our two grandchildren to picnic on our back lawn.
It was amazing to see them and call out to them and rekindle memories of how times used to be in the olden days.
The sad part was the cold weather. The bulk of the time I sat with my gloves on. Oh, to what depths we have been lowered to. But worth it.
Coronavirus infection ‘R’ rate in UK creeps up Public urged to avoid England’s beauty spots (Good job our garden not a beauty spot)
Police issue 14,000 fines for lockdown breaches
The public is being urged to “think twice” before heading to England’s beaches and country parks this weekend, despite the easing of lockdown rules.
Councils in beauty spots fear a surge in visitors could result in a rise in coronavirus infections.
The Peak District said an area of its park was “extremely busy” but other tourism bosses praised the public for keeping visits at “manageable” levels.
In London, hundreds of people gathered to protest against the lockdown.
This is the first weekend since the lockdown rules were relaxed in England, allowing people to spend as much time outdoors as they want “for leisure purposes”, including sunbathing.
There is no longer a limit on how far people can travel and people are also allowed meet one person outside their household outdoors.
CHILDREN’S DIARY or JOURNAL
Why your child needs to start journaling now
“Dear coronavirus: You stink. Because of you, I’m stuck at home, miss my friends, can’t play sports, and am trapped with my parents, nonstop homework, and my little brother, who is always farting.”
Right about now, your child is probably boiling over with frustrations, questions, concerns, ideas, and stories they want to share. Journaling is a perfect outlet to express everything on their mind. “If kids can put events and observations on paper, it helps makes sense of this bewildering and frightening time,” says Melissa Hart, author of Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens. “A child’s emotions seem less scary when they see them on paper.”
Even during “normal” times, journaling helps kids become more confident in their ability to express themselves and promotes writing, language, communication, and art skills. But forget the old-fashioned idea of a diary that recaps an ordinary, sometimes mundane, daily routine. “A journal lets your child articulate ideas, art, stories, and feelings,” Hart says. It can also be a collection of things the writer wants to remember, a funny conversation they overheard, something they’re curious about, or an idea for an invention.
“Journaling provides a place for an active mind to store ideas and an outlet for pent up intellectual energy and emotions,” says Peter Gwin, National Geographic editor at large. “I think of it as a mad scientist’s laboratory, a place with complete freedom to explore and say whatever the writer wants. It’s really that sense of freedom that’s important.”
Journaling basics
It certainly doesn’t take much to get started. “Kids simply need paper and something to write with,” Gwin says. In fact, the perfect journal is whatever fits your child’s style: a spiral notepad, mixed media paper, sketchpad, bound notebooks with lines, graph paper, or blank pages. “Add a great pen, plus colour pencils, paint, glue sticks, and scissors, and your child’s imagination can go in any direction,” Hart says. Your child might prefer to keep their journal on the computer or make photo or video journals.
Some kids might need more than one. “I keep a few pocket-size journals going at any one time,” Gwin says. “I have one by my bed for those flashes that come right before sleep or that wake me up in the middle of the night. Others are filled with newspaper clippings, pressed flowers, lists, crazy ideas, and rants about my favourite sports team.”
Focus is on foreground.
Let children be in control of their journaling journey. Allow them to find the right time and location to write: Even just a few minutes a day a couple times a week keeps things fresh and fun, plus reduces pressure to be creative on demand. Make sure they’re writing for themselves. “Your child doesn’t have to write specifically about emotions or feelings,” Hart says. “Often those feelings will end up on the page in an organic way.”
And remind your child not to worry about spelling, punctuation, or grammar. “It’s a structure- and rule-free zone,”
Hart says.
Perhaps the biggest question on parents’ minds: Should you read your child’s journal? Both Hart and Gwin agree that privacy matters.
“Parents will approach this differently, but my feeling is that for a kid to feel truly free and empowered to explore, they need a nonjudgment zone, beyond the prying eyes of parents,” Gwin says. “Though my kids often want to share what they’ve written.”
How to get started
As any writer will tell you, the blank page can sometimes be intimidating. If your child is stuck or can’t think of anything to get started, give them a challenge or a prompt. Below are some ideas to kickstart your child’s journaling.
—Make lists, such as a child’s top five ice cream flavours, books, songs, jokes, or words
—Write a backstory for a minor character in a favourite movie, book, or TV show, like Ollivander the wandmaker in the Harry Potter book
—Write a one-paragraph story about a photo of a vacation, relative, or funny moment.
—Sketch or doodle.
—Write a letter to the coronavirus or another issue your child might be stressing about.
—Describe how the house has changed now that parents and kids are home all the time.
—Finish this sentence: This is why I’m angry / sad / scared.
—Describe the unexpected benefits of sheltering in place.
—Write a story about a superhero and the coronavirus (or another topic that’s causing stress).
—Tell a story about everyone being at home all the time—but from the perspective of your family’s pet.
—Write five wishes.
—Compare a typical day now to a typical day from a year ago.
Ruth A. Musgrave – Geographic Magazine
I surprised myself today. I’ve sold two books. One on Ebay and one on Amazon. I put them on for sale with lots more stuff in the run up for Christmas. I sold most items and these that didn’t I left on. Now, I have to take my life in my hands to go and post them. Have you seen the queue outside the Post Office? Is it worth it? For me, yes.
We watched Charlie Brooker “Antiviral Wipes” on TV. Beautiful, funny satire. Excellent!
DON’T FORGET TO LAUGH EVERYDAY ESPECIALLY WHILST IN ISOLATION
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE FOR THE DAY
“Being an adult is like folding a fitted sheet. No one really knows how.”
HAPPINESS IS…
Happiness is…writing a diary
GRANDAD’S ONE LINER JOKE OF THE DAY
“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 now and we don’t know where the hell she is.” – Ellen DeGeneres
LOVE IS…
Love is…knowing you knowing me
5 Things To Be Grateful For During Lockdown/Coronavirus
We are GRATEFUL LOCKDOWN gives us a time…
- A time to wake…A time to sleep
- A time to suffer…A time to heal
- A time to sit…A time to walk
- A time for thought…A time for action
- A time to work at home…A time to play at home.
TOTAL STAIRWAY TO EVERST CLIMB CHALLENGE
DAY 42 16 Times – 144 Feet Cumulative Total 6,291 Feet
HORRIBLE LITTLE NUMBERS
Country Confirmed cases Deaths
1 US 1,486,757 89,562
2 UK 244,995 34,716
3 Italy 225,435 31,908
4 France 177,364 28,065
5 Spain 230,698 27,563
6 Brazil 241,080 16,122
7 Belgium 55,280 9,052
8 Germany 176,369 7,962
9 Iran 120,198 6,988
10 Canada 78,332 5,903
UK deaths yesterday 170
Global cases Updated 18 May at 07:46 local
Confirmed 4,710,614 +74,784
Deaths 315,023 +3,202
Recovered 1,732,344 +38,659
Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths worldwide per one million population as of May 17, 2020, by country
Confirmed deaths (absolute) Population (in millions) Deaths per million
Belgium 9,005 11.42 788.39
Spain 27,563 46.72 589.91
Italy 31,763 60.43 525.61
United Kingdom 34,466 66.49 518.37
France 27,496 66.99 410.47
Sweden 3,674 10.18 360.79
Netherlands 5,670 17.23 329.06
Ireland 1,533 4.85 315.85
United States 88,619 327.17 270.87
Switzerland 1,879 8.52 220.63
Ecuador 2,688 17.08 157.34
Canada 5,800 37.06 156.51
Portugal 1,203 10.28 117.00
©2020 Phil M Robinson