Another week has rolled around. Pretty quickly actually as I have been intending to write at the weekend and it’s Monday already. Apparently time flies when you’re….pretty limited on things to do! This was my first week on furlough from work and I have to say I’ve really enjoyed it. I made myself a list of activity options with the intention to choose two things each day – one exercise option and one other (list features things like learning Adobe Premier Pro, learning sign language and baking or drawing amongst others).

I have added my name to a list of people on my street who have formed a volunteer group to help anyone in need ours and surrounding streets. I’m waiting to be assigned to specific houses and will then be on standby for shopping trips or similar – feels like a good thing to be a part of. I’ve also applied to a volunteer telephone befriending service for elderly people in Brighton and Hove. Time to Talk are an award winning service and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but not found a service that actually needed people. I think about being alone when I’m old (weird I know and possibly borderline morbid!) and how isolating that could be, so I hope I can do some good.

I mentioned sign language. In an effort to make sure I make the most of this time I’ve signed up to an accredited online sign language course for levels 1 & 2. I’ve known the alphabet for years but it feels good to be learning more. My only intention at the moment is to learn enough that I’m confident to actually use it to say the basics to someone who is deaf but who knows, maybe I’ll really enjoy it and take it further…. *thinks back to the time she said that about that aerial circus skills course…..turns out, not for me thank youuu*

 

 

I’ve also been a bit arty this week. I used to draw a fair bit when I was younger but I guess it’s one of those things which you don’t make time for as an adult. I’m really enjoying having a little sketcheroo while the TV is on. Here’s Gerald for your viewing pleasure.

 

 

 

I’ve kept up the exercise this week. I muuuust get running but have been doing long walks and workouts in the house most days. One of the things am enjoying about going on walks is the small interactions it’s still possible to have with other people. I walked past an older lady who was just coming out of her block of flats to post a letter and she said how beautiful the day was. She said it reminded her of an old song, which she gave me a little burst of and it stuck in my head until I got home. It’s those little interactions that make all the difference I find.

 

I borrowed a puzzle this week from someone on a Facebook group and it has taken up a LOT of time – I haven’t done a puzzle since I was a kid and I can’t believe how addictive it is. Every time I walk past it I intend to put a couple more pieces in and before I know it I’ve lost half an hour. It’s a great pastime though and something I think I will try to keep up after lockdown. Such a lovely thing to be able to actually borrow in this day and age. I don’t know the lady I borrowed it from, we just communicated through Facebook and she left it outside her flat for me to collect and I will return when I’m done (hopefully this side of Christmas!). I love how trusting people in Brighton and Hove are, there’s a real sense of community. I’ll hope to post the finished article next time….

In other news….. it had to be done, it was getting to the point where, when I wore shorts, my leg hair was catching the breeze (hashtag sexy). Nowhere near as good as when Cora does it of course (check out The Serenity Room when this madness is over!) and I should get at least a silver medal for some of the positions I had to get in, but I am at least now less ashamed to get my legs out, so, every cloud.

 

That’s me for now, later hosens.

Rx