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    Dreams!

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    The dreams I had in the past were truly amazing, thought-provoking  and colourfully unusual. Flying above trees and fields, blue sheep and rivers of red. Sat in a chair, pulling my teeth out with a pair of pliers. Travelling to far away places, to the stars and the moon and talking with friends and relatives, long since passed. These dreams were in complete contrast to the life I lead, allowing my mind to escape the rigours of every day drudgery, while gently (for the most part) slipping in and out of sleep, during normal times.

    Of course, we no longer live in normal times. All our lives have changed beyond anything we could have ever imagined. Each day has become a deeply moving experience as we count the number of people dying from Coronavirus and adjust our lives accordingly.

    My dreams have also changed; for the second night in a row I have dreamt of the uncustomary, unconventional and unorthodox, the way life used to be. Yesterday I dreamed of drinking tea with my Father, while my Cousins played happily in the garden outside and neighbours chatted noisily in the street outside. Last night I partied with family and friends, enjoying a Birthday, as I have done many times before.

    Today the new normal encroaches on every part of our life. We are reminded of the changed and different World we now frequent and sit quietly alone, longing for a time when convention prevails. It is therefore only fitting that my dreams diverge in a different direction, telling a tale of better days, when all of us can finally shake off the shackles of lockdown and live once again!
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    Photographs of Hope - Jo Donaldson!

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    Inspirational photographs at a time of crisis, creating positivity for the future!

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    During these strange uncertain times, our lives have been affected somewhat. Our original plans for this weekend were all set out, my husband was set to go to Glasgow to complete his dive trainer course, my eldest daughter was set to go visit with some of her university peers, my youngest daughter and I were set to go on a local cupcake decorating workshop, all of our plans were to be apart by us having different ideas as to what would make our Easter weekend fun. That was soon to change with the current lock down and the growing fear of an invisible killer that is lurking in just about every direction. 

    So there we were , a family of four all with different ideas of what we wanted to do to occupy ourselves to achieve happiness.  Then the rules changed, we were forced to change our separate plans and were forced to all stay in our home and were worried that we would be bored or argue and fight  having not really ever spending this much time together without the respite of work or school where we are able to spend time with other people. I personally thought it would be a terrible time with all four of us together with nowhere to go, nobody to see just us, but how wrong could I have been we have been having great fun, we have our meals together at the table, without the distraction of TV or electronic devices, we talk, we laugh, we eat together as a family.

    Rather than going out and paying into the commercial idea of Easter, we have stripped it back, we painted our own eggs, we laughed at our competition when we all used our vote, to vote for our own egg to be the winner, we have played board games, we have played cards, we have made our meals at home from scratch together, we have made cakes, but most of all we have done these things together as a family of four, and we are safe and happy. One of our dear friends is currently very poorly, on a ventilator fighting to keep his life and showing COVID that he is not going to allow it to rob him of walking his daughters down the aisle, he WILL meet the grandchildren he doesn’t have yet, he IS going to grow old and grumpy with his beautiful wife, he isn’t going to be giving up, he IS going to survive to tell his story because he is strong and a fighter, an ex military worker, who has done so much for his country and has spent time on charitable causes. So when I hear of selfish people who are irresponsible and uneducated in their actions who believe the rules on self-isolation don’t apply to them it angers me.

    My friend became infected due to his essential role as a train driver, selflessly working  and risking his life every day to do his bit help keep the country running by assisting other key workers to get to their work to do their bit to keep our country going. It astounds me that for the majority of us, doing our patriotic duty is so simple, the majority of us are asked to carry out the easiest, least dangerous of tasks and just stay at home. That is not a massive task, just stay home. We have all been given the easiest of tasks, for some moronic selfish idiots, going to see friends seems to be far more important than keeping their friends safe, having a beer in the sun in a group is far more important than their friends lives it would seem.

    So instead of complaining that the weather is nice, and we all have to stay home, why not use this time to reconnect with the people you share a house with, use this time re discover what you like about each other, don’t waste this time thinking of where you could be, use it to appreciate where you are right now, don’t waste time on negativity, feel grateful that your loved ones are under the same roof as you and not currently fighting for their lives hooked up to machines, be happy knowing you can give your children a kiss goodnight and cuddle your partner because the other side of the coin is far worse, your little girl being unable to give her Daddy a kiss goodnight, not knowing if Daddy is going to come home again, not knowing if you are going to be able to see Daddy alive again, being frightened of the phone ringing in case a sad voice on the other end is going to shatter your world.

    So my photo is of our Easter egg competition entries, they symbolise hope that this terrible virus does not claim any more victims, they symbolise the fact that my family of four are healthy and happy, they symbolise the need to keep together by staying apart, and most of all they symbolise that as a country we will get through this, and we will look back at this time and remember that life is fragile, and we need to make the best out of what cards we are dealt because it can all be taken away. Keep safe x

    Jo Donaldson
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    Photographs of Hope - Lynn Elderkin!

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    Inspirational photographs at a time of crisis, creating positivity for the future!
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    My photo is  not at all flattering. It was taken after one of my morning Joe Wicks 20 minute keep fit sessions... 3 weeks and its paid off! I've lost weight and the biggy is I think I've reversed my pre type 2 diabetes! Blood sugar readings are all perfect for the last week... so I'm taking that one thanks... it also lifts my mood...

    Lynn Elderkin

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    Photographs of Hope - Darrell Martin!

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    Inspirational photographs at a time of crisis, creating positivity for the future!
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    The light, the colour, the respectability of everything. The order that doesn't stifle peoples creativity. I have hope for us all, because I have been to utopia, and it's real!


    Darrell Martin

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  • Published on

    Back To Work!

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    On Friday I returned to work, nine days after I entered self-quarantine because of Coronavirus symptoms. Every feature of the virus, I had been experiencing had finally abated, and I am left with just a hoarse voice, which the Doctor on '111' said would be fine and return gradually over time.

    Over the past few days I had been lambasted by certain individuals for returning to my job so quickly. I had an isolation note from NHS 111 allowing me to return on 8th April and returned on the 10th April after the last of my symptoms finally retreated, including my loss of taste and smell. These are the guideline set out by the Government and who am I to question the experts.

    Work have been more than supportive as you would expect and told me to ignore people who were not medical experts and take advice only from health professionals. Which I intend to do in the future. It does seem that everyone is a Coronavirus expert at the moment and despite their good intentions, I feel rather deflated and aghast by some of the criticism directed towards me. Everyone suffers the manifestation of COVID-19 differently and the illness plays out a very different course for each of us.

    Without a test, I can not be sure if I have actually had Coronavirus, but according to the COVID Doctor it was highly likely and I should regard my state of health as COVID related. I suppose if I catch anything again in the future I will certainly know for sure, but the only people who are currently tested for the virus, are those who attend hospital as an in patient; a shocking indictment of the governments testing policy!

    My Aunt who is a Medical Practitioner, also told me to follow the strict guidelines and stop listening to others, which I now intend to do. She remains in quarantine for another seven days, while she waits for any possible symptoms to occur. Then as a family we can all get back to a relative sense of normality in deeply abnormal times!

    Work went well and have introduced some very stringent measures to protect us, as we carry out our jobs. This is indeed a very strange time but it does feel good to be back among friends and colleagues once again. The next few weeks will be harder than ever, as Britain records more and more deaths from Coronavirus each day, but in time all of us with breathe a sigh of relief. Until then, we just need to continue doing the right thing!
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    Non Touch Toast!

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    On Thursday at 7pm, an hour before the nation clapped for the National Health Service once again, my Aunt had arranged a 'Non Touch Toast.' Family and friends came together on WhatsApp to honour one another during these dark days. The news on the television has become a tide of despair, so spending a few moments each week to think of those closest has been a wonderful way to stay in touch and feel supported. Even though we can't see, hug or receive our nearest and dearest in public, we can at least stay close through the wonders of social media. We are fortunate to be living in an age, where all of us, no matter where we are in the World, can remain connected in a way we have never been able to before.

    When I look across the internet, I am heartened to see so many of you, doing what you can to keep active and in touch with everyone at this time. Family is the linchpin that holds us all together, so it is only fitting we keep those bonds alive and flourishing, in good times and bad. Coronavirus may well be tearing through whole communities but neighbourhoods are holding strong and waiting for the day freedom once more returns.

    Toasting family and friends is a small but important gesture, reinforcing our belief in the strength that loyalty and togetherness brings. We are the sum of our own experiences, but we are also the product of those we grew up with and others we choose to live alongside. There are many types of family, not always related through blood, but no less important and in many cases more significant and consequential, filling our lives with love, laughter and that all important sense of belonging. Raising a glass to our kindred spirits resonates with our need to feel secure, anchored and embraced at a time of stress and insecurity. Without these familiar faces, messages of love and words of encouragement, all of us would find the burden of Coronavirus too much to bear!
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    It's good to receive your messages, telling me what you are all up to as well....Do keep them coming in. It was great to hear from Sally and Dom about the things they were doing to stay active!

    Sally

    'Making my granddaughter a rag doll!' Great way to pass the time Sally. I remember I learnt to knit myself many years ago and if I wasn't so busy working and writing, I would be right there with you!

    Dom

    Hi Luke, I'm working from home with calls when there have been any transferred to my mobile, other than that I'm drinking beer watching TV and listening to music. I've been on lockdown since the Thursday before Boris told us to stay inside; must say I'm pretty bored. It's good you are still working Dom and you can at least use the time to relax a little bit more. My advice during these difficult days is to do what makes you happy, it's working for me!

    Whatever you are doing, remember why we are having to make sacrifices. Think about all the key workers who are working hard every day, making sure you are looked after. If you have to stay at home for a short while, so we can beat this virus, so be it, it won't be forever!
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