Chandler's Ford Today

Covid-19

Pandemics and Epidemics – I have been locked-down for 100 days

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By the time you read this, I will have been locked-down for 100 days, from March 9th in fact.

This is not the first epidemic or pandemic I have experienced. The first, in 1961, amounted to nothing very much but, without prompt action, it could have been even more serious than the present one.

I returned home to my student flat late one night to find the door locked and bolted. I rang and banged and shouted and eventually my flat-mate, Taffy, appeared on the balcony.

‘You can’t come in, mate.’

‘Stop messing around, Taffy and let me in.’

‘Can’t, it’s smallpox.’

‘There’s no smallpox here. Let me in.’

Lockdown for 100 days
Lockdown for 100 days

‘But there is in South Wales and in Bradford. We are possible contacts because we spent the weekend in South Wales. We are in quarantine for 10 days and must have no contact with anyone. Public Health sends someone around with food which they leave at the door.’ [Read more…] about Pandemics and Epidemics – I have been locked-down for 100 days

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Prosody

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It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it. The panel game, Just a Minute depends on it. My granddaughter (aged 6) wrote a performance poem about the programme. I have kept the original spelling:-

This is

Cklap, cklap, cklap

A game of

Cklap, cklap, cklap

Consontrashon

Clap, clap, clap

No repeets

Clap, clap, clap

Or hesetaison

Clap, clap, clap

I’ll go first

Clap, clap, clap

And I’ll go second

Clap, clap, clap

Subject is

Clap, clap, clap

Enithing.

By GT

Jan 2020

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Music in Chandler’s Ford during Lockdown: “Love thy neighbours is so true”

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Steve Allen has shared these videos, in which he captured some happy moments in the neighbourhood of Chandler’s Ford during the lockdown. These included music on Thursday evenings, and a piper playing for a neighbour’s birthday.

With Steve’s permission, we are sharing these on Chandler’s Ford Today.

1 – Malcolm the Piper was playing for a Scottish lady on her birthday.

Malcolm and lovely neighbours in Chandler's Ford - supporting key workers and sharing community spirit.
Malcolm and lovely neighbours in Chandler’s Ford – supporting key workers and sharing community spirit.

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Care in a Time of COVID

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We are beginning to think of ending the lock-down. How different will it be afterwards?

That little strand of RNA wrapped up as COVID-19 has altered our behaviour. It has shut our institutions; schools, universities, travel, industries, retail and the legal system. Health, policing, food and pharmacy remain active with some local travel.

Some of us have been able to work from home and found it satisfactory. A friend is wondering why he keeps a London office; a weekly meeting in an office hired for half a day may be sufficient. Others strive to work amid the domestic activities of children and housework. The fashion for open-plan living areas in houses has not helped.

Coronavirus image by Karolina Grabowska

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Can you help? Making Mask Extenders to Help the NHS

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Calling all knitters & crafters!

Southampton District Methodist Church has had a direct plea from one of the hospital chaplains for mask extenders.

Recently some mask extenders were taken to a particularly hard-hit ward and they were very well received. This is a plea district-wide to help all our local hospitals. Below is a poster with instructions.

Can you make some mask extenders for frontline NHS workers?
Can you make some mask extenders for frontline NHS workers?

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26 Songs Medley – Fundraising for Methodist Homes (MHA)

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Why not listen to a medley of 26 beautiful songs, guess their titles, and donate to support Methodist Homes (MHA)?

MHA is a charity providing care, accommodation and support services for older people throughout Britain.

Rev Eric Renouf’s daughter, Joy Blake, leads Singing for Wellbeing groups for two MHA Live at Home Schemes in the north of Hampshire. As a fundraising challenge for MHA, she has put together a medley of 26 songs with titles for each letter of the alphabet (with a bit of ‘cheating’ on ‘X’).

Most of the songs are taken from the repertoire she uses for the Wellbeing groups. You are invited to have a go at identifying the 26 song titles. A list of the answers can be obtained from Marilyn Pack (mjpack@renpack.co.uk).

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How to make the daily exercise more interesting

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Taking our COVID-19 permitted daily period of exercise is good for our health, but the restrictions on “keeping it local” can make it  bit monotonous.  So why not add a bit of variety and adventure to your walk by finding a route where you can spell out a word or phrase with the first letter of street names.

In true Blue Peter fashion, here is one I made earlier. [Read more…] about How to make the daily exercise more interesting

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What Do You See Around You?

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Have you been out taking your daily exercise during the current lockdown? Maybe walking around your local area a touch more than usual?

Have you realised that you have taken just a little bit more of your precious time on these local walks too? No need to rush. After all you have got all day every day for the next few weeks!

The weather has been very conducive too.

Blue Skies
Blue Skies

Did you think to look that bit closer than usual at some of the things you would normally not even notice? Maybe you were just rushing from A to B. before. Probably driving! [Read more…] about What Do You See Around You?

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What could the Covid-19 legacies be?

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While queuing outside Tesco, I thought that the tape marking the 2-metre social distancing spaces should be replaced with brass (a bit like the brass studs that mark the boundary of properties in shopping streets). They can then remain as a legacy after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Social Distancing Markers
Social Distancing Markers outside Tesco, Eastleigh. Photo by Chippy Minton

Why?  So that in 20 years’ time when our grandchildren ask what they are there for we can tell them about the great lockdown of 2020.

So, what other legacies might the crisis give us? [Read more…] about What could the Covid-19 legacies be?

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Coronavirus Emergency Appeal for Marie Curie

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As you may already be aware, I support Marie Curie and chair the local Eastleigh and Chandler’s Ford Fundraising Group. Thank you to everyone who has generously supported our activities in the past.

Marie Curie are experiencing very challenging times both in delivering services for people with terminal illnesses and with ongoing fundraising during the coronavirus pandemic.

Marie Curie emergency appeal
Marie Curie emergency appeal

Every March the Charity raises millions of pounds with the Great Daffodil Appeal. Most of this was lost because of the current situation. Also the Marie Curie shops have had to close.

I realise that many Charities are asking for help at this time and you may be supporting one or more of those. However in light of this critical situation, I am reaching out to you on behalf of Marie Curie to ask for your help.

Every day and night, Marie Curie Nurses and frontline staff give vital support to dying people and their families, in their homes and in hospices across the UK. At this time of national emergency, when the NHS is being put under extreme strain, these crucial services are needed more than ever.

Marie Curie
Marie Curie

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