The Extreme Staycation

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown Today I went to a baby shower via Zoom!  Another first! Baby showers aren't very common in the UK, although they are increasing in popularity, but this was for a cousin (that's the easiest way I can possibly describe this relationship!) in America, so I didn't know what to expect. It was actually super chilled and a lovely chance to see the mama to be be and the extended family, with a few games thrown in. This is one thing I'm grateful for - communicating with family and friends and being able to join in on occassions I would normally miss due to distance, it's a treat.

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown In a week, I will be taking part in a play, performed via Zoom, live across the world! (potentially) It's been quite an experience rehearsing for a play, sitting at my computer, in my house, with the cat occassionally for company (I think she wants to be in it, she is a bit of a drama queen). I am looking forward to it and everyone has been working so hard - all the actors and our tech team - to make it the best we can. My biggest concern is anyone having tech difficulties as for example, my WiFi occassionally decides it just doesn't want to connect to the computer, so fingers crossed that won't happen!

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown This is an excellent article by Tarek Iskander who is the artisitic director at Battersea Arts Centre. In it he talks about the performing arts world using this time to address the issues in theatre before we launch back in - what we had wasn't perfect and now we can change things: https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/opinion/the-arts-after-covid-19-lets-fix-the-things-that-werent-right-before I think it's a sound point that this is a moment in history that could be used to fix some problems and one that we could apply to many elements of our daily lives.  Where have our priorities changed?  What is essential to us now? For example: many people like to work from home or have the option to do so.  Before the lockdown I know of many friends who were denied this by their companies saying it wasn't possible, or just doesn't work for their company.  Well clearly, that's not the case.  It is po...

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown I have a funny relationship with quizzes.  I enjoy the testing of knowledge element of a quiz, but what I don't really enjoy is the competitiveness. Since lockdown I have done more quizzes than in the last 10 years, easily.  It's fun to get questions right but what I've really enjoyed is being together with friends and family over Zoom and having the regular contact with these important people in my life. It's my turn to help set the questions for the next family quiz - something I've never done before - and I'm looking forward to this new challenge!

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown I wonder how we are all going to be at the end of lockdown. We might emerge long haired, scraggily nailed, with hair in places that some people pay other people to regularly remove. We may emerge with a new found skill of a barber. We might emerge slightly heavier and with more of a liking for alcohol. We might emerge fitter than before - that government sanctioned exercise being taken as a mandate rather than a limit on going outside. Maybe we will emerge with better friendships having actually spoken to people more reguarly. Maybe our general knowledge will have improved due to the number of pub quizzes taking place. Whatever happens, I think we may be fundamentally changed by this - as individuals and as a country - it's not something we are likely to forget. This is brilliant - A Ski Movie by Philipp Klein https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HrIVWziJ0Y

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown Last night, I logged on to Zoom with 6 of my friends and we took part in a pub quiz.  We were viewing on YouTube but it was also being broadcast on Facebook.  Apparently live viewing figures topped out at 300,000. 300,000 people! And actually, it was probably more than that, because there were in fact 6 additional people watching the one screen via Zoom so surely the number must have been even higher! Anyway, the important point is that we got 34/50 which I think is pretty decent. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-52065425 I look forward to next week's challenge! Nice thing today is a picture of a quokka .  Just because they're unbelievably cute and look like they are smiling:

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Self-Isolation Life is now all about being online.  In the last couple of days, I have had conversations over Zoom with family members across the country and abroad and a seven way chat with friends on Google Hangouts which was super fun!  I've also taken a playwriting workshop with a teacher from Standford University and have plans for a jazz class on Monday night. We are in touch with each other more than ever in a world of social media, WhatsApp and the capability that the internet gives us to call anyone anywhere in the world.  But in the last few days I have found this increasing as my WhatsApp groups are all the more active - and I love it. I have plans to write some letters too Today was Mothering Sunday in the UK.  I popped over to see my mum - put flowers on her doorstep, rang the bell, then stood behind the gate, over a meter away.  It felt bizarre but I truly believe we should all do ou...