The Extreme Staycation

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown Motivation I think everyone struggles to be motivated on occasion. During this weird time we now find ourselves in, I think that people will be experiencing conflicting feelings. Firstly, a feeling of abundance.  As a creative, you've almost been gifted time.  Time is the thing we all wish we had more of.  Time to write, time to work on those monologues, practice tap, perfect your guitar chords.  And now it's all we have. Secondly, pressure.  I've got time, I have to use it.  Why aren't I using this time better?  What else can I do? Thirdly, being overwhelmed.  There are almost too many options.  I have a calendar full of activities - calls, quizzes, writing and acting groups.  And what am I missing out on?  So many things to watch on tv, theatre being streamed, free books to read or listen to, free exercise classes... And then it becomes too much an...

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown I am a Londoner born and raised.  As an actor, I have travelled to pretty much every corner of the city for auditions, rehearsals, performances etc so I feel I know this sprawling metropolis pretty well.   One of my favourite things to do, is to walk through London with no particular place to be.  It's the best way to explore any city.  I love all the sights and sounds and smells you get to experience when wandering along. And London is so immense that there is never going to be a shortage of places to explore, of new discoveries to be made, new views to be seen. One of my favourite quotes is this well known one:  'Sir,  when  a man is  tired  of  London , he is  tired  of  life ; for there is in  London  all that  life can  afford.' ... Samuel Johnson, to which I totally agree. And right now, I miss my city.  It's b...

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown Today is the day I was supposed to be at a wedding in Atlanta.  However, still managed to see the happy couple tie the knot via the medium of Zoom! Lots of the guests dressed up and had cake and champagne on standby to be able to join in the festivities from a distance.  Looking forward to being able to see them in real life sometime soon. Thinking of all the people out there who were / are getting married at this time and wishing you all the best!

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown Other jobs As an actor, I have had many other jobs which are not performing for money. I've... made cocktails (bar work) stacked shelves and beeped produce (supermarket) been very enthusiastic, very early in the morning about lunch while dressed as some kind of food (handed out flyers) welcomed people into places (fundraiser) controlled crowds of people into coaches (really patient) And higher education administration. Bit random that last one.  I fell into it many years ago, it kept me fed and in dance shoes and it is what is saving me at the moment!  I am hugely grateful for the work as it is something I can do from home and I realise it puts me in a more privileged position than many of my fellow performers as I am still able to earn. Finding a job that is both flexible and fulfilling is very hard and I’ve been lucky to find a couple over the years.   As a performer, yo...

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown In growing news, THERE ARE GREEN SHOOTS ON THE THINGS I PLANTED!  THIS IS VERY EXCITING! And I made a tea loaf to my Granny's recipe (she was a great baker).  I always, always forget until half way through the recipe that it makes two cakes.  Why two?  I don't know and now sadly can't ask her, but double cake, yay! Recipe made slightly more challenging with all the ingredients being in pounds and ounces - but who doesn't love a recipe that includes 1/2 pound of sugar?  Yum.

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown April Fools Day! Yeah, maybe not so much this year. Sad but inevitable news today was that the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2020 has been cancelled. Having been up as a performer and as a producer/performer I know that even at this point, 4 months before the fringe starts, that a huge amount of work, time and money would have already gone into preparing for the adventure. But it was the sensible thing to do. Even if the festival went ahead, what would it be like?  Shows wouldn't be able to rehearse (unless it was a solo show) and any fundraising, from a now even more cash-strapped society, could be potentially impossible. What will the Edinburgh Fringe 2021 be like I wonder?  Would C be the biggest section in the EdFringe guide as a multitude of productions' titles feature Coronavirus in the title? Who knows, time will tell. Free Theatre online: https://www.timeout.com/london/news/the-national-...

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown Running I am not a runner. Or so I thought. I am a gym workout and dance class kinda person.  I don't run, because every time I've tried, I've been incapacitated for several days afterwards.  I even owned a vest top that said "I hate Running". Why was this?  Maybe I wasn't as fit?  Maybe I didn't pace myself? As the gyms are closed, I've joined my husband doing Couch to 5k .  He was already at the end of week 3 so I really dived in. And I have surprised, no, shocked myself - maybe I am a runner afterall!  Not only have I been able to do it, I've actually quite enjoyed it.  I make sure I have a good stretch afterwards and so far, it's going ok - I can walk the next day and everything. Good thing I got rid of that vest top - it would make a liar out of me. Lovely footage of the day - Henry the Koala https://www.thedodo.com/videos/in-the-wild/tiny-baby-koala-do...