COVID-19 Musings - Masks

The topic for Week 14 of #SLVMemoryBank is Cover Up - Face masks. From Thursday 23 July the wearing of face masks in Melbourne when away from home has been mandatory.

Fortunately we had purchased masks with filters which we have now become used to wearing if going shopping or going for a walk as exercise.

The masks took some getting used to and it is definitely harder to breathe when walking uphill wearing a mask. There are lots of small hills in our area. When we go for a walk we share airpods to listen to listen to music on Spotify via the phone. The first time I went for  a walk wearing a mask I concentrated on breathing, initially through my mouth before relaxing enough to breath normally. By the end of the walk I was able to sing quietly to some of the music.One advantage of a mask is that you can sing quietly without the fear of attracting attention.

Currently I am experimenting with making masks in the hope of creating one that does not place too much pressure on my face causing neuralgia pains. 

First attempt but now that I have made one it should be easier to make others in differnt colours and fabrics.

Meanwhile other members of the family are, of course, wearing masks.

Children under 12 do not have to wear masks however they are all prepared.

Most people in our area wear masks and also observe social distancing. With Stage 4 restrictions which began in Melbourne on 3 August leaving home is further restricted to exercise outside your property (if essential) once a day for up to a maximum of one hour a day. Shopping is restricted allowing one person from each house shopping at a centre no further than 5 km from home. This should greatly reduce the number of people in the streets at one time.

When we went for a walk on the first day of Stage 4 restrictions we only saw about six people, mainly walking dogs. Everyone observed social distancing etiquette when passing other pedestrians. By contrast there were lots of people out the previous day, a number of the younger ones encroaching on the space of others.

Communication can be a problem when wearing a mask. I always used to smile at people when we passed but now I acknowledge them with a wave.

By the time restrictions are eased we should all be so used to wearing masks that we will continue wearing them until the danger from COVID-19 has passed. Last time people, especially in shopping centres, started to ignore social distancing. Wearing masks should help when that time comes again.

I started writing this post in July and it is now October and restrictions have been slightly modified. We can now go for a walk for up to two hours a day and more than one person can go shopping.  

 

The wearing of masks continues to be mandatory in Victoria and will problably continue to be so for some months yet. Most people comply however some people seem to have the strange idea that wearing a mask so that it only covers the chin or hangs like a necklace around the neck will protect the wearer, and anyone they they encounter, from COVID-19. Some people wear the mask with the nose exposed.

 

There is an an exception to mask wearing while you are smoking or having a drink. From time to time you see people, not wearing a mask, pushing trolleys while they have a cup in their hand. I guess they think that they are making a statement about having to wear a mask. In the supermarket yesterday we saw a superior young man walking around the supermarket with a cup in his hand. Presumably it was a cup of coffee but he did not appear to be drinking any of it.

 

Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who is doing the right thing when it comes to mask wearing.

COVID-19 Musings - Special occasions

Special occasions is the eighth prompt in the State Library of Victoria #SLVMemoryBank project. Since March our family has had to be inventive in order to celebrate special occasions.

The last family gathering when we were all able to meet together was the day before lockdown officially started when our three children with their families met at our home for afternoon tea to celebrate my husband's birthday.

From the following day family visits were not allowed.

There are seven family birthdays in April and five in July so celebrating these occasions in 2020 has been a little different from in previous years. For some birthdays sending a message via Facebook served the purpose and let people know that we had not forgotten them. For other birthdays for members of immediate family we had to be a little more inventive.

Three grandchildren had birthdays in April so a time was organised for family members to connect at a specified time via computer. This at least provided the opportunity for all the family to sing happy birthday and to watch the birthday girl or boy blow out candles on their cake. The children also enjoyed interacting with each other online.

The major event that we missed in April was my mother's birthday. As her birthday is on Anzac Day members of the immediate family always remember the occasion and we try to spend time with Mum on that day. This year, however, it was not possible but Mum received lots of cards plus telephone calls from family members wishing her a happy birthday. Staff at the home where she lives signed a card for her and there was a special cake for her birthday. A photo was taken and circulated to family members.

Restrictions were again in place in July so once again we had to rely on the computer to convey messages. On my birthday I also received a number of cards in the mail from family and friends including cards made by two of my grandchildren.

Although first preference would have been for family members to be together to celebrate birthdays, in 2020 it has still been possible to celebrate these days, but in a different way.

COVID-19 Musings - Books and Reading

Week 15 of the State Library of Victoria #SLV Memory Bank asks how people in Melbourne are filling in their time during our second Lockdown.

Lockdown Content:

Whether your preferred content amplifies the outside world or diverts you from it, we'd love to know what's got your attention.

This week: tell us about the books you're reading and sites you're bookmarking, the shows you're binge-watching and music playlists you're creating, the podcasts you're queueing and online festivals you're attending.

An earlier post, Stay at Home, listed many of my activities including online jigsaw puzzles, doing Future Learn courses and, of course reading and book related activities.

This lockdown as a result of COVID-19 restrictions has provided me with more time for reading. 

Libraries still worked to provide services to members, although it was not possible to be open to the public, by promoting their online services as well as finding new ways to continue activities online including activities and sessions for children and adults.

 

Author Talks

Libraries are not the only organisations to be making author talks available online.

Since the beginning of April Dymocks has set up a collection of author talks - Chapter One.

There is now a wide range of author talks and virtual book launches that can be watched via Youtube or Facebook. (I have found that on my computer the sound is sometimes out of sync with the video on Facebook but watching the same clip on Youtube was OK.)

Better Reading also has made a number of author talks available online on Facebook plus some podcasts.

There is also a weekly session - What are You Reading? - where recent books are discussed and readers provide titles of books that they are reading.

Courses

During June Dervla McTiernan is running a series of workshops - #Writing  Studio - each Friday on Facebook for Better Reading.

Each session runs for half an hour covering the topics: Session One Ideas, Session 2 Characters, Session Three Structure & Outlining and Session Four Self Editing - Getting Published. Worksheets for each session are available from Better Reading as well as Delvra McTiernan's website.

During the past couple of months I have also participated in some literature based online courses on Future Learn:

Shakespeare in Print and Performance (Kings College London),

Penshurst Place and the Sidney Family of Writers (Lancaster University) and

Understanding English Dictionaries (Coventry University).

Consequently I have enjoyed having the time to explore more about books and reading.

See also all posts relating to COVID-19 including

COVID-19 Musings - Libraries

COVID-19 Musings - Stay at Home

Future Learn website

COVID-19 Musings - Staying Connected.

Staying Connected is the third prompt in the State Library of Victoria #SLVMemoryBank project.

When the State of Emergency was declared in March requiring residents to Stay at Home and to observe social / physical distancing if they had to leave home for specific purposes, communication with family, friends and neighbours was given additional emphasis.

Communicating regularly with immediate family

No longer able to visit family members it was necessary to use other means of communication to keep in touch. In the twenty-first century we are lucky to have a variety of electronic communication options available for use. One of our sons lives with us but the other two live with their families in neighbouring suburbs. Although physical visiting was not possible for five weeks we regularly kept in touch via telephone and computer. Facebook, Messenger and email are regular communication methods used.

Three of the grandchildren had birthdays in April but it was arranged that the family would all be together for a short time online. It has been interesting to watch the four children aged from three to ten interact via computer. This system also allowed for the whole family to join in singing Happy Birthday although the families were in different locations. I have also been sent lots of images of the children and their activities during the lockdown. Being a cricket family it has been good seeing videos of the children practising their cricket skills.

My ten year old grand-daughter has been allowed to keep in supervised touch with a select number of friends online. They have also been creating dance routines on TikTok.

Staying connected with older family members

Letters are important for keeping in touch with older relatives. My mother is in a nursing home and initially during the lockdown family visits were cancelled. Family members can now visit if an appointment is made first. Mum does not use a computer but she does have her own telephone. Since the lockdown I have been compiling weekly letters  which largely include photos of family activites. Some of her grandchildren have also sent her drawings and messages via post.

On her birthday Mum received many telephone calls from family as well as cards. The staff at the home prepared a special cake for her and also sent us photos of Mum on her birthday.

Checking on family overseas and interstate

We have also tried to contact a number of family members to ensure that they are OK. My husband used email and Messenger to contact cousins in England and in Canada and caught up with their news. I have also had phone conversations with my brother who lives in Western Australia. Facebook, of course, has also been used to catch up with family news and reduce the feeling of isolation.

Distance schooling

Three of my grandchildren are school age and this term have been learning from home.The three year old also does her own work with her big sister, when she feels like it. The day is organised as much like the school day as possible with a regular start time, packed school lunches and time for play as well as their school work.

Especially with the older students the school provides work on the computer which they submit when complete. They also have short online sessions with their teacher and sometimes online sessions with friends.

Several times a week I have an online reading session with my eight year old grandson where we  share the reading of Enid Blyton's book, Five on a Treasure Island. This book was originally published in 1942. I read it when I was at primary school in the 1950s and the book is still being read and enjoyed in 2020!

During one session my grandson viewed my image on the television as well as on his Ipad.

Working from home

For many families during the lockdown working from home has become normal. Our dining room table is now my son's work space set up with the computer plus a second computer screen. Staff keep in touch with online meetings and phone calls as required. Staff also keep in touch socially with online social sessions occasionally organised between staff members.

Staff online social session

Group activities

Computer programs such as FaceTime and Zoom and Skype allow groups of people to interact online at one time. This is proving to be an excellent way for groups of people to stay connected.

Social distancing therefore does not have to mean social isolation. Although the days of COVID -19 lockdown can make the act of staying connected with family, friends and colleagues a challenge, there are usually ways for reducing the social isolation that could result.

See also all posts relating to COVIV-19

COVID-19 Musings - Exercise

Exercise and well being is the prompt fpr week six of the State Library of Victoria Collaborative Isolation Project (#SLVMemoryBank).

With the Stay at Home regulations currently in place in Victoria it is still important to remain fit via regular exercise though a little imagination may be required to enable this.

For many years going to the local gym has been a regular part of our weekly routine. Mondays and Tuesdays are gym days and after walking  the grandchildren to school we spend part of the morning at Knox Leisureworks. We also go to the gym sometimes on Fridays and also on Sundays in the non-cricket season. Therefore when all the gyms in the state were closed it was necessary to look at other ways to exercise. Our back verandah is now referred to as the family gym.

Last year when one of our sons decided that he no longer needed the exercise bike it was relocated to our house and the verandah. I used it occasionally but now my husband and Nick give the bike a thorough workout several times a week.

When Nick moved home he brought some weights with him which also live on the verandah and Robin found a box of small weights that had been retired to the shed many years ago. These are now used in exercise routines, particulaly by Nick. I occasionally use the smaller weights and also sometimes do the exercises from my gym plan that do not require equipment.

Nick is the golfer in the family and with the golf courses closed he now practices some of the strokes in our back garden. He also uses the back garden as a walking track during the day when he needs a short break form sitting at a computer.

Fortunately the cricket season for the veterans and the under 10s finished just before the restrictions on the number of people who could gather in one place were imposed. However the finals were due to be held the weekend after the closure. Unfortunately the Firsts and the under 14s lost as they were below the team on the ladder that they were meant to play. The Thirds however won their division.

The cricket season therefore came to an abrupt end with all end of season functions cancelled. The exception was the veterans team who had wisely held their end of season dinner at the beginning of March. The annual veterans' cricket competition held each year at Mildura was cancelled part way through when new restrictions were implemented. Needless to say over 70s cricket team tour of  England that was to be held in the middle of this year was cancelled and the chance of the over 70s national championships, due to be held in Launceston in November, going ahead is problematic at this stage.

With the cancellation of most sport throughout the world, those who like to sit in front of the television watching sport almost continuously are gradually recovering from withdrawal symptons.

My main exercise regime has always been walking so I now try and go for a walk each day unless the weather is too cold and wet. The main difference now is that Robin often comes with me.

There are a variety of options for walks near home including short walks around the block; walks around an extended block and longer 'block walks' that can last for an hour usually involving a walk through the cricket ground and then continuing on to Mountain Highway, Stud Road, Boronia Road then home. For a change there is also another 'larger block' walk heading in the other direction past the Tabulam & Templer Homes then on to Boronia Road and home. Several times we have walked to Wantirna where we discovered a Japanese restaurant that we were not aware of. On some occasions we just go to the cricket ground and do laps of the ground before returning home. As the area where we live has lots of small hills walking is not just  accumulating steps but also exercises the leg muscles.

There are signs at the cricket ground reminding people that this is a time of physical distancing.

Click to enlarge

There is also  sign at the nearby playgound reminding people that the playground is closed for the present. Similar signs exist in areas that provide exercise equipment for walkers and joggers.

Click to enlarge

When going on these walks it is not unusual to pass people walking their dogs or people, like us just going for a walk. At the cricket ground there are often joggers and / or cyclists on the track that surrounds the ground. Older people usually smile and say hello or comment about the weather while younger walkers usually concentrate on their devices and are oblivious to others on the track. There are exceptions, of course.

Several weeks ago it was not unusual to encounter drawings like this on the footpath along with words of encouragement such as Stay Safe, You are not Alone and Smile to passersby. Today when I went for a walk they had all disappeared, probably due to foot traffic and the heavy rain in the eastern suburbs recently.

Several times a week, especially when the weather is sunny, we also go for a longer walk by Dandenong Creek which is not far from where we live. When the weather is inclement we still try to go for a walk if there is a break in the weather, even if it is a brisk walk around the block.

Walks therefore not only provide a good form of exercise, there is also opportunity to enjoy fresh air and maybe sunshine (and Vitamin D) as well as exploring the local neighbourhood.

Further information:
Chalk drawings - ABC

See also the following links for posts on some of our walks near home during the past two months:

COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Exercising on Shared Paths

COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (1)

COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (2)
COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (3)

COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (4)

COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (5)

COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (6)

See all posts relating to COVID-19

COVID-19 Musings - Stay at Home

For two months now the directive for those over 70 from the Australian Government, in order to avoid COVID-19, has been to Stay at Home. This directive was extended to all Victorians once the State of Emergency was declared. The only exceptions were need for medical treatment, essential shopping; exercise or the need to go to work.

The second State Library of Victoria Memory Bank (#SLVMemoryBank) prompt is to record what people are doing and learning while Staying at Home. 

Normally we look after grandchildren before and after school five days a week which necessitates having to be home by 3.15 in order to collect the children from school. Suddenly we have this 'free time' with no restrictions except we need to stay at home. Therefore how do we fill in our time?

Reading

Who needs an excuse to read?

This has been a great opportunity to relax and enjoy reading. Of course the public libraries are closed and I soon exhausted the supply of books I had borrowed before the closure. Fortunately we have an excellent bookshop - Dymocks - at Knox City so I have purchased a collection of recent titles to read. When these run out I do have a house full of books to read including many old favourites to reread and enjoy.

In the meantime I have caught up with the latest titles in a number of series including books by Donna Leon, Kathy Reichs and Dervla McTiernan as well as discovering new authors such as Natasha Lester and Pip Williams.

Dymocks and Better Reading have both been providing interviews with authors via Facebook to promote new books and authors.

Short summaries of the books I have been reading can be found in posts in this blog.

Jigsaw Puzzles

Selection of puzzles on National Archives UK page

Years ago I used to enjoy doing 1,000 piece jigsaws but stopped when the children were old enough to 'help' and there was a risk of losing pieces. Many of my Facebook pages relate to history and museums and increasingly I am finding links to online jigsaws. Some of the institutions include National Archives UK (see their Facebook page) and the three Museum Victoria sites. A number of local historical societies are also creating online jigsaw puzzles.

Melbourne Museum online jigsaws
State Archives of NSW online puzzles  
PROV - online jigsaws
Monash University Library - jigsaw puzzles
National Library of Australia - Trouble in Surf  - Canberra - Parrot
University of Sydney - online jigsaws
State Library of NSW - online jigsaws
ALIA - puzzles
Sydney Living Museums - online puzzles

Hawkesbury Library - jigsaw puzzles

Two online jigsaw sites providing a wide range of puzzles:
Jigsaw Explorer
This site allows you to choose the number of pieces you want the chosen puzzle to have.
Jigsaw Planet
 
Films
With all this 'free' time it would be great to be able to go to the pictures without worrying whether they finish in time for school pick-up. However, of course, all the cinemas are closed until further notice.

The week before the closure we did see Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears and we were the only people in the cinema. I also wanted to see Emma but the cinemas closed before we had a chance to do so. 

When the film, Emma, became available for temporary download from Foxtel my husband decided to pay the fee so that we could watch the film at home. It was more expensive than watching the film at the cinema however we enjoyed watching the film in the comfort of our own home. No doubt the film will eventually become available on TV but at least we were able to watch it without interruptions from advertisements.

Family History
Family history research has kept me occupied since, as a teenager, I first discovered that we had a convict in the family. One convict became twelve convicts so there are increasing options for research. With four grandchildren it is now time to begin compiling the family story so the obvious place to start is with the convicts. For many years I have been writing family stories in a family history blog and these will prove a useful source when compiling the family story.

Family Connections

It is apparent that the lockdown has encouraged other people to undertake family history research as I have received many enquiries via my Family Connections blog and from users of Ancestry asking for information.

I would also like to have all of my family history records stored in one room. This will entail moving the furniture around between rooms as well as finishing storing some of the material in boxes to go on the shelves. Having books relating to family history in one room would also be useful.

Future Learn

I have been doing Future Learn online courses for a number of years. Last year I took out an unlimited subscription for the year and have just renewed it for another twelve months. This means that I have access to course material after the course has finished and can go back and refer to it again. Most of the courses that I have done relate to history but I have also done a number of literature courses, some health plus a couple of science and the environment courses. Some of the courses that I have completed are listed in this blog post.

Currently I am doing a course on Shakespeare run by Kings College, London and Food and Mood: improving mental health through nutrition run by Deakin University, Melbourne. Recently London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ran a course on COVID-19. An updated version of this course will be repeated shortly.

Gardening
During the lockdown there has been a variety of weather as is normal in Melbourne, however on the fine days my husband has been tackling our garden. Our front garden is basically a collection of a variety of plants including, on one side, a collection of tall grasses which have thrived. The idea of this garden was that it would look after itself, especially during the hot summer months. 

The grandchildren refer to the front garden as 'the jungle' and enjoy exploring and hiding there. The neighbour's cat also finds it a great place to explore and somewhere cooler to sleep during the summer. 

My husband has now removed the dead fronds and cut back the grasses threatening to encroach on the drive and it does look tidier. In the spring we will plant some smaller flowering shrubs to fill in a few gaps and to make it more interesting when looking at the garden through the windows downstairs.

What has Stay at Home meant?
Stay at Home has made alterations to our life. The biggest issue is knowing what day it is as our normal routine no longer exists.

The grandchildren used to arrive at our home after 7 am five days a week and would have breakfast before being taken to school. They then needed to be collected at 3.30 pm. Afternoon tea, reading and sometimes sport would then follow.

After the children went to school we would go to the gym on Tuesday and Thursday morning - the gym is now closed. On Mondays we would visit my mother. We still go to Knox City on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings to buy a few items but whereas previously we enjoyed a leisurely lunch at one of the many restaurants a couple of times a week, the restaurants are now closed though some are doing take-away. When shopping we always called in for a hot chocolate and coffee at San Churros at Knox City or at Schokolade at Studfield - now we collect take-away drinks to have at home.

Stay at Home has, however, provided more time for activities including reading and family history and introduced me to new activities such as online puzzles. I also continue doing the Future Learn online courses.

My husband continues to do the cryptic crosswords, particulalry the David Astle puzzle on Fridays which can take some time. Each weekday we continue to watch repeats of Letters and Numbers and attempt to solve the puzzles in the time limit. I have the set of Letters and Numbers books allowing me to work out the puzzles in my own time.

There is also more time to think about different recipes to cook, including meals that we remember from childhood. We still go for walks, just the two of us, when the weather is fine and from time to time see other people we have known in the past doing the same. We are also still communicating with family members, but from a distance.

In a way Stay at Home provides time to reassess the things that we normally do plus the time to do things we have been too busy to do previously.

See also all posts relating to COVID-19

COVID-19 Musings - Food - What is in your fridge or pantry today?

 #SLVMemoryBank
The State Library of Victoria has asked for contributions to a Memory Bank project tied in with the current COVID-19 lockdown in Victoria. The first prompt is What is in your fridge or pantry today?

As I was planning to write a series of posts on how the COVID-19 is affecting our life in Victoria I will use some of their prompts as well as my own topics.

Week 1 of the SLV Memory Bank project was to make a list of what food is currently stored at home and / or menus for the week.

This proved to be an interesting exercise. 

Quantities - Before COVID-19 when we had nearly finished a packet of food we would write it on the shopping list. Now we make a note on the list as soon as we open a packet to purchase an extra one  so we try to have a spare. Last month there was a rush on some basic items such as flour, pasta and rice. Even yoghurt disappeared for a while. However by the time we required replacements the items had returned to the shelves and limited quantities could be purchased.

We normally go shopping a couple of times a week when we buy meat or fish, fresh vegetables and any extra ingredients required for a meal. Consequently the foods in the lists below tend to be staple food used in basic cooking.

Pantry
Flour - self raising flour, plain flour and corn flour
Breadcrumbs
Cereal - oats, bran, coconut, nuts and other ingredients to make home made museli
Sugar - also icing sugar, castor sugar and brown sugar
Sauce - tomato sauce, soy sauce, tartare sauce
Pasta
Pasta sauce
Rice
Teabags
Canned soup
Canned tomatoes
Canned corn
Canned beetroot
Olive oil
Containers of fruit - apricots, peaches
Dried fruit - raisins, sultanas, dates
Honey
Herbs and spices though we often use fresh herbs from the garden.

Refrigerator
Eggs
Milk
Butter
Margarine
Cheese - block and shredded
Yoghurt
Jam
Lindt chocolate (special treats, especially when on special)

Freezer
Bread
Frozen peas
Frozen chips
Frozen packets of mince
Ice cream (from when the grandchildren were allowed to visit)

Fruit and Vegetables
Bananas
Pears
Apples
Potatoes
Sweet potato
Brussel sprouts
Carrots
Mushrooms

When the lockdown began we were eating salads and therfore had lettuce, tomatoes, avocado etc but now that it is cooler we tend to just have cooked vegetables. In other years we have relied on salad ingredients and some vegetables from our garden but the very hot weather at the beginning of this past summer followed by a cool spell when it is normally warmer was not really condusive for growing garden produce. We are therefore preparing the vegetable beds for next summer's crop.

Menus
Each week we have a pasta dish one night (normally Monday), salmon on a Wednesday, cordon bleu (or similar) on Thursday and sometimes steak on a Friday. There is often a roast on Sunday and Saturday is usually take-away either Asian food or fish and chips. Tuesday is more variable -could be sausages or turkey breasts or .... Some might say that we are in a rut! 

Homemade lasagna with garlic bread

However there has been variety in some of the meals served recently as I have had time to prepare meals that Mum used to make such as Cottage Pie or meals I cooked when I was at home looking after our children. Therefore homemade Lasagna, Toad in the Hole and, on Good Friday, Fish Pie are some of dishes cooked during the last month. The general consensus is that we should prepare such meals more often. Another dish from my childhood that I plan to make is Tuna Kedgeree and Macaroni Cheese is always a favourite..

Fish pie with eggs, mushrooms and peas

Left over dinner usually becomes lunch during the week or is sometimes converted into another meal - eg fritters - depending on the quantity left over. Some meals, such as stews, taste even better a day or two later.

Poached egg on salmon with tomatoes and muchrooms

Sometimes for lunch I have left over salmon on avocado toast or a roll topped with a poached egg - delicious and a great way to use leftovers.

SLV Memory Bank

See also all posts in this blog on COVID-19