Today I have been feeling super tired, I didn’t realise just how tiring decorating can be!! I have done very little painting today, instead continue sorting through the last of the things that are in my flat trying to work out where they can go to new homes!
Knowing that Honey the Dog has not had much attention from me this week nor been for any long walks, this afternoon she went to Mo Beans Coffee Shop to hang out with her friend Nuno and greet all the customers as they arrived! Despite this not being an ‘actual walk’, four hours of stimulation for her is as good as a walk and this evening she has been sleeping!
Stuck in my flat for most of the day, meant I forgot to take any photos of her, so the blog cover photo was one I took when I remembered about the blog photo.
Lockdown Restrictions Corner
A few days ago when researching Scotland’s Protection Levels, I stumbled across a Scottish Government guide on how to deal with awkward social situations. So today I am going to look at this:
Research has shown that the majority of people in Scotland have worried about appearing rude or hurting someone’s feelings about asking them to follow Covid Rules.
I must admit, I have at times become frustrated when in a queue that people are not social distancing. In Lidl (Easter Road) a few months ago, I asked a guy standing behind me to not get so close and to stand on the designated social distance line on the floor. He didn’t take it too well, then when leaving I was scared he was going to find me and have a go at me.
So this guide maybe of use for me, as I am sure many of you!
A friend goes in for a hug or handshake – say “I so want to hug you! But I guess we have to wait until it’s safe. I don’t want to risk you or anyone else you are in contact with. I’m giving you a virtual hug.”
[Jim Note – I usually offer an elbow or a foot. Plus say this about a hug]
Someone you know removes their mask indoors – they may remove it to speak to you in a coffee shop. Say “Let’s catch up outside? Where there’s space to keep a wee distance”.
[Jim Note – What really annoys me is people wearing a face-mask but then having it down on their chin so they can speak. It’s not really doing anything!]
Someone sits too close to you on public transport – Try making polite offer with care…say “I’m happy to move if that’s easier for you?”. The rules are there to protect us, if someone gets confrontational it’s ok to report it to the nearest staff member.
[Jim Note – In Lidl the staff seem to have no awareness of social distance either! In fact they are the worst].
Someone in Public isn’t adhering to a 2-metre distance – A stranger is standing too close to you in the supermarket and it isn’t 2 metres distance. Moving yourself away from them will remove you needing to say something to them. Remember the person may have forgotten the guidelines. If you still need to say something, give them a friendly reminder. “I’ll step back and give you some more space – it’s tricky in busy space to keep 2 metres apart isn’t it?”.
[Jim Note – I spend a lot of time in queues standing at a triangle between two people in a queue, to maintain social distance. They don’t seem to do anything to change their behaviour. So I may try this!]
Declining an offer from a friend when guidance isn’t being followed – It’s ok to politely decline. Remember if you form a Christmas Bubble, you can’t meet anyone else outside your bubble. If a friend offers you Birthday drinks in their house, try providing a positive reason for declining and offer an alternative – “I wouldn’t want to risk infecting you – that would be the worst Birthday present ever. Let’s have a Birthday Zoom and plan a bigger celebration when it’s safe to get together.”
[Jim Note – I learnt that when doing magic gigs in March 2020. When someone went to shake my hand to greet me or say thanks for the magic, I used to decline by saying “you may have the virus”. But then would get the reply of “we don’t have Covid round here”. So learnt to say “I may have Covid”. Which is much more positive way and suggests I am looking out for them, not blaming them. I could have had Covid as I was performing to different groups of people!
If you want to find out more, here is a handy PDF document with pictures, etc…
Face-Mask Corner
This is the second of Christmas face-masks that I have found
This one is from Pacemask for £5.99
The description says:
“£1 from every mask sold will be donated to Children In Need.
Loved by 1000’s of UK people, Pacamask face masks are not only stylish, comfortable and reusable, but they also feature fabric which kills 99% of bacteria for up to 50 washes.”
Looks like a warm one!
£1 to Children in Need doesn’t seem that generous, especially as their original price for this face-mask was £17.95 each!! (they are now in a sale).
Readers Corner
Just one comment today.
Pat
Pat posted a Facebook comment on yesterdays blog (Day 268) saying:
“Agreed Jim You Don’t Know If Your Doing The Right Thing At Time’s It’s Getting Frustrating… Stay Safe and Stay Well Mate…
“.
Thanks for the comment Pat!
Christmas Music Corner
Trying to find another Christmas song to go in here, I decided to look at what are the contenders for UK Christmas Number One
officialcharts.com/chart-news/christmas-number-1-2020-the-contenders-revealed__31728
This is one that jumped out at me, which is not a Christmas tune, BUT is a song in remembrance of those that have been lost in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic. Which seems very relevant for this blog!!
It’s description is:
“This video honours just a few of the thousands of people lost in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and the shadow it has cast over all of us.
Recorded by a collective of choral and orchestral musicians performing from their Somerset bedrooms during lockdown, this heart-warming rendition of of Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder’s Together In Electric Dreams is released on December 18, in remembrance of those we have lost in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The song is led by Jeremy Millington of music duo The Portraits, and social media group Shine A Light To Fight, which was set up in March as an online meeting place for those affected by Covid-19″.
So today we have: Shine A Light to Fight – Together in Electric Dreams
As I come to the end of today’s blog, I am so so tired! I haven’t had a good nights sleep this week, I just can’t seem to fall asleep in my bed!
This sleep deprivation has caught up on me today and so my mood and energy has not been so good today. Worrying about getting this flat sorted to rent out. that it is taking longer than I had anticipated, whether I will get a tenant in, worrying about money as it has run out and how am I going to survive if I can’t get anyone to live in here.
I know all this is just because I am tired – all my thoughts are relevant, but due to lack of sleep it has become louder within me and more overwhelming.
Anyway, hopefully I will sleep better tonight – otherwise I will return to the boat tomorrow night to sleep there! I am not feeling rested in this flat. I am missing the outdoors and living.
It’s a very interesting transition that I am in between two very different homes. I must remember to be away of that and enjoy this journey some more!
Thanks for reading.
Jim x