Aussie Readers discussion
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Fun Things to Do in the Time of Isolation
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Carolyn
(last edited Mar 24, 2020 05:54PM)
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Mar 23, 2020 10:08PM
In this time of craziness and social isolation I thought it would be fun to share some of the different ways you’ve found to keep yourself and your family occupied (apart from reading of course!)
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I’ve been learning new songs on my ukulele. Not sure my family are enjoying this but I’m having a great time.
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That sounds good Ashleigh - don't think I'd have the patience ;)
That sounds excellent Ashleigh, especially the stabbing part! You’ll have to post a photo when you finish.I don’t have any cross stitch to do, although I’m sure there must be online suppliers who can mail them.
I have got a quilt top that I made years ago that’s still waiting to be pinned up to its backing and filling and then quilted so I need to get my sewing machine out.
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Thanks for the thread Carolyn!
I'm getting things done around the house that I've been wanting to do for awhile! I'm not rushing it with 6 months of isolation looming ;)
Joined a silent film watch party & live on-line cooking class. Also thinking of adopting a pet 😉Wishing everyone 🙏🏼 & ❤️ in these difficult days
Get through the mountain of ironing while watching the DVDs you borrowed from the library.
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Decide where to put the pictures we've unpacked after moving and found we've got more stuff than necessary - a common fault, I suspect.Life is going on as normal, more or less, for me but I'm really glad I managed to move near the sea a couple of weeks before all this hit.
Hope you all enjoy your extra time around the house/garden.
Phrynne wrote: "When they eventually let me stop working - read...read.....read...."Hopefully not too much longer Phrynne!
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Life is going on as normal, more or less, for me but I'm rea..."
It sure is good that you got your move in first Anna! Perfect timing :) And the sea breeze will do you good too.
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You do that anyway ;) hehe
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You do that anyway ;) hehe"
Ah but watch me go once I can do it all the time!
start the Sisyphean task of sorting out the study - 6 month's work there at least. Cheers everybody
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I still have to work 🤔😕 (I work in a supermarket!), but I have recently started to sort out my decades' worth of travel photos and ticket stubs. I am looking at scrapbooking it all, so lucky I bought the vast majority of my supplies before all of this hit. That and reading (of course!) will keep me very busy in between the working, eating and sleeping! 😀
I am still working at the moment but think this will change from next week...so I've just enrolled in an online Auslan (Australian Sign Language) course!
Brenda wrote: "You'll have an immaculate study when the virus has run its course then Alex :)"Thanks Brenda & Carolyn. I am easily distracted, but it won't sort itself.
I'm working from home but have two weeks holidays from Friday. I have 4 stitching projects I'm working on, I'm planning on making myself some clothes, read a lot and I've been cooking more than usual.
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Or as with all best laid plans, procrastinate, vege out and think about how much we could have done! 🤣 Or is that just me?
I'm still working (physiotherapist), so my distractions so far have been an infection control course, and how to convert to telehealth...🤣🤣🤣
I'm not exactly in isolation, at least not yet, but obviously now have greatly reduced social activities which leaves me more time to waste scrolling through Facebook (really need to stop this as I'm sure it's not doing my mental health any good, I'm sure), but I'm also doing a daily yoga practice and spending more time in my daily devotions. Unfortunately I don't feel focussed enough to read much at the moment - my mind feels like it's spinning!!
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Good luck with that Leonie - the mind boggles!
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Yes it's hard to find the concentration level to disappear into a book sometimes :)
Over the past little while, I've learnt that my daily routine is called self-isolating. :-PI don't have any major plans over this period, perhaps I should tidy up some of the crates I have around the place.
I’ve had an upholstery project on the go for 2-3 years. It’s been almost finished for well over a year! Last week I made sure I have everything I need to get it done, so fingers crossed I will be able to tick this one off my list soon.A few days ago I began a stocktake of my digital photos - this one will take a while. But it needs to be done, so this is a good time to do it.
My reading has slowed right down, as I am also struggling to concentrate for very long at a time. Hopefully this will settle down soon.
Time of isolation: day 1: the study project. Amazing the amount of cat hair that finds its way behind the filing cabinet. Thought I'd start there as the book case tempts browsing.
Leonie wrote: "I'm still working (physiotherapist), so my distractions so far have been an infection control course, and how to convert to telehealth...🤣🤣🤣"Must be hard Leonie as physio is so hands on by it's nature, but at least you can demonstrate exercises by video.
Kathryn wrote: "I'm not exactly in isolation, at least not yet, but obviously now have greatly reduced social activities which leaves me more time to waste scrolling through Facebook (really need to stop this as I..."Maybe you could try audiobooks Kathryn to help occupy your mind and stop it spinning.
Carolyn wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I'm not exactly in isolation, at least not yet, but obviously now have greatly reduced social activities which leaves me more time to waste scrolling through Facebook (really need t..."Thanks, Carolyn - I already listen to audiobooks when my hands are busy doing something else or if I'm walking/doing a workout at the gym, but I'm listening less because I'm exercising with family now! But I find that audiobooks aren't that great anyway if I'm trying to think about something - not so good when I'm cooking, for example, or doing anything that involves too much brain power because it takes my focus off the book.
And although all the thoughts going around in my head are things I'd rather not have going on in there - they still are there, and can distract me from listening, as well as actual reading! If I'm walking by myself at the moment, I have still put my book on, but I'm not exactly engrossed in it, and honestly? Listening to music is probably better for my head at the moment...
Leonie wrote: "I'm still working (physiotherapist), so my distractions so far have been an infection control course, and how to convert to telehealth...🤣🤣🤣"I can't even begin to think how physio is delivered by telehealth!! I'm a dietitian, and they're pushing the telehealth through for us, but I really don't want to use telehealth, and I don't really think it would work well for me with my set-up... Decisions, decisions...
I have to say that my 'occupations in time of plague' are pretty consistent (at least since the gallery exhibition I was planning was canceled).1 Read
2 Read, in the morning, with tea.
3 Iff sunny - read on beach.
4 If not sunny (or too sunny) - read on verandah.
5 Read on sofa, with coffee.
6 Take long walk, while listening to audiobook.
7 Read with dinner and a glass of wine.
8 Read after dinner - possibly with a glass of wine, possibly with port as a desert.
There is a theme there, you see...
Deborah wrote: "I have to say that my 'occupations in time of plague' are pretty consistent (at least since the gallery exhibition I was planning was canceled).1 Read
2 Read, in the morning, with tea.
3 Iff sunny..."
Sounds good. readers are likely to survive / outlast sports fanatics as we don't have to adjust our lifestyle.
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1 Read
2 Read, in the morning, with tea.
3 Iff sunny..."
I like your plan:)
Since I am not a craft person, here are my activities in no particular order.Walks by the bay with DH and our dog at times when few people around.
Going through DVDS we haven't watched for ages, mostly uplifting movies.
Finding I am reading less and its taking me longer. Being very particular what I read. Nothing depressing (I can listen to the news if I want that! )
Listening to podcasts of Dr Charles Stanley.
Reading my bible and making copious notes in my journal.
Tomorrow will watch a live stream church service.
Dale wrote: "Since I am not a craft person, here are my activities in no particular order.Walks by the bay with DH and our dog at times when few people around.
Going through DVDS we haven't watched for ages, ..."
My church livestreamed last week, Dale, but I had tech issues for the first 13 min, so my advice is to jump on early and if you are fortunate and don't have any issues accessing the site, just wait!! If you do have issues, at least you've got a bit more time up your sleeve to resolve them! I think I might jump on 20 - 30 min early tomorrow, rather than trying to do it 5 - 10 min before time as I did last week :-/
I'm normally a sporadic journaller, but I have been journalling more in the last week... I'm finding it helps me to remember useful comments and verses better if I've written them down.
We watched one life steam last Sunday from Village church Annandale and had no issues. But helpful advice . Thanks Kathryn. I am doing the same with my journal.
I just pruned my 'want to read' list here on GR; something I always think I should do but rarely get around to. Took off about 50 books to make a much more manageable list of 167. I have cut out a quilt For my great nephew and will start on that today.
Okay here's some of things I've done to occupy time:1. Read. Obviously.
2. Attempt every workout I see pop up on my social media (I'm now cutting back on my social media time significantly XD)
3. 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Twice.
4. Clean out my pantry, and a few kitchen cupboards
5. Binge watch 3 seasons of Brooklyn 99
6. Spontaneous dance parties
7. Regular early morning walk/run
8. Bake muffins
9. A lot of random cleaning
10. Figured out how to Skype, using my sister and my mum as test guinea pigs
I've only been off work for a week so my apartment is definitely going to be spotless by the time I go back, and my TBR pile should be a lot smaller!
I culled my physical to-read shelf and went through my wardrobe to get rid of some accumulated unnecessaries... and then I realised there was probably no way to donate them at the moment.So, I now have two large cartons from Naked Wines sitting in the middle of the living room. I think that says something about me...
I might go back to reading, I definitely have the correct skill set for that activity.
Dale wrote: "Since I am not a craft person, here are my activities in no particular order.Walks by the bay with DH and our dog at times when few people around.
Going through DVDS we haven't watched for ages, ..."
I am a craft person but I have run out of material for cross stitch and I am down to my last canvas.... I suspect that leaving the house to buy fabric or canvas is NOT what they mean by essential items only.
Deborah wrote: "Dale wrote: "Since I am not a craft person, here are my activities in no particular order.Walks by the bay with DH and our dog at times when few people around.
Going through DVDS we haven't watch..."
Have you tried looking online for suppliers Deborah? Lots are companies are doing mail order these days.
My DH needs to be kept active so he busy is remodelling our small linen closet into a larger cupboard that will be half wine storage and half linen. As a result I've been having a big clean out of all our old sheets and towels, sorting out sheets into sets and labelling them with sizes. We have sheets that no longer have beds that fit them so goodness know why we were keeping them.
Maybe it is Deborah if it helps stay busy and alert. Don’t know. Carolyn’s idea is good one, though most places online are experiencing delays getting goods to customers. I just got my first online book order. Took far longer than usual but at least one of the six ordered has arrived.
Deborah wrote: "Dale wrote: "Since I am not a craft person, here are my activities in no particular order.Walks by the bay with DH and our dog at times when few people around.
Going through DVDS we haven't watch..."
Deborah, I bought some cross stitch stuff online last week and it is on its way to me. There are a few Australian suppliers still operating. PM me if you need details.
I've been cooking a lot more than usual. Just made a fresh batch of hummus to have with felafel for lunch. So much better than store bought.
Deborah wrote: "I suspect that leaving the house to buy fabric or canvas is NOT what they mean by essential items only...."No different to jigsaw puzzles, I'd say. If the PM's family can do that, I reckon you can get your craft supplies.
Deborah wrote: "Dale wrote: "Since I am not a craft person, here are my activities in no particular order.Walks by the bay with DH and our dog at times when few people around.
Going through DVDS we haven't watch..."
I'd say getting craft supplies totally counts as essentials - or at least semi-essentials, like the Morrison kids' jigsaws, as Andrea pointed out - but don't go and browse around Spotlight or Lincraft for hours. Just go in, get what you need and get back out again.
I have to say I went to a large shopping centre the other day because my printer died a few days prior and I needed a replacement. There aren't a lot of printers left on shelves now because everyone's bought up so they can work from home!! Anyway, I bought one online to click and collect and was walking through the almost deserted shopping centre like a woman on a mission, but I saw quite several people who looked like they were just out for a casual day of browsing the shops...!! So I'd say it's fine to go and buy things that others might consider non-essential if, as Dale says, it helps keep you sane if we go into lockdown, or even in this partial lockdown, but try not to dilly-dally over your purchases.
Mind you, my dad told me today he needed more Ice Magic topping and I told him it was non-essential and could wait until the next time I'm doing the groceries. Does that make me a bad daughter...?? I'm saying it makes me a responsible citizen!
