Well… since I first thought about updating our blog to actually opening my laptop the world around us has changed beyond recognition. Whilst the landmarks remain unchanged and the Spring flowers are blooming as expected in our gardens and parks, all around the world people from every nation are struggling to process what Covid19 means to them, their loved ones, their businesses, jobs, and wider communities.
With heavy hearts, we had to take the decision to close our shop on Sunday until further notice to help halt the spread of the virus in our town. We have lots of lovely products which have been arriving over the last few weeks. We will be updating the website regularly and are offering FREE local delivery within the SS postcodes. We are also offering 20% OFF if you use the code Spring20 at checkout.
At times like this, we see the best and worst of humanity, the stockpiling of foods, cleaning products and medicines which are stripping the supermarket shops bare as frightened shoppers are buying up goods in preparation for our uncertain future. At the same time, I am seeing queues forming outside our local butchers, bakers, and greengrocers for the first time in forever.
Where possible people are working from home and self-isolating giving them extra hours in the day to spend on those projects they have been meaning to get through for months.
Dolphins have been spotted swimming in the canals of Venice, the sky’s over China are blue for the first time in years. Tribes of Monkeys in Malaysia who are normally fed by tourists are fighting to the death over food in the towns.
I had a personal meltdown last week after a day binging on the news updates & seeing my 16-year-old son sent home from school for the last time, all his GCSE’s canceled (gosh that seems like months ago now). The enormity of the problem hit me like a train and I had to take some time out, pray, meditate, recalibrate my thoughts to cope with the days ahead. I have now developed a few strategies to help get through this unchartered territory.
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Start the day with a plan & stick to it, especially if working from home.
Meditate, Pray or recite positive affirmations to establish a mood of positivity. There are so many apps and videos online & on YouTube.
- Stay Connected - Use the extra time to call, skype, facetime friends and family members.
- Exercise - even if you have had to put your gym membership on hold and cannot leave the house. There are so many free exercise videos on YouTube, from Pilates & Yoga to Zumba and HIT & everything in between. If you are still able to go out for a walk in the woods, countryside or beach the fresh air will be good for your mental and physical well-being. But make sure you stay a minimum of 2 metres from other people.
- Write a list of home projects & start working through them. These are mine;
- Clear out all cupboards, wardrobes, and drawers
- Get the garden summer-ready
- Decorate my bedroom
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Get Creative
- Start on that book you have always promised yourself you would write.
- Record the stories of your parents or an older relative, type them up into a book &
- Add photos to produce a book of their memoirs.
- Collect up old foreign currency from drawers and make a big collage.
I’m personally going to be refurbishing a long-neglected dolls house built into one of our chimney stacks, a little project I’ve been wanting to do for years.
- Learn a rap or a favourite poem off by heart so you can perform an impromptu party piece once life gets back to some kind of normality.
- Sew, paint, write songs or poetry, learn to play a musical instrument or learn a new language, whatever it is that you’ve always felt drawn to do. We have some lovely little craft kits that you can enjoy with your kids.
- Limit your screen time. It's not healthy to be watching the news or TV all day. Instead, bring out the board games that normally only see the light of day at Christmas. Reconnect with your family, play games together, dance, make a performance to entertain each other.
Treat yourself to a pretty vase or a bunch of faux flowers to brighten up your home. Here are a couple of our best sellers.
Spend time in your garden, treat yourself to some new garden furniture and watch the Spring flowers bloom
We hope that we will be able to open our doors again as soon as it is safe to do so. Please continue to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and use our online store at www.scapeinteriors.co.uk Most importantly, stay home, stay safe and cherish your loved ones.
Big Love
Lisa, Fenella & the Scape Team xxx