LOCKDOWN LAND

Sitting on the rattan sofa in the garden on a perfectly sunny spring afternoon, the flowers coming into bloom, the leaves on the trees giving a show of their best green leaves, a mown lawn and birds twittering, chirping and cooing, it's hard to imagine that its not Sunday - it's Lockdown Thursday, week 4, and life beyond our wall and front door is a war zone of fighting a deadly virus.  How both sublime and crazy is that?!

Corona Virus (COVID19) 2020 

How are you all doing?  How are you spending your TIME - that commodity we don't usually have enough of and now we have too much of it?  I've mostly been positive in telling myself - this too will pass - a saying my dear Aunt, God rest her soul, would say when troubles come as oft they do throughout a lifetime.  The first few weeks were tense, stressful, frustrating, annoying but then, feeling the pain of it all in my arms and neck muscles I 'crashed' - had a day of doing absolutely nothing.  It helped me to take stock and reassess my behaviours.

The 'wash your hands', 'don't touch your face', 'stay home, stay safe, save the NHS' messages had settled into my mind rather than buzzing about like a bee about to sting.  Obsession and paranoid activities became a new normal - panic and dread mixing together like a mixture for baking, but instead of making something lovely it was producing a recipe for stroke or heart attack I felt.  And so after the day of rest my fears came down several notches and although a feeling of helplessness washes over me from time to time I have taken self-care actions and feel so much better.  

I limit my intake of news - it's so grim and the reporters/interviewers 'push' Government officials and others with impossible to answer questions - there are NO answers to 'when will it end', 'when a vaccine 'might' be available', etc etc.  Instead I ring someone every day for a chat - people I would only see occasionally or usually keep in touch via Christmas cards, emails or text messages.  Hearing their voices or seeing them on FaceTime is very uplifting.  Thankfully, to this point in time, I have only one friend who has had and recovered from the Virus, a friend of a friend's husband has died of it and everyone else is coping best they can with the situation.

I have done all the household tasks I don't normally make time for - cleaning the car out of sweet papers etc; cleaning the oven (yuk!), seeing the bottom of my ironing basket, gardening, window cleaning, fence painting - anything to fill the time.  Now I am left with a lighter routine of cleaning, reading, journalling, using the internet for on-line shopping (a full time job!) and I learnt how to use YouTube as my church wanted people to contribute to their Lent programme.

I have family members involved with the NHS and Care Homes so the clapping on the doorstep on Thursday nights are emotional, as I am sure it is for so many of us.  Despite the criticism and negative news reports, some of which are very valid, they soldier on saving lives, making the sick comfortable, saying kind words over the dying and putting aside their own fears and needs in the battle to win over this situation.  

Lockdown Land is our new 'norm' for now, maybe for the rest of spring and summer - who knows.  Going with the flow of each day is all we can do, accepting the situation and the small joys and disappointments.  People are making such fun videos and connecting more with their children; neighbours are talking over the fence again or across the street keeping social distancing.  Who would have imagined at the beginning of 2020 this was even possible.  Our world has been turned upside down and hopefully, when all this is over, great changes will have occurred for us to take better care of our planet, our little world beyond our four walls and within them too.

Stay safe my family, friends, Twitter pals, Facebook friends and readers of this blog.  Thank you to every key worker for  delivering services that are vital to our wellbeing and mental health.  May you be blessed in abundance.

Comments are welcome here or via Twitter @tweetsue13.

2 Minds Matter

I am privileged to be writing this review blog of a most excellent stage presentation brought about by my former work college and more latterly, a friend, survivor of breast cancer and most energetic, kind hearted, generous person in Tamworth.  Sharon Rose gathered together 100 volunteers to enlighten an audience and promote Mental Health issues.  It is the second of two plays resulting from her published memoirs of a life of tragedies and fun.  You can read about the first play and Sharon's books by scrolling down my library of blogs until you find Split Second published on 22.11.18 and Thorns of a Rose published on 22.4.17.

The stage was a school hall theatre space, props were simple and affective, scenes were changed by way of pictures on an overhead projector and stage hands delicately moving items around.  The audience waited in anticipation whilst reading this quote on the screen:

Sharon has certainly taken her history and created wonderful ways to help others which in turn will change their lives too.

The opening introduction and song 'Lost' left us in no doubt about the subject matter of the play and already my emotions were on full alert.  We were transported back in time to the 1960's and 70's through music, black and white screen pictures, fashion and family settings.  Colour back drops came as we moved with the family into 1980's when behind closed doors they were in crisis and, for the safety of its members, the father was sectioned and taken away.  Two young dancers expressed dramatically and beautifully the emotion of this situation.  My thoughts went out to those who today are struggling behind the doors of their family homes with anger, confusion, voices in their heads telling them negative things that drive them to drink, drugs and violence, the knock on affect to those around them and the fear and love that binds them together.

Humour came during Act 2 when the 'in-patients' of a certain establishment decided to have a day out to Llandudno.  There was some extremely clever use of film and of a get-away vehicle which I was happy to find outside after the play:

However during their antics in the hotel they visited by the sea, two guests were less than pleased with the groups behaviour.  Their intolerance and attitude being in 1980's, unfortunately I feel has not changed some 35 years on.  The stigma of mental health and the un-PC words are still around; we talk of 'inclusion' and 'difference' but are we comfortable around those who display challenging behaviours?  I think I may have sloped off and had afternoon tea somewhere else rather than cause a scene that unacceptably harsh - the group were having fun and the hotel staff were obviously ok to let them have some time out. 

Back in Birmingham the 'voices in the head' were affecting another family member and the father is now old but still likes to play his piano/keyboard.  His offspring displays the same traits as ones he had grown up with and this leads to bad relationships and his eventual suicidal death.  Again our emotions are touched delicately by the expression through dance and picture of swans on a lake.

Summer Seager Coles' white leotard and hair feathers matching the music and Nathan Anson in black was a stark reminder that life is a two sided coin.  We can live beautifully in the light or be tormented in the darker side of life.  However, the finale left everyone in no doubt that help is at hand - The Mercian Singers sang - 'You'll never walk alone' and 'Climb every mountain'.  I am sure there wasn't a dry eye in the theatre.  

The production was supported by many helping Charities.  Samaritans and local Mental Health workers were present to talk to should anyone need it.

Should you wish to see 'Split Second' Plus Xtra Time to be staged on 22.2.2020 tickets will be available from Tamworth Information Centre from October 2019 or visit: www.sharonroseauthor.co.uk.