Well hello to the month of May so let’s make it meaningful.

I think it’s fair to say the coronavirus safety measures have affected all of us. In addition to the very real worry of someone you love being badly affected, every single one of us has had to adapt at speed to restrictions on our every day lives. Big changes at short notice are challenging, and these are difficult days while we try to modify our expectations and accept our new normal. 

Life as we know it has changed beyond anything I could ever have imagined. Just a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have believed you if you had told me we would be living in a country where the pubs, cinemas, hairdressers, gyms, and all those things we unconsciously took for granted were closed: that we would only be allowed out to make essential journeys, and for one hour of exercise a day.

It’s been about eight weeks since we Scarlets last met. I am therefore very excited to announce that Emma will be launching a Scarlets Web Podcast on Spotify and Appleplay so please watch out for this announcement. It will be a first for her so good luck Emma – we will have guest appearances from Elaine and Nancy too! We, like many others institutions are keeping in contact on a host of different WhatsApp groups to accommodate these new restrictions. We have created an “Isolation Madness” one for daily quizzes and general chatter, a pre-existing “Gardening” one which includes a sunflower growing competition and more videos, a craft “Cast Offs” group where we can display our new creations and seek advice. There is a weekly “House Party” group – wine in hand is suggested but not mandatory. We always have it in mind to maintain contact with members who live alone and may go for days without hearing from a friend. As a WI we have been making Scrubs Bags for our local NHS staff. The idea is after their shift they can remove their scrubs, pop them into a bag and wash they whole lot without contaminating anything else. Two of these bags went straight to my daughter’s friends as both were seconded from training straight onto the front line (so to speak). We are super proud of these efforts and so far must have made 100 plus and are still sewing. Thank you to all our scrub bag sewers, to Elaine for providing all the fabric and to Nancy H for passing the finished bags onto the distribution coordinator. Andrea, our previous president has volunteered as a street champion for her neighbourhood – she provides information and supports the vulnerable.

I have been determined from day one to use this lockdown time wisely. I, like many of my fellow WI friends have access to a garden and an allotment which I feel is vital to my health and wellbeing. I have also taken up yoga – something I have wanted to do for a long time. Check out our Facebook page to see what my fellow WI friends have been up to.

For sure the last few weeks have made me realise more than ever how lucky I am to live in the lovely town of Southport – the marine lake, the parks, the open spaces and most of all the sunshine have been a blessing during lockdown.

Bye for now xx

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