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September 1st and bits of paper

1/9/2020

September 1st has always been a busy day for me, as a primary school teacher I was preparing for a new school year and as a mum I was making sure the children were as ready as they could be with new uniform, shoes that fitted as well as pens, pencils and a geometry set.

But getting 'back to class' this term has been a bit of an emotional and logistical maze.

I have read so many bits of paper that I am ‘papered out’. From Government Guidance to draft Risk Assessments and final documents I have seen almost every possible variation and combination of words and formats – but it is my job- as a teacher to make sure that YOUR class is a Coronavirus free experience and we all enjoy ourselves without feeling as if we are in a hospital waiting room.

I will be following the guidelines, which are common sense and simple; it is the application that adds the stress.

Wash your hands when you arrive. Both halls have toilets so you can use soap and water- or hand sanitiser.
Do not linger at the main entrance. We have never lingered for a chat by the front door, and I can see no reason as to why we should start now. Please move into the hall as usual.
Social distancing: there are 2m indicators, etc. but it is YOUR responsibility to make sure you are comfortable and arrive not too early and to leave promptly.

What to bring with you:

A pair of soft-soled shoes. You should not work in ‘outdoor shoes’ so please have a pair of shoes that you can easily change into for class.
A bottle of water.
A pair of socks for when we use bean bags. We will put the bean bag in the sock, and you can then wash the sock.
A pair of cotton gloves. When we use apparatus, you may want an extra layer on your hands and cotton gloves are more comfortable than latex gloves and can be washed.
Hand sanitiser. Although the venues provide hand sanitiser, we all have our own preferred fragrance and ‘texture’.
Pedal bin liners to pop over the back of the chair for when we are doing standing work.
Tissues to catch your sneezes.
Dettol wipes or similar for your own peace of mind when using the toilets etc.
Finally, the correct money. It is not financially viable to do a ‘chip and pin’ ‘swipe’ or ‘touch’, and I do not want to chase people up for online payments. Classes will remain ‘pay on the day’, but I will NOT be accepting small change or coppers. The correct notes and coins ONLY. I will accept cheques.

See you all on Monday 7th or Wednesday 9th September

Tuesday class.

17/8/2020

Today is a sad day.

Today I made the decision not to return to Highlands Village Hall, closing the EXTEND class that I started.

Phoning class participants- friends- with whom we shared our ups and downs, as well as jokes, plans and so many songs, was very difficult.

All other classes will resume the week of September 7th.

Be safe, stay well, raise a glass to absent friends, and one day we will all exercise together again.

Eat crisps?

11/8/2020

It is hot- very hot and just walking to the bottom of the garden brings you out in a sweat.

Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. When the normal water content of your body is reduced, it upsets the balance of minerals (salts and sugar) in your body, which affects the way it functions. Water makes up over two-thirds of the healthy human body. It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins, and keeps the skin healthy. Some of the early warning signs of dehydration include: feeling thirsty and lightheaded a dry mouth tiredness having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine passing urine less often than usual.

You need to put back the sugar, salts and minerals that your body has lost.
If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated.

How do you know if you are dehydrated?
Check the NHS website or NHS Inform for more information - and the colour of your urine.

A catch up.

28/7/2020

Hello again.
So, we have gone from ‘everyone to be careful’ to ‘don’t go out’ and now we have passed the is ‘OK to go for a walk’ stage and we are entering the ‘you can resume life’ but it will be a ‘new normal’ whatever that may look like.
I remain optimistic that we will all be back again - but not just yet.
There has been a flurry of excitement in the fitness and dance world that we can all resume classes…but…I am not sugar coating the issues:

There is a maximum number of people permitted in a building calculated by the square foot area of the building – one person per 100sq ft of space. This is why some shops they limit the number of people allowed in.
Airborne spreading – because they say the virus is spread by particles in the air there is no communal singing or activities that encourage people to shout. This is also one of the many reasons we have to wear masks in areas with lots of people - like shops and public transport.
There has to be an adequate air flow which is calculated per litre per person which is why socialising and exercising outdoors is better than indoors.
There is a ‘golden area’ of 2 metres- everyone has to be 2 metres apart.

Cleanliness: while the hall management do all they can, it is my responsibility, before you enter the building and after the class to:

Clean the chairs - not just the bits we sit on but the underneath where our fingers touch.
Clean all flat surfaces- including the floor
Clean the light switches, door handles, push plates and possibly the toilets - or make sure there are cleaning materials for you to clean the loo before and after you use it.

Track and trace:
This is one thing I do not need to worry about as I keep a weekly register and I have all of your details.

Transport:
I cannot expect you to get on buses or car share with people not in your bubble- especially if you have been isolating since March.

So, while we are all excited at getting back- my honest feeling is that we should wait until September and see what happens then.

In the meanwhile- has your ‘communication’ network changed during lock down?

Have you got a new smartphone so you can Facetime or Zoom your family?
Can you installed Zoom on your iPad or laptop?
Do you use Facebook?
Do you have access to an email account?
Does someone come round with their phone, iPad or phone so you can Zoom or Facetime with family?

Enough of the doom and gloom. Life has been interesting here. I have walked almost every street within 3 miles of my home and we have got shopping down to a fine art - in and out in less than half an hour. My aim to leave lockdown no heavier than we went ‘in’ is on track. No lighter- but no heavier!
I think I am keeping John Lewis open with online shopping and my trips out are limited to shopping, and tea in my mum and sisters garden but the cricket is back and I have discovered podcasts and Spotify.

So, what can we do between now and then?

Share a smile and make someone happy
If you need some company then phone someone and invite them into your garden for a cup of tea (bring your own cup and saucer).
Arrange to meet someone in the park or somewhere with a few outdoor benches.
Support your ‘local’ coffee shop and meet a friend maintaining social distancing.
If you have a blue badge make the most of it and enjoy free parking to get out in the fresh air.

Feeling stiff and sluggish?

Pop on some music and have a dance. Think of all the exercises we do in class and do them once every few days. You do not need to do them every day, just a few days a week.
Dance through the housework - put on a song and make sure you polish and clean with BOTH hands!
March on the spot - I know it is boring- but walk on the spot during the adverts. Try not to stay on the spot- move from side to side, backward and forwards.
Try some knee bends on the bed and sit to stand in the kitchen.
Find the muscles- weight lift with a bean bag or plastic bottle filled with rice.
Keep moving the ankles and fingers.

Que sera sera.....

14/7/2020

To all my class participants- I miss you like nobody's business!
This popped up on my timeline and I thought of you all - we will all sing - together- again.

It is all so complicated.

10/7/2020

Hurray- we can go back to class - or can we?

The announcements and guidance

Government announced that indoor gyms and pools can re-open to the public on 25 July (click here) and click here for the official accompanying guidance.

Performing Arts given green light to resume outdoors on July 11- click here and then here here for the Guidance for people who work in performing arts, including arts organisations, venue operators and participants.

One area of concern is that 'all venues should ensure that steps are taken to avoid people needing to unduly raise their voices to each other. This includes - but is not limited to - refraining from playing music or broadcasts that may encourage shouting, including if played at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult. This is because of the potential for increased risk of transmission - particularly from aerosol and droplet transmission'

But we can wear a mask? The World Health Organisation released guidance on June 16, 2020, that people should not wear face masks while exercising because it could reduce the ability to breathe comfortably, noting that the most important factor in preventing disease spread is distancing yourself from others.

So....when we get back will depend upon all manner of things from ventilation, social distancing and cleaning the light switches, door handles, chairs.....

.......watch this space!

VE DAY

8/5/2020

Thinking about all of my class members on VE Day.
I dug out my 'Black and White' leotard and joined a traditional 'League' class with old friends, teachers, my sister and mum! The traditional sequences: shoulders, swinging waists, feet and legs sitting and lying...and then I went into the garden and played with some scarves.
We would have had a week of parties and celebrations, as well as remembering those who are no longer with us.
Be safe, stay well and we WILL meet again!

Long time no post!

8/4/2020

It has been a long time since I have posted anything, I suppose I didn't want to jump in on the band-waggon and fill everyones mind with un-necessary stuff.

I found myself getting all stressed in the shoulders are realised that I was not breathing properly so I made myself sit in the garden and breath as it is always good to breathe properly especially if you can get outside with the birds singing and the sun shining.
I do not do breathing exercises in class as I do not want to take people out of their breathing patterns, but this is useful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7sJw5ecFUU&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2PX86nUfM0Pt-eovlmPoVb_ncGH5tKCJkcPJ8vCvRrqbPThazRFN6qwmM

I will pop back later in the week...take care, make sure you go for a walk every day and be safe!

Social isolating? Social Distancing? Day 13.

28/3/2020

bThere is a new game:
Who will move first?
Will they say thank you?

Day 13 is done and we are all getting used to a new normal. The morning alarm is later as there is no commute. Every cough is dissected and radio stations selected for their 'happy news policy' - you are right- they don't have one.

Trying to stay 2m (6ft) away from anyone is not easy, especially when walking along the street and the 'couple' coming the other way refuses to move from the centre of the pavement. And then you say thank you to them for NOT moving!

Last weekend everyone was out; they were either not thinking or just being plain selfish. Then, as expected, we were put on 'Lockdown'. But it doesn't feel like Lockdown becasuse we can go for a walk, go shopping for essentials and see the elderly- we just can't get to within 6ft of them or introduce 'germs' into their homes. Looking at the news from Italy, we can see where we are going- it will get worse, but staying 'indoors' protects us and the NHS.

BUT, what is worrying is the isolation, the lack of human contact. That is why I always smile when I pass anyone, and we may stop, leaving 6ft between us, for a 'human chat'. It may only last 5 minutes, but it is 5 minutes they are not alone.

People are demanding that the parks are shut. The play equipment is closed as are the tennis courts, but closing off the open green spaces, where dads and sons can play football and families cycle and young girls can jog safely will create secondary issues such as loneness or depression.

There is no quick end, we just have to reply on people we do not know to behave themselves.

Stuff...and trying to find a smile!

18/3/2020

Checking the news is depressing, so once in a while i will try to share something light hearted.

But first...money, finance and all that stuff.

The place to go is Martin Lewis: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=18-Mar-20-50597964-3914&utm_campaign=nt-hiya&utm_content=3