In this very strange time, we’re all finding little ways to cope. Whether that’s binge watching Friends for the 28th time, reading something new or trying to muster up some sugary treat that doesn’t taste like cardboard… well I sure am, anyway.
Since the start of lockdown, I’ve been trying to find little ways to entertain myself and find joy in everyday life. I’m really learning to appreciate a slower pace and accept that you don’t need to be going at 10,000 miles an hour. I’m taking joy in little things and allowing myself to listen to my body a little more, rather than my mind forcing me forward again and again. I’m lying in and staying in PJ’s till midday. I’m going to bed at 9pm some nights and 12am others. I’m slowing accepting this new norm and ~ dare I say it ~ enjoying it. So here’s what I’ve been spending my time in lockdown doing.
Baking
Well, well well. So you know I said that I am no chef in the kitchen… well it turns out I’m no baker either. I’ve had my hand at a few sweet treats but it’s gotten to the point where I’m getting a little scared to keep wasting ingredients. I’ve opted for some much simpler / fail safe things that I can’t screw up. A current favourite is chocolate covered strawberries – if you missed my tutorial on it then you can watch it HERE.
Watching
I feel like lockdown has really been the time for me to let me binge-aholic come out and catch up on shows I never had time for before. Prior to lockdown, I was always that person who when you asked what they thought of the new show, I always responded that I hadn’t seen it and must add it to my watch list. Well ladies and gents, the watch list is finally receding and not growing. Finally. The shows that I have been catching up on are Killing Eve, Modern Family, Gilmore Girls (again) and the newest series of Brooklyn 99.
Reading
As much as I hate to admit it, I haven’t been doing all that much reading. I expected to throw myself into my books at the start of lockdown but I haven’t gotten through that many. Instead I’ve been really invested in the new season of ’13 Minutes To The Moon.’If you haven’t caught season 1, its a 14 (?) episode series by the BBC all about Apollo 11 and America’s mission to the moon. Season 2 talks about Apollo 13 and the reasons for its failure. It gives interviews with the crew as well as the men who saved the ship. It’s such an amazing read and an amazing podcast to sit and listen to.
Doing
So what have I been doing other than sitting on the sofa like a couch potato? Well I’ve been watercolouring for a start. I always loved colouring and drawing and fancied myself a bit of a budding artist but I just never had the time to ever actually sit down and enjoy it. I invested (I say invested – they cost a total of about £8) in some paints, some artists pads and some paintbrushes to get me going and I’m absolutely loving the sense of calm it brings me. There’s something about putting on some classical music, sitting down with a blank sheet and just dabbing the page like there’s no tomorrow. I’m no Monet and I don’t expect to be recognised for my repeated water colour flowers any time soon, but it’s a fun little hobby to have.
