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Day 44 of Lockdown – the Stress edition

StressDay 44 of Lockdown

On day 44 we start with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) being worried about stress levels during Lockdown.  We then have two complementary articles from ECC and CBC about VE 75th anniversary and, as ever, end with some things to do and a little light relief.

Look after your mental wellbeing while working at home

During the coronavirus outbreak, it’s important to look after your mental wellbeing while staying at home.

Stress affects us all at different times and in different ways. It can cause people to feel physically unwell, can cause mental health problems and can make existing problems worse.

HSE’s stress website has plenty of advice, while our downloadable stress talking toolkit has ideas which you can adapt to suit current working arrangements.

VE-Day 75th Anniversary StampVE Day 75th Anniversary

VE Day 75 is coming and both ECC & CBC issued press releases today on this topic.

ECC Say Celebrate VE Day, but celebrate at home

Essex residents are encouraged to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day and once again pull together for the good of the nation – by observing social-distancing.

Due to the COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions, most VE Day 75 events have had to be cancelled or postponed, but Essex residents are encouraged to mark the occasion in their own homes.

A round-up of online resources available to residents in Essex can be found here.

National Celebrations

There is a full programme of national celebrations planned for Friday which can be found here: https://www.veday75.org/

The national commemorations taking place on VE Day include:

  • Two special programmes on BBC One.
  • A two-minute silence of remembrance at 11 am.
  • The ‘Nations’ Toast to the Heroes of World War 2’ at 3 pm – A chance to stand at home and raise a glass of refreshment of your choice to toast – “Those who gave so much, we thank you”.
  • A pre-recorded televised address from Her Majesty The Queen at 9 pm.

CBC Reveals More Plans To Commemorate VE Day 75

Don’t Make a Special Trip

Some of CBC’s celebrations will remain in place for some time so build it into your daily exercise outing rather than all attending on Friday this week!

Floral display in memory
An earlier floral display at Castle Park

CBC will mark the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day this Friday with a special floral display in Castle Park and VE Day flags flying from the Town Hall.

Like other towns and cities across the UK, Colchester would have held a civic service at the town’s War Memorial to mark the historic day. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and Government guidance, public commemorations have been cancelled nationwide. Instead, the council is encouraging residents to mark the occasion online and through other events it is supporting.

Online Resource

It has created a dedicated online resource at www.colchester.gov.uk/ve-day-75 to help residents commemorate the end of the war in Europe and remember the day, 75 years ago, when people took to the streets to celebrate peace, mourn their loved ones and hope for a better future. As well as offering links to online resources, visitors will also be able to view a special video message by the Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Nick Cope, and Lieutenant Colonel Jim McManus AAC, Commander of Colchester Garrison.

VE Day 75 BadgeA spectacular VE Day 75 badge border display on the flowerbed of Hollytrees Lawn is set to bring a vivid splash of colour to the celebrations. Two gardeners spent three days planting more than 15,000 individual plants to create the display.  It features a large ‘V’ for victory and the words ‘VE Day 75th Anniversary’.

The council will be lighting up Colchester Castle with a Union Flag-type bunting projection in an added display of colour.  This will be on Thursday evening (7 May); it will also feature silent VE Day footage in the background and the VE day emblem.  The CBC Press Office has assured the webmaster that this will be shared on Social Media so you don’t need to be there tomorrow to enjoy it.

Museums’ Contribution

Visitors to Colchester Museums website will be able to read a special VE Day-themed blog entitled Dressed for Victory. The blog – about a little girl’s dress made locally to celebrate VE day and a rare survival from the height of rationing – will go live at 9am on the 8 May.

The Museums team will also be offering several children’s VE day activities online, from the 8th May, via https://cimuseums.org.uk/museumfromhome/.

The council is supporting West Bergholt with a £200 grant for VE Day commemorations from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund.  However, due to the current situation, it was not possible to hold all the events planned and they will now be looking to mark the occasion later in the year instead.

Fun & Games?

Potato printingLet’s start with Things to Do:

Musical Interlude

Today’s touches on a problem some who dye their hair are facing.  Enjoy this True Colours – Cyndi Lauper parody:

 

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