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Day 77 of (where is) Lockdown – the Gardeners edition

Day 77 of (wherNational Garden Schemee is?) Lockdown

On day 77 we start off with items of interest to gardeners and then quite a few more news items:

National Garden Scheme reopens

The National Garden Scheme has just started opening gardens.  You have to book a timed entry online (and pay Continue reading “Day 77 of (where is) Lockdown – the Gardeners edition”

Day 74 of (fluctuating) Lockdown – the Town Centre edition

Fraud scam alert

Day 74 of (fluctuating) Lockdown

Day 74 sees a focus on Colchester town centre to start with – actions to make it greener and easier to social-distance kick us off:

Greener Town CentreThumbs Up for ‘Safer, Greener, Healthier’ Town Centre

Health experts and leading cycling and walking campaigners have welcomed ambitious plans to make Colchester town centre streets safer, greener and healthier. Continue reading “Day 74 of (fluctuating) Lockdown – the Town Centre edition”

Day 66 of (un?) Lockdown – the Crash edition

Crashed outside Treble Tile

Day 66 of (un?) Lockdown

Day 66 and we have news from the village first followed by:

So, on to the…

Crash

Drama this week as a local resident, allegedly under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, came to a sudden unexpected stop. Continue reading “Day 66 of (un?) Lockdown – the Crash edition”

Day 59 of (is it?) Lockdown – the eCargo edition

eCargo Bikes

Day 59 of (is it?) Lockdown

Day 59 sees updates from CBC, ECC & HMG:

Continue reading “Day 59 of (is it?) Lockdown – the eCargo edition”

Day 56 of (is it?) Lockdown – the Mental Health edition

Social Distancing for kids China-style

Kindness mattersDay 56 of (is it?) Lockdown

If you’re feeling mentally frayed these days, day 56 sees the start of Mental Health Awareness Week.  We start with that and then address:

Mental Health Awareness Week

The theme this year is all about “Kindness Matters”, something we are already seeing a lot of during the COVID-19 crisis. Continue reading “Day 56 of (is it?) Lockdown – the Mental Health edition”

Day 53 of Lockdown – the “Anyone for tennis” edition

Anyone for tennis

Anyone for tennisDay 53 of Lockdown

Day 53 sees the first tentative steps towards sporting normality in West Bergholt as the MUGA opens for tennis.  Other news:

Anyone for Tennis?

Following the latest government advice, the MUGA is now open for playing tennis only.  To protect the health of our staff, the parish council is not currently charging to hire the tennis court, however, you must book the court in advance of playing to ensure social distancing is adhered to.

To book the court for an hour, call Victoria Beckwith-Cole on 07434 949631.

LTA Advice

Guidance for use

in order to use this tennis court, you must:

  • Keep a 2m ‘social distance’ at all times.
  • Wash your hands at home before and after play. Bring antibacterial gel with you as there are no toilet facilities open.
  • Play within households if you can.
  • Singles play only unless you are playing doubles with members of your own household.
  • If you are playing against someone from a different household (Singles Only) you MUST have your own personal tennis balls CLEARLY MARKED that only you pick up.
  • When you arrive, wait for play to finish before entering the MUGA. Do NOT congregate by the entrance gate.
  • Please do not touch the nets, net-posts or fencing.
  • Do not touch other people’s tennis balls with your hands.
  • No spectating is allowed.
  • You must not use the MUGA for tennis without first pre-booking a court with Victoria on 07434 949631.
  • If these conditions are not met or any damage occurs, then the MUGA will be closed. Any issues please call 07434 949631.

Playgrounds

For the avoidance of doubt, playgrounds/play parks remain closed at this time.

When BBC Look East interviewed the Bears

Rainbow pictureCBC – Share Your Rainbows

Colchester Borough Council is encouraging residents to share photos of their home-made rainbow creations that demonstrate the borough’s support and gratitude to key workers throughout COVID-19.

Residents are being asked to share photos of their colourful and creative rainbow creations – whether it’s a hand-drawn rainbow, a chalk drawing on their driveway, or even a floral display in their front garden. The competition is open from 15 May until 7 June and will be judged by Cllr Mark Cory, Leader of Colchester Borough Council.

The winning photo will be awarded a family pass to visit Colchester Castle, a family swim pass at Leisure World Colchester and will feature on the council’s Facebook page as a cover photo.

To enter the competition, visit: www.colchester.gov.uk/rainbow

The winner will be announced the week following the competition’s deadline of 5 June 2020.

Every Family MattersECC – International Day of Families

We’re using this year’s International Day of Families to remind you of the support available across Essex if you need help managing the extra pressure that the COVID-19 pandemic has put on family life.

We understand that while trying to make sense of this new world, you also need to support your child with their understanding. This will be unfamiliar territory and it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed by this and trying to navigate the current circumstances we’re all living in.

Making It Easier to Find

With so much information out there, we know it can be hard to find what’s right for you, so we’ve collated key organisations and resources that can help support you and your family at this time.

We are continuing to share these with you through our Every Family Matters campaign, so that you know where you can get the help you need on subjects including children’s mental health and wellbeing, social distancing and young people, and how you can keep your child safe online.

Visit our Staying Well Children and Families page for more information and stay up-to-date with regular Every Family Matters news on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Play Me Maybe – Musical Parody

https://youtu.be/MDQNVNwNxHg

 

Day 52 of Lockdown – the Bruce Forsyth edition

Bruce Forsyth - nice 2 metre, 2 metre niceDay 52 and Bruce Forsyth

On day 52 we have a timely intervention from the legend that was Bruce Forsyth.  Having grown up in feet & inches I (webmaster) despair at the number of people (of all ages), who really have no grasp of what 2 metres is.  I’ve gathered my pet gripes together, I wonder how many you share:

  • on a narrow pavement, it is NOT OK to walk side-by-side when somebody is coming the other way.
  • it is also NOT OK for runners & cyclists to whizz past at speed barely 1-metre away.
  • if you and your household come across another household it is OK to socially distance on the same side of the path; that is much better than straddling both sides forcing others to run the 1-metre gauntlet.

Anyway, down to today’s news items: Continue reading “Day 52 of Lockdown – the Bruce Forsyth edition”

Day 50 of Lockdown – the Florence Nightingale edition

International Nurses Day - Florence NightingaleDay 50 of Lockdown

Day 50 of lockdown is the last day of the soft lockdown as we look forward to tomorrow’s slightly softer version.  Topics today include:

International Nurses Day

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale.  Continue reading “Day 50 of Lockdown – the Florence Nightingale edition”

Day 48 of Lockdown – the Round Tuit edition

A round tuit

A round tuitDay 48 of Lockdown

Webmaster is easily amused by wordplay and on day 48 I was reminded of an old jokey jibe “Are you a Lert?  Didn’t you know there is a national shortage!”  I can’t imagine why; my other favourite was the “I’ve got a round tuit.”

So, the connection here is to the round tuit and two sources of things you can get around to doing during the lockdown.  Some from CBC and others from the WWF.  Finally for today, The Sound of Sirens (a parody song)

Some Ideas from the WWF

This week we’re sharing tips on how to grow vegetables indoors, an escapist reading list, details of our awesome Earth School initiative and an exciting isolation photography competition! Continue reading “Day 48 of Lockdown – the Round Tuit edition”