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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 51 of Lockdown – the Monty Python edition

Day 51 and Monty Python

Monty Python kicks us off on day 51.  I’m afraid this video reminded me a little of some of the daily briefings we are getting.

Today sees the first day of softening in England, how was it for you?  We start with a few government updates – quite a lot came out today; those included here are most relevant to members of the public.

More Government Guidance

Some more guidance updates to ease our way into the common-sense world of soft lockdown, apologies if some of these appear repetitive or, at least, covering the same ground: Continue reading “Day 51 of Lockdown – the Monty Python 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 49 of Lockdown – the Christian Aid edition

Hand washing on day 49Day 49 of Lockdown

Day 49 and we hark back to 7 weeks ago when we were first taught to wash our hands frequently whilst singing happy birthday twice.  Who’d have thought that Christian Aid uses the money donated for such things as teaching folks how to wash their hands?  The picture right is of a hand-washing clinic run by Judith Lassie in the village of Sawula, Sierra Leone.  There are some links to some videos from VE-Day 75 celebrations & also here a bit of comedy and some music. Continue reading “Day 49 of Lockdown – the Christian Aid 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”

Day 47 of Lockdown – the Swift edition

Swift in flight

Swift in flightDay 47 of Lockdown

No, this isn’t the Swift edition because time is passing quickly, at day 47 we all know it isn’t.  This is about the avian kind after the coincidence of the RSPB and Colchester Group of the Essex Wildlife Trust both drawing attention to them today.

The update finishes, as they often do with a musical parody, but given the main messages in this update are light, today’s carries a little weight.  It is offered in light of some unsocial-distancing experienced in many places yesterday evening and folks partied.

RSPB Announces “Happy World Migratory Bird Day”

Continue reading “Day 47 of Lockdown – the Swift edition”

Day 45 of Lockdown – the “What did they do” edition

Dave Vera Lynn aged 103

Plans for the weekend gameDay 45 of Lockdown

Day 45 and we are all agog to see what plans Mr Johnson will reveal on Sunday.  The little game on the right might help you predict.   Other news:

Last Few Days of Free Access at Ancestry

Linked to the VE day 75th-anniversary, Ancestry has been offering free access to their website – this expires on Sunday so if you are keen to track your roots this is the weekend to do it!

I (webmaster) have been impressed to Continue reading “Day 45 of Lockdown – the “What did they do” edition”

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 Continue reading “Day 44 of Lockdown – the Stress edition”

Day 43 of Lockdown – the “Specials” edition

Stay at home, play & save lives

Stay at home, play & save livesDay 43 of Lockdown

After a quiet weekend for local news, day 43 (6 weeks and a day!!!), brings us a few bits of news that might interest.  Also a rather lovely parody of Cat Stevens’ Father & Son and other light relief.  So we have:

Community Special Constables Needed

The parish has a low crime rate but does suffer from occasional antisocial behaviour and parking issues, along with sporadic rural crime.  West Bergholt Parish Council are supporting Essex Police to increase local and visible policing in their area.  We nearly had Continue reading “Day 43 of Lockdown – the “Specials” edition”