Day 114 since Lockdown – the ‘Swift’ edition

Day 114 since Lockdown

On day 114 we get an update on the village’s Swift project. In other news:

Swifts

This summer, villagers may have noticed an increase in the numbers of swifts wheeling about at speed, high up in the sky with their unmistakable scythe shaped wings and forked tail.

Thanks to funding received last year, we are now in the process of installing a total of 32 swift nest boxes at various sites around the village. As well as Orpen Hall and Heathlands School, eight private households are also taking part.

June 29, 2020July 8, 2020

Day 98 of (new balls) Lockdown – the ‘wot, no Wimbledon’ edition

Day 98 of (new balls) Lockdown

On Day 98 of lockdown Wimbledon doesn’t start, yet another sporting casualty of the pandemic. A few topics today, most addressing your mental or physical fitness:

Latest from Museum from Home,
Active Essex aims to help you keep physically fit,
Libraries reopening will help with your mental fitness,
Colchester Parking Consultation, &
Wimbledon in music.

Museum from Home

We’ve reported on Colchester Museums’ Museum from Home initiative before but they keep coming up with new activities so it is worth a reminder. Some of the newer ideas are: Continue reading “Day 98 of (new balls) Lockdown – the ‘wot, no Wimbledon’ edition”

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020

Day 88 of (now #3) Lockdown – the ‘Stories to tell?’ edition

Day 88 of (now #3) Lockdown

Day 88 starts off with a call for your Lockdown Stories, it then covers:

Do You Wanna tell a Story?

Would you like to contribute your story to the Continue reading “Day 88 of (now #3) Lockdown – the ‘Stories to tell?’ edition”

June 17, 2020June 18, 2020

Day 86 of (stairway to) Lockdown – the ‘MC Escher’ edition

Day 86 of (stairway to) Lockdown

Day 86 starts off with an update from the Parish Council. It is also MC Escher‘s birthday who was famous mostly for his ‘Impossible Stairs’ – navigating the pandemic sometimes seems a bit like this!

A couple of mini-snippets:

Recycling back to normal apart from textiles on 22nd June,
Colchester Zoo opens tomorrow pre-booked entrance only,
If you are going into town, remember to keep left on pavements.

After all that we have:

Parish Council Work Continues During the Pandemic

Continue reading “Day 86 of (stairway to) Lockdown – the ‘MC Escher’ edition”

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020

Day 84 of (shopping) Lockdown – the ‘Primark’ edition

Day 84 of (shopping) Lockdown

Day 84 is also day 3 of the Siege of Colchester some 372 years ago, that siege only lasted 77 days and here we are at day 84 of our COVID-19 siege. With the shops reopening, are we at the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning? If we want it to be the former then I guess we need to stay alert? Today is also the start of Loneliness Awareness Week, other news:

Loneliness Awareness Week

The Marmalade Trust started Loneliness Awareness Week (LAW) 4 years ago to raise awareness Continue reading “Day 84 of (shopping) Lockdown – the ‘Primark’ edition”

June 10, 2020June 10, 2020

Day 79 of (bubbling) Lockdown – the Zoo edition

Day 79 of (bubbling) Lockdown – the Zoo edition

On Day 79 lockdown becomes bubbly as some will soon be able to have a full contact social bubble of 2 households! Other news kicks off with:

Colchester Zoo update,
A new support services for children and families,
The Young Essex Assembly talk about Social Distancing, and
Michael McIntyre’s fortune teller outing last year!

Colchester Zoo to Reopen

Colchester Zoo has announced their intention to reopen next week. They have yet to confirm Continue reading “Day 79 of (bubbling) Lockdown – the Zoo edition”

June 8, 2020June 8, 2020

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

Day 77 of (where 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,
Stay at Home, Grown your own scheme – get a starter kit,
Today is the beginning of Carers Week,
Update on the work of the NHS Volunteer Responders,
How to get new recycling boxes & caddies,
Essex Police enhance online services offering, and
The Good Life – gardening in mud.

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”

June 3, 2020February 21, 2021

Day 72 of Lockdown – the Bowling Along edition

Day 72 of (irregular?) Lockdown

The day 72 update starts with Woods Bowls Club keen to welcome you for a rollup. There then follows:

The West Bergholt PC Health & Wellbeing Plan
Updates from Essex County Council:
- Thanks to volunteers, and
- Libraries Reopening,
Updates from Colchester Borough Council:
- Museum launches a Learning from Home programme, and
- Residents COVID-19 Contacts Pack updated, AND
Some more Bowls including comedy video.

Woods Bowls Club Restarts

Woods is a small but very friendly lawn bowls club that is normally open to all ages and abilities throughout the spring & summer months of April to September. The club consists of a mixture of male and female members with ages ranging from ‘Thirty-somethings’ to, sprightly Octogenarians! You are never too young or too old to play Lawn Bowls. Continue reading “Day 72 of Lockdown – the Bowling Along edition”

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May 21, 2020May 21, 2020

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

Day 59 of (is it?) Lockdown

Day 59 sees updates from CBC, ECC & HMG:

Antisocial behaviour leads to the early closures of St John’s Car Park,
eCargo bikes & trailers will soon be on Colchester’s street,
Closures of Ipswich Road from 25th May,
Expansion of Essex Welfare Services,
Guidance for parents & carers when kids go back to school, finally
An interesting/amusing review of advertising during the COVID-19 crisis.

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

May 20, 2020May 20, 2020

Day 58 of (is it?) Lockdown – the Life in Lockdown edition

Day 58 of (is it?) Lockdown

On day 58 we get the chance to finish what we started on day 57; the Essex Life in Lockdown article inviting you to share your lockdown story. After that:

Consultation on Police Priorities,
Mental health awareness week,
- Mental health & wellbeing courses,
- Children’s Mental Health,
Garden Waste Collections,
Environment & Highways Meeting,
ECC COVID-19 Financial Impact,
As usual, some light relief.

The People of Essex – share your stories

The Research and Citizen Insight team at Essex County Council are reaching out to residents of Essex to hear their experiences and share stories of what it has been like for you during this extremely challenging time. How has COVID-19 and the lockdown has impacted your life, how you’ve been getting on, how you have managed to stay connected with friends, family and your community and how you’ve been feeling throughout the lockdown period? Continue reading “Day 58 of (is it?) Lockdown – the Life in Lockdown edition”