Hello again Directors Of The Bored!
I’m back with a daily dose from the lighter side of life, so you can find 5 minutes in your day, and hopefully have a giggle when perhaps you thought it was the last thing you’d end up doing. I’m not in denial of Coronavirus. On the contrary, this blog exists entirely because of it. At a time where we are literally being told what to do and what not to do every single day, my (completely amateur) guidance is that if you don’t build a laugh in there somewhere, it makes the rest of it a whole lot harder.
The aim of this blog is to make laughs spread quicker than Coronavirus, and for them to last longer, so we make it out the other side, mindful of what’s been, but more than happy to resume and embrace what we considered to be our boring everyday lives just a few short weeks ago. Perspective’s a handy tool, huh?
Briefly, on the subject of #LaughterSpreadsFaster, our blog isn’t yet one week old, so I’m encouraged by where we’ve reached to date in such a short period. Yay world!
I’m hopeful we’ll become more useful as a resource for handy stuff and giggles as time goes on, because, increasingly I’m seeing more and more posts like this online.
If you want to catch up with anything we’ve done so far, just click the blog. This’ll give you a flavour of yesterday’s stuff.
And, so to today’s blog. Coming up, Carol Vorderman, Gary Barlow with Beverley Knight, the OVERWHELM of Home Schooling, the ingenuity of business, ‘People Are Amazing’, and, as always, the funniest stuff out there right now, so you end the blog with a laugh!
First though, an appeal for us all to be a little more patient – to try and show tolerance, and not to judge.
This is my mother-in-law, Edna.
Or, as I like to call her, Wizardora.
To be clear, the old bat couldn’t really be less of an old bat if she tried. I’ve attempted over the years to persuade everybody differently, but her insistent, downright annoying, nice-ness has contradicted me at every damned turn.
Nobody believes my stories of salt pentagrams and sacrifices, or dancing round the garden in the early hours bathing in the glow of a full moon she howls at.
Instead they all fall, en masse, for her ‘little old lady’ schtick.
It’s bloody infuriating. This has been our duel for over 20 years, or rather it was. I still make the barbed jokes, but she’s pretty much for the most part, long forgotten the retorts.
Edna, you see, has Alzheimer’s Disease.
This is not an appeal on that charity’s behalf. It’s more personal than that. In a time when we’re supposed to be locked down, Edna’s brain is telling her she has to go out. That unease that she’s in the wrong place, and has to be home to check on her Mum and Dad.
Ordinarily, this is usually a topic which is talked over and gently dealt with, but on occasion, the persistence is so great over a period, my father-in-law, who is her carer, has found it easier to simply go out and walk with her, until the search proves fruitless, or is forgotten.
These people, my people, are elderly, and simply getting by, however they have to.
They’re not deliberately flouting laws.
And their case is not unique.
My one plea is to take a minute, listen, be tolerant, show compassion.
That minute can make all the difference. Not everyone out there is a cov-idiot.
Thank you.
How’s home schooling going? Be honest.
Are you slightly overwhelmed at the amount of work coming in? Obviously, it varies. My wee girl had some maths and reading the other day. Aside from that she has some seeds to plant if she wants to and instructions on how to build a bug hotel. Again, if she fancies it.
My secondary-school-aged son, by contrast, is finding it difficult to keep up. Or maybe that’s just me. He’s using Google Classrooms, Microsoft Teams, the GLOW system and then there’s the Show My Homework App.
We’re trying to follow the timetable wherever possible, but just when one task is complete, another 3 come flooding in. It can’t just be us!
On the subject of home schooling, I love all the online help, both from my kids’ actual teachers remaining virtually in touch, but also the celebrity classes, like Joe’s PE Class and Oti’s Dancing For Kids to keep them moving.
Add to that, Maths with Carol Vorderman.
This afternoon in our house it’s Cooking in Home Economics. So far it’s been subjects which can only cause mental anguish. This is the first real danger of actual physical harm taking place. I’ll let you know how it works out. Meanwhile, in terms of making home-schooling work for your time-table, perhaps this will prove useful.
Before today’s best bits, (which, I promise will have you splitting your sides) a reminder how in all of this, people are amazing.
The ingenuity of businesses amazes me too, adapting to circumstances, trying to remain viable. So, as it becomes increasingly difficult to get your shopping, take a look locally, and you might just find an alternative. This is one near me for your meat, delivered to your door.
The one thing I’d add here is, please, if you can afford to, don’t chuck these guys out the other side of this period, after they’ve helped you when you needed it most.
And a quick plug for one of my kids’ classes too. I don’t know whether you’ve heard of it or not but Sooyang Do is the fastest growing martial art in the North East of Scotland.
Both my two attend. Last night was…..a little different.
I absolutely LOVE the way people are working around everything so creatively.
OK, time for the funnies.
This is Graeme. He’s my pal and the CEO of IFB
He’s back later. I will warn you in advance, his video is very funny, but sweary, and not for your kids or your Gran. But first….
Remember, throughout this time, it’s imperative to keep fit.
When you’re spending so long at home, you’ll probably have a fair bit of time on your hands. Not enough to sit down and work out the maths of toilet paper like this guy though. Again, if easily offended, maybe don’t click.
Next, remember Graeme from a few paragraphs back? Here he is again. Remember, you were warned.
And now, the news in brief.
And finally for ‘news in brief’, the trolley for that panic buyer in your life.
Now, if you’ve been kind enough to check out the blog before, you’ll know I like to end on a bit of a musical flourish.
Gary Barlow’s been staving off the boredom, and in all likelihood been treating us to the longest, most elaborate, organic Facebook marketing campaign ever witnessed, by running something called The Crooner Sessions. In the latest edition, the fabulous Beverley Knight.
Last on today. It’s not over until….
Thanks for reading. Please share too
Stay Safe x
#LaughterSpreadsFaster
Sociable Distance 
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