Good Morning my Directors Of The Bored.
I’ve scanned ahead. You’re in for a treat of a bumper edition, as we continue our aim of trying to make laughs whoosh around the globe quicker and for longer than Coronavirus.
If you need 5 minutes of escapism and a giggle in your day, you’ve just struck gold.
Some other stuff we think you’ll find useful, touching, and downright strange as well, all coming up.
I’ve flipped a coin (no-one else wants to touch my actual money any more), and decided today we’ll start with People Are Amazing.
Just watch this.
I especially love when one of our services shows its support for another.
And look at this. I’ll be honest, I almost chucked this in World Of The Weird, but I’m feeling benevolent and leaned more towards the fact Hollie’s Nan was so inspired by the real Captain Tom Moore she knitted a wool one!
Next up, The Useful.
Again, this could’ve fitted into a few categories. I do kind of question the thinking pattern behind ‘how can I help spread the concept of social distancing? I know, I’ll rewrite a musical’. I can also see those who have a more direct experience with Coronavirus thinking this is too whimsical, but you can’t deny it’s been brilliantly put together.
No matter what you buy for them, it always comes back to the box, and usually the stairs, if you have them. So why fight it?
Very cool, and marginally less dangerous than what I used to do in our house. We had coats hanging at the bottom of our stairs. I used to pile them on the floor like a crash mat and then jump from the top of 13 steps to land in them. It was made even more difficult by the fact the ceiling was also quite low at one point so it wasn’t a case of jumping high and landing, you had to throw yourself arrow-like, head first, to thread the eye of the needle as it were, but be sure to pull up before impaling yourself on one of the coat hooks on the bottom wall.
Look, I’m still here.
Next, if you’re feeling down during Lockdown there’s now a course aimed at helping you. Don’t roll your eyes or sigh. It’s being run by a boffin from Yale University, is completely free, and only started yesterday so you can still register for The Science Of Wellbeing, a promise to rewire your brain in 4 weeks. It consistently rates 4.9/5 stars.
This next example could so easily have been a feature in World Of The Weird too. I’m no stranger to the concept of Therapets and believe they have merit, but on FaceTime?
This is Ricochet.
She usually works works with children with autism and special needs, assists veterans with PTSD and helps people with disabilities, but during Coronavirus, she’s helping key workers, remotely.
I was skeptical on the value of this until I read gazing into a photo of a dog’s eyes creates a calming, connected state of being that, after 30 to 60 seconds, triggers the release of oxytocin in the brain. Oxytocin is a hormone that reduces anxiety and creates a calming, connected state of being.
Now you know.
Be honest, have your kids got fed up of your cooking yet? All too often I live the infuriation of cooking mine something from scratch only for them to turn their noses up at it because it’s the wrong day of the week to eat it/ it’s too green/ it’s not green enough/ it’s too spicy/ it’s a funny shape/I’m not hungry anymore. The last one is particularly precious because two minutes after that they’re looking for something to eat again, the metaphorical equivalent of standing on your throat having landed a punch that put you on the canvas.
To add insult to injury, if you put that exact meal in packaging from McDonald’s or Burger King, it’d be the best thing that had ever been made.
This Mum’s cracked it. Realising her kids’ craving for junk was raging away quietly in the background, she created her own School Menu.
Genius!
This is of a similar nature. This Mum from Aberdeenshire is teaching her kids the value of money while she’s got them at home, by setting up a shop in her house. Each day the kids get £1.00 to spend at lunchtime when the shop opens.
Fruit is free.
Everything else has a value, and they have to learn to budget.
World Of The Weird
This area may seem slightly unpopulated today. I’m being too generous with other stories and bouncing them out of here, but something has to go in, so it’s the lady who’s set up an obstacle course for her dogs and chickens in her garden.
The inclusion of the chickens swung it.
And this, despite its undoubted brilliance has to be mentioned simply for being unable to answer the elementary question, ‘why?’.
Oh, and this.
OK, it’s time for The Funnies.
Today’s News In Brief
Let’s play out with some music.
I’ll give you this much Gary, you’re reliable/relentless. Delete as appropriate.
Today with special guest, Jools Holland.
Thanks for reading.
Stay safe x
#LaughterSpreadsFaster
Sociable Distance 