Something that made me happy: I enjoyed playing along with Pop Master on Radio 2 today, even though my score was embarrassing... And I'm cracking through Mindhunter on Netflix. Dark, but good.

Something productive: I made a carrot cake, a roast dinner, and I swept and mopped the floor. It's all glam here!

Something to help someone: I helped El Husbandio with some of the questions on his visa renewal. It's a stressful form and process, and two heads are better than one to decipher what the Home Office wants. Final stage though, yay!

Until tomorrow, 

Lou x

This is what I've watched over the last week. I haven't been bingeing - even with Lockdown I'm keeping busy  - but here's what I thought of what I did catch. 

Toy Story 4
Really disappointing! I loved Toy Story 1, 2, and 3, but this was not a keeper. **SPOILER ALERT** I guess there's going to be a fifth, we'll see if Pixar and Disney can bounce back, even with Woody now no longer with his team of toys and a family. 

Dara O'Briain: This Is The Show
Now, this was good. I do like Dara, but I especially liked his comedy on NCT groups. Preach!!!! 

A Star Is Born
I've wanted to watch this for ages, and I wasn't disappointed. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were fantastic, and I felt really moved in several parts. Go see, if you've not already!

Alan Carr Yap Yap Yap
Pretty entertaining but there's a limit to how many of these I can watch!

The Lion King (2019)
I'm not generally a fan of the remakes (see previous blogs) but I couldn't resist this, a true favourite... And it wasn't too bad. Pumba and Timon were actually improved: No wailing crying, some good lines, and Seth Rogan is always a welcome voice. One bit I did think was a bit crap was the Be Prepared song. One of my favourites from the original film and I really missed Jeremy Irons as Scar. Still, one of the better remakes, worth watching. 

And that was my week of Now TV! Not too much viewing, busy with baby and we don't watch a huge amount generally anyway, but it was worth it for A Star Is Born alone. Go get a free trial!

Lou x

P.S. I made myself happy today by watching The Lion King.
I was productive today by making plum buns.
I helped someone today (hopefully) by displaying a rainbow picture in my front window. A lot of my neighbours are doing it, lovely positive sharing in isolation.

I know what that feels like. I came home from a month with the in-laws intending to make he most of my last three months off work with Rox. However, one week later, social isolation descended. And now we're on lockdown. 

No more mums groups.
No more local events, beach trips, general public baby entertainment to enrich her life.
No more coffees out with friends.
No more building social skills of baby.
No more day trips for a 'change of scenery'.

Maternity leave is hard work, but there's lots of opportunity to meet new people, have fun, spend month, explore your baby's likes, dislikes, mental development... Much less so now!

This is why we agreed to some extent that we felt a bit robbed. We're all at home, either alone with baby, or with a partner, and finding ways to cope. 

However, I'd argue now, after some reflection, it ain't so bad. 

1. If we're keyworkers we don't have to work and potentially be exposed to CoVid-19 risk areas, staying at home and protecting our families.

2. Free entertainment for baby and mum has changed, not disappeared.  On yesterday's blog, for example, I told you about the free trial of Now TV. Once or twice a week baby groups time can easily be filled with a film. It's not the same, granted, but it's not terrible. Screen time is new for Rox anyway, as we've been careful to only really use screens for calling grandparents over the last few months.

3. Think about the mums who are about to have a baby or have just started their leave.  They haven't had the time we had at the start of their new family life, as have no idea when this situation will end. And for sure, some grandparents have yet to meet their new grandchild!

4. For some babies, isolation and lockdown means more time with daddy, yay!

My group of mum friends mostly have babies the same age as Rox, so we're all really lucky to have had 10, 9, 8 months already caring for our babes, bonding with them, and helping our babies develop into walking, talking, sleeping and behaving (almost)t  

I intend to make the most of the rest of my leave, even if it's limited socially! 

Lou x

P.S. I made plum buns to be productive today, made a rainbow for my front window like the neighbours are doing to spread positivity to help someone out (hopefully), and I watched The Lion King to make me happy. 

And, a gratuitous gorgeous pic of my favourite person...

I made Rox a train out of an Amazon delivery box. And I'm pretty pleased with myself. Not only does it look fun and fabulous (complete with gold lettering and luxury ribbons), she liked it!

I think that was my helping someone, making myself happy, and getting my productivity checked off all in one!

What a great way to spend an afternoon alone. 

"See" you tomorrow!

Lou x

I'm hoping the panic-buying craziness has abated here now. I passed Lidl on a dog walk yesterday around 3.30pm and the car park was half empty. El Husbandio went into the store this morning and found bananas, bread, spaghetti and milk, all of which were in short supply this time last week. 

I'm not going to lie, it was pretty terrifying at times, seeing people being so selfish and anxious. I wasn't worried about running out of food though, but more scares of how the behaviour of the Gen Pop can deteriorate fast and cause even more issues. 

The situation in the shops has really made me think about our relationship with food and groceries in general. I'll give you a few examples...

1. When everyone seemed to be going mad buying pasta (not us, we've been preparing for a while!) you could always find lasagne sheets. So it appears the British public in general do not know how to make a lasagne from scratch.

2. No one needs to buy 48 rolls of toilet paper. That's a year's supply for the average person, almost! Even if you're a family of five, that's still ten weeks, roughly, if you're careful. The question I had is should bog roll be sold in packets of this size where there's a bit of a shortage? I'm all for bulk buying to help environment and save packaging, but should stores be able to break them down into half packets, at least.

3. In times like these, it pays to be creative. No bread? Make some! (It's easier than you think, especially if you have time on your hands). Not sure how to use a spice that's been sat in the shelf for months? Google a recipe. And a vegetable bake with cheese sauce can take almost any veg you can get your hands on! We actually had a surplus of bread today so I'm baking bread pudding as we speak. The recipe is here if you feel inspired ... 

**Edit: photo added below**

4. I think it hasn't occurred to some people to rinse their cupboards dry before buying more of what they'd really fancy or what may not be available. Short of a dessert for the kids? Dig out those lonely jelly packets in the back of the cupboard. Ever tried plant-based milk? No? Now's your opportunity - and oat, almond, soya milk is long life and may have more availability in the stores. I recommend oat milk on cereal, almond milk in coffee, and soya milk in baking.

5. I hadn't realised how much I rely on bananas. They're cheap, and so flexible. I put them in cakes, fruit salads, cereal, sandwiches,  pancakes, eat them for snacks... They're my firm favourite - when they're available! I've started to enjoy a pear now, but berries (my absolute fave) are still as expensive as ever. I'm going to pay special attention to our minimally productive blueberry bushes this year!

6. I have always been a big advocate for the Love Food Hate Waste campaign and I'm wondering how food waste will reduce post-CoVid19 as people become more frugal and appreciate food a little more... Here's hoping!

So, what are you having for lunch?

Lou x

In keeping with my 'keeping sane' activities through isolation, here was my day today:

Made myself happy: A friend and I did a video call, which was really nice, hoping for more of that.  I also watched Alan Carr's Yap Yap Yap show.

Productive activities: I did a daily dog walk (El Husbandio does the other), I bleach cleaned all the bibs and cleaned the bathroom.

Helped someone: I've posted some lettuce seeds to a friend who's struggling to get her emotions and head around lockdown with a more-than-aware four year old. Sending love!!!

I feel like I've done loads more and time has flown today, even without much company. That's what having a baby does! 

Here are my Lockdown Buddies by the way, my gorgeous family.

Lou x

I texted my neighbour and invited her to a doorstep chat over a coffee. 9am, our respective doorsteps, and it was lovely. I also called a 'good morning' to a neighbour opposite and played with the dog in the front garden. 

Something for me today - check!

Off to do something productive now, washing and changing the bed linen. Let's see what the rest of the day brings in Covid-19 lockdown!

Lou x

​1. First up, with all this 'working from home' there will clearly be a baby boom around December-January!

2. We will all be oveoverweight from all the extra pasta we bought. I also think we'll be eating less meat as a vegetarian diet can be cheaper and easier to shop for if there are any shortages. 

3. Some gardens will never have looked so tidy! And allotments will have bumper crops as people spend more time and effort growing. Feeds you, occupies you, perfect way to see out the crisis!

4. Sadly, I think divorce lawyers will be busy when isolation ends.  There's one thing living with your partner and another thing being locked in with them 24 hours a day. 

5. Home deliveries will become a more popular service, as people start to see in huge numbers that Asda delivering for you is much more convenient! If they could only send sensible alternatives when they're out of stock.... Even before CoVid-19, I've ordered gluten free flour for a friend, for example, and they've replaced it with normal flour. There's no substitute for this, really, I guess they're trying. 

6. Charity shops will be (hopefully) inundated where people have had a big clear-out. 

7. Radio will have seen a revival, as people realise there's only so much Netflix you can watch. 

8. Working from home will become more common as employers see it is possible and productive. Heating bills may go up as a result, but there will be less traffic on the road. 

9. I can't Imagine this would ever be a scenario for me, but I bet some parents  turn out to absolutely love home schooling and that they keep it up. Good luck to them!!

10. I really, really hope the environmental healing we've been seeing in the air, seas and rivers will not have gone unnoticed and a new wave of green will happen on an idividual and global level, 

11. There will probably be a good number of people trying something new, either for work, play or exercise, given we will have been cooped up at home for a while.  Some sadly will have lost their jobs, but let's look for the silver lining when the summer comes.

Stay safe, stay in,

​Lou x

However, all is not lost and misery. She's home with my dad, the sun's shining,  and i saw her just over a week ago before isolation became a social thing. I am so grateful i have a mum, and have a whole new appreciation for her this year... because I'm a mum too now!

Thank you mum. Dad has your gift stashed away, make sure you get it!x

And it's myy first Mother's Day as well.... I didn't picture it like this! But hey, we're happy and healthy 😊

​Productive 'remaining-sane' things for today: I've made a roast dinner (not getting out for one, clearly!), put together a parcel for a friend, and tidied the house. I'll clean the car later!

'Make myself happy' things today: Breakfast with El Husbandio and baby, surprised by a gift and eggs on toast - he even remembered my tea, and should make it more often, was delicious!! I am also going on a dog walk with a friend, maintaining a safe social distance but getting chat, exercise and fresh air. Yay!

Enjoy your Sunday,
Lou x