#23 Taking your time

Here are your SL* for Monday 13 April 2020

This one is all about taking our time to slow down and appreciate the little things in life again because for many of us (and I’m looking at myself here) it’s sometimes easy to forget life before screens, mobiles, and the internet.

So when you’ve scrolled through this, put the phone, iPad or laptop down and get back to the real world. It’s way better anyway… and doesn’t need batteries.

Today’s newsletter started after I spotted this little video…

The Kerry Fund @TheKerryFund

What #silverlinings are you finding during our difficult times? Some of ours are walking more (social distancing, of course), and getting to know neighbors more. Plus, remembering what's most important. How about you?

👋 Time to meet the neighbours

Lou Overton 🧼🤲💦 #stayathome @QI_LouOverton

I've lived in this cul-de-sac for over 3 years....after tonight's #ClapForTheNHS, I met some of my neighbours for the first time, we shared a drink, sang happy 18th birthday to one lady & bonded over this unprecedented time we're living in (2 metres apart, obvs!) #silverlinings

🏏 Time to create your own games

Amazon Prime Video Sport @primevideosport

A quite incredible creation to keep the cricket going in the garden 👏 �Cy

Don Buchanan @goodwriterca

Late Spring in #yeg, finding #silverlinings during #covid19; enjoy your long weekend. Recommended for kids and the young at heart😎: try a "twirlybird" or twig race, but play safe.C

✏️ Drawing inspiration

A new discovery for me today that is both humbling and brilliant -- Gary Andrews is an illustrator, cartoonist and Father of two who is posting a little Doodle a Day -- he began the series in 2017 to cope with the passing of his wife. I think they are just brilliant.

Gary Andrews @GaryScribbler

Starting to forget what day it is... but didn’t forget more #flowers for you. Xx @The_Big_Draw @PinkPig_Sketch #lovenature #drawingformindfulness

Gary Andrews @GaryScribbler

Taking time to savour the quiet moments. Grabbing them while we can. #doodleaday #widowerlife #silverlinings

garyscribbler

‪Making an effort to only cook healthy meals rather than fast food, seeing as how time is not an issue. Seems to be paying off!! So satisfying seeing them tuck in. #doodleaday #widowerlife #lovecooking ‬

April 3, 2020

🌳 Time to discover a new hobby

WeedsGetABadRap @WeedsGetABadRap

During #SocialDistancing, my 9 yo has decided to take up nature photography. Today he said he is glad he found something that brings him joy. Oh, my heart! #SilverLinings

🚶‍♀️ Or enjoy a quiet walk

Richard Sharkey @richard_sharkey

Spent the morning with my family walking among the bluebells near where we live. #countryliving #silverlinings

🚴‍♂️ What a difference a month makes

Just take a look at the difference before/after of this busy junction in East Dulwich in South London.

EDSTN Healthy Streets @edstnparking

The junction at East Dulwich Grove/Melbourne Grove is hideous. Residents tell us they find it hard to cross safely & often avoid. ⁦⁦@Livingstone_RJ⁩ ⁦@mcash⁩ what can be done to improve 🚶‍♀️🚲🚶🏻‍♂️safety? ⁦⁦@DulwichWheels⁩ ⁦⁦@fotcsfIMO

EDSTN Healthy Streets @edstnparking

Lovely to see so many people on bicycles able to safely navigate this usually awful junction. #silverlinings

EDSTN Healthy Streets @edstnparking

The junction at East Dulwich Grove/Melbourne Grove is hideous. Residents tell us they find it hard to cross safely & often avoid. ⁦⁦@Livingstone_RJ⁩ ⁦@mcash⁩ what can be done to improve 🚶‍♀️🚲🚶🏻‍♂️safety? ⁦⁦@DulwichWheels⁩ ⁦⁦@fotcsed⁩ https://t.co/a6fYAUfIMO

🤫 It’s hush hour in Central London

Joanne MacInnes @MacInnesJoanne

Lovely bucolic cycle through Soho at midday; Carnaby St, Old Compton and Oxford Street. Dead to cars and alive to cyclists. Bliss. Sometimes I don’t want this lockdown to end. #silverlinings

👩‍🍳 🥒 The joy of slow cooking

I’ve always loved cooking (thanks largely to growing up with a mum who made endless delicious meals for us all) but is anyone else finding that cooking is becoming one of the highlights of their day?!

It used to be quite functional and let’s be honest a bit of a chore to do each night -- we’re now finding time to actually read those cookbooks on the shelf (come on no one really uses them do they?!) and appreciate all the food we have at the moment… even when the leeks look like this!

Tonight we’re trying Heston Blumenthal’s ‘Low & Slow’ roast chicken… should be ready for around 10pm ;)

🌱 Growing things for yourself

As well as endless tomato plants (SL* #17) I’ve started growing herbs in the garden -- mint, basil, tarragon, parsley, sage and thyme so far — it’s genuinely making me so happy to be able to pick herb fresh each day rather than opening another plastic packet from the fridge that says it’s been imported from far away and goes off in a few days.

🌱 Lettuce next!

ramona pringle @ramonapringle

Nature is magical. Growing a new lecttuce out of the scraps of an old lettuce has been nothing short of life affirming. #silverlinings

🌱 Time to find beauty in unusual places

Ruth Hill @RuthHillWrites

There's beauty in unusual places when you slow down and look. #silverlinings

This busy street near to our home is usually FULL of parked cars… not today it wasn’t!

😁 Time to appreciate the little things

Camille Bullot @hello_camille

Positive sides of social distancing #1: rediscovering the balcony. #silverlinings #COVID19BE

JennyCameron🌈 @JennyCameron

I present.... the bottom of the ironing basket. Last seen in 2003. #silverlinings

💤 Or just enjoy doing nothing at all!

It is awfully hard work doing nothing.

— Oscar Wilde

There’s a reason Tom Hodgkinson’s brilliant book How To Be Idle was a bestseller… If you need more inspiration check out his magazine The Idler for some things to read.

SL*

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