These two touching lockdown stories were submitted in response to our request in Update #10 for articles about things our members did to help them to get through this most ‘unusual year’.
My Life Under Lockdown – Bev Clarke
For the first couple of weeks, I was trying to adapt to not being able to go beyond my front gate.
So I decided to save my sanity and get positive by creating a family cookbook. The kids were overjoyed, so I called it ‘Cookin’ with Granny’.
I have a lifetime of wonderful memories that have involved preparing meals and enjoying the company of family and friends. I wanted to create a keepsake that would preserve much-loved family traditions with a hand-me-down of recipes so future generations could enjoy all the delicious dishes we have shared together over the years.
I am hoping that my grandchildren keep adding their favourites to the cookbook so the joys of cooking will continue on in their families.
Hope you are all safe and well, Merry Christmas to all my U3A Friends.
Bev, whose image appears at the top of the page, has been a member since the 1990s and was a key member of our Social Committee for about 15 years
A Small Act of Kindness – June MacDonald
As someone living on my own who is normally very social, the effect of lockdown surprised me. I can only describe it as an emotional lethargy. I was grateful for the focus I had to give to my U3A Zoom classes and enjoyed the challenge of managing the new technology.
The radio advised us to have projects – but what? One day, deep in lockdown and feeling grumpy, I went to the post box and found a package with my name on it. It was two blocks of dark chocolate with the message. ‘Hi June – for you, just because. Love Trish’
I was thrilled. Such a small gesture but it meant so much. I collected what empty jars I could find. I had exactly eight lemons on my dwarf lemon tree. I made a batch of lemon curd, which I had never made before, and delivered them to my neighbours within my 5km radius – with the same message that had given me such a lift.
Small differences can make big changes.
June is a member of the Committee of Management and Class Leader of ESL and Africa, the Dark Continent.
As we received only two articles by the published deadline for a special newsletter edition, our plan is to publish some later submissions in the new year.