The museum of life: choosing an item to showcase this moment in time

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creativity with kids, finding time, International Museum Day, living through COVID-19, museum at home

Did you know it’s International Museum Day (IMD) today?

Of course museums are closed around the world at the moment as we all cope with the changed reality of life during COVID-19, but that doesn’t stop them being creative and having a red hot crack at celebrating the day and bringing it to the world.

This year as part of celebrations for IMD, the Council of Museums Australia has launched a social media initiative calling on all museums and galleries ‘to choose an object, work of art, or other artefact that reflects this moment in time in some fundamental way’.

I was rather taken by the idea so, in keeping with my view that my house is a bit like a living museum (only messier), I thought I’d choose one item from home to showcase, something that’s represents me and my family and is reflective of the strange times we’ve been living through. It’s been a very tough and rather bizarre year indeed, one indeed that will be forever highlighted in the annals of history. We started with the worst bush fires ever experienced; record-breaking heat; filthy smoke that kept us indoors for weeks; and now we’re adrift in a pandemic. We are indeed living history.

I chose an artwork for my selection to represent this time we’re in. It’s not sad or morbid at all though. It’s a beautiful creation by my six year old granddaughter. (Okay, I helped a bit, but that’s part of the exercise.) Perhaps it’s not the Mona Lisa, but I think it’s a bit like a masterpiece, and very reflective of the times we’re in.

Like so many children throughout the world, Miss 6 has been out of school for the last couple of months with no contact with friends and schoolmates (apart from Zoom) and has spent all the time at home, mostly under her Mum’s feet while she tries to keep the three very small people entertained at home, keep everyone organised and fed, do homeschooling, and work from home to boot. She’s managed exceptionally well.

During these weeks of shutdown, just about all outside activities and excursions have been off the table and lives have been turned upside down. Luckily in Canberra, getting outside for play and exploration was not taken off the table (with some restrictions of course) and fortunately as well, our city has fared well in the sickness stakes and we were the first jurisdiction in Australia to be caronavirus free and to start easing restrictions. That meant I got to spend time with the grandbubbies again (at least the ones here).

Amid the widespread despair and gloom, there have been some positives as well. In these quiet few weeks as we’ve hunkered down at home, some of the external pressures have been removed. We’ve spent a lot of time in the garden and wandering the streets outside, enjoying the fresh air and looking for treasures as the city turns on its lovely display of autumn glows. We don’t get far on the walks, sometimes 100 metres, sometimes less, and they’re exceptionally slow, but that’s part of the beauty of them. Suddenly you don’t have commitments and places to be. School was out, activities cancelled, time pressures taken off – leaving us to potter slowly, observing, collecting and just being together. It’s been a bit of a blessing in disguise. And on every walk, we’d come back with a basket – or a bag, or a pocketful – of treasures and colours.

Some of those treasures have been pressed for another time but last week we converted some of them – leaves, petals, seeds and such – into a mermaid. It took a long time to place and glue and colour and add the extra sand and sparkle, but there was no hurry and nothing else to get in the way. It was actually a gift from time and Miss 6 is very proud of the results. Straight to the pool room, I’d say, or to be laminated for future admiration.

I’m constantly aware for millions around the world, this has been a wretched time, full of despair, loneliness and sadness with terrible health and economic consequences, and will continue to be for some time to come. But personally I’m grateful, for me, it’s also been a time to slow down and catch up, and take in some of the small things—which are actually very big things and so important.

This mermaid artwork speaks to me of that time when the world slowed down and we could take the time to do some things we don’t normally make the time for, when I wandered often with small three children with no agendas and made artworks with them. When they explored, and played, and created, in ways they mightn’t have done before.

If you want to know more about International Museum Day, there’s a whole website to explore.

What about you? What object would you choose from your house/museum to reflect the year that is?

Brush up your photography skills during shutdown

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free photography resources, keeping occupied during shutdown, learning photography, photo challenges, photography community, photography resources

 

Yes, yes, another article with ideas about what to do during shutdown, even as the shutdown is easing off.  If you’ve already got more than enough to keep you occupied or you’re just sick to death of articles trying to be helpful, just move on.

But if, like me, you’re taking advantageof the quieter times and cancelled social occasions and travel to learn new skills and you love photography, read on. Here’s a collection of online webinars, activities and ideas to get your creative juices flowing and enable you to hone your skills.

HeadOn(line) Photography Festival

Photography lovers – pay attention, but be quick. Head On(line) Photography Festival is go! Given the live event had to be cancelled, they transformed it into an online feast of free artists talks, conversations, panel discussions and webinars to brush up on your photography skills. On now until 17th May so not too long to go.

Check out the list of events at the link below and register to attend your sessions of choice. I think you have to register 24 hours before hand, then you get a link to watch the webinar live. There will also be replays but you may have had to register beforehand to see these.

And yes – these are all free, although if you are in a position to donate, donations are very welcomed to allay costs.

You can find the festival program here.

Online tutorials and learning

The list of opportunities to learn online is almost exhausting – and there is a staggering amount of free stuff available.

You can start with the Digital Photography School (dPS) which has enough information and resources to keep you occupied for the rest of your life –oodles for free, like daily tips, resources and free tutorials that will help you get the most out your photography. And nope – this is not sponsored.

You can sign up for free membership which will get you:

• Access to library of free guides
• Community Facebook Group with weekly challenges
• Weekly updates on our latest tips, tutorials and news
• Occasional special offers (that’s where they’ll try to sell you stuff but no obligation)

Photo Voyager

I did a photo tour workshop some time back in Vietnam with Pieter Janssen, a Dutch photographer in Hoi An. Pieter, like so many others in the travel industry, has lost his income as there are no travellers so he’s turned to online classes instead via Zoom. You can pick classes from some for $10 US a session or tailor an individual one for yourself for a bit more. (As a side note, I keep thinking about all people across the world whose livelihoods have been decimated without tourists and who have no other means of support, including government support. Tough indeed. As as another side note, if you haven’t been to Hoi An, put it on your travel list – a photographer’s paradise.)

 

If you want some instruction that’s more focused on your camera type, you can head to Canon, or Olympus, Nikon etc, or even those who concentrate on I-Phone photography.

Olympus Learn Center (not in Australia if you noticed the spelling) has a similar learning hub with a wealth of resources – you’ll find it here. Here you’ll find tips and instructions on how to use Olympus cameras or more general tutorials and instruction on just about any photography topic you can think of, no matter which brand camera you do.  Lots of online workshops being put up at the moment in these quiet times. You must register first to get the link.

They also have challenges every so often to keep you inspired and creative. Go nuts. Events currently cancelled but you may find a photo tour that tickles  your fancy for future reference.

Canon have a similar thing including a more specific focus on their own gear, but that doesn’t mean other brand-users are excluded. While events are currently cancelled, there’s lots of online learning, creative challenges and workshops either through their website, Instagram or Facebook page.

Canon has very active community of users and offers regular ‘challenges’ on a theme to get your creative juices flowing and to get lots of inspo from others. Check out their Facebook and Insta pages.

From Canon’s Australia’s Instagram page

Ted’s Cameras has a great blog with lots of Teducation – boom boom – with tips and tutorials on just about every photography type or topic, as well as information about equipment. Just for a taster, here’s one where a Ted’s Academy Trainer talks you through tips for indoor portrait photography or the best settings to get the best out of vlogging. Anyone into that?

You can also connect with others through their Instagram and Facebook accounts. They have inspiring images from their #TedsMasters and you can share your pics by tagging #FeatureMeTeds.

Look out for their regular photo competitions on Insta.

Challenges

If photo challenges are your jam, here’s a few to get you going – hyperlinks included. You’re welcome.

Canon Challenge

Canon Leap Challenge – not live but can do yourself at any time

Life Hacker – 52 week photo challenge

Australian Photography – photo ideas for self isolation

Photography Challenges

You can sign up to the challenges on their website (https://photographychallenges.com then head over to the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/photochallengesgroup/

Courses

If you still want more, you can undertake a fuller course. I did one recently at my local CIT (TAFE equivalent) which was excellent. I found when I was paying for the course, was committed to it and had assignments to submit, that really kept me on track.

The Australian Centre for Photography is moving with the times and has just announced online learning, including one on one tutorials.

Lots of the other places mentioned above also have paid workshops as well as their free ones.

If you’ve got any recommendations for great places for photography learning and inspiration, I’d love your suggestions.

 

 

 

 

After the shutdown, where will you travel to next?

Tags

Australian travel, favourite places, holiday destinations, holiday here, travel after shutdown, travel dreams

While most of us have spent the last months largely tucked away safely at home, it seems the wanderlust bug is beginning to bite and many of us are champing at the bit wanting to resume our travels and visiting.

I asked a number of fellow bloggers and travel lovers where they’re likely to head first once the travel reins are lifted. Here’s where they’re heading. It seems a fair few of us are hankering for the beach.

Agnes Water and 1770, Queensland by Jan Wild

Agnes Water and 1770 are co-located as one of the loveliest towns in Australia. Located just north of Hervey Bay, they are also a great meeting place with family who live in Rockhampton, and we are looking forward to meeting up again when travel restrictions are lifted.

1770 is where Captain Cook first set foot on Australian soil and thus has historic interest (albeit controversial). But less controversially, it is located at the southern end of the Barrier Reef and offers beautiful beaches and a laid back vibe.

If you are looking for gourmet eating experiences, then 1770 isn’t for you. But if you are looking for nature in all her glory, friendly service, and a peaceful place to relax, then it definitely is. But we did enjoy a pleasant meal at the pub, and the next morning decent coffee and a decadent vanilla slice.

We stayed in an Airbnb out of town last time, but next time I think we would choose glamping at Agnes Water Glamping, on the beach.

With our domestic travel restrictions hopefully easing in the cooler months, Agnes Water/1770 is a place to put on your bucket list. Who knows, we might see you there.

Jan blogs at https://retiringnotshy.com.au

Town of 1770, Queensland

 Bermagui, New South Wales by Rose John

That’s where I’d like to be. But the world is in chaos right now and wishful thinking is what we have instead. So let’s build a vision board of where we’d like to go—and I want to visit Bermagui again. I want to soak my feet in her clear sapphire waters and let the wind blow in my face.

stay
Gretel and Tony run a luxurious bed and breakfast located five minutes away from the town centre. What you realise when you get to Bellbird Cottage is the songs of a thousand birds greeting you as you alight from the car. They are hidden somewhere in the coppice among the leaves, singing to their hearts’ content. Apart from the privacy, large cottage, opulent amenities and delicious homemade breakfast spread, Bellbird offers tranquility and pure relaxation.

eat
Il Passagio, a modern Italian restaurant located on the Fisherman’s Warf whose food is made from locally sourced produce, available from nearby markets. Head there for dinner, settle in a comfortable table by the window overlooking the harbour, watch the moon busily paint the waters with silver hues and pick a dish from their simple yet elegant menu.

do
Swim in a natural ocean rock pool, washed with clean clear sea water. It’s also a great spot to soak your legs in if swimming isn’t your thing. There’s a viewing platform where you can capture magnificent coastal views and maybe even spot a breaching whale or two.

Bermagui, that virginally beauteous town along the Sapphire Coast is on my mind.

Rose blogs at Travel & Beyond. 

You can read more about Rose’s Bermagui adventure here.

Margaret River, Western Australia by Johanna Castro

When all this is over the first place I’ll visit again is Margaret River in South West Australia.

It’s a small town, with a big heart, surrounded by beaches, caves, and wineries. The drive south is always pretty, along winding roads heading south from the coast where we live, down to the deep green of the tall forests which surround Margaret River.

Once there I’ll browse the small shops in the main street (there’s a particularly good independent bookstore) and then head out to one of the many nearby wine estates to taste wine and indulge in a gourmet lunch. Rustico at Hayshed Hill comes to mind, so does Voyager and Leeuwin, or perhaps I might choose something less formal and head to one of the quirky craft breweries nearby.

Depending on the weather I’ll drive to the beach for a walk or swim. Beautiful Redgate, or Prevelly where the White Elephant Cafe hugs the dunes, spectacularly situated right above a perfect swimming beach.

If I have overseas or interstate friends with me then I might add in a cave visit or two. There are some spectacular show caves hidden beneath the limestone cliffs. My favourite, Lake Cave, a stunning crystal chamber deep beneath the earth is entered from the floor of a sunken forest, surrounded by towering karri trees.

Ah, yes so much to see and do in, and near, Margaret River. Right now I’m really missing you.

Voyager Estate, Margaret River

Jo blogs at https://lifestylefifty.com and https://zigazag.com

Coolum Beach, Queensland by Kathy Marris

Prior to lockdown my husband and I were planning a trip up to North Queensland but our hopes were quickly dashed. We live in the far north of New South Wales not far from the Queensland border and as many of you probably know this border is closed to interstate visitors. Hence our lives have been heavily impacted because our daughter lives on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

The first town I’ll visit after lockdown and the re-opening of the Queensland border will be the Sunshine Coast town of Coolum Beach. Over the years we’ve spent a good amount of time visiting here to see our daughter and her partner.

What’s not to love about Coolum Beach? It has plenty of great surf beaches for the surfers, a long stretch of beach to walk along, a fabulous coastal walking path with gorgeous views from Point Arkwright and Point Perry and the added bonus of a challenging mountain to scale at Mount Coolum.

Plus the small village of Coolum Beach has great facilities with shops, supermarket, plenty of cafes and good restaurants. The balcony at Coolum Surf Club is also a spectacular spot for an afternoon coldie!

Generally we tow our caravan to stay at the Coolum Beach Holiday Park that sits right on the beachfront and is opposite the main centre of town.  This is the perfect location for a relaxing beachfront holiday with plenty of things to do and see on the Sunshine Coast.

You can read more about Coolum here.

Kathy blogs at https://www.50shadesofage.com

Vincentia/Huskisson by Debbie Harris

Where is the first place I would travel to within Australia once the travel restrictions are lifted? That’s a hard one to answer! I’m torn because:

• I have my daughter and granddaughter relatively nearby (3-hour drive away) and haven’t seen them for months (it seems like years!)
• my mother, youngest daughter and new grandson are over 1300 kms away (14+ hour drive without any stops)
• and don’t get me started on when I will be able to travel to the UK to see my daughter and granddaughter again.

So, given all that wishful thinking, I will probably choose our family’s go-to beach holiday favourite—Vincentia/Huskisson on the NSW South Coast. It so happens my 89-year-old mother-in-law Ruby lives nearby and she celebrated her birthday, during isolation in April.

Why do we like it so much? It’s beautiful, it’s simple, it has a great shared pathway along the beach, it has the whitest sand in the world, it’s relatively quiet even on the busiest holidays, it brings back childhood memories, we’ve since created our own family memories, we can drive there in 5 hours from home – and did I say it’s beautiful?

There are a few quaint shops, lots of good quality cafes, a bakery, a pub, a book shop and many interesting places around the area. Have you been?

Deb blogs at https://www.debs-world.com

We had a major year of overseas travel planned this year. I was due to leave for England and Ireland next week. Looks like we’ll be doing a lot more local exploration instead.

Where are you heading first?

Making the most of the shutdown: taking time to breathe

Tags

embracing lockdown, embracing the quiet time, Making the most of the balloon festival, making the most of the shutdown, Thriving in COVID-19, time to breathe

I might be out on my own here, but I can’t lie: I’m actually rather enjoying this whole shutdown business. All the human tragedy and economic disaster aside, that is. That part is horrific, but from a personal perspective I’m finding this enforced quiet time at home is proving quite therapeutic and in fact rather productive.

Sure I miss the travel (ughh, those wonderful smashed opportunities I’d been working so hard towards) and the social interactions, and I was a bit shell-shocked at first which put me into the doldrums for a while. I also have to admit I don’t live alone and have a lovely home and garden in which to hunker down, which I’m extremely grateful for. The utmost respect and sympathy for those stuck in small places with no yards, large worries and maybe several small people underfoot. I’m also fortunate to be in a place that’s coping well with the virus while others are not.

But largely, I’m just allowing myself to breathe and soak up the calm. (Our earth is too). I’m actually finding it very freeing having the vast majority of outings, commitments and expectations cancelled. It’s allowing time to do a bit catch up and get around to doing all those things I never seem to be able to get to. Time – it’s a great gift of time without pressure.

There’s time to walk and take in some sunsets, maybe sit in the sun in the late arvo with a glass of wine in hand.

And there’s an inordinate number of tasks and activities to keep me occupied:

• Buckets of general life admin that’s been sorely neglected for a while
• Sorting out my ridiculously huge and unwieldy store of digital photos, in dire need of a harsh cull and complete reorder (that’s weeks of work in itself)
• then more photos to take when I’m done with that (that sounds like the start of a bad cycle)
• Writing, pitching travel stories, more writing and lots of posting to be done
• Eternal gardening and house renos and clean ups (read chronic DIYers)
• Tackling of cupboards and even some shedding and clearing (now that’s a tough ask for one with the heart of a hoarder).

There’s also a myriad of skills to brush up on or even learn: photography and writing workshops and webinars to be devoured, social media technologies to master, maybe I’ll even take up piano lessons as I’ve been promising myself for some decades. And I’ve been threatening to do a new website and some rebranding. This could just be the chance.

Then there’s the amazing variety of music and arts streaming online (here’s a taster) for some fun, frivolous downtime. I’m loving the musicals and performances currently streaming left right and centre. The Shows Must Go On from the master of musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber, is a fave for the weekends. This week it’s Love Never Dies.

Mr T is especially happy as I’m dedicating way more time to the things he wants me to do: like serious gardening and maintenance on the house we’ve been avoiding for years. I kid you not: we spak-filled and sanded our hallway 15 years ago and still haven’t got around to repainting it, although we did do much of the rest of the house at the time. They’re only very small spak-fills, I’ll have you know. All my windows need cleaning too, and there are a ridiculous number of them.

Importantly for me, this pause has allowed me to confront a task I’ve been avoiding for two and a half years, a task that completely does my head in every time I dabble in it or even think about it, stressing me out and stealing my sleep. I might tell you about it one time. But the good news is that I’ve made a red hot crack at it. Not done but enough into the task now that it now seems manageable.

At some point I might even be tempted to look at what’s on Netflix or Stan. Maybe not – we’re one of the few it seems who don’t subscribe. And no, I don’t really care if it’s only $12 a week or even $9 – there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the week to justify it. There’s already great choices available on SBS on demand and some of the commercial stations so I don’t think I’ll go wanting.

In fact, I reckon I could do this whole shutdown for a year and still not run out of things to keep me busy. Good lord, if this goes whole thing goes long enough I might even get out that long stitch project I started (and kept in vague hope of finishing) 33 years ago!! And I haven’t even mentioned the household of books neglected on shelves and in boxes patiently waiting for my attention.

Hopefully this is a one-off moment in time we won’t see again to stop the world in its track, but while we have to stay home, I’m making the most of it and embracing the slower pace of life. It feels a bit like a major recharge. I can almost hear Mother Earth taking a big sigh as well.

What about you? Loving it or hating it? Busy or bored?

 

 

 

How not to rid yourself of COVID-19: weird conspiracy theories and wacky cures

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busting myths, caronavirus conspiracy theory, Caronavirus nutters, hairdryers to cure Caronavirus, How not to get COVID-19, stay home, weird ideas about COVID-19, WHO myth busters

Of course there has to be an abundance of weird and wacky theories about how to prevent or cure COVID-19, the life-threatening virus that’s ravaging the world, because there are weird and wacky theories about just about everything. But nowadays with modern communication technology and social media, these are spreading like wildfire, faster than the virus itself, and sucking a hell of a lot of people up in their madness.

Some of the suggestions are just silly, some truly eye-watering. It would all be a bit of a lark really and give us a good belly laugh, apart from the fact that so many people are being taken in by the extraordinary claims, and some losing their lives because some of them are downright dangerous. That bit’s not amusing at all.

Here’s a couple of examples. In India, a local politician BJP MLA Suman Haripriya  has suggested a bit of cow urine or dung can smash that virus away, while the head of Hindu Mahasabham, a political party in India, similarly suggests a person who applies cow dung on his or her body will be saved, especially if they chant Om Namah Shivay, a popular Hindu mantra. Chanting and meditating may calm your mind, might even reduce blood pressure and get you in a better place mentally, but nope – not effective against nasty viruses.

Could be worse – an Irananian cleric from the city of Qom has a few novel suggestions for cures, including applying a liberal dose of violet oil to your anus before bed. The word liberal is key. Go wild!

Here are a few other myth-busting facts to shatter information previously circulating on social media. Fever tree bark does not have COVID-19 curative properties, and blowing a hot air dryer into your face or eating bananas will not cure you of the virus. And no, contrary to many Twitter posts, garlic won’t work either. Might be good for knocking off vampires or even flavouring your food, but not caronavirus.

And ffs (I know I really shouldn’t have to say this but), don’t drink bleach!

Some of the theories suck a lot of people in, like the theory black people are immune to the virus. The poor old Mayor of Miami Gardens even had to put up a video dispelling that mistaken idea after he got a backlash from coloured constituents complaining he’d cancelled a jazz festival when they thought themselves immune. That’s a mistaken assurance you certainly want to knock on the head quickly.

The World Health Organization is so concerned about the number of people taking these theories to heart that it now has page on its website dedicated to busting these myths, including some handy shareable infographics. Some of the myths include that COVID-19 is not spread via 5G networks, that if you can hold your breath for 10 seconds you don’t have the virus, and that taking a good hot bath will have you sorted in no time, even if you’re already infected. At least those particular ones aren’t dangerous and the bath might make you feel good.

Some of the ideas though are deadly. In Turkey, at the time of writing, more people have died from self-inflicted treatments than the disease itself. According to local media, at least 20 people died in Istanbul in March after drinking rubbing alcohol in a bid to protect themselves while another 34 victims were admitted to intensive care. That alcohol you sanitise your hands with? That is NOT FOR drinking. Wine or gin and tonic is way better for that.

It really doesn’t help when an un-named nutter, who happens to be in charge of a country with the scariest growth rate of COVID_19 in the world, actually tells all the folks the warm weather will knock off that nasty virus when it comes in in April, don’t you worry about that, like a miracle, or then if it doesn’t  (spoiler alert – it didn’t!), touts an anti-malaria drugs instead and incorrectly announces the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had fast-tracked its approval for treatment of COVID-19. Oops – no they hadn’t!  Let’s just ignore the lack of scientific evidence to support its effectiveness for this purpose and in fact can cause serious side effects. Why not? Science schmience I say!

And guess what? That presidential proclamation led to a run on the medication and subsequent shortage for people who actually needed the drug, caused hospitalisations in Nigeria from people overdosing on it, and sadly even caused the death of a man and hospitalised his wife when they ingested a product with partly the same name as the drug the president had been touting.

Of course there are always going to be people trying to make a buck from it all by selling the snake oil cures. Were you quick enough to snaffle up one of the light-emitting pulsing bits of kitchen hardware recently spruiked by Pete Evens, of celebrity chef nut-job fame, at the very affordable cost of only $15,000 a piece, which includes a couple of caronavirus ‘recipes’.? Aahh, too late if you didn’t as they have miraculously disappeared from his website. I believe our Therapeutic Goods Authority may be having a little peek at that.

Meanwhile in the USA, a number of organisations have been trying to flog off magic cures which the FDA and Federal Trade Commission haven’t taken kindly to. They’ve written to a number of companies asking them to ‘cease and desist’ from selling these fraudulent products. One of the spruikers was good old televangalist Jim Bakker. Remember him from Christian television of the 70s and 80s? He’s the one who imploded in a sex scandal, lost the heart of ex-wife Tammy and then spent several years in gaol for defrauding viewers out of millions of dollars. The state of Missouri is onto him though and has filed a lawsuit against him and his production company to stop them from advertising or selling ‘Silver Solution’ and related products as treatments for the coronavirus. I think one of the lesson here is just not to buy anything from Jimmy, probably not even God. In fact, best avoid him altogether.

So people of the world, here’s the truth. There’s a lot of rubbish out there, and some of it is bloody dangerous. Get your information from reliable and truthful sources, not from a QAnon Facebook group, or an anti-vaxxer Twitter thread. Not from your cousin’s mate’s ex-wife’s colleague, or sadly not even from the President of the United States. (Oh look, I mentioned him. #sorrynotsorry)

Trust the experts instead. You know, people like actual scientists and medical experts. Organisations like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the WHO, your local state or federal government health websites and reliable news sources. This virus is bad enough on its own without a lot of bunk theories and wackiness. Bad information is worse than not washing your hands.

Keep well out there, folks, and keep clear of the crazies.

Living through COVID-19: taking notes and making history

Tags

living history, living in 2020, making history, Surviving COVID-19

Many dates in history we learnt about at school are forever etched into our heads: the year Captain Cook landed in Australia, the first and second world wars, when JFK was assassinated and the year Diana died. Now, 101 years after the Spanish flu swept around the world claiming the lives of somewhere around 50 million people, we’re facing our own pandemic and making history ourselves as we navigate into the unknown. In a hundred years time future generations will remember 2020 as one of those dates, the year of the caronavirus pandemic when the world stopped moving, and our own descendants will read about us and ask us what we remembered.

When this is over, when we have a cure or a vaccination or even both, what will be engrained in your memory bank?

I will forever remember a world that changed seemingly overnight, when time seemed to stand still for a while, and when for a time almost nothing else filled our minds or the news. First we watched with interest and a little trepidation as the first cases in Wuhan in China were identified and reported. Then that invisible virus crept insidiously from one country to another and passed from one unknowing host to another until it was everywhere, including at our own doorsteps. Within months movement across the world was virtually shut down, borders closed, people encouraged, directed or even forced to stay inside to attempt to contain this disaster and millions of business were shut down. Staggering numbers of people were prevented from travelling, families were separated, and the practice of social distancing and self-isolation became the norm as we desperately tried to ‘flatten the curve’.

Each day we read about the spread of the disease as the grim number of people affected and dying increased, numbers that didn’t seem real, and we watched nervously for signs of community transmission in our own towns. Behind those rapidly rising numbers was of course unspeakable heartache for the families and friends involved. Numbers almost beyond our understanding until we read about circumstances that just months before we couldn’t have even imagined: families not being able to say goodbye, doctors who succumbed themselves or a mother who wasn’t able to hold her young son as he died, and it hit us in the face like a hard slap.

Dreams were smashed. Events, concerts, weddings, sport seasons – some in the planning for years – were suddenly cancelled. Funerals continued of course, but only ten people could attend to say goodbye. People hoping for families had their plans put on hold as fertility clinics stopped treatments and hospitals said no to elective surgery. People were locked indoors and sang to each other from across their balconies.

Astonishing numbers of businesses had their livelihoods suddenly taken away from them as they were ordered to close and many scrambled to pivot, change direction or deliver their services online.

We watched the way our world leaders reacted to the crisis and noted some fared better than others. While Trump oscillated between ignorant dismissal, crazed theories and firm directives, sometimes tossing in a little ill-advised medical advice on the side, Britain’s PM found himself a victim of the virus, perhaps as the result of his previous enthusiastic hand-shaking with ‘everyone’, of which he boasted proudly. Scott Morrison was focussed and firm and was enormously relieved at the distraction this provided from scrutiny of his bungled and tone-deaf  management of the so recent bushfire crisis and the whole sports-rorts criminality. Brazil’s president assured the world Brazilians would be resistant to the virus while in New Zealand’s Jacinda Adern lead with a firm hand wrapped up in a warm hug, delivering directives together with moral support from her home, dressed in her tracky dacks and answering questions live online, and giving the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy special exemptions to travel. Most other countries admired her from afar and wished their own leaders could replicate her empathy.

One thing was common between all the leaders of the world. They all threw simply extraordinary amounts of money at the problem to prop up businesses, workers and families in a juggling attempt to keep the economy functioning and people surviving. The numbers of dollars was so staggering it was beyond the comprehension of most of us. Perhaps a necessary debt but a debt that will remain with us for some generations to come.

I will recall the community seemed to be divided into different camps for different reasons. Those who wanted to do the right thing and adopted the ‘stay home’ mantra with gusto while others couldn’t give a stuff about the welfare of others and continued on with their parties and frequent visiting and hugging. Some people popped notes in their neighbours’ letterboxes offering to help with shopping or other tasks while others became embroiled in physical fights in supermarket aisles over packets of toilet paper. Some people looked for the positives and stayed home and slowed down, cleaned their house, hugged their children tighter and caught up on life admin while others complained bitterly about their lack of freedom. Some escaped relatively unscathed and others suffered unspeakably, even if they didn’t get sick.

We relied on the internet like never before and it struggled under the increased load. We used it to keep in touch with families now held distant; to work from home and hold business meetings with new technology; to keep grandly amused with an astonishing plethora of online entertainment opportunities and cultural activities rolled out for free consumption; we used it for keeping our businesses going and to provide activities and menus online that were previously only available face to face; we used it for education – to learn new skills and to help with the new task suddenly thrust upon millions of mums now charged with homeschooling their kids, many of them while attempting to work from home as well. We felt great pity for them, as well as those who didn’t have access to wifi or a computer at home.

And we all washed our hands like never before and introverts flourished.

While I’ve had travel dreams and coveted work opportunities smashed, in most ways I was extremely fortunate. I chose to see the positives, to smell the roses and grab the opportunities that an enforced shutdown presented. I live in a city that is largely compliant with directives and which is faring quite well in the carona-battle. I’m enough of an introvert (mixed with a hearty dose of extrovert) that I can exist happily in my own little bubble in my home and yard for months on end, with access to fresh air and my beloved computer, and my income hasn’t been decimated. I’m not suffering mental anguish nor am I threatened by domestic violence like so many other vulnerable people, mostly women. No one escapes entirely but I am indeed counting my blessings, while feeling for those in dire circumstances.

In years to come, when you’re asked what you did during the COVID-19 shutdown, what will you tell them?

The world’s art and culture in your living room: cultural thriving during a pandemic

Tags

art and culture, online art and culture, Surviving COVID-19, The Metropolitan Opera, thriving in a pandemic, virtual tours of museums and galleries

In all the mayhem and confusion that is the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing is certain: the world’s art and cultural institutions, together with the wonders of modern technology, are providing us with some amazing viewing opportunities.

We may not be able to travel at the moment and performances and events have been cancelled everywhere, but there is still a world of cultural opportunity at our fingertips. As institutions close their doors temporarily, thousands of them have opened their collections for free online viewing and exploration to help people cope with the housebound and stressful situations many of us are in and introduce some culture, colour and interest.

It’s a devastating time for millions of people and organisations who have lost jobs and income so while these services are being offered for free, it is possible to donate to them to help alleviate the financial hardship and better position them to bounce back when we’ve got through this.

In the meantime, if we want to escape into a world of magic and beauty, all we need is a computer and some wifi, and plenty of time.

(To go to the sites to view the offerings, click on the headings or the highlighted hyperlinks.)

Art and culture at your fingertips

Google Arts and Culture hub is bringing the collections of art galleries and museums from all over the world to your living room. Hundreds and hundreds of them. Possibly thousands. So many you’ll never get through them all. You can explore alphabetically, by category, collections, or even colour and time. They have incredibly close up views of art works, 360 degree tours and street views where you can explore landmarks and famous sites. It’s almost exhausting how much is there.

This article by Travel & Leisure pulls together a number of free virtual tours being offered by some of the major museums, including the British Museum, the Guggenheim and the Paul J Getty Museum in LA. Who doesn’t love a tour? You pick up soooo much more information and tidbits than just wandering through by yourself in a daze.

New York’s Metropolitan Opera 

If opera is your jam, The Metropolitan Opera has you covered. A day after cancelling their upcoming performances, the Met announced they would be offer free streamings from their Live in HD series of cinema transmissions for the duration of the closure. Each night (at 7.30 NY time) they will screen a new opera from their collection from the last 14 years which will be available for 20 hours on their website. The screenings will also be available on the Met Opera’s on-demand apps. Almost like being there! The presentations are free but there is a donate button on the site should you wish to donate to their ongoing costs during the cancellations.

Photo: Metropolitan Opera

If you want to spread your virtual wings a little further than New York, check out The Guardian’s listing of screenings of operas and musical performances.

Seriously – so much! If it is in fact too much to take in, they kindly do a Critic’s Pick each week to help you along in your selection.

Shakespeare for the masses

The Globe Theatre in London is enabling their filmed Shakespearean plays to be viewed at home through through their GlobePlayer online platform, including an online catalogue of performances spanning 10 years, although there is a cost. I mean, not everything can be free just because there’s a virus circulating the world and we can’t get out. Twelfth Night, Merchant of Venice, Romeo and his mate and lots more. Still much cheaper than buying a ticket to be there in the flesh. You can rent or buy, which means you can download it to watch it once or pay more so you can watch as many times as you want. Just like other streaming services.

For cash-strapped Shakespeare nutters, there is a limited amount of free material available online including some behind the scenes stuff. They also have a blog and a podcast.

* Breaking news: The Globe Theatre has just announced that six of its previous productions will be available to stream from their on-demand Globe Player streaming service over the next few weeks, starting from 6 April. They will rotate and be available for two weeks each. They’ll also make available a series of 10 minute films – 37 of them – about Shakespeare and his play, each shot on location in the real setting of the plot. Such new news it’s not even up on their website yet. Watch that space. In the meantime, you can get more detail about what’s coming here.

Photo: The Globe London

The circus is in town – that’s all towns

Cirque du Soleil is spreading the circus joy. In their words ‘Now more than ever we want to do our little part to spread joy directly to your safe places.’ You can view show footage, exercise like they do in the circus (be careful there), learn new makeup techniques and even immerse yourself in virtual reality with their VR app. There’s also a 60 minute video of highlights from some of their famous shows like KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities, O and LUZIA. Warning: don’t try any of the tricks at home yourself, especially on your own.

Photo: Cirque du Soleil

Music to make your heart sing

Music lovers aren’t forgotten either. The ABC has thoughtfully put together a list of amazing performances from all over the world you can listen to at home, including some being live streamed. There’s even some ballet from the Bollshoi.

Museums, music, mental health and more all in one post

If you want to delve a little more broadly, this post from ChatterPack has a huuuuuge list of sites to visit which will keep you amused, centred, engaged and busy in all sorts of ways: learning, nature, music, culture, languages, mental health, even religion. If you can’t find something here to interest you, you’re really not trying hard enough.

Right, where are you going to start?

The eruption of COVID-19 and what we’ve learnt about ourselves

Tags

COVID-19, kindness during COVID-19, learnings from COVID-19, responses to the caronavirus

It’s been a few months of shock and awakening as the insidious COVID-19 continues to spread its invisible fingers around the globe and snuffs out dreams and plans, millions of jobs, thousands of lives and leaves fear and confusion in its wake. It’s been an instructive period when we have learnt a lot about the world we live in—and not all of it is good.

First up, we’ve discovered that our world can change in the blink of an eye and crash away under our feet, bringing us down with it. All those plans we had in place this year suddenly just vanished. Business ventures, weddings, travel, family gatherings—most of them have evaporated. It’s difficult to get your head around how massive these changes are. And it’s been reinforced what a global village we will in. What happens in one place affects what happens in another place. We are all connected.

We have learnt, or been reminded, that there resides among us a huge mix of people. There’s a horrid element of those who allow themselves to panic irrationally and turn into selfishly hoarders who are prepared to get into physical altercations over toilet paper in the supermarket aisles. There are other even  worse specimens who have deliberately stripped supermarket shelves far and wide bare of in-demand items so they can deprive people who need them of the items and sell them online at exorbitant prices. It’s heartening that Amazon and others are cracking down on some of these swine and closing their accounts and that some supermarkets are combatting this with interesting pricing strategies.

We have discovered that many, many of us just don’t like to follow sensible guidelines and insist on doing just what we want to do, over-estimating their own fortitude, dismissing the danger and and continuing to endanger others. The scene just a week ago at Bondi Beach was an example. I was incensed to hear of a fellow Canberran this week who was ‘as sick as a dog’ but continued to go to work because they were ‘too busy’ not to. Translated, my immediate desires and needs are the most important thing and I don’t give a flying fig about the rest of you and that if I actually have this virus I could indeed infect 406 people within 30 days and given the current statistics across the world, that means that anywhere between four and 28 people might actually die as a result. Good work, champ!

We have learnt, or been reminded, that the USA is led by a particular kind of dangerous imbecile who spouts rubbish and endangers the country who put him in charge, a man who for weeks insisted this was a hoax and that the virus would disappear soon like a miracle, perhaps with the warm weather, and who is now hoping for packed churches at Easter. Seriously you won’t believe what he says until you see the video for yourself.

Meanwhile our own PM is creating confusion by stating you can’t have a wedding with more than five people, you can’t have a funeral to farewell your loved ones but you can get a haircut to look schmick when you wander around the open shopping centre eating your takeaway sanga and coffee because you can’t sit down at the food court which is still open. To his credit, Scotty from Marketing was this time in the country at the outset of the unfolding disaster and he’s lost his smirk. He’s perhaps trying to show some empathy, but he does get very cross at those pesky journalists when they ask a question he doesn’t like. Like, why are weddings banned but schools are open?

Yes, yes, it’s all very confusing, but the big message is pretty simple: just stay home if you can. Because that’s the safest for you and for everyone else.

Above all, we have learnt that soap and water is a more effective cleaner than alcohol sanitiser (though that’s still good) and that most of us have been washing our hands inadequately all this time. And we’ve learnt that Bunnings and grog shops are essential services.

On a more positive note, importantly we have discovered that this disaster, like all disasters, has brought out the best of many others who have shown their kindness and humanity.

Firstly, enormous thanks and gratitude to the doctor and nurses and other medical staff who are putting their lives on the line day after day, week after week, though sadly many of those are losing those lives in doing so.

Movements of people trying to help others and Good Samaritans are doing kind deeds

Neighbours are delivering cards in their area offering assistance and their phone number

people across Italy are singing from their balconies

online choirs are singing around the world

and museums, galleries and educational organisations across the world are opening their resources for free to keep people occupied and engaged.

This is no doubt an incredibly difficult time we are faced with and will cause untold heartache, but the only way to get through it is together. Take the advice we’re being given seriously and comply with it, because it will save lives. Be kind, lean into others for support, ask for help if you need it, and wherever possible, stay home.

If we’ve learnt anything, hopefully it’s that we have a choice in how we deal with this.

Let’s make the right choices. Let’s concentrate on the positives and try and push the negatives away.

We’ll get through it.

 

Helping Canberra businesses survive COVID-19: survival of the most adaptable?

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#supporthospo, COVID-19 in Canberra, stay home, supporting local businesses, Surviving COVID-19

The tough start to the year just got a whole lot tougher with the COVID-19 virus spreading at a frightening pace throughout the world, with health authorities and governments scrambling to keep up. All health considerations aside, serious as they are, it’s also an extremely difficult time for any businesses associated with travel, entertainment and hospitality. Those businesses and the people they employ can’t just ‘work from home’ and are looking down the barrel at some pretty trying times ahead while the travel industry is on its knees with cancellations of holidays and events left right and centre.

In terms of businesses, it may be a case of the survival of the most adaptable as well as the fittest. While it’s a bit tricky to adhere to the very sensible principles of social distancing while at the same time supporting some of the suffering businesses about, here’s a list of things you can do in Canberra to play by the guidelines and maybe give some needed financial support to those who need it.

For those further afield, I’ve included a couple of orgs which are pulling together national lists. If you let me know what you’re doing in your neck of the woods, I might just pull together one of those as well and we can all go mad sharing the love.

Postpone, don’t cancel

While the situation is ever-evolving, consider postponing travel or event plans rather than cancelling. If you have a choice, accept a credit for cancelled travel or event rather than getting a direct refund. That will help those businesses manage cash flow issues which are critical to staying afloat and you get to take a holiday at another time.

Buy a voucher

You may not be able to get out to eat at a restaurant just now, but if you’re looking for a present for someone special consider buying vouchers for restaurants, cafes or little getaways that can be used later during the year. That will give the suppliers a little immediate and needed cash flow.

Drink local wines or brews

If you can’t get to the vineyards, maybe order in some local wine stocks or other brews to help you last the distance. Lots of wineries are offering special deals and free delivery as incentives, like Lake George Winery

Dine in, or take away

If you can’t get out to a restaurant, maybe order in instead. Lots of restaurants and cafes are introducing innovative ways to help out diners in trying times.

The new funky Rebel Rebel restaurant in the city recently announced on social media they’re upping their cleanliness and hygiene to extreme levels and are also offering their entire restaurant menu online. (In fact, thanks Rebel Rebel for their post which gave me the idea for putting together this listing.) Just order online and they’ll run it out to your car. You can also order from their wine menu at takeaway prices. You can find the menu here: rebelrebeldining.com.au

The Copper Dragon Tavern at Greenway is also offering their entire food menu as take away. You can see the menu at thecopperdragon.com.au and order by phone. They’re currently working on an online ordering system.

In Yarralumla, Lambshed’s is being super vigilant with hygiene as well and are also allowing diners to pick up items from their menu to eat at home and will home deliver to Yarralumla and surrounds. I saw them SHOUTING ABOUT IT ON ONE OF THEIR INSTA POSTS.

If you’re still out and about The Mill Cafe in Queanbeyan is doing takeaway containers of pasta to heat up at home, different ones each day for $5 each, and they may do larger sizes with deliveries soon. They also have some stock of precious loo paper for those who truly need it, but don’t be a dick and take advantage of them being nice.

Order food online

Supermarkets may be crazy in a few places (hopefully the panic will abate pretty soon) but lots of foodie places are delivering straight to your door.

The Cook Grocer offers online ordering and free delivery over $25.

Urban Providore which specialises in artisan food products has an easy online ordering system and you can order baskets of food delights for others or for yourself. They’re still doing deliveries and orders over $150 are freight free.

Visit Canberra’s Handmade Markets online

After 12 years of continuous markets, Canberra’s Handmade Markets made the decision to cancel their market planned for this coming weekend and are taking their design and food online instead. The virtual market will be live from 10am Saturday 21 March to 4 Pm on Sunday, 22 March with reat discounts on offer, live updates and giveaways and great prizes to be won as you ‘wander’ the aisles of the ‘markets’ and the wares of around 200 traders online. Winning: you don’t have to miss out on the gorgeous things and they don’t have to miss out on an important part of their trading year.

Keep busy reading

If you haven’t got a stack of books already ready for some binge reading, there are a few options.  Most bookshops are still open although that’s a situation that may change. Canty’s Bookshop in Fyshwick is still open for binge buying while monitoring the situation closely. While they’ve decided not to do deliveries by skateboards, they are providing some good doses of humour along the way.

A couple of lovely ladies I know had to cancel their planned 3-act book launch last weekend of three kids/YA books so instead they dropped by Harry Hartog’s Bookstore in Woden and dropped off signed copies and goodie bags instead, so you can just pretend you went.

Get outside and enjoy the sun

Social distancing and self-isolation don’t exclude you from getting outdoors and getting some fresh air. It may not help support businesses in a big way, but it’ll be good for your body and your soul, especially if you’re going stir crazy cooped in with small children. A couple of outdoorsy suggestions for Canberrans:

• Explore the National Botanic Gardens – lots of pathways to wander and hidden nooks and crannies to discover
• Discover the rose gardens at Old Parliament House – they’re in full bloom at the moment and are worthy of a leisurely stroll
• Climb up some of Canberra’s hills for a great view of the city – Red Hill, Mt Taylor, Mt Ainslie, take your pick.
• Visit Tidbinbilla Nature Park now that some areas have been opened again to the public after the recent fires. You can go for a walk up the Birrigai Time Trial, have a picnic, or discover local history at Rock Valley Homestead.

Other lists for around the country

The suggestions above focus firmly on Canberra businesses and happenings but there are similar listings for other areas as well.

• Gourmet Traveller magazine has put together a list on their website of restaurants and cafes all over Australia who are looking at doing things differently and they are constantly updating the list.
• TimeOut in Sydney is now focussing on TimeIn in Sydney There are some very inventive people around the country, and I’m sure they’d really appreciate some support right about now.

• 

What else is happening in Canberra to cope?

If your business is doing something innovative or different to meet the demands of this challenge, or you know of some, do let me know so I can add them to the list.

Let’s share this information and do what we can to help each other get through as best we can while still being calm and cautious.

And everyone – stop hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitiser!!

Tips for photographing the Canberra Balloon Spectacular

Tags

Canberra, Canberra Balloon Spectacular, Photographing the Balloon Spectacular

It’s that time of year again in Canberra when the balloons take to the skies and drift across the lake and city as the day breaks.  This year year it starts on 7 March when more than 30 balloons will fly high including this year’s special guest – a rather large T-Rex dinosaur. There’s not much that gets me out of bed early in the morning, but the balloon spectacular is one of the exceptions.

I keep going out year after year trying to get some great shots and have ended up with hundreds of duds. I’ve pulled together some tips for how you can get the most out of photographing the balloons during the festival to maximise your chances of getting some crackers.

Allow for the weather

Rule number 1 – balloon flying is dependent on the weather. Rain, too much wind, not enough wind, rain … the balloons don’t go up. Forewarn the kids the night before if you’re taking them to allay potential disappointment, and check on the weather before you set out. You can call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 or follow the Balloon Spectacular or EventsACT on Facebook or Twitter, or listen to your local radio station.

If you just turn up hoping and the balloons don’t fly, make the most of the morning anyway to witness the city coming to life as the light comes up over the lake, the rowers and the cyclists appear. Or stay for breakfast in the tents on the lawns.

Get there early

If you want to witness the crews at work and the balloons emerging from the ground and rising, get there around 6am to scout locations and find the action. The balloons start filling just after 6am, start taking off around 6.15am and most are in the air by 7am. The whoosh of the fiery shots into the balloon and the revelation of the balloon shapes are not to be missed.

Even if you are late, when the sun is up and the balloons are on their way, it’s still a spectacle to watch the balloons on their cruise around the city skies, drifting close to Parliament House or hovering above the water.

Pay attention to the light

The light changes quickly so if you are using an SLR camera you will have to adapt accordingly. Start with a higher ISO in the early morning and drop this as more light appears. Keep an eye on your light metre to guide you. Turn off your flash in the early morning if you’re using a point and shoot or a phone – the automatic function will perceive it as being too dark and will want to flash – only useful to light up a couple of metres in front of you which is probably not what you are aiming to shoot. Avoid shots where there is part shade and part sun.

Check your equipment

Make sure you have an extra card and battery, just in case, and a different lens for options if you have one. Or spare film if you use – does anyone use it anymore?? And perhaps a tripod in the car just in case the balloons don’t fly and you want to concentrate on the dawn lights, or you want to be extra steady.

Try different angles

Look for something a bit different. Get down low, or stand on something to give you more height. Try taking shots directly upwards, or downwards, from different angles. A sea of spotted balloons across a sweeping sky is impressive, but so is a close up of just one or two.

 

Find your vantage point

If you want to start with the excitement of the balloons filling and lifting with the big whooses of flame, you will need to be at the lawns in front of Old Parliament House around 6am As the balloons move on, you can change location to give you a different perspective. Try crossing Commonwealth Bridge and parking next to the lake overlooking the Museum and Black Mountain, or under Commonwealth Bridge, on top of Kings Avenue Bridge, near Regatta Point, on a boat on the lake to get up super close – there are lots of options. From the lake at the end of Anzac Parade or near the Carillion you’ll get a lovely wide shot vista of the lake with Library, bridge and Black Mountain in the background as the balloons drift away, sun behind you.

If the balloons take off from near the Arboretum due to weather, watching from around Scrivener Dam is a good option.

 

Look for different subjects

It’s all about the balloons, but pay attention to what else is around. Of course, the lake and Canberra’s iconic landmarks, but look out for the birds, the rowers, the foreground, and the crowds. Fellow spectators can also be great subjects.

Watch around you. The scenes and skies are constantly changing. A great shot might be right behind you. Watching out for balloons landing is another option.

Take your time

The Balloon Spectacular is a moving feast with a constantly changing canvas. Watch for patterns of balloons in the sky or interesting positions, and wait until balloons move into a favourable position before you press the shutter.

Try to anticipate what’s coming up and wait for the right second to press the shutter. For example, wait until the fire is released into the balloon for a shot of light, or wait till the animal balloon faces are nearly touching so it looks like they’re kissing. Pay attention to what’s in the background.

Watch out for cyclists

If you’re taking photos around the lake near cycle paths, spare a thought to cyclists. Don’t stand on the paths to get a great photo, oblivious to users. I’ve seen a number of cyclists having to evade unaware spectators, or their protruding tripods.

Be persistent

Keep trying. If you want really great shots, you may have to put the time in to get all the conditions right – cloud, colour in the sky, balloon formation, vantage point, timing, control of your camera, etc.

And if you don’t get great shots this time, there’s always next year.

Have you got any other tips? I’d love to hear them.