Coronavirus: Communities in Hampshire finding ways to stay happy and spread hope during lockdown
COMMUNITIES are finding it is the small things in life which make you happy - and are finding plenty of novel ways to keep smiling through self-isolation.
Plenty of children and adults have been showing off their creative talents by painting rainbows to display in their windows across the country.
Thousands of children are being encouraged to make these pictures to ‘spread hope’ amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Victoria Vassallo from Leigh Park works for the NHS as a mental health support worker, but has had to self-isolate for the safety of her children Amelia, seven, and two-year-old Aiden.
They have painted a beautiful rainbow on their upstairs window to delight passersby and keep spirits high.
Victoria said: ‘We are going to be doing everything we can to keep a positive message and keep the community spirits high in this terrifying and uncertain time.’
This idea has taken off across the area, with six-year-old Kash Symmons and Dacia Symmons, nine, putting up rainbows and unicorns in the windows of their Hayling Island home.
Mum Charlene Pearce said: ‘While our children are home they have drawn pictures of rainbows and put them in our windows to try and cheer up the front line and key workers so they could see it on their way to work.’
Joining in with painting rainbows, among other fun activities, are Caroline White and her 80-year-old dad Colin Wright in Copnor.
Caroline, 41, has had to move in with Colin for self-isolation to care for him as he has dementia and is nonverbal after a laryngectomy due to throat cancer.
The pair have been making lovely memories together through arts and crafts, playing swingball and exercising in the garden.
Caroline said: ‘We had a lovely donation from people off Facebook of arts and crafts materials.
‘We’re just making memories and playing games to keep him laughing.’
Carers are still coming in for an hour every day to help Colin, which gives Caroline time to head to the shops and collect items for elderly neighbours who are also in need.
Another idea spreading some laughter in one family is grandmother Lynne Tandy, who has been dressing up on Facetime to read her grandchildren a bedtime story.
Her three daughters and grandchildren have been enjoying the silliness in these uncertain times.
Lynne dressed as Alice in Wonderland the first night, and each day her costume choice will be a surprise until everyone comes online for the bedtime story.
She said: ‘We all enjoy the shared time and laugh so much, it really lifts my spirits.’
Care homes have been making sure residents do not feel isolated and setting up unique methods of communication to get through the lockdown.
Jackie Dunford from Elson, Gosport, visited her mum Rosemary Clarke who lives in Elizabeth Lodge care home in Alverstoke but wanted to keep everyone safe.
Rosemary has dementia but Jackie regularly visits, and on her most recent visit the care home handed Rosemary the phone so they could chat.
Jackie, 67, said: ‘It was great to be able to see and speak to mum. The girls at Elizabeth Lodge have been wonderful in looking after my mum and the other residents during this difficult time.
‘They are making every effort to make sure we can stay in touch with our relatives by using facetime and other methods. A huge thank you to them.’