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Friday 27 March 2020

Life in the Lockdown!

Well I was going to write about something other what is happening in the world at the moment, but the truth is, I haven't really got much else to write about but wanted to post something on my blog.  So I thought I'd try to show a more creative side to being locked down at home.

Firstly a little about the lockdown.  We are currently on Day 13 as lockdown started for us from midnight on Saturday 14th March.  It's been very strict from Day one, which I feel is the best way to go. I do not feel that my freedom is being taken away from me, I hope that this will help save lives and certainly help to ease the strain on the Spanish health service.  For example, we are only allowed out to go to the supermarket to buy food, to the pharmacy for medication, you can walk a dog but only 50 metres from your home, and it must be just one person, you cannot walk in pairs.  No cycling or jogging, no meeting up with friends or family, you can only stay with those you live with.  And only one person per car except if you are taking a vulnerable person to a medical appointment.  And fines are pretty high.  Police are checking where you go and you have to prove where you've been.  So yes, pretty strict.  The number of people who've died from the virus is very high here in Spain, so if it works, and saves some lives then I'm more than happy to do as I'm told.  

So what have I been doing with myself?  Well I started out with the intention of making some doll outfits.  I got all the pattern files out, I printed off some new patterns, I sorted through my fabrics and cut out a few outfits.  I started by making a pair of tiny overalls for my friends doll.  I cut them out wrong, and then when I'd recut them, so I sewed them up back to front.  I really could not concentrate, so I decided to stop that and sit and read.  I've read two or three books but my mind keeps wandering.  I've been spending so much of my time chatting on line, looking at the BBC news, Facebook, YouTube, everything apart from doing something productive with my time.

That is until a couple of days ago when I had the idea to sew some face masks for myself and Brian....then I thought "what about the neighbours?"  So I got started, it was fun to match the fabrics to the personalities of my friends....and so it started!  I have now made 22 masks and distributed them amongst the neighbours.  One friend has a fabric printed with items of clothing, another has one with little Scotty dogs all over, another has doggy pawprints.  A few of the men have skull and cross bones!!!  Others have fish, or flowers.  I even got an offer from someone who doesn't live here to buy some but instead she has made a donation to our local Animal Rescue charity because with the lockdown they cannot open their charity shop which they depend on for income.  So that's what I've been up to!

Waiting for the pleats to be put in.....



All neatly ironed!! 



I asked my friends to share selfies with me of them in their masks, so here are a few of them!!!








Thank you to my lovely friends and neighbours for being good sports and wearing the masks, I hope they help to keep you safe and free from harm when you go to the supermarket or walk your dogs.

I hope every one of you who reads my blog keeps safe and well.  Please don't take risks with your lives or those of your loved ones, it really isn't worth it.  And I would just like to add a special shout out for all the health care workers, street sanitisers, refuse collectors, supermarket and pharmacy staff, and anyone else in one of these critical jobs, who're helping to keep us safe.  THANK YOU!!

Big hugs Sharon in Spain xx

 

19 comments:

  1. What a great way to spend some of your new time Sharon. I love all the masks and I'm sure all your neighbours must be so happy and thankful that you were so generous to think of them at this time.
    Your area will be the trendiest in the place!
    Loving all the different fabrics and colours and that they suit their new owners personalities :)

    It's a very worrying time for everyone, we may at some stage get shut down harder only time will tell. Keep safe and let's hope that all these measures that all the countries are taking will start to bare fruit and the virus will start to be controlled.
    big hugs xxx

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    1. Thanks Dee, it has kept me busy and well, from going around the twist I suppose!!! Although some people might say I went there long ago ;)
      Keep safe yourself Dee, and hopefully we'll come out of this stronger all round!!
      Big hugs...virtual of course ;)
      xxx

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  2. Dear Sharon, hello. Thanks for the check-in.

    I am glad that you are alright.

    I love the masks! What a wonderful, friendly gesture on your part. I thought at first you were going to show photos of some of your dolls with masks. Don't ask me why I thought that; it just jumped into my head.

    Stay safe.

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    1. Thank you so much Dorothy, I'm glad you like the masks! I thought about doll masks but wanted to make myself really useful! I have since made a doll outfit though so will share that soon instead.
      Take care of yourself and big hugs xxx

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  3. Good for you! That was nice of you to help the Animal rescue. too. I am a bit surprised that they allow you to give items to your neightbours. I read that the virus can stay on fabric for 3 days. They could always wash them to make sure nothing is being passed.

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    1. Thanks very much Tam. Well I'm not sure they would actually allow us to hand things over but we all wear protective gloves, people here do shopping for one another, we're all taking it in turns so that less people are out and about, so I guess that's acceptable, thank goodness.
      And yes, people are washing them after use so that's good. But the majority of us aren't going anywhere at all, so we just wear them when we stand speak to anyone else, usually at a distance of about 2 metres from each other.
      Take care of yourself and yours!
      xxx

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  4. Hi there! I've been counting the "official lockdown" since the 16th, but I've been told it started on the 15th. That Friday (14th) we left the house to try to buy groceries and we came back almost empty handed. I haven't left the house since then, except for going to the pharmacy one day. I don't feel like my liberty is taken away either, and it's just temporary. I'm more of a homebody, so I'm not out of my comfort zone.

    I'm glad you and your husband are healthy and safe. That's a wholesome idea, to make mask for your friends and neightbours, and they look pretty cool. I like the skull one and the one with paws. Hope you keep taking care of yourself and your family.

    Big hugs.

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    1. Hola! I'm not entirely sure but thought that originally it was supposed to start on the Monday morning, which would have been the 16th but then I have a feeling that some of the instructions started from midnight of the Saturday, but again, I'm not entirely sure. I just know that I went to the farmacia on the Sunday and and then didn't go out again for a week...and then only to Mercadona. I've now been to Mercadona once and the farmacia twice...and I hated going out both times but had to. I agree, it's temporary and hopefully if it helps then I'm more than happy to do it.
      Stay safe and glad you like the masks!!
      Besitos xxx

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  5. We do not have any lockdown here in Sweden. On Sunday, tomorrow, will be the first day when only 50 persons can be at the same place. Before it was 500. If you are more than 50, you can wait a fine or even prison. Pharmacies have the rule of only 8 people in the store.

    Our capitol has many cases and still no isolation. Discussions are still going on. In our family we have self isolation. Just the most important things are allowed, as walking the dog but then we keep the distance. It is rather empty out there, not even the sun brings people out so that is a good thing in a way, but feels rather strange.

    Store owners have open early in the morning for those who are in the risk group, restaurants drive out food for the elderly and schools are closed. Many do what they can, but at the same time it feels like it is not enough. Those depending on income have the hardest at the moment.

    A great way to help making masks! I hope that all these people and you stay safe. Hugs!

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    1. Hi Niina, that's very odd, I guess the government have a method to their 'madness' but 50 still seems like a lot of people, doesn't it? I think you have the right idea to self isolate as a family, my mum and brother in the UK were doing it before it became the 'rule' over there too. I hope that it's enough to stop the spread of this dreadful virus....we can but hope!
      I agree, those depending on their income, it's very sad, but hopefully the various governments can do something to help these people, and quickly.
      Stay safe and well xxx

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  6. Well haven't you been having some fun? The masks look great mate!

    I have purposely stayed away from social media because it's just too depressing, though we have been keeping updated with the world wide progression of the Covid 19 provided by our PM and Premier. Our rules are about the same as yours, but they have not limited us to one person in a car, and we can still walk our dog together twice a day. We are so lucky to have the park opposite our house!

    I'm still re-rooting my Blythe head, which is more than destracting me.
    Big hugs,
    X

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    1. Thanks so much Sandi!
      I agree that it is very depressing but I just can't seem to stop myself. I don't want to look but then I have to....bit like an accident, you know that as you drive past it you just want to stare straight ahead but somehow or other, your head seems to twist :( Not good.
      I used to love rerooting Blythe and Sasha heads, I have a Sasha here that could do with being done now, or at least added to, maybe I will do it soon. At the moment I have been sewing an outfit for one of my BJDs....but it took me ages and I kept making the most silly mistakes!!
      Big hugs xxx

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  7. It's hard to get motivated right now with everything that is going on. So it's neat you were able to make some face masks for yourself and your neighbours and friends. I've seen a lot of tutorials on Youtube for face masks. They are a hard to come by item these days. Stay safe and well!

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    1. I completely agree with you, I just want to eat nice things....I swear that once this is over I won't be able to go anywhere because none of my clothes will fit me!!!
      I'm glad you like the idea of making the masks, and yes, I found lots of tutorials, so picked the one with the nicest voice LOL....!!!
      Take care of yourself xxx

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  8. Thank you very much Linda, and yes it is easier when we think like that rather than feel annoyed that we're stopped from doing something.
    I agree, the health workers really are heroes, I cannot think of enough good things to say about these people who are literally putting their lives on the line for the rest of us...they are just amazing. Also praise for the people who work in the food shops and pharmacies, they are brilliant too because without them, we'd also be lost.
    Big hugs to you and yours too xxx

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  9. I'm so happy to read you are safe and healthy, Sharon. :) I really hope it will stay this way.
    you made great masks. I'm just about to start sewing some for my family and friends...
    Big hugs!

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    1. Thank you so much Kamelia, you too.
      That's great that you're also going to make masks, they come in very handy in the absence of proper medical ones, but they're too much in demand for the professionals, so we have to make do with what we can I guess! I have an order for another one, to be made from a pair of BOXER SHORTS!!!! New ones, thank goodness!!! And I need to make another one for myself because mine won't stay on my nose, I have no idea why!!
      Big hugs xxx

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  10. Thanks a lot for what you are doing. Stay safe!

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    1. Aww thanks so much, I'm not doing much at all really. But I'm hoping a little helps!
      I hope you stay safe too xxx

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