In this post : dealing with isolation; faith; an arts fix; and some light relief.

Dealing with isolation.

Dealing with isolation will be an issue for many people.  There is an interesting short video on the BBC News website : Submarine captain’s advice on social isolation – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-52085862

Key advice from all sources is : maintain a routine, maintain your standards, make contact with people and keep doing some exercise (even it it is sitting in your chair waving your arms and legs about).  So pick up the phone and call someone.

Faith

At times of stress many people turn to their faith, even if they are not normally church-goers.  Since they cannot now have a congregation in church all the local churches are making services available on the Internet by streaming live worship (typically from the clergy’s home) and/or by offering pre-recorded services.  St Anne’s for instance use video conferencing to stream 2 services every day.  Interactive services will require down-loading an ‘app’, but this is no big deal.  They are also likely to need a password, this is not to keep the service private but to keep out those morons who think it clever to gatecrash a service and inject inappropriate content.  Contact the church in advance to get the password.

• St Anne’s  (Church of England) https://www.saintannebagshot.org.uk
• Christ the King Catholic Church  http://www.cbparish.co.uk
• Bagshot Methodist Church  https://www.bagshotmethodistchurch.org
• Brook Church   https://brookchurch.uk

Need an Arts fix?

With theatres closed many organisations are making theatre productions available on the Internet for free, but often only for a short time with a new production released each week.   There is an excellent listing to be found at
https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/stage-shows-musicals-opera-free-stream-online_51198.html

Listings from:

• National Theatre https://www.youtube.com/user/ntdiscovertheatre
• The Shows Must Go On https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag
  This YouTube channel started with shows from Andrew Lloyd Webber and is continuing with other shows.
  Expect a new show to be available from 7pm on Friday, usually for 48 hours, sometimes only 24hr.
• Royal Albert Hall https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugNt9gmBgZSFEv4lc4B6Zg

The BBC’s arts editor offers his selection at  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52145120

Want to see some sights outside of your home?  Then have a look at https://www.visitengland.com/things-do-to-at-home-bored for a selection of virtual visits.

Clouds do have a silver lining

The Met Office have handwritten weather records going back 200 years which they would like to digitise so that they can be analysed better – so they launched a volunteer project.  Self-isolation has been a boon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52040825

We also have a post giving hints and tips on video calls whether to your loved ones or joining an online meeting such as the services mentioned above.

Self-isolation is resulting in extensive use of video calls and video meetings held via the Internet.  This really is a good way to keep in contact.  Grandparents are reading bedtime stories to their grandchildren like never before, and even playing snakes-and-ladders at a distance!

Doing this requires downloading a program (an app) to your smart phone, tablet, laptop or PC (if the latter you will also need to add at least a microphone).  While there are quite a few programs available, the leading ones are:

• WhatsApp which is very good for 1-to-1 conversations
• Zoom which is excellent when several people are going to be involved as you can see them all.

Your appearance probably does not matter too much when talking to your nearest and dearest, but there are a few tips worth bearing in mind, especially in a larger meeting.

• try to position your phone (etc) reasonably high.  Eye level would be ideal, otherwise on a table in front, possibly on a pile of books.  Looking up your nose from your lap is not your best profile.
  Having said that, you will now notice how many people being interviewed on TV from their home, and even presenters working from home, are looking down at their laptop!
• Think about the background behind you. Avoid a bright window as you will then just be a silhouette. A plain wall is ideal, the rest of your house is likely to be distracting, especially if there are others around.
• Lighting from a widow in front or a bit to the side is good.  Sitting under a room light casts bad shadows.
• Close the door if there are others around as extraneous noises are distracting, especially in a meeting.  If there are unavoidable noises then consider muting your microphone except when you want to talk.
• Check your own on-screen thumbnail to see how you look to others.

Key is to enjoy your video chat.  Don’t think these are rules, just tips.

There are several pieces from the BBC:

• How to video call your family – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51968122
• ‘The phone slipped into the bath’: conference call tales and tips – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52032849 (which is the sourse of the image used above).
• “How to build better relationships remotely” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52196670

Keep yourself and others safe.  Keep in touch.

… thanks to the volunteers who turned out on Saturday morning (29 Feb) having faith in the weather  forecast that the heavy rain would cease by the 10am start – which it did.  We only had one shower, and we ended in near-sunshine.

Numerous bags of litter were collected and stacked up for Amey to collect.

It is just a shame that it is necessary to do this.  Why can’t the litter louts put their cans, crisp packets and sweet wrappers in the litter bins?  There are plenty of them around.

For information about the Bagshot Society please see https://bagshotvillage.com/bagshot-society

The weather forecast indicates that the rain should clear by 10am, so the Litter Pick will still go ahead.  Meet at 10 in the car park behind the Coop.  There remains a risk of showers so wear boots and suitable clothing.

This Saturday 29 Feb.  Meet in the car park behind the coop at 10am. We have all the equipment that was bought last year, but you can bring your own. Please help. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

For more information see Bagshot Society

Saturday 29 February is the date for our next Village Clean-up with the intention of doing those areas that were inaccessible last summer due to undergrowth.  Meet at 10am in the car park behind the Coop.

Further details will be published on the Bagshot Society page.

… and get answers to the questions that concern you.

Our annual “Meet the Councillors” Q&A session was held on Wednesday 22 January 2020. The meeting was well attended and productive.

For information about the Bagshot Society who organised this event, please see https://bagshotvillage.com/bagshot-society

Village community clean-up 2

Saturday 28 September

Our second community clean-up repeated the success of the first, even though not as many people attended.

We concentated on roads and paths, and also School Lane field, ending up with many bags of litter taken out of the environment.

A big ‘thank you’ to all who participated.

Organised by The Bagshot Society to make our village an even better place.

http://www.bagshotvillage.com/bagshot-society

The AGM was held on Wednesday 18 September in the Brook Church.  The revised constitution was approved and three new members were elected to the committee.  The AGM business was followed by cheese and wine.

Details of the Bagshot Society can be found here.