CORONAVIRUS - What will I do at home for two weeks?!?!? (...and then some!)

So, I thought I'd start up the blog again just to collate information.
Another crisis, another lock down with blogging time!

For parents and carers, there is a big worry about how to pass the time.  To be honest, especially for the younger members of the family, the key word is PLAY. Let them discover new things through observation:

One home learning mum has written this and it's amazing!

 It will de-stress a lot of worried parents.

• Watch the clouds pass by, what shape are they? Can you draw them?
• Can you hear the birds? Count them, learn their names, feed them and observe their behaviour.
• Plant some seeds, watch them grow. KALE, SPINACH, JAPANESE TURNIP, LETTUCE & RADISHES all grow in about 8 weeks or even less. 
• Or grow some sprouts - all you need are kitchen towels and seeds.
• Remember some vegetables are 'cut & grown again' like celery or lettuce or fennel. Put the base of the vegetable in water after you have eaten them and watch the roots grow

• Also on offer are FREE Twinkl resources for a month. If you have never used this it is a fantastic hub for resources for teachers & parents alike.

Basically the free code is CVDTWINKLHELPS

Go to www.twinkl.co.uk/offer and then enter the code. If you're unsure, there is a video link through their Facebook page on how to do it.
One home learning mum has written this and it's amazing! It will de-stress a lot of worried parents.

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And below are just some screenshots I found along the way. As you will see, the activities do not need to be taxing. Follow your child's lead and mould the learning into what they want to do.

• Outdoor Learning Made Easy are also offering free resources for parents. https://www.outdoorlearningmadeeasy.co.uk/outdoor-learning-made-easy-news/free-parent-member-resources-to-help-ease-stress-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR0beZ61G52p9Z86cgRfVC-aA8wDdNNwOER2VCo-o3HBlXHotd92IvqpIJA

• AND this guy has a great page on Facebook - 'Forest School in the Home & Garden' as well as a YouTube channel that he is developing. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeZCIRyP2eX56UaUCL8vISQ?fbclid=IwAR1ca9bieCGdUEjFoupRkMpEjf2X3cJHxxBoGif3hWjl2Mi2I0IQuYA3FJE&app=desktop

• I saw a great activity this morning - cut out one pair of hands and one pair of feet X as many as you want. Line them up , so row 1 could be left hand, left foot, right hand, right foot and then change it for the next row and the next row . Make it as long as you like and stick them to the ground. It's a challenge to follow as you try and go faster and faster !  (if anyone tries this send me a pic to share!)

• Virtual Museum tours - This one is for all ages!! https://www.southernliving.com/syndication/museums-with-virtual-tours?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=southernliving_southernliving&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=1878E92E-6542-11EA-AAAC-CF782FEB5590&fbclid=IwAR04uimZxgM_ojb3Zj5VHGw6fw7fE3YKHxFeXb2f2Zt7PZt6QJQkWNOYV2o

• More outdoor learning ideas - One month free membership - https://themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk/muddy-subscriptions/?fbclid=IwAR1c05__fj-vuukCze94VA0PG4sEaEetC_NgJ29wGHVI9rEfhgoJzpSZGgc

• Scholastic has HEAPS of ideas too and for free - https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

• Three reception teachers got together to create THIS - it's brill: (Well done Stephanie Barry, Annie Belcher & Cristina Ristano)  

• And one month free subscription HERE to more outdoor learning methods and resources- https://themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/national-trust-free-coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2tlFLeFkJLticGnRsnlBUHgM3Wy59IeHrdGK7JxSJ2NTdHX9XvUO9EfeE

• And this is superb - a link to a page with SOOOOO many more links for you! Museums,activities, languages .. https://chatterpack.net/blogs/blog/list-of-online-resources-for-anyone-who-is-isolated-at-home

• One of my personal favourite activities is SALT DOUGH!!! You can make virtually ANYTHING!!1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water. Leave it to dry (1-2 days, or bake it -  I personally like to wait for it to dry itself. Paint it et voila! I have made beads before and then made loads of necklaces. And I have even made a MAP using the salt dough to learn about topology. The options are endless.

• And my own favourite activities which you could easily make indoors with things brought back from your daily walks 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14kFDI6S7_lzMbw-9u8OqJixd9WFIfyG8/view?usp=sharing

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• For the ADULTS - use this time to read those books, do some yoga & MEDITATE - This period can wreak havoc on our minds, so please take good care of yourselves (I recommend Yoga with Adriene on YouTube) https://yogawithadriene.com

• My friend has a meditation ready for you here especially for your health and protection- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i2aK8hMDiA&t=4s 

• Get on Skype/whatsapp and catch up with old friends. Check in on your folks and elders (via phone etc.)

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Remember, BE KIND, BE POSITIVE and BE SAFE 

People power....Peer pressure....

Firstly, hats off to all the workers, anyone involved with the Fukushima plant.
Amidst all the heavy criticism, the doubts, the fears, they have battled non-stop to rectify a very bad situation. At no point did they think, 'I've got to get out of here', 'What if there is a nuclear fallout?', 'I can't be bothered with all this'...

No, they have pushed through, and today we finally have some good news that they are regaining control of the reactors at the plant.

THANK YOU!!!!!

I have just read this updated article from the foreign office....
http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=569052582

It basically reiterates what Beddington had said before. This guy knows his stuff, and even after repeated, precautionary, but nonetheless, annoying questions, he states that we ARE FINE!

The worse case is a cloud floating over us over 2 days, and that is ultimately a worst case involving southern blowing gale winds.

Sure the news is negative, but whose media is this? CNN have jumped on the fear bandwagon already. Spinach and milk has been found to be 'contaminated'. This is from Fukushima, right by the plant, and reports should not be blown out of proportion.

It is media like this that is giving me and all my friends a headache.

It is media like this that has driven us out of our home.

We are constantly having to fend off relatives and friends and fight for the country in which we live. One person in particular is making my life unmanageable. When people believe what they read and then relay this information as 100% fact, it is hard to contend with. When someone doubts you, it shows a lack of respect, not just for you, but for your friends, family, and the life that you lead.

We have been dealing with such things since last week, and we are exhausted.

Ironically enough, the BBC now pipe in with a report about the tsunami, saying that, one week on, it is the tsunami that is important. WE KNOW!!!!

People are suffering from lack of supplies. People are cold. We need to really help those in the north, but instead the media wants to drag Japan down into a cesspit of filth and lies.

I heard a very sad story today. They need diapers desperately. We sent some boxes up today, but stupidly no diapers.
If you are reading this and are in Japan, please send more to Second Harvest. I posted the link in another post. The address is in Tokyo and can be done with regular post.

Here is the story I heard from my friend....

・ I need to change my daughter's diaper, but there is any diaper left.

・ We evacuated to the shelter. We have a baby crying in the night, it seems to make people annoyed. We are at a loss.

"・ I am looking for my wife every day, but she is still missing. I have nothing to confirm her safe...

・ Gasoline has run out. We can't go to our uncle's funeral.

・ Our family was ok, but our house, money, everything were washed away by tsunami. We have no hope in the future.

・ Water is still cut off in the shelter. Sanitary condition is getting worse day by day. An increasing number of evacuees sufeer from a wide range of physical irregularities."

We need to focus on helping. Hopefully, we will be able to follow this man more. Prayers and love to his family. I hope he can at least say good bye to his uncle.

After all this ranting, I want to end on a heartwarming note; animals reunited with their owners...

http://www.ctv.ca/gallery/html/japan-quake-dogs-pets-victims-110318/index_.html

God bless them all xxxxxxxxxx








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Location:Gift City, Gifu, Japan.

Well, I haven't really spent that much time down south, so I guess this is a great chance.

Having woken up to a whole heap of negativity, all of which has come from abroad, might I add, we have, against our better judgement, decided to leave Saitama.

We are sure of things being fine, if not now, then, in the long run, but there is so much worry, fear and stress that it is starting to spread to us.

As soon as we left the house, we could see the normality around us; trains were delayed, but were running, people were still going about their daily business.

The more normality we saw, the more annoyed we were with what we were doing. If no one else seems to be bothered, then why should we?

We still aren't, but, I will be glad to reach Nagoya and then we can decide where to head from there.

Hitting Tokyo station was disturbing, mind. As we got off the yamanote train, some stupid lady decided to tell me that my dog bag was inappropriate for travel on public transport. You see, usually, the dog's face must be covered, but Elbi hates that and so do we.

Her timing was inconsiderately impeccable. I could have got so angry with her, but I felt the urgency in the air as more people with suitcases emerged. It seems that there many people heeding the rash advice of scaremongers. Either way, it put me on edge, especially with what the lady said.

I checked with the guard that I could buy a dog ticket on the train, but he misunderstood me-!: He told me the tickets were sold out and I lost it. Thankfully, he was talking about the people tickets! Having just forked out 30 000 for comfy seats, you don't want to hear that you can't have them!

We are almost in Nagoya. I can't wait to just relax and get my head into gear. We were supposed to be on holiday at this time anyway, which at least affords us this time of contemplation.


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Location:On the train to Nagoya

Tuesday 15th March - 1515

Suddenly, it is rather late in the day. We haven't been up that long, to be honest and soon it will be dark.

News of power outages are changing regularly, so we have no idea if there will

be a switch off tonight at 6pm or not.

The PM of Japan, has advised people to stay indoors. So, we went out to quickly walk Elbi and then to stock up on necessities.

We wore masks, out, which probably didn't do anything for us anyway apart from make us look silly and steam up our glasses.

I might look scared, but it was just because there were very few people out and I freaked, thinking we should hurry back.

We emptied the conbeeny of water, and some of the vending machines too and stocked up with extra nori (seaweed) so that we would have iodine. We also happen to have multi vits here with extra iodine, so , for now, we will be fine.

There is no point panicking and running our as that will only put us in the thick of it. The levels that are here are minimal and 200km from the plant means that we are safer than a lot of people realise.

My mother is stupidly hysterical, thinking I am in the most dangerous zone. It is a shame people cannot get their facts straight.

We have two fridges packed with food, drinks, not to mention the cupboards as well. The convenience store was empty in terms of breads etc...

But we got liquids, so we were all good.

We have bottles filled with water and we are heeding all the advice coming our way.

More later....xxx

Oh, and we have locked the doors, windows, even the shutters on the windows...