Coping in the Time of Covid-19 - New and Improved!

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Comments

  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    I have two bookshelves with no books on. Four photos, three cacti and a trailing plant. I change the photos every week or so.

    Very tasteful.

    :mrgreen:
  • In addition to books, my shelves hold various bits and pieces of family memorabilia. No male genitalia among them, though.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    My bookshelves are packed with books but in front of the books (as well as other books) are ornaments and soft toys and my birthday cards. I have a December birthday so my cards can't be displayed for long downstairs as they get muddled up with the Christmas ones. So they come up into my study and stay here for months. Usually until Mothering Sunday (March).

    I've recently had to change location when I do Zoom calls, though, as the connection in my study is unreliable. I move to our dining room in front of the piano and am experimenting with what goes on top of the piano to make a pleasing backdrop. It won't include genitalia of any sort.
  • Alan Cresswell Alan Cresswell Admin, 8th Day Host
    I have two shelving units where the space in front of the books is largely taken up by more books. The tops of those have assorted useful things (sooner or later I'll get some bookends so that I can stand books up there without them falling off the edge of the unit) like my radio alarm, and the books I've just finished or intend to read soon. Another shelving unit has a lot of CDs (the CD player is on top of the unit) and board games, with a fourth half full (one shelf) of DVDs with the bottom shelf holding larger reference books, with the top occupied by my record player and some pot plants.
  • finelinefineline Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Haha, I have double layers of books on my bookshelves, plus a few books placed horizontally on top, but I also add various other things I may be using at the time on there sometimes, so I could see how that might happen! I don't arrange my bookcase as a display thing, but more a place to put stuff. One of my bookcases shows sometimes on zoom calls, depending on the angle I'm sitting at - nothing embarrassing on there, I don't think, but it shows how cluttered and disorganised I am!
  • I'm impressed at Boogie changing her photos every week! I would never be that organised - I'd manage it twice and then they would sit there for 6 months.

    My bookshelves tend to have things like half-finished Hama bead kits and bits of broken toys in front of the books. And a very very long houseplant twining in and out of the shelves.
  • Books are in Mr Puzzler’s study in large quantities, in various other bookcases around the house and on shelves above my desk which is in the small spare room.
    Behind me, visible when I am on Zoom, is a bare wall apart from a small framed picture, above a cabinet with a lamp and a selection of birthday cards (for the same reason as Nenya they are not downstairs for long. ) I like to think it makes for a calm backdrop. I haven’t yet managed to introduce a virtual background on zoom.
  • Leorning CnihtLeorning Cniht Shipmate
    edited February 2021
    How are there people who have shelves with room for anything but books?

    Because my shelves are deeper than my books, so there's space in front of the books. Just like NEQ and penis woman.
    fineline wrote: »
    Haha, I have double layers of books on my bookshelves, plus a few books placed horizontally on top, but I also add various other things I may be using at the time on there sometimes, so I could see how that might happen!

    Yeah, this. I have several shelves with double-layers of paperbacks. I keep meaning to build some kind of step so the back layer is raised an inch or so, so I can see what's there, but round tuits have been in short supply.

  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    Martha wrote: »
    I'm impressed at Boogie changing her photos every week! I would never be that organised - I'd manage it twice and then they would sit there for 6 months.

    My bookshelves tend to have things like half-finished Hama bead kits and bits of broken toys in front of the books. And a very very long houseplant twining in and out of the shelves.

    I buy photos (prints) from snapfish, very cheap. I get the same size every time and have four frames, so I just swap them in the frame putting the older ones behind.

    A new grandchild and new puppies make a good incentive to keep buying new photos. But, if I don’t have a new one, I bring an old one to the front.

    :mrgreen:

  • jedijudyjedijudy Heaven Host
    ...and some pot plants.
    Pot plants? :wink:
  • I have books on my actual bookshelves - that's two taller than me and one to waist height, with things in front of the books, like mini-Lego figures (for photography), a trailing tradescantia on top of one, a box file of recipes on top of the other. Then there's the bookshelf under a desk that has a shelf of games and another shelf full of boxes of buttons, press studs, rivets and the tools for putting them together. There's also a big slatted bookshelf with a couple of shelves of CDs and DVDs, plus dressmaking and knitting pattern books and magazines, patterns and more craft stuff (laminator, guillotine, box of bag making stuff).

    I tend to set myself up for Zoom with a blank wall behind me too. And I've got better at having a light in front of me, not behind me for Guides and youth work.
  • I have books in front of my books...
  • fineline wrote: »
    Haha, I have double layers of books on my bookshelves, plus a few books placed horizontally on top, but I also add various other things I may be using at the time on there sometimes, so I could see how that might happen! I don't arrange my bookcase as a display thing, but more a place to put stuff. One of my bookcases shows sometimes on zoom calls, depending on the angle I'm sitting at - nothing embarrassing on there, I don't think, but it shows how cluttered and disorganised I am!

    If I am on the sofa it's a stripey wall and a picture. When I am on the computer you can see the mess in our dining room and the end panel of the organ console. The book shelf in there is just stage left of the desk. Most rooms have bookcases, with varying levels of ornaments and bits put out of the way temporarily. School Teams calls get a view of the fridge (the dining room being the only place to fit it).

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    You have an organ console in your dining room? My late Beloved would have been impressed!
  • I have just discovered how to add a photograph to Zoom to make a virtual background, even on my 10 year old computer, and...you have NO IDEA how pleased that makes me, because where I normally sit is in front of a very cluttered background and now I can hide it away! (The National Trust have some nice pictures of NT properties that you can download for this very purpose...)
  • At a Zoom meeting of local church leaders, the Salvation Army major (who is Greek) appeared to be sitting on a lovely beach, with sunshine, blue sky, blue sea etc. etc., all complete.

    When questioned as to how he got there, he explained that it was merely a picture (of a Greek beach, of course), but much more attractive than his study!
  • In addition to books, my shelves hold various bits and pieces of family memorabilia. No male genitalia among them, though.

    That made me laugh a lot. OK, time to read the will - who get’s his knob? :smile:

    I don’t know where to put this, but here will do. This is the Guardian, being nice about (more or less) us. It was such a surprise, it helped me get through this day of lockdown - so maybe you’ll like it too.
    cheers
    M
  • Thanks, @mark_in_manchester, I liked that article. Of course, I am not on Twitter at all!
  • Piglet wrote: »
    You have an organ console in your dining room? My late Beloved would have been impressed!

    I have one too!
  • Leorning CnihtLeorning Cniht Shipmate
    edited February 2021
    At a Zoom meeting of local church leaders, the Salvation Army major (who is Greek) appeared to be sitting on a lovely beach, with sunshine, blue sky, blue sea etc. etc., all complete.

    Several people at my church (including the priest, and me) like to show up with church interiors as their backgrounds. Sometimes it's our own church, sometimes it's some other church that has a particular meaning to them, and sometimes it's just a pretty one. So we've had several people's college chapels, several churches where people were married, and some cathedrals. I did Veterans Day "from" the Italian POW chapel on Lamb Holm, and will probably bring it back for Memorial Day. Our Howard University alumni have been proudly, and continuously, displaying their alma mater ever since the election.

    This has generated quite a few interesting conversations about why people have chosen different backgrounds, most of which have been more interesting than "is that a penis on your bookshelf?"

    On another note, I'll point out that you can use a video as a background, and that video could be of you...
  • BroJamesBroJames Purgatory Host
    edited February 2021
    I sometimes use the church interior, but more often a view of the church and lake taken from somewhere uphill of it.

    The other day when my main role was hosting and technical support I used the National Trust image of the Office of the Caretaker of the Electric Light at Cragside.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    ... I did Veterans Day "from" the Italian POW chapel on Lamb Holm ...
    Really? I grew up just a few miles from there! :)
  • St Everild wrote: »
    I have just discovered how to add a photograph to Zoom to make a virtual background, even on my 10 year old computer, and...you have NO IDEA how pleased that makes me, because where I normally sit is in front of a very cluttered background and now I can hide it away! (The National Trust have some nice pictures of NT properties that you can download for this very purpose...)
    My colleagues get to see me sitting in a room full of fabric with Valerie, my dummy, standing behind me.

    Our bible study group once suggested we all have backgrounds for an evening which say something about us. We uploaded Bruegel's Peasant Wedding - it looked great, like we were sat in a noisy Tavern. We wished we had changed into our Tudor costumes though (we are re-enactors).
  • Piglet wrote: »
    You have an organ console in your dining room? My late Beloved would have been impressed!
    The keyboards are actually Canadian. The last one is the parcel stuck in the warehouse due to "Brexit". The carcass oddly is from the private school just up the road, via a previous owner in Essex. The workings are midi powered.

    The idea is that Mr Dragon can practice without traipsing over to St Quacks. The worst bit is we will have to move the pedal board on that distant day when people can come to visit again.
  • Golden KeyGolden Key Shipmate, Glory
    In addition to books, my shelves hold various bits and pieces of family memorabilia. No male genitalia among them, though.

    I suppose a prankster could get some of those little Japanese "netsuke" figurines. They're cute, and have various animals and people. However, if you look closely, *some* of the netsuke figures are...ummm...having intimate relations with each other. And I've seen them right in the windows of tourist stores!
    :astonished:
  • Oh, those Japanese. Netsuke are on a par with caganer, I would imagine . . . ?
  • mousethief wrote: »
    Here's an item to cheer up those of you struggling with Zoom during the pandemic. You Are Not Alone:

    https://theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/09/texas-lawyer-zoom-cat-filter-kitten

    That's nothing compared to the woman with a penis sculpture on her bookshelf (NSFW obviously).

    My dear sir, that is not a sculpture ...

    I bow to your superior knowledge. I never had such a sculpture, or anything that wasn't a sculpture that was so shaped.
  • LydaLyda Shipmate
    Whatever happened to storing such things in the bedside table? :blush:
  • When explaining that I can not go far from the house as my husband is ill, I now add he has a seizure disorder in case they might think it is Covid. We can now use the community laundry, small room no open windows, I have taken to going early in the morning in order to be out after it has been empty of people overnight. They say on the door to wear a mask but I have noted most coming and going do not. Could be they put it on once inside. I also just ordered home delivery of grocery items for the first time via Amazon Prime. I will see how that goes. The adjustment of moving to the city after small town country living.
  • MooMoo Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I had my first shot two days ago with no side effects whatever. I have an appointment for my second shot in four weeks. I am very relieved that things are going so smoothly.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Excellent, Moo!
  • Graven ImageGraven Image Shipmate
    edited February 2021
    Having just moved from small-town rural America to a mid-sized city Mr. Image and I were delighted by the thought of going out again for dinner if only being able to order online for a meal to be delivered. As we signed up for the service, to be used at a special time in the future I was very surprised to find that the local ice cream store will deliver such things as a sunday or even a banana split. Well here we are on the eve of Lent so I guess there is no ice cream emergency in the near future, but come Easter I must try this out at least once before the year is over. The one good thing that I can see shelter in place has to offer.
  • I have my first jab this afternoon! Woohoo!

    Yesterday we were permitted to take TIG#1, currently on half-term from home schooling (!) for a walk down by the river, followed by a very small picnic of hot chocolate in a flask, and Welsh cakes. It's hard to know who was the more excited by this, TIG#1 or me :grin:

    Possibly me...
  • jedijudyjedijudy Heaven Host
    That sounds just lovely, @The Intrepid Mrs S
  • Got my second shot today. Quick and easy, only a car or two ahead of me. Was in and out in about half an hour.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Well done, Miss Amanda!
  • DooneDoone Shipmate
    Great news!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I work for the NHS at a health centre where they're administering the vaccine, and I found out today that they sometimes have leftover vaccines at the end of the session that can't be kept, so if I go downstairs at lunchtime tomorrow there might be a chance I can get the first dose.

    I'm quite apprehensive: the last vaccination I had was the BCG for TB when I was 14, and that was 45 years ago ... :flushed:
  • Unnoticeable, this one.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    Vaccination starts in NZ today. Nurses administering it are first in the queue, followed by border workers, including staff in quarantine hotels.

    The Pfizer (sp?) is the only one that has been approved for use here so far, although other makes are also on order.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Nothing compared to having bloods taken. And I'd recommend going for the flu jab every autumn as well. I didn't - until the year I got flu.
  • But then again, I never had pneumonia until the year I got a pneumonia vaccine.
  • Pneumonia vaccine protects against several different serotypes of pneumococcus. There are other bacteria which can cause pneumonia.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    Yep I have the flu jab every year, it will probably be in April.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    The only side effect I had of the (Pfizer) vaccination was a sore arm for a day. Definitely worth doing, though I'd love to know how much immunity I now actually have.
  • Me too, but here's hoping we don't have to find out.
  • The last time I saw scientists talk about this, they were saying that the vaccines prevent serious illness and death, but you might still get a mild version. This may have changed, but not much.
  • I know the UK is conducting a challenge study this year. I don't know which vaccines are being tested in the study, but such a study can help answer these kinds of questions.
  • I think when AZ first reported, out of 24 000 patients who had the vaccine, there were 10 who caught covid, 2 severely, of which one died. Don't know figures for Pfizer. Sorry, no link, but there are some bmj articles online.
  • [tears hair out]

    Okay, I think we MIGHT be finished with the COVID drama of the month. Mr. Lamb was vaccinated back in September, and continues in the trial for the full two years. As part of his routine visits, he went in at the end of January and got swabbed up the nose (feeling perfectly fine, no symptoms at any time, it's just what the trial does).
    Two weeks later we get a very apologetic phone call informing us that the results have finally come back and they are positive for COVID-up-the-nose. We freak out, trace all our contacts, and get me tested. We come to the conclusion that Mr Lamb has given it to nobody, thank God.
    And there it should have rested.
    Except that the doubtless-overworked person in the trials office reported Mr Lamb as a positive to both local health departments by the wrong date--that is, by last week--and amazing to behold, BOTH health departments plus a contracted-out agency jumped into action to get hold of us and make Mr. Lamb stay home and track his symptoms on pain of [unspecified]. Further complicated by the fact that they can't distinguish between me and him (who's positive, again?), between which vaccine he got (one suggested he had somehow managed to get both, though that may have been a slip of the tongue), and what exactly his name is. And all this is coming to my phone.
    So Mr Lamb gets off scot-free, and is able to skip happily over hills and dales, enjoying his COVID-less freedom, while I sit home with paperwork and a phone ringing at ungodly hours.
    What's wrong with this picture???? Grrrrr.

    (I'm actually just so grateful nothing came of the bug that I can't work up a decent frustration, but in order to keep Mr. Lamb properly grateful, must complain... :wink: )
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