Pay Day Gifting
KATY
This weekend I was meant to be disappearing for a gentle weekend exploring St Petersburg from this beautiful hotel. The vague plan was to walk around squares, enjoy caviar with champagne, fall away from myself in a spa & absorb paintings & Russian history. I have never been to this vast country and I was very much looking forward to this solo adventure. Things Have Clearly Changed.* This is a small inconvenience as I know some people have it a lot worse. It is a small price to pay for something much more important - supporting the larger community and my health.
*This trip will be rebooked and I’m thinking of adding on an overnight train from Reykjavik that time around.
I am not - in general - a particularly virtuous person able to resist temptation. And post pay day I shall be utilising the internet and remaining distribution networks for a bit of self-gifting. And what I am craving right now are the things that will keep me better afloat during these endless indoor days.
At the end I’ve given the final word (& links) to organisations, initiatives and people who are helping us all during COVID19.
KATY’S ISOLATION GIFTS
Enamel Dishes - I was very envious of Peter’s enamel dish game last week during Dad’s baking class. These guys, who are slightly mad and very wonderful, provide extremely affordable dishes (as well as our wonderful butter dish) from their outpost in Brighton.
Pyjamas - It’s vital during these times to have a day time and a night time pair of jammies. These ones are almost video call to my boss appropriate.
Book - I’m actually not allowed to buy any more books due to last weeks fraught over-ordering. So I will definitely resist this book. Definitely.
Crafts - I am hopeless at crafts, but a small part of me is desperate to turn this around. And I reckon ‘crafts’ are easier (read: I’ll have more likelihood of success) than taking up painting.
Cashmere - Ideally, I’d raid an entire cashmere department and then, utilising the fat stores I’ve been meticulously building over the last two weeks, I’d fall into COVID-19 induced hibernation underneath a cashmere den. Alternatively, this beautiful mustard throw will see me through Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Catastrophe & Tiger King.
Beauty - I really enjoy doing this sort of thing in normal times and am hoping to pick this up again, despite it ‘only’ being for my own enjoyment. Top of the list are - face mask, hair treatment & moisturiser.
Headphones - We’re currently quite a calm and compatible household (with the occasional grump sessions, shouting sessions, crying sessions, silence treatment sessions & all the other paraphernalia of a Relationship in Close Quarters) however, I’d really like to be able to hide behind these headphones every so often.
So many pictures - This is also a purchase I can’t make until I’ve put up the other (approx) 300 pictures I haven’t ‘had time’ to put up.
Linen - Recently I’ve been nurturing a linen clothing obsession. It demands hours and hours of time on etsy re-imagining my entire wardrobe. We’re talking tops, dresses, trousers and I’m hopelessly into it.
Flowers - for no other reason than I want my flat to be full of flowers, plants and the calmness they evoke.
*********
And the last word goes out to the amazing people across the UK who are donating their time, resources & kindness during this time. Below is a small selection -
Blood Donation - You can still travel to donate blood.
City Harvest - Supporting London and feeding those in need, they do this year round.
ViralKindness - A brilliant ‘postcard’ scheme to support isolated people in your own community.
Direct Participation - A petition to help support small businesses during this difficult time. It involves very little but could help a great deal of people.
Mutual Aid - Group of volunteers supporting local community groups organising mutual aid.
Reach Volunteering - An organisation matching people with specialist professional skills, such as IT expertise/financial planning/change management etc, to charities who need their help right now.