Category Archives: health

Face Coverings required in shops from today

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Face Covering
New Government rules requiring customers to wear face coverings in shops came into effect today – 24th July. Mostly Books, and some other shops had reminders in their windows. The gov.uk webpage has the full details.

From about 30% of people wearing face coverings in shops yesterday in Abingdon it looked like everybody had one today, and many people were not taking them off between shops, or were leaving them dangling round their necks.
Face Covering
If you cough (or breath out) and have Covid-19 and are asymptomatic, the face covering protects others.

The covering should also provide some protection from Coronavirus in the air, but anybody wearing it round their neck can contaminate the inside of the covering.

Bank Holiday Monday

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Bank Holiday Monday
On any other late May Bank Holiday Monday the sunny weather could not have been more perfect.

We went out fairly early for a walk – before the bank holiday crowds arrived in Abingdon-on-Thames.
Bank Holiday Monday
In any normal year the Open Air Pool would have been open by this bank holiday weekend and people queuing to get in.
Bank Holiday Monday
At the weir and elsewhere coloured origami boats had been hung.

A message said Covid-19 has changed our lives. What would people like to carry forward into their lives post lockdown? Write it on a boat!
Bank Holiday Monday
There were some cannoists at the weir but not a lot of surf. On a normal bank holiday people could have stood on the path over the weir to watch them. This year I took a quick picture and hurried across because people might be waiting to come across from the far side.
Bank Holiday Monday
We saw swans with cygnets like other years.
Bank Holiday Monday
At Swift Ditch there were balloons.
Bank Holiday Monday
The lockdown was recently eased by the government. Now we can drive to take our walks and even relax in the sun. Rye Farm car park was filling up as people headed for the sunny wide open spaces near the river banks in Abingdon.

Bank Holiday Motorbikes roared through town, and people watched with their takeaway coffees.

And here is a video of Abingdon late in the evening with a walking talking commentary about night life during the shutdown.

Mental Health Awareness Week – St Ethelwolds

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Mental Health Awareness Week - St Ethelwolds
Mental Health Awareness Week was from 18-24th May 2020. The Mind centre in Abingdon is currently closed but Mind in Oxfordshire has online advice about coronavirus and your wellbeing. They also had a virtual tour in Santorini

Here is my own virtual tour of St Ethelwolds House in East St Helen Street.
Mental Health Awareness Week - St Ethelwolds
There were five other people there: a mother and child playing on the lawn; two ladies talking at a table, and somebody working on some repairs. Nobody was making much noise and the birds were singing.
Mental Health Awareness Week - St Ethelwolds
Many people are affected emotionally and psychologically by the everyday challenges and worries that the pandemic brings, whether the illness itself, financial worries, living in lockdown, or being asked to go back to work. The Citizen’s Advice at Coronavirus – what it means for you/ includes advice for people worried about going back to work.
Mental Health Awareness Week - St Ethelwolds
Mark’s wildflower meadow at St Ethelwold’s is named after a young man with Mental Health problems who died tragically after having his benefits cut. Mark loved nature and the garden.
Mental Health Awareness Week - St Ethelwolds
Some of us have found during the lockdown that being in nature can boost our mental wellbeing and ease stress.
Mental Health Awareness Week - St Ethelwolds
St Ethelwold’s House is a welcoming spiritual centre offering a place of sanctuary and quiet to all.
Mental Health Awareness Week - St Ethelwolds
There is also a sanctuary room used by a variety of groups. In this virtual tour you could imagine going in there and being still.

AbiMeds hits 1000!

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Thankyou to Hester for this update …
AbiMeds hits 1000
Yesterday – a month after we started – the AbiMeds team delivered their 1000th package of medications. We are also delighted to announce that Tesco Pharmacy have agreed to join the scheme, so we are now covering all the Abingdon pharmacies.

Many people don’t realise that this service is available to anyone, not just those shielding or self-isolating: the aim is to reduce the risk, not just to those queuing, but also to pharmacy staff. So 1000 less people queuing will have made a real difference.

Feedback from people using the service has been excellent, they are amazed by the speed and delighted by the professional but friendly manner of our volunteers. We hope that they will spread the word so that we can help even more people in the next month.
AbiMeds hits 1000
The number to ring to book a delivery is 01865 818351 (open Monday-Saturday 09.00-16.00). For more information see https://abimeds.org/