As ever, all links in this post are in Louche Lockdown Links, they will be under TYPE Health & Safety so that might help you order/search data.

Also, if you hate reading watch this excellent You Tube video on what is proven/useful or not in this area. Really good.

Fun first – Cute face masks on Redbubble. They are £8-£10 each with 20% off if you buy 4.

Cloth masks are OK, but you are best getting a liner for them too. You can use air filters or vacuum bags etc, or be lazy (like me) and buy mask pads. Yesstyle in Korea do some but have LONG shipping times. I don’t mind’ cos I am avoiding going anywhere.

Read HERE about how effective mask use is at saving you and/or those around you. Please don’t be a murderously selfish jerk. Wear a mask when you are out and about. Highlights from this article:

• Masks made from allergy-reducing air conditioning filters and vacuum cleaner bags were found to work best, almost matching the performance of an N95 respirator.
• The most effective homemade masks use multiple fabric layers, although they fall some way short of N95 and surgical masks. Adding a nylon on top to clinch the mask onto the face increases the effectiveness to the point where some homemade designs are able to keep out 80% of the particles.
• WASH MASKS WITH SOAP @ 60C+ to breakdown any virus residue
• Only assholes who want you to die won’t wear masks. The more people who wear masks the less disease will spread. If you don’t wear a mask when out and about you are part of the problem (They did not say it like that – but it’s my interpretation of what the data means)

Wash your hands properly. Also put the hands WHO guide anywhere you, or your business has a sink

How to keep your home Covid Clean with very decent sources and not hysterical. Read the excellent little article on WHICH

Keep safe and be well

Ry

Currently available:

If you search the souschef site for bread flour you get these and other results

• White bread flour https://www.souschef.co.uk/products/foricher-french-traditional-white-t65-flour-1kg

• Multiseed bread flour https://www.souschef.co.uk/products/matthews-cotswold-eight-grain-flour

They also have a yeast available (which seems to be generally short in supply)

I recommend you ask your local bakers for some if you want it though.

Enjoy

Hi, so there are some useful things in Louche Lockdown Links , but I thought I might add my own coping mechanisms here for anyone who might be interested.

Firstly, my life is easier than most. I am out of contract but my husband isn’t and we can live on that. I am at home with him and I like him lots. I am one of those weird people who is actually friends with / on amicable speaking terms with my neighbours. That all said… here are some things that could help.

1. Give yourself a break. This is a weird time and it is scary and just because you aren’t ill or don’t currently know anyone who is doesn’t mean you can’t be frightened or stressed or find the world a freaky place. You have a right to your messed up feelings, they never were logical and they are never going to be.

2. If you can, give yourself a routine or at the very least a couple of things to accomplish in the day). It doesn’t have to be complex or all encompassing. It can just be… get up before 8. Eat at least one symbolic vegetable amongst all the junk food. Don’t work 18 hours just ‘cos you are at home.

3. Do some form of exercise. Preferably something ridiculous. We go for sensible walks and things but have also taken to doing a bizarre parody of HIIT / interval exercises where our 40 seconds might be plank or it might be running around a stool with one hand on it. My tummy muscles are exercised by the laughing mostly…

4. Be liberated from trends. Lots of people are baking bread, gardening, making Dalgona coffee, doing jigsaw puzzles, but you can do you… You are in the security of your own home – if you just want to reread all the romance novels in the world that is just as useful really. I like making Dalgona coffee though – it is an excuse for a milkshake.

5. Talk to people, people you used to speak to all the time and people you didn’t. Phone them like it is 1994 or Zoom them to see their face, say hi!

6. There are consolations in philosophy, you can take it from pop songs,Twitter or the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, anywhere … Just think about how you want to deal with the world and come up with a way of dealing that suits you (one that preferably reduces panic attacks and pointless whining)

Good luck

Click the link to see the LoucheLinks ( not that louche but lots of links) This is very London centric – will broaden and specify on request. So tell me what you are looking for and I will add it. Also if you want to buy me an ice lolly as thanks you can do so here

Hi everyone,

This site is now re-purposed as my list of Lockdown Links. Mostly stuff around London, and almost all UK-centric – but I hope to add to it with anything awesome, let me know if I can help. I started it for me as a spreadsheet but I shared  it with a few friends and some people love it. So now it is a site. If you find anything cool you want me to add – let me know and I will vet it. I know or have used most of the things here. Please share with others – and as I am currently in-between contracts and that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon I am not too proud to accept cash for my Google-fu. Feel free to bung me some cash towards my ice lolly stash HERE and I will keep looking for the goodness…