Welcome to our sixteenth newsletter!
With the introduction of our new digital activities programme, At Home with St John's, and restrictions of lockdown slowly starting to ease, we are now bringing this newsletter to you on a fortnightly basis. As before, this vital publication will still include important updates, upbeat news stories and useful information.
In this edition, you can find handy tips on making and wearing face masks, information about our online activities, At Home with St John's, a newsletter from Stephen Magrath and plenty more.
You can also stay up to date with the latest news from St John’s by visiting our website and social media.
Making & Wearing Face Masks
Uplifting News
Happy stories of the moment
Blue tit rescued from Ipswich garden may become 'a friend for life'
A blue tit found abandoned in a back garden seems to have adopted his human rescuer as his mother.
The bird, now 10 weeks old and named Dinky, was found featherless and the size of a thumb-nail in a tree near Ipswich.
Jess Lockwood nursed him back to health by feeding him every 45 minutes and ever since, he refuses to leave her.
She said: "If he wants to have his freedom then he's welcome to it. If not, I think I might have a friend for life here."
Paul Stancliffe from the British Trust for Ornithology said, it is always best to put young birds back in the nest, as Ms Lockwood had tried to do, but in this case "if it had been left at the age it was, it would have almost certainly died".
Click here to watch a clip about this heart-warming story.
Tony Hillier: 'Quirky' garden sculptures find new homes
A primary school is to showcase "quirky" sculptures after an artist's widow decided to give them away.
Tony Hillier, who unfortunately died in 2014, created hundreds of steel figures and animals, with several displayed in his garden in Histon, near Cambridge.
Earlier this year, an appeal was placed on a community forum for the sculptures to go to good homes.
"He would have been thrilled to bits to see them relocated"
Mr Hillier took up sculpture in retirement after a career as a physiology lecturer and fellow at the University of Cambridge.
However, Mrs Hillier said he "had another life" as a prolific cartoonist and artist.
You can read more about Mr Hillier and his sculptures here.
Hundreds of socially-distanced hearts appear in Bristol parks
Hundreds of giant white hearts have been painted onto parks in Bristol to keep people at least two metres apart and help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The 374 large white hearts are being applied to Queen’s Square, Castle Park and College Green in Bristol this week.
They are part of #BristolTogether, an initiative by businesses and leaders in the city as it safely reopens with the easing of lockdown restrictions.
Find out more here.
Rainbow of knitted flowers to mark the 72nd Birthday of the NHS
A rainbow made from more than 1,300 knitted or crocheted flowers has been put on display in tribute to the 72nd Birthday of the NHS.
The artwork can be seen in the hall next to St Mary's Church in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, and has been blessed by the vicar.
The project was started by the sisters who made a poppy waterfall to mark the centenary of World War One in 2018.
Sarah Barnsley attached all the donated flowers and pom-poms to a frame.
Ms Barnsley said:
"It looks absolutely lovely. It's a credit to our community as they've done a great job, all the knitters and crocheters. It looks absolutely beautiful.
I'm not really sure how many people have contributed because it's been done quite anonymously, flowers have been dropped at my doorstep for me to put on to the frame."
Read more here.
Nurse hugs two-year-old son after 11 weeks apart
A self-isolating nurse has finally hugged her two-year-old son after 11 "heartbreaking" lockdown weeks apart.
Charlotte Cole, 30, of Kirkham, Lancashire, said her "heart feels full again" as she was reunited with George.
The toddler was seen sprinting to his mother, who admitted she broke down in tears, and his father Daniel, also 30.
George went to live with Ms Cole's parents after Covid-19 was confirmed at one of the care homes where she works.
The couple had been making regular trips to see the toddler through a window.
BBC article here.
Staying productive: 31 productive things you can do at home
Make the most of your free time!
Being on lockdown doesn't have to be boring, not if you keep yourself occupied. From learning a language, or organising your wardrobe, to writing a novel, there are plenty of productive things you can take up to pass the time - why not start right now?
Have a look at this great article from Hello! or this one from The Mirror.
Coronavirus Scams
At Home with St John’s is live!
We have now launched At Home with St John’s – our new programme of zoom classes, with activities at 10am and 2pm throughout the week.
Book your classes
Classes cost £3.50 each and booking is now open for each activity. You can find out more in this issue of Activities Remotely (see below) or on our website, and book your class(es) online. If you have any trouble with the booking process, please do not hesitate to email us at community.outreach@stjohnsbath.org.uk
Thank you and we hope to see you (virtually) very soon.
Let's Talk Stitch
From Monday June 29, 2020 @ 10:00am
Get creative over a cuppa with tutor, Jill Perry, and connect with your fellow stitchers.
Register in advance for this webinar here.
Seated Exercise with Liz Coleman
From Tuesday June 30, 2020 @ 10:00am
Chair-based yogic exercise, including breath work and a lovely long relaxation, either from your chair or mat.
Register in advance for this webinar here.
Watercolours
From Tuesday June 30, 2020 @ 2:00pm
Enjoy learning and developing different watercolour techniques in Sarah's step-by-step sessions. With your fellow painters, you will create a watercolour sketch and come away with ideas to develop further. Suitable for beginners through to the more creatively experienced.
Register in advance for this webinar here.
Chair Yoga with Liz Lee
From Wednesday July 1, 2020 @ 10am
This class is for anyone who would like to improve their mobility, balance and co-ordination. The exercises are a mix of gentle yoga-based stretching, strengthening and breathing - all done either sitting or standing (no lying down on mats).
Register in advance for this webinar here.
Cook-a-Long
From Wednesday July 1, 2020 @ 2pm
Join cookery teacher, Louise Griffin, in this fun and sociable cook-a-long class. Recipes will be shared in advance, so you can prepare the ingredients and enjoy cooking with your classmates. Suitable for all.
Register in advance for this webinar here.
Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing
From Thursdays @ 10am
During this gentle and relaxing class, you will learn 'Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing' (TMW) - an easy-to-learn sequence of twelve movements designed to promote physical and emotional wellbeing.
Register in advance for this webinar here.
Ukulele
From Thursday July 2, 2020 @ 2pm.
Start your ukulele journey in this small and supportive class. We will go at a slow pace, give you time to practice and even give 1-2-1 help if you need it. This is a beginners-only class.
Register in advance for this webinar here.
Previous Newsletters
Click on the links below to access previous newsletters, each week full of different and fun things to do:
We hope you will find this useful while our activities are temporarily suspended. Please forward this information pack on to anyone who you feel would benefit.