On the bright side: Celebrating community and staying positive with #LadyWimbledon

With those awaking with grief in their hearts, I can only share my deepest sorrow of how hard waking up must be with no regard of what day or season we are in. The paper lands heavily on my doorstep each morning, filled with pages of job losses, higher death tolls and hopes of vaccines to buy back our freedom.

Each day flips back and forth between gratitude for what we have and an underlying fear of what we are losing. One thing for sure, this lockdown is causing an obvious and vast divide between folks who have their own house and garden and families trapped in small flats who are allowed only a very short time in the day to venture outside. Only yesterday did I see a request on twitter to ask if anyone knew of empty accommodation for a family of five in Mitcham with one room in which to live.

There seems a constant fine line between keeping light footed with young children looking up to us for reassurance, whilst masking the undercurrent danger lurking in the simplest of errands to get some milk. This Easter weekend was a perfect example of keeping children’s eager wait for chocolate eggs very much alive. Rightly so, kids did not seem phased to have less than previous years, one was enough to mark the occasion and many got busy colouring in pictures of Easter eggs, sticking them on their windows to show passersby their daily allowed walk. Merton Council ran a brilliant campaign to encourage children to do just that. They called it ‘The Massive Merton Easter Egg Hunt.’ It was truly wonderful to see young children's bright colouring-in of eggs bringing smiles to those who spotted them, brightening up the windows that face quiet streets.

I feel very fortunate during this epidemic to live near the Wimbledon Rugby Football Club. It is an entry point to the vast woods filled with endless spring green leaves shooting off cascading trees, where we can walk early each morning with only the happiest of bird songs to keep us company. After two stressful attempts to do a weekly food shop in our local supermarket, I have to choose to either take my three reluctant kids with me, or leave them at home whilst I wait an hour in the queue just to get in. I honestly couldn't believe my luck to find Wimbledon RFC had set up their own fruit and vegetable pop-up selling 30 egg boxes and the brightest, juiciest fruit and vegetables this side of town. Like a scene from The Waltons, we take our wicker basket and the kids can wait safely by my side or run around whilst I pick up what we need, which they help me to carry home. It was a pleasure meeting the rugby club chef Guy Barrett, who has named this successful popup ‘Wimbledon RFC Gourmet Takeaway.’ He told me how he is repurposing the kitchen for a takeaway and delivery service of cooked dinners, but I need to email him a few days in advance to order.

There are innovations all around us. People are thinking fast and outside the box on how to adapt their business, time and energy to help those who need it. It is quite breathtaking to learn that in 28 days since the concept was born, The Dons Local Action Group have accumulated enough food to wrap and deliver 1,550 food parcels to the most vulnerable residents in our borough. I hope you have seen one of the 12 collection points, mainly outside supermarkets in Merton and Kingston upon Thames and news just in that they are stationed outside Southside Wandsworth 11am - 5pm every day. The men and women spending their time on the donation stalls deserve a medal and under different circumstances a big hug. They are not in their gardens or scrolling through twitter, but up and out with big smiles encouraging us to pick up a few spare non-perishable items to donate to the for parcels. Please email DLA@afcwimbledonfoundation.org.uk to join their winning team.

It is incredible how many local residents who have their hands full just supporting their family or getting through the day have donated to charitable causes. The Merton Giving Coronavirus Fund has been set up to provide financial support to organisations working locally to support COVID-19 frontline services that have been overloaded by this pandemic. In just a few weeks they have raised over £7,500! You can give to the online fundraising here: justgiving.com/mvsc

Meanwhile, a sweet story lies with Merton Covid-19 Mutual Aid members who donated an ambulance full of sweet treats, fizzy drinks and snacks to help fuel super paramedics with a free tuck shop.

"We dropped off care packages to St Heliers A&E yesterday, and they remembered the tuck shop. A&E staff said they broke down in tears because they were so touched!" Rahim Hassanali told me with a lump in his throat.

Members are supporting another tuck shop on wheels going out again soon reaching five hospitals’ paramedic teams in Kingston, St Heliers, Croydon University and Princess Royal, Lewisham. To donate sweet treats contact Rahim Hassanali on 07738015539.

We need to hold onto these success stories. It will stop us drowning in the endless days of bleak. LBC will always be on in the background of my kitchen; a worthy insight, taking us out of our own bubble to hear the first hand experiences of others around the country. Trusted newspapers need to be read and twitter taken with a pinch of salt. Between the lines of this disturbing parallel universe - there are endless accounts of people’s dedication to their community, a new found love of nature, gardening and precious time with family. What has taken my mum years to try and teach me, in two weeks - I’ve learnt how to cook a great roast dinner, navigate my way through the woods without getting lost and not set the fire alarm off in an attempt to make pancakes.

The experiences we are all having during this crisis are drastically different to one another depending on our personal circumstances. Yet, we all share the need for new boundaries both in and out of our homes, emotionally and physically. In this short time my children have learnt to form a line on one side of the pavement if and when they see someone coming towards them, yet still unable to balance this avoidance with a smile to wish them well. They will learn, as we all continue to do so in our brave new world. I am sure as anything that things will never return to how they were. They mustn't. When we come out of this lockdown with our own war stories, we will no longer take for granted our health, family, or those who put themselves on the frontline. We will continue to smile at those who we used to look at blankly and lend a hand to our most vulnerable neighbours. This time of reflection will surely help shape our new daily lives for a brighter more community loving future.

Wishing you a safe home and moments of peace.

@LadyWimbledon