During these difficult times I think it is important that we share snippets of goodness to keep our days bright and colourful. Here are some examples of what the wonderful students at JIC have been getting up to during this period of self-isolation….
To stave off madness and panic buying Sam has started growing his own vegetables. Although only the winter veg have sprouted so far he is hopeful he will soon be doing some Corona-cultivating out in the garden… cauliflower, spinach and kale is on the menu! He has also been planting lots of annual flowers because you can never have enough colour in quarantine, great idea Sam! @SamWarnerPlants
Fran has been adding to her ever-growing plant collection. Her lilac jumper makes for a very aesthetically pleasing colour combination. She has also been eating a large quantity of biscuits (not pictured due to supply issues..). @francescajane53
Jonathon has been busy with daily COFFEE-19 meetings, making culinary delights and single-handedly finishing this whole 1000-piece puzzle, good work Jonathon! @jonnydliston
Josh (as well as being a reliable source of content for this blog) has discovered some peaceful woodland spots on his daily cycle as well as some gorgeous views on his motorbike if he’s feeling racy.. @joshjoyce5
Jiawen and Lauren have been making delicious grilled cheese sandwiches as something warm and tasty to look forward to for lunch. They recommend them very highly; simple to make, customisable to be healthy (or unhealthy..) and easy to make with strange grills (pictured below), pans or toastie makers! They always take the time to make the perfect sandwich. @Jiaaawen @Lauren_Grubb13
Megan is a resin and acrylic pour artist as well as a PhD student and has been making clocks for her art business to earn a little extra cash. Find her beautiful, unique pieces over at Etsy or Insta.
Kathy has been enjoying an early morning motivational walk every day and painting delightful pictures of sunsets, whales and other sea creatures (accompanied by her new lock-down pal). She has also cleaned her flat from top to bottom and folded every single piece of clothing she owns. Very productive, Kathy! @iamkathystrat
Hannah has become a crazy crochet lady! She has been making blankets for every man and his dog, quite literally… @HannahPatMcD
Quarantine won’t stop Anna dancing! She has been enjoying doing yoga and online swing dance classes. She has been practising solo jazz, contributing to a Norwich project to teach the shim sham for a montage video, and dancing with her reliable and comfy new dance partner (shown below).
Finally, what I’ve been up to (apart from pestering people for pictures of their quarantine activities..). I have been working on an illustration project that I have been meaning to finish, exploring Norwich on my bike (a not so representative example is pictured below), and making sure our new mate the lost dog Harry got home safely. @melissajd_
I hope this has given you some inspiration of creative activities to get stuck into whilst stuck at home!
On a serious note, if you feel able to work during this difficult time, here is a helpful guide of things to do from home as a PhD student. But remember, it is okay not to be as productive as you normally would be, take time to allow yourself to adjust. #WeAreAllInThisTogether
Please don’t feel like you are on your own during these uncertain times, don’t hesitate to drop us an email at studentvoice@jic.ac.uk if you have any questions, concerns or just need someone to talk to!