Lockdown as a teenager (Q&A)

An Inter-Generational Conversation

Anne: Are there aspects of the lockdown that are better than you thought?

Isla: This whole situation we are in is so strange and as a teenager myself I am finding it hard.

Are there aspects that are worse than you thought?

It’s a shock from being able to go out with your friends and be free to have fun, to be in what feels like prison.

When lockdown first was put in place, I did panic and worried about what I would do with all this time, but now more so about my exams.

Do you organise your day, or just deal with what turns up?

After a few days I started to relax as it’s out of my control on what’s happening. But I was still finding it hard to keep busy as there was little to do.

About a week in I decided to try and get back into art, so I designed my own unique pair of jeans and then tried some painting designs that I had never done before.

Do you feel more or less anxious than you did when the lockdown started?

At the current moment in time I am actually okay, obviously I’m bored but its manageable. There are some downsides though, for example siblings.

Being stuck with a 6 year old 24/7 really gets to you. Currently we can’t seem to last more than 20 minutes together without arguing.

Have some of your friends lost their jobs?

It’s also very annoying that for many adults there are aspects of work they can do from home, but for most teenagers they can’t do that and many have lost thier jobs as businesses can’t now afford young, less experienced people to be working for them.

All age groups are rediscovering their creativity

Thanks Isla. I’m always interested in your point of view. It helps to see things from a totally different angle.

Making Coffee

My Easy Enamelware Pot Method

Making coffee in an enamelware pot is easy

Self catering holidays when my children were young could have been seriously exhausting. To see me through a fortnight of family life up close, I always took my Enamelware Coffee Pot.

Since we have become so used to filter machines, drip pots, espresso makers and French presses, have we forgotten the simplest method? A jug. So simple you can make coffee anywhere. Even by a campfire.

I love enamelware. I’ve been making coffee in enamelware pots since I was a teenager. It’s so easy, and you need no specialist equipment. If you have ground coffee, boiling water, a pot, and a little bit of patience, you can make delicious coffee any place, any time.

You don’t even need an enamelware pot. An old teapot, a charity shop china coffee pot, even a saucepan with a lid will do. But I’ll always opt for an enamel pot.

Here’s my infallible method:

Step 1

Put the kettle on to boil. To warm the pot, put a little hot water in it, or run it under the hot tap. At very least don’t use it stone cold. Enamelware will lose heat, so there’s no point in being part of the problem.

Step 2

Put ground coffee in the pot. Any grind will do. No need to worry – use what you have. Even if it’s very fine or course, we’ll make it work in your pot. If you grind your own coffee, or have the choice when buying it, take a medium grind. The amount of coffee is up to you. First time you make it use the recommended measure. Next time you can add more or less.

Three Hills Coffee, roasted in the Scottish Borders

Step 3

Pour almost boiling water over the coffee, but only to just below the spout. Don’t be tempted to add more at this stage. You’ll need space for Step 5. The water should be “off the boil”, that’s to say, not bubbling. So boil the kettle as you gather together what you need. It will be perfect when you use it.

Step 4

Put the lid on, cover the pot with a tea cosy or a folded tea towel (that’s what I use) and leave for about 5 minutes. Don’t cheat. Listen to a couple of songs, read a short article, chop some vegetables. If you think you’ll get distracted, set a timer. More than five minutes is fine, but if you completely forget about the coffee it will go cold.

Step 5

Now you have to do some work.
You’ll need more boiling water soon, so have that ready.
Stir the coffee for a full 2 minutes. It will seem like a long time but keep going. It’s worth the effort. You will see and feel the grains sinking, and the liquid will begin to look clearer.
When you’ve stirred all you can, fill the pot to the brim with boiling water, put the lid on, cover, and leave for a few minutes.

Step 6

Take the lid off and stir again, briefly. Cover and leave for a few more minutes. If you have stirred as instructed, you won’t even need to strain the coffee. Handy if you can’t find that strainer you thought was at the back of a drawer! However if you don’t want to risk the occasional piece of ground coffee sneaking into your cup, strain.

Do you take milk or sugar? I take my coffee black.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog, and drinking your coffee.

Dog Hair Care

By Flynn and Doris

Flynn’s POV –

I’m seeing more of my human family than usual – they call it Lockdown. Thank goodness they’re leaving my hair alone!

My favourite thing ever is sitting outdoors in a breeze. I love to feel the wind in my hair. Don’t humans know that cutting my hair = ruining my life? They have zero empathy. I tell them clearly to leave me alone, but do they listen?

Let me keep my fuzzy ears and crinkly beard forever.

Border Terriers: born to have wild hair.

River Walk

With Flynn, Border Terrier

Languid river walk

To keep my head above water at this unsettling time I take Flynn, my Border Terrier, on a river walk.

The River Tweed, as it flows through Kelso, is captivating in any weather.

If you visit Kelso, definitely take a river walk.

Stay home for now.

Soap

Wash Your Hands

Never did I think I would sell soap and shampoo bars.

Two years ago, before I knew they were a thing, my friend asked if I sold shampoo bars. Challenge accepted!

At first I only sold Friendly Soap’s range. My customers really liked them.

Then, through Instagram, I discovered Superfly.

Lisa makes lovely, vegan friendly, natural soaps which my customers love.

“Wash your hands” is more important than ever, so it’s a great time to start using quality soap bars.

Sensitive, great for frequent hand washing

Please ask me if you’re intrigued and would like to order a bar of Superfly Soap.

Instagram

Facebook

Thanks for reading today’s post.

Nature Walk

In difficult times, a Nature Walk lifts the spirits.

Celandine, also known as “Is that a buttercup?”.

Probably appears unappreciated in normal years. One of many natural wonders that blends into general “Spring flowers”.

Mandarin Duck on the River Tweed, Scotland

On the River Tweed as it flows through Kelso, we have a resident mandarin duck. It swims with numerous mallards, geese and swans; one of a kind.

Nature keeps on naturing.

And because Flynn doesn’t like to be forgotten…

Flynn, Border Terrier, by the River Tweed

Lockdown Dog

Hi, this is Doris. As many dogs she sleeps an unbelievable amount but also loves to be outside. But due to this whole pandemic, their days have been interrupted.

I’m sure we are driving our pets insane as we have invaded their day.

Let’s hope this whole thing is sorted quickly so we and our beloved pets can go back to normal.

Rolling Border Terrier

Rolling Dog

Flynn the Border Terrier had an amazing walk through the park.

That’s it!

Lockdown Dog Walks

Stubborn Border Terrier

So we’re taking one walk each per day during the COVID19 lockdown, so that Flynn gets to stretch his legs.

Flynn is my stubborn Border Terrier. He prefers to sleep.

Usually passers by laugh at Flynn’s stubbornness. He loves to amuse a crowd.

There’s no crowd during lockdown. Playing to the gallery isn’t an option. But Flynn is a creature of habit.

When a dog decides not to move, what can a woman do!

Thanks for reading my blog. See you again soon.

One Basket , Kelso

Instagram one_basket

Generation Z

Strongest Generation Since World War 2

Generation Z was born into a dangerous world.

I think they’ll do a good job of stabilising society. Because they’re strong.

We all get defensive about our own generation. I remember my parents telling me to eat everything on my plate. I didn’t know how lucky I was, apparently.

As children and teenagers we found our parents annoying – as all generations do.

Two little Baby Boomers, and their mum born 1929

Now we’re the annoying ones. #OkayBoomer, you say. But we see ourselves as Hippies, Punk Rockers, New Romantics. Certainly not old. How could we ever grow old?

We have children and grandchildren: GenX, Millennial, GenZ. Sometimes we hear our parents’ words coming from our own mouths. “You don’t know how lucky you are”

I could list the dreadful things that were ‘normal’ in the 1960s/1970s/1980s, but I won’t.

I could list the amazing improvements society has seen during my lifetime, but I won’t.

Instead I will tell you why I love Generation Z, and why I believe they’ll cope in this crisis.

Generation Z hasn’t experienced good times. They were only little before the financial crisis. They’ve seen parents lose jobs, struggle for money, work zero hour contracts. They’ve worried about conflict, disease, poverty, the environment. They’ve been burdened, and it’s no wonder they think previous generations were lucky.

Now, COVID19 is infecting the world. I don’t want to be unwell, and I certainly don’t want to die. But one aspect of the virus gives me hope.

Evidence for the virus’ effects on different generations isn’t yet certain, but it appears to be substantially less dangerous to the young. Thank goodness.

Ooh, controversial!

I sincerely believe if society is to be improved, no-one is better placed to do it than a generation born and raised in adversity. A generation like my mother’s who were children in World War 2, young adults during rationing, having children just as the economy was improving. They wanted so much more for future generations, my generation, the Baby Boomers. We need a generation like them again.

Thank you in advance, Generation Z