Thanks Eva for taking the time to share some interesting-looking sites. I have nothing of interest to share, as yet, but really appreciated your post.

Thanks for sharing. Youtube has some great reciepes to try :)

Thanks Eva.

Here go some more free musical resources: for opera lovers, the Wiener Stasoper also offers every day free streaming of operas from their recordings. You need to create a free account. Straming starts at 17h or 19h. More info here:

https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/staatsoper/news/detail/news/the-wiener-staatsoper-is-closed-but-continues-to-play-daily-online/

https://www.staatsoperlive.com/

Enjoy the music and stay safe ... and at home!

Cheers,

I practice meditation in the morning and evening and i walk also in nature. Nature offers us so much. Don't forget that beauty is always there. Spring is coming and there are beautiful flowers everywhere !

I know it's not always easy as i am rather an anxious person, but we need to 'fight' fear, as it doesn't bring us anything positive. Don't watch too much the news, as it will certainly increase your fear.

It's not possible to go in cafe and restaurants anymore, but every morning i go to my parents and we take a coffee together. It's like a little ritual. It's the best way to start the day.

Here's my two cents.

Don't forget jokes!

https://www.glocals.com/forums/geneva/where-how-in-geneva/A-letter-from-F--Scott-Fitzgerald-252450.htm#msg_252450

Thanks and SO TRUE ! I also discovered all the wonderufl Pinterest recipes (who knew...!?) and so I have of course and needless to say also been cooking up a storm these past few days (then again, I always tend to anyways and house arrest or no`house arrest....... ). This is what my fridge has been invaded with and so far: Apple pancakes (healthier applie pie version. And........ YUM !), chick pea-avocado-parsley-and-feta cheese-salad with a lime and honey salad sauce (Delich'), chick pea-spinach-and sweet potato-curry (YES!) , Coconut rice (Hmmmmm and well, and it in fact sounds a lot yummier than it turned out to be.Maybe I was using the worng kind of rice....), Celery, hazelnut and truffle soup (OMG! ) and Greek dish Spanakorizo ( yes,ok, but without the the dill, which doesn't work for me in there and for some reason.........)                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Guys; I am not only going to go crazy during this lock-down, but also really.......FAT! 

Oh my word, and "impossible name" - THANK YOU so much for sharing ! From the bottom of my heart. This is SOOOO wonderful also   

Wow Eva, that sound amazing. Feel free to share reciepes / photos! I will do the same!

= ajimenezp. There. I got it ! 

More free operas:

Pendant six jours, l'internaute pourra visionner une représentation disponible sur le site Internet de l'Opéra et celui de Culturebox .À la fin de ce délai, cette production sera remplacée par une autre et ainsi de suite jusqu'en mai. L'opéra Manon de Jules Massenet ouvre le bal

https://www.operadeparis.fr/

https://www.france.tv/spectacles-et-culture/

Since I'm stuck at home, and see the kilos growing on me, I hope to try some of the fitness videos on youtube. Does anyone have any experience with them, and any reccomendations?

How about a "Conbody" workout! Apparently this is the fashion in prisons all over America.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riH9152UgZU

How depressing!

Not only are we blocked at home, now we have to believe that we're imprisionned!

Sorry, but I'll take another training video.

Good luck with your training.

Hello,

I notice that all your "tips" are internet related. So just wonderig what would have happened to you without internet!?

And another point : how strange for me that no one mentionned the best ever occupation : books ! 

You are absolutely right Georges P !!

We can of course watch TV, but reading is a great way to pass this time.

I personally consider TV as junk food for our brains, while a good novel is more akin to a healthy organic meal. Especially as more and more of our TV is American, and so filled with violence. (That being said, I have been watching a lot of TV lately).

The Geneva International Bookclub is trying an experiment in a remote bookclub. I encourage all to condsider coming.

https://www.glocals.com/things-to-do/geneva/108553.htm

One of the founding rules of this bookclub is that you do not have to have read the book (although we do of course encourage it).

Hi Georges and thanks for sharing !

Yes, prettz much Intenet--bound and I am really envious of all my friends in houses with gardens right now, who have been able to enjoy the glorious weather we've had of late (not any more! Oh well..) being, barbecuing, eating, exercising and working in their gardens. I'm in an apartment (no TV. People have those still.... ?! :D) , so options are limited and what can I say...... 

You're right about books, though, and to be sure. I guess I just always read so much, such part of my routinely life doesn't change very much just because of home confinement.. This is what I am reading right now:

1. The vinegar girl by Anne Tyler - Modern take on Shakespeare's "The taming of the shrew;

2. The song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - because I just read her last novel Circe and loved it so much;  

3. A tree grows in Brooklyn - by Bettie Smith, a classic and oldy-but-goody, I know and a re-read for me. Not sure why. Perhaps some subconscious need to mentally get back to basics and see the beauty,strenghts, positives and gratitides in same;  

4. Drive your plow over the bones of the dead by  Olga Tokarczuk ( 2018 Nobel-price winner) -  this one's for my book club. We're also doing our next meeting virtually and via Webex,

which I highly recommend anyways and also as a great way to staying in touch with your friends, family and loved ones, having discussions, coffee breaks, virtual aperos or candle-lit dinner dates together, or whatever else takes your fancy: https://www.webex.com/

Not meaning to dis' you again, Georges (and sorry if I am !), but there are actually and also some reallly good websites from which you can download free e-books; 

https://librivox.org/

https://dev.gutenberg.org/ (excellent for classics) 

 https://https://manybooks.net/www.pdfdrive.com/

Happy reading ! 

If you have a big enough pile of unread books at home. (Which probably most people have.)

If not, I would not go to a public library, or bookshop at the moment.

Amazon.co.uk or .fr is pretty fast.

Also https://www.bookdepository.com/

I just hope we don't turn on each other ....

One of my concerns is the subsequent psychological impact that self-isolation and all the other precautions we are being urged to follow may have on everyone – and most especially the young  –  in the long term.

R.

Especially poor Piglet!

Second week into home confinement and my apartment is turning into Las Vegas; I have no idea what day or time of the day it is most of the time, drinks and cocktails are t-o-t-a-l-l-y acceptable at any hour and I'm losing money by the minute......

You didn’t say what you’re missing though, like human company maybe?

But you have saved the air fare.

Thanks, Eva, et al, for your excellent tips on activities to pursue while confined.

I think Ritchie has a point that most of us benefit from human company, though. I am lucky to live with my 10 year old daughter, but we can also benefit from the company of others.

Soon after the pandemic began spreading, and just before public social distancing policies were enacted, I created WhatsApp groups for different sets of my social relationships:

1) A group for the families of my daughter's school friends. This has been not only useful for our kids to stay in touch, but also for our families to share logistical information about our area (Ornex and Pays de Gex), local information about Covid-19, border crossing, local public policies, where to best do our shopping for food at different times, and humor, which is more on target when shared with people you know.

2) A group with family members across the Atlantic, and in 3 different countries.

3) A group with friends in several continents, mostly professionals, in science and health related professions. One lives almost next door, another in Australia, others in the US, UK, etc. This has been great for sharing information and it is also bringing us together through the shared experience of a crisis.

As all of you who use Apps like WhatsApp know, there is a greater immediacy to communications through such media, and you can have private side exchanges with members of the group or follow up video calls.

I have also set up "Zoom" and my 10 year old daughter has frequent group video calls with all her school friends.

It is no substitution for physically shared social activities, but it has done wonders for us.....

The London National Theatre following suite with free broadcasts during the pandemic shut-down and oh how lovely  :  https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahturner/2020/03/28/londons-national-theatre-starts-streaming-its-most-famous-productions-for-free/

Enjoy ! 

In the absence of not being able to post any events, can I recommend:

"Ice Cream Saturdays and Pay it Forward".  (That's what I would have called my event in happier climes!!).

The Buvette at the Lutry CGN is open every Saturday serving ice creams and drinks (not sure if they're still doing food).  We go every week (at 1pm if you want to join), have an ice cream and sit by the lake for an hour or two.  Being totally mindful of keeping our distances from others, we just eat ice cream, sit on the lakeside wall, people watch, get some fresh air and remind ourselves that we're not alone in these crazy times. 

If you feel like joining us, the ladies who run the Buvette have devised an excellent "social distancing" system which ensures minimum contact with both them, and the other ice cream customers.  

Although our 2 x ice creams don't cost CHF10, we always give them a 10 franc note and leave them the change.  They really appreciate it and it means not dealing with grubby coins.   And it keeps them employed.

It's also a beautiful walk from Lausanne.   And the parking is free at the moment - added bonus if you have a disabled boyfie! 

Try this!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=enYITYwvPAQ&t=191s

Only a few minutes later you'll feel much better:

https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/audiovideobalado/Balado.aspx

Many thanks, this is great!

Really worth reading:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/a-letter-to-the-uk-from-italy-this-is-what-we-know-about-your-future

Thank you for this.

The author expresses much of what I feel.

R.

If you want to take a break and join a video chat with other expats in the area, we set up an open ended zoom video conference. You can join anytime and there has been a constant flow of interesting people joining.

Just click on the link below:

"Zoom coffee break"

For me getting in a bit of exercise has been key...not least because I'm eating like a bloody horse during this thing!  

My trainer has been doing free online half hour trainings on facebook.  They are not based on having any fitness equipment so you can do them anywhere.  He does the workout live on his facebook page- Ivel Yordanov. They are also recorded there afterwards so you can follow them later.

But I think even just getting out for a run helps.

Good luck to everyone and let's remember to look out for each other!

@Ray - Gosh yes, and me too (together with all or most of us,I would imagine...........).

Not a big Jamie Oliver fan but this was pretty good....

Still baabarbie....

Me before ( right) and after (left) Corona above 

I REALLY miss my gym. Especially its cardio work-outs. Have taken to jogging in the parks instead and like a lot of others, but jogging has never been my thing, really ( it's boring, monotonous and painful, if you ask me. Not that you did.........). Also, don't even have proper running shoes, so that certainly doesn't help eiher.  -  if anyone's got a spare pair to sell to me let me know. I'm size 36.  

Yesterday was the start of the fight back :) Will be following another recorded online workout later :)

VN sweetie - You mustn't eat tuna. They're our friends, on the verge of going extinct from our over-fishing and could also and accidentally be a dolphin:

https://www.peta.org/living/food/top-10-reasons-eat-tuna/

Ok and great and will you share the link once online ? Thanks ! 

If you dislike running try a circuit workout.  I gave the name of my trainer in an earlier post and his FB page has plenty of 30 minute circuits you can follow.

I do a combination of walking and running. My neighbourhood has some good walking spaces without the rest of Geneva being there....two hour walk helps clear the mind specially with the sunshine on your face ....

My trainer has all of the videos on his facebook page.  Check Ivel Yordanov on FB.  I am also doing one session with him a week, respecting social distancing guidelines etc.

Kudos if you mange to do that for two hours.  Can never manage to put that much time aside, but great discipline on your part.

Kudos if you mange to do that for two hours.  Can never manage to put that much time aside, but great discipline on your part.

I do a combination of working and working, then also some working. Remotely, but that is just as good. I like it and I guess old "analogue" life in the office will never be the same again. Happily, my employer is still operating and we had luck to be prepared.   

For some balance, biking is good, did 30 kms today and found a pasture full of cows just near the airport, that's amazing. Tried to fed them with a handful of grass, but they must have been aware of coronavirus and kept safe distance ^^. 

I think that learning in general is good - maybe a new language? Or how to read financial statements of listed companies? May come in handy, after we crash next 60 % down on the stock market. 

Sorry, but could you please explain "a combination of wowrking and working, then  also some working"?

Thanks, R.

I think everyone but you understood it. But thank you for your uselful contribution to this thread...

Ahhh, if only we could go back to the hapiness of normality...

So unfair to post a photo of Gemma Collins next to Barbie!!