To help you cope, stay positive, keep your spirits high, stave off boredom and most importantly make you feel a little bit better about life during the current pandemic, we have put together some ideas
MAKE BREAD
The Mole in Toot Baldon has an easy bread recipe that anyone can master in their own kitchen – and cooking is a great pandemic stress reliever too! Read the recipe here and post your results on Instagram – don’t forget to tag us @oxinabox_new
GARDENING
Go outside, get your hands dirty, plant some seeds, dig weeds and get inspired by your outside space. Nicholsons at North Aston have some great ideas and lists of things we should all be doing in our gardens right now and how to make your outdoor spaces wildlife friendly. Have a read here. We would love to see what’s growing in your garden so share to Instagram @oxinabox_new
DRINK GIN
Gardening is thirsty work and if we ever needed a treat it’s now! Get online and order some award-winning gin from the Chalgrove Artisan Distillery where you can find some classic gin recipes. https://chalgroveartisandistillery.com
EAT ICE CREAM
Are you desperate for ice cream? Fear not – read our article about Alfonso’s Gelataria and order some to be delivered to your door.
READ
Running out of books already? Boost your self isolation reading list with a copy of Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins. Read all about it here and enter our competition to win a signed copy…coming soon so watch this space.
WRITE – Journalling is having a renaissance. Enjoy Sarah Edwards The Life Edit, that walks you through an eight-step journaling programme to help you make changes in 21 days. Spend a few minutes a day writing about how the pandemic has impacted you and positive ideas for plans and changes when it is all over. All you need is a notebook and a pen to get started. Read more here
SPA COMP
Are you in need of a decent night’s sleep? Read all about ila Spa in Kiddington and order their luscious products online. We are giving away three The Big Sleep sets worth £65 each in our great competition. You can enter here
VIRTUAL CONCERTS AND SELF ISOLATION CHOIR
If you need your fix of the arts, then you can enjoy classical concerts from the comfort of your own home and take part in the Self Isolation choir: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/join-the-self-isolation-choir-or-enjoy-virtual-easter-musical-treats-from-oxford-bach-soloists-osj-garsington-opera-and-the-oxford-philharmonic/
BECOME A PLAYWRIGHT!
Join The Oxford Playhouse’s Community Playmaker project. Put pen to paper and channel Alan Bennett. Your efforts will be published on the OP website: Read all about it here
EAT WELL AND SHOP LOCAL
There is no excuse for not eating well if you live in Oxfordshire as our alternative Takeaway Directory proves! Check out what’s available and make a plan for the week with vegetable and grocery box deliveries and take out options from some of our finest eateries while supporting local businesses. And make sure you order from your local farm shops here http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/400-orders-in-less-than-a-week-how-rectory-farm-in-stanton-st-john-can-scarcely-keep-up-with-demand/
SKY GAZE, grab a blanket and a glass of something, and sit in the garden to watch the night skies. They have been incredible recently because there is almost no air traffic, noise and less pollution. So make like Brian Cox and immerse yourself in the constellations. Check out The Sky At Night on BBC Four https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mk7h for info about how to get started with star gazing and what we should be looking out for at this time of year.
