Quarantine pastimes/diversions?

_redbird_ · 09-09-20 05:52:25

Melbourne is in its fifth week of stage 4 restrictions and while for the most part I'm okay with not being able to leave the house for more than an hour (other than going to the shops and walking my dog, I rarely go out anyway) but in recent weeks I've found myself actively seeking a diversion from the grim reality that is the current state of the world.

It's the beginning of spring here and seeing little sproutlings and buds appearing everywhere has inspired me to get into the garden on the weekend. Weeding, transplanting, pruning, staking and watering has made me feel significantly better. I bring some flowers inside and the smell of jasmine fills my cute little kitchen. My knees and thighs hurt like the dickens afterwards but it's a satisfying pain. When I shower the hot water burns my thistle stings and scratches but it feels good, as if I earned this lovely wash. I look forward to a time when I can go out and buy some more flowers and herbs to add to my small but cute garden.

I've also played some video games on my partner's new PS4 that I've been meaning to play for ages. Until Dawn was stressful, amazing fun. Being responsible for the lives of several characters and seeing the mystery slowly unfold was so morbidly enjoyable, however I did accidentally predict two major plot points in the game so I kind of spoiled it for myself in a way, but as my predictions weren't revealed until quite far into the story it was still intriguing and fun to play. I'm also slowly getting through Red Dead Redemption 2 and I love the routine of brushing my horse, having a booby bath, going to see a vaudeville show in St. Denis and then doing little side missions while also picking every damn herb I can find. I still play Animal Crossing New Horizons every day but my enthusiasm for it has dulled some. Were it not for the fact that I really love my current line up of townspeople and some of the really cool things I've obtained since I started in May, I would probably start a new save, as being so wealthy and established is sort of boring now. I've also been torturing myself with Fall Guys. Such fun, horrible, exciting, frustrating online horrendousness/joy.

I really miss seeing my Mum semi-regularly and not being able to have friends over that live quite near fucking suuuucks but it's also nice to have this time to do things to distract from the real life horror that is our current reality.

What have you all been doing to pass the time/divert your attention during quarantine? Are you desperate for it to be over so you can get out more or are you okay with all this time at home?

Sadoraan123 · 09-09-20 10:25:28

Well i'm in Perth, so life is kind of back to normal for me (Thanks Mark McGowan, no thanks Clive Palmer). But when I was on lockdown, I took it as a chance to do things that i've been wanting to do but not really able to justify the time for.
Played a lot of games, much like you . Red Dead was on my list as well, so i sunk a lot of hours into that.
I've also really been meaning to do some online learning, so i signed up for thegreatcoursesplus.com and started on there. I've always been really interested in history and mythology, so I started listening to a bunch of lecture series on Great Courses about the crusades, and about mythologies from different cultures throughout history and stuff like that. It was so interesting and i've got all this amazing useless knowledge that I can tell people now, which makes me happy .
It was really nice to get the time to do something that i'd otherwise not see as being worth it.

Aside from that, set up a home gym in my patio, in the hope that I wouldn't lose too much fitness during the lockdown (didn't succeed, but that's ok).

Overall I think I got lucky, i'm very happy with my own company a lot of the time, so I don't get bored easily. That said, it was nice to get back out into the world again.

viva · 10-09-20 02:30:39

aww this is a nice thread! I love hearing about your garden and kitchen and thistle feelings, redbird. you write beautifully.

I have gotten on the sourdough train and enjoy nursing my starter, which I got from my sister-in-law. I like making crumpets (honey and warm butter...)and crackers (za'tar and olive oil) with the discard, and good old crunchy airy loaves from time to time. We also do kombucha though seem to basically just make a lot of vinegar.

I also really like my plants, though mine are indoors as I haven't quite wrapped my head around how to do a balcony garden. That may be a summer project.

I like playing my ring fit adventure... keeps me a bit active. Thought I'm not really feeling well at the moment so I've kind of fallen behind. I go on walks with my man, in the evenings we watch shows (DS9 eternally, and blips of other little shows to break it up, right now we are watching Away), we also be creative, he writes and I mess around with my sketches and watercolours, or sometimes I play my guitar.

We have some social things too which keep my heart afloat. On Wednesday's he DM's for our zoom/roll20 DnD group, we started just before covid and I'm so glad. Our crew is bonding more and more through our pretend play adventure and getting better at roleplaying too. My character is a blunt intimidating sexy demon girl who has very little inclination to be nice socially and a lot of power so it's cathartic to play her in a time when I'm generally feeling quite powerless.

On Monday we get together with a different group and do like creativity exercises and book club. We did all of The Artists Way and now we're reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert... I try to do an artist date every week, spend some time doing something that inspires me. It's not always easy, especially as lockdown drags on and the walls feel like they're closing in................

I'm glad on some level we are having such a strict lockdown and heeding our scientists but it's so hard to realise that we won't truly get to get together with friends, go camping, or go see my sister-in-law's baby until late October. She's growing up so fast.

And then of course my best friend in the USA is also pregnant, and there will be weddings next year, and i haven't seen my family for over 2 years at this point and who knows when? So that's a kind of constant low level agony that has been so difficult to cope with.

Sorry to be a bit down its a hard time rn. At least the sun is shining and stays shining past 5:30 so I can enjoy it on my balcony with a glass of wine after work...

privignus · 12-09-20 11:32:42

I started some embroidery! And lots of cooking.

I have been really busy writing a book and dealing with some mental health problems, I will be leaving the country I am resident in soon because I have been too sick in my head to get a job and I need a job to extend my residence.

I checked out twitter, lots of people seem to have moved there but they seem unhappy and it gives me a headache. Too much stuff mixed together, long posts get turned into threads which fill things up, too much angry political clickbait.

Last edited by privignus (12-09-20 11:34:36)

kypris · 13-09-20 22:53:05

All this fear, hysteria and panic-mongering, fueled by the media and politics, misses my ass. I live normally without any restrictions, I go hiking a lot in the forests and mountains. A healthy diet, lots of fresh air and exercise in beautiful nature strengthens the immune system and creates a happy psyche.

At the end of March this corona flu wave flattened and only then did the governments start terribly stupid panic-filled restrictions (lockdowns). This government dictatorship is based on an emergency pandemic law. There is no pandemic as claimed by the private organization WHO. A COVID-19 flu wave is no more dangerous than normal annual flu waves, and even less dangerous than the 2017/18 flu wave.

The blatant violation of the democratic fundamental rights of freedom and democracy of the governments makes me extremely angry, which is why I take part in demonstrations. The community with thousands of people who have the same view as me helps me to relieve my anger a little.
Don't believe every shit that is told to you in newspapers, radio and television. Please listen to really competent scientists such as Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, Standford University USA Prof. John P. A. Ioannidis and similar experts and, above all, please think for yourself!

Only people with previous illnesses (cardiovascular disease, diabetics, nicotine, alcohol and drug addicts, cancer, obesity, etc.) need to be more careful, just like with any normal flu. People over 85 years old die a little more often than young people, death is part of life.

Piper_A · 15-09-20 06:50:41

In quarantine I have been spending time doing a whole lotta not much to be honest!
On the bright side, life feels like it has slowed down a lot, so I don't find myself as anxious as I got 6 months ago when life felt so much more fast paced. There are small things i've been doing that fill little pockets of time - not necessarily new hobbies but things that I rushed through or disregarded before lockdown because they felt like a chore. Stuff like taking the time to keep my house super clean, tending to my indoor and outdoor plant babies, giving them lots of care. I've never been a huge reader but i've read a few books during this quiet time, and i've definitely had more energy to put towards making nice, exciting, interesting meals for me and my fiance, rather than just what's easy to make at the end of the day when i'm tired.
I've been going on a lot more walks too, and really appreciating the beginnings of Spring - I loved seeing the wattle come out, that's always my favourite time of year!
Having said all of that, I am really dying to get outside more. Especially now that the days are getting longer and there's still sunlight at the end of my work day, I just want to get out in the sun. I want to lay on the grass and swim in the ocean and go on long drives with the windows down. Hopefully it's only a matter of time now. But despite all the things I miss, staying inside is worthwhile knowing that i'm doing the right thing by everyone else.
Can't wait to see your face IRL again Redbird and Viva, let's hug it out for 15mins straight when we're free again!

viva · 15-09-20 08:24:26

So ready for those hugs. What have you read during lockdown?

_redbird_ · 15-09-20 09:11:26

Umm yes please Piper!! And remember that you promised to hug me until I pass out, so I'm going to hold you to that.

Sadoraan, how great of a time eater is Cowboy Bath Simulator!? Last night I spent a silly amount of time just riding around looking for herbs (most of which I had already maxed out in my inventory anyway). It's cool to hear how many people are taking this time to learn and do things they always wanted to. History and Myths have always been super interesting to me too, and now you have all this extra knowledge that (like you said) you probably wouldn't have pursued otherwise. Very cool. I should probably do something similar, even if it's just trying to read one of my very dry and scientific paleontology books or something.

Viva your creations are always so beautiful! I can almost taste how delicious they are just by the photos. I love that you have a D&D zoom group too, I imagine it's maybe even easier to get into it via video than in the real world? Even when playing with my really close friends I always feel a tad self-conscious about the roleplay aspect. Sorry things are rough currently. It's been a rollercoaster for sure. Melbourne was so close to getting back to something like normal. The numbers have been encouraging though, and other than a few morons, people have been pretty good for the most part. Enjoy that end of day wine darling one, you've more than earned it.

Priv, I'm so so sorry to hear you've had some problems in the ol' headbrain. It's sounds like you're doing as much as you can though, and now more than ever people need to be extra kind to themselves. Do you use reddit? You can pick and choose what you follow, so maybe ditch twitter and give it a go? It's still occasionally a cesspool of course (as is the nature of the internet itself) but there's also some really lovely things on there too. When I feel overwhelmed lately I like to make pretty pictures on https://29a.ch/sandbox/2011/neonflames/. It sounds a bit silly but it's really soothing. I really want to try embroidery too! My Mum taught me a bit when I was a teen but I want to re-learn her techniques, as I was pretty rubbish from memory. I hope your book is going well and helps you deal with all the stuff and make it less awful.

Piper, I feeeeeel you gal! I hate the sun but there's something so lovely about late winter/early spring sun that is so gorgeous. I wish I lived somewhere that was closer to more blossoming trees and the like (or that I could visit my family in the country) but the little bloomins popping up are so stunning. Your plant bebbies are gorgeous too! TBH I don't really miss going out or anything but one thing I DO really miss is having drinks with you and the other angelheads after work. I suspect we'll probably all give ourselves alcohol poisoning the first couple of times we catch up for bevvos post-quarantine.

kypris · 27-09-20 13:06:39

I read this today:
"Unauthorized gatherings in the open or in closed rooms are to be punished in the future with the equivalent of around 5000 AUD.
It is true that 130,000 people can now go back to their jobs. For sporting activities, however, the residents are still only allowed to move for two hours a day and within a five-kilometer radius of their home. The curfew was in effect from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and was in effect since August 2nd. A return to complete freedom of movement is not conceivable until October 19 at the earliest.
Daniel Andrews "

What a horror in Victoria !!!
New to me, I didn't know Australia was gripped so hard by this irrational panic. Must be horrible to live in this state. I always thought that life was freer in Australia. But that seems to be even worse than in the old Soviet Union times in Russia. Poor Melbourne people, I feel sorry for you.

richard · 27-09-20 13:41:37

kypris wrote:

I read this today:
"Unauthorized gatherings in the open or in closed rooms are to be punished in the future with the equivalent of around 5000 AUD.
It is true that 130,000 people can now go back to their jobs. For sporting activities, however, the residents are still only allowed to move for two hours a day and within a five-kilometer radius of their home. The curfew was in effect from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and was in effect since August 2nd. A return to complete freedom of movement is not conceivable until October 19 at the earliest.
Daniel Andrews "
What a horror in Victoria !!!
New to me, I didn't know Australia was gripped so hard by this irrational panic. Must be horrible to live in this state. I always thought that life was freer in Australia. But that seems to be even worse than in the old Soviet Union times in Russia. Poor Melbourne people, I feel sorry for you.

We're fine thanks - we aren't dying.

viva · 28-09-20 01:54:48

nice pics kypris! I love hiking and camping too! no mountains quite that epic in our part of Australia though... unless I'm missing something?

I've missed mountains like that for years since I grew up in Colorado. Ah! Mountains are so magical.

kypris · 28-09-20 08:48:36

Oh, you grew up in a very beautiful area. The Colorado Rocky Mountains are wonderful. But Australia also has a lot of beautiful nature. Do not get locked up in quarantine but go out into the fresh air in nature. Not the virus, which has long proven to be no more dangerous than a normal flu virus, but the totally exaggerated, disproportionate measures against it. They cause many more diseases and deaths.
Defend yourself against this panic madness!

smoothed · 28-09-20 15:56:50

kypris wrote:

the virus, which has long proven to be no more dangerous than a normal flu virus, but the totally exaggerated, disproportionate measures against it. They cause many more diseases and deaths.
Defend yourself against this panic madness!

not to hijack this thread, but you are making claims about the virus which do not actually stand up to scientific scrutiny.

Last edited by smoothed (29-09-20 06:01:49)

kypris · 28-09-20 19:04:09

smoothed wrote:

kypris wrote:
the virus, which has long proven to be no more dangerous than a normal flu virus, but the totally exaggerated, disproportionate measures against it. They cause many more diseases and deaths.
Defend yourself against this panic madness!
not to hijack this thread, but you are making claims about the virus do not actually stand up to scientific scrutiny.

I do not understand. What do you mean by that? ... "do not actually stand up to scientific scrutiny."

richard · 29-09-20 00:25:32

Kypris it is far more contagious and has a 4% morbidity rate. Much higher than seasonal flu. 200K dead in the USA for example - would you claim that's how many die each flu season? Consider also it would be more like 500K if they hadn't taken measures - masks and lockdown. Epidemiologists are scientists, they're objective, peer reviewed, and don't get involved in hysteria. They all agree.

viva · 29-09-20 01:06:00

It's really not advised that we do this here, my friends. Take it to twitter. Better to talk about the mountains, our hobbies, and our secret wank spots.

Kypris, I have been patient with you, I have heavily implied that this forum is not the place to discuss covid hoax theories. I'm disappointed that you responded to my open invitation to relax and stop pushing your point by pushing your point all the harder. A pity, we could have talked about mountains.

So I will be clear. Please stop mentioning your opinions about covid on this forum. It is not the place for them. We have gone through this debate once with you already on another thread, and it's time for you to stop. We are simply not interested.

Thanks for your understanding.

richard · 29-09-20 01:16:55

But I want to know if he's also a moon landing conspiracist!

smoothed · 29-09-20 01:22:32

to bring this back on track:

Viva, have you have played ring fit adventure in the nude? i have, and it created a wet puddle on my floor which i had to clean up.

viva · 29-09-20 02:00:39

@richard I will allow moon landing debate discussions on a separate thread but all participants must also post pictures of their bare arses. sorry I don't make the rules.

@smoothed - omg no I haven't! my boobs would probably choke me if I tried that. though I do play in my undies because the thigh strap works so much better on bare skin. I'm sorry but doesn't it hurt your balls to jog nude? If it doesn't my grecian olympics fantasies are about to get a serious upgrade.

_redbird_ · 29-09-20 03:42:55

viva wrote:

nice pics kypris! I love hiking and camping too! no mountains quite that epic in our part of Australia though... unless I'm missing something?
I've missed mountains like that for years since I grew up in Colorado. Ah! Mountains are so magical.

I thought that Victoria had mountains until I went to NZ and was immediately proven wrong. Our "mountains" are rather dismal indeed. What we lack in mountains we make up for in poisonous animals though.

_redbird_ · 29-09-20 03:45:45

Playing Ringfit while nude hurts my boobs just thinking about it. Oof.

viva · 29-09-20 04:00:52

I know, I want to go to New Zealand so bad. But actually next time I get to travel internationally I'm going straight to my own mountains!! I miss them so much, it's been ages. My dad has a few acres way far up out of town, with fluffy pygmy angora goats, lots of chickens and two huge white great pyrenees in addition to all the wild animals around. when I'm there I love to wake up early and take the two dogs on a huge walk up into the national forest backing his land .. it's amazing, the thick brush, the fields of wildflowers in summer, thick snow in the winter, fallen trees, the immediacy of wide open vistas.

smoothed · 29-09-20 06:01:09

viva wrote:

@smoothed - omg no I haven't! my boobs would probably choke me if I tried that. though I do play in my undies because the thigh strap works so much better on bare skin. I'm sorry but doesn't it hurt your balls to jog nude? If it doesn't my grecian olympics fantasies are about to get a serious upgrade.

haha tbh i've not jogged nude - i do a lot of leg and core stuff! might try it out and hopefully make good on your fantasy upgrade

and exercise really gets the endorphines going, so there have been multiple occasions where a workout ends with a rather achey but concerted pash-out.

Last edited by smoothed (29-09-20 06:02:50)

kypris · 29-09-20 10:44:26

Thanks for the hint Viva, you are right. There are topics where I get angry quickly and then I get into something that doesn't fit into this forum. Sorry please.

viva · 01-10-20 01:04:46

thanks lovely! all good <3 I always love to read your thoughtful observations and appreciation of videos here so I'm glad you'll stay!

@smoothed how do you play ringfit without jogging?

#1 09-09-20 05:52:25

Quarantine pastimes/diversions?

#2 09-09-20 10:25:28

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#3 10-09-20 02:30:39

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#4 12-09-20 11:32:42

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#5 13-09-20 22:53:05

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#6 15-09-20 06:50:41

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#7 15-09-20 08:24:26

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