Feature
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Making the most of now – your new lockdown hobby
The pandemic has forced us to look at life in new ways. With lockdown restrictions curtailing socialising and making some past-times impossible to enjoy as we once did, many people have been picking up new hobbies or learning new skills to make the most of living through these strange times. Carol Scholfield
Carol Scholfield, Chief Dental Technician, and Anna Edgren-Davies, Senior HR Manager – wild swimming: Carol: “A life-changing accident and, further to this, a life-altering illness has meant that for many years I have struggled to find an activity I could do that wouldn’t leave me gasping for air. Sarcoidosis has meant I’ve been unable to walk far or use equipment safely. It wasn’t until earlier last year when a lovely friend of mine - who shares my diagnosis – encouraged me to join her in her new hobby of wild swimming. “I have always loved water, and so one afternoon in May I visited my friend at her canal boat near Manchester and we dipped into the river alongside the canal. I was absolutely hooked from there. I could swim, I didn’t need any aids or assistance, and I felt empowered as I hadn’t done for the past five years. It was thrilling, and the fear of the cold water made it even more so - but all we did was laugh and squeal like kids. “My family have been so supportive. We came up with a rule not to go alone, so
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I’ve been going to to a local lake through the summer with my son and his lovely girlfriend. We stopped as the weather got colder but on Christmas Eve my son announced we were going to the lake the following morning. There was sparkling ice and bright sunshine. We broke the ice all the way down to the lake and, once in the water, lasted about five minutes. We couldn’t have been colder, but the feeling of elation lasted throughout the whole of Christmas Day, which we spent in the garden, with a full Christmas dinner in a tinsel-clad gazebo with log fires going around us and had the merriest Christmas possibly ever. “I realise I am luckier than most but my time at home has made me realise the value of having a workplace to go to. For many of us, our boundaries between work and home have been eroded with workspace taking over our living space so that there’s no way to ignore it. It has been so important to me to have something far removed from work and home when our world has shrunk so much. Wild swimming and the possibilities it opens up all over the country, when we’re allowed to travel, gives me some hope. “We’re looking at running some wild swimming starter sessions for staff who are interested in testing this hobby out. If you would like to register your interest please email anna.edgren-davies@nhs. net and when local restrictions permit we will arrange a session.”
Kate Davies, Patient Admin at Wharfedale Hospital – homegrown food: “We were fortunate to have amazing weather during the first lockdown, this brought out the inner gardener in me. It’s always been there but with the added tension from the pandemic gardening helped me to de-stress and take time out on my days off. The kids got involved so it meant we were outside more and enjoying the simple things in life. We managed to grow a variety of things: courgettes, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, raspberries (these were gobbled up in seconds), tomatoes, peppers and peas. “My gardening skills and knowledge have grown, it’s been lovely speaking to older members of the family to get hints and tips. There’s nothing more satisfying then when you get a basket full of produce to have for a meal. I’m already planning what to grow this year!”
Janette Gibson Administration Manager, Organisational Learning – crocheting: “I picked up crocheting again and found I love making blankets. I first learnt when
