Spring is here!

This IS a Spring Chicken!

As most of you know, I’m no Spring chicken – and that may be the understatement of the year – but I’ve never experienced anything like the present health crisis. It’s a scary time for those of us who may have friends and family with compromised health issues.

I’ve never gone into one of my local shops to find the shelves bare.

I’ve never had to think before I hugged a friend, shook hands with a stranger who might become a friend, or put out a hand to help someone in need.

It’s a scary new world at the moment, and people are genuinely frightened. However, now is the time for us to step up and show our best sides to the world.

Take a mental run through your ‘friends’ list – who there could be self-isolating? Could they do with some fresh bread, a bunch of daffodils, or some nice home-baking to cheer their day?

My basic scone recipe makes about 12 scones – share the love!

Do they need someone to run to the Chemist for them – and what about Wine and Chocolate? All of these might be considered essential to the vulnerable amongst us..

An hour doing a little batch-cooking means that you could feed, if not exactly the 5 thousand, then a handful of those in your community who have to distance themselves from the chance of infection. My easy Soda bread, Tea brack and Tiffin tray-bakes would be a real treat for your social- distancing friends and family.

Just be sure that you’ve check allergy status before you hand over your goodies!

The links for recipes mentioned here are at the bottom of this post..

You don’t actually have to be in someone’s space to show friendship or love – Put your goodies on the doorstep – ring the bell, and step well back. You can talk from a distance you know! Remember also that mobile phones were originally used to actually call people Call a house-bound friend for a chat!

My ginger cake could brighten several people’s day! Just ice it, and cut it into 4!

If you’re baking or cooking to give away, be extra careful with hygiene in the kitchen – clean all surfaces regularly, and ensure that your hands are spotlessly clean when wrapping your goodies – that’s the problem with viruses – they stick to surfaces. I’d recommend that you suggest to your friends that they transfer your goodies to their own containers as soon as possible, and then wash their hands thoroughly.

A carefully-wrapped Tea Brack..

Let’s resolve to make the best of this crisis – only by working together will we get over it. Look after your friends and family, especially now, when they need you most.

Stay well – get some fresh air if you can.

If it’s safe for you to do so, please try to support your local businesses – they must be horribly worried too. Many of them have increased the spaces between their tables to encourage people to come in. I was impressed yesterday to see staff in my local café wiping the door handles several times during my visit – it reassures the public to see businesses taking a proactive approach.