Dear LPG,

I read what AF had to say about getting motivated after a year when we have all had little choice about the locations we have been able to visit (►►►). I have to say that I fear that when the cage doors are open again it is going to take some time before I am ready to be up and out there again on a regular base.  It is interesting when we realised just how quickly we members of the human race can adapt to situations that appear abhorrent at first.

I think the pandemic will be remembered for many negative things, but it did leave so many of us with one really big positive and that was time.  I think that usually, most people only ever have that much time at their disposal when they first retire from work but they usually have the added advantage that they can come and go.

I agree with all that AF’s message offered, but he forgot to mention two of the most basic motivators. Having someone to either work with or against in whatever we are trying to do is a fundamental incentive component when it comes to keeping focussed.

So I suggest that while we continue to be locked down, finding something that both you and a telephone-friend can do can be very rewarding and give both of you something new to talk about during those phone calls that are our only way of communicating, and if you have mastered the art of video-conference calling, it is a case of the more the merrier.

Comparing notes while, during and after two or more telephone-friends attempt the same task is a really good way to make sure that you really get a project off the ground.  I and friends have each prepared the same meal and compared the taste and look of it with some hilarious results.  Even though we don’t all have the advantage of being able to video call each other, some of the description s of our results have really given us a lot of fun and we ladies have also tried writing and sharing short stories, getting the knitting needles out and comparing pictures of some of our oddest items of clothing.   We ladies have devised things that will amuse us but having a go at cooking something unusual would be just as much fun for the gentlemen among us while I am sure that there is a DIY project which would result in equally varied and amusing consequences.

During my time at home I and a few telephone-friends have also attempted to make a cushion each with some of the funniest outcomes, and we recently took on the challenge of writing a little story based on something naughty we did as children. Then we spent some time sharing the stories and working out which of us was the naughtiest child back in the day.  

For those of us that can video-call it is really lots of fun but even talking on the phone about what we have achieved (or not) can be hilarious, while my friends and I will have so much to talk about, see and compare all over again when staying at home is no longer mandatory.

LF, Croydon

LPG has found some online project ideas to get both the ladies and gentleman started…

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…and we also found some remote games that can be played over the phone or during a video call…

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