To ask you to tell me things you've achieved in lockdown?

[bananachocolatepancake]

Hopefully a bit of an uplifting thread where we can focus on the positives among the many negatives.

I've managed to learn how to do a handstand! I've never in my life been able to do one, even as a child but I can now after many many fails.

Anyone else managed to achieve anything? Small or big

I’m working full time but in the extra free time from not having a social life I have decorated my kitchen and bathroom!

Had the house 3 years since moving out of my parents and they always told me I’d be useless at DIY and to wait for Dad to have time to help! Well he never did and I do, so I cracked on over the last few weekends! Even managed a lovely new shelf and mirror in the bathroom.

Also finally improved my baking techniques and conquered bread and pastry properly after getting sub par results for years! Thank you Paul Hollywood!

I’ve been working so not really had the lockdown experience. However my boss has given me three weeks furlough and brought someone else back in my place so in these three weeks I hope to redecorate the bathroom and get my house and garden tidy after a couple months of my children being home and clutter everywhere!

I am pretty sure Joe Wick is now responsible for few million people in UK being able to touch their toes again😂

So impressed with all these, I haven’t really done much, started off with lots of enthusiasm for on line work outs and daily walks, mostly keeping to that but due to all the excess eating and drinking have put on weight (& I was overweight to start with ). This thread has motivated me to get back on low carb which has worked well - when I stick to it.

I have kept up with my volunteering work with rough sleepers but too much of my time has been spent doing very little ....No excuse as I am not working * and no children to home school.

• I run a charity shop and am giving a lot of thought as to how to deal with the all the donations when we re-open .

Went from burning toast to becoming quite the aficionado of baked goods! However because of that I've managed to regain all the weight I lost late last year - hurrah

Mid-way through the first draft of a novel.

Trawled the S&B boards to see how I could make myself presentable again after reeeeeeally letting myself go after DD2. Purchased and actually USED various beautifying goods. Footner was gross but fantastic! On my third go of the lumea so hoping to be smooth as a baby by the end of summer.

Other than that I've been pretty rubbish and my DC have watched an insane amount of screen time.

Have been practising my French using Michel Thomas technique ( for speaking) and listening to French podcasts ( for listening).

Walk six to eight miles five days a week- walking is underrated as a form of exercise.
Insanity exercise - three times a week
Callanetics- twice a week
Cleaned drawers and cupboards
Cleaned all my inside windows
Haven’t managed to read as many books as I planned , which is strange because I love reading.

I also spend some time doing absolutely nothing.

Halved the costs of various insurance policies, re-organised the cupboard under the stairs, fallen out with my mother, given myself two different hair cuts (one one either side of my head). It's been ace!

I’ve passed two exams, exercised most days, read a book for my book club, got food organised so I only need to shop once a week, learned to cut my own hair, learned to give dh a grade 1 all over.
I’m now aiming to up my reading and lose a few lbs. I gained a few, have now lost them but need to lose more.

Nothing really. Just trying to keep on top of entertaining children, housework, cooking, home schooling etc and finding a little bit of time to do something for myself. Maybe I need to get my arse in gear.

I've cleaned the junk out of the summerhouse that has been there since we moved in 4 years ago. I've turned the junk wood that's been behind the garage all this time into an obstacle course for the children. I've invented a delicious new cake. I've started walking again and explored miles of rabbit tracks in the forest next to my house. And I've started learning Swedish again.

Natsku - what is this cake you speak of?!

I have lost weight through sheer stress, constructed a bed, fixed a blind, decorated furniture with contact paper and started some online courses.

But actually it's been really difficult with wfh, DH still going to work and an 18 month old and my mental health has significantly deteriorated. Good to see that I have done something other than survive, though not much.

Wowsers! I feel so inadequate now!

However I did buy a label maker & sort some kitchen cupboards. Also been tending to seedlings & garden & for last 2 weeks been trying to do my 10k steps (which is really hard), and eat healthier. I have at least 4 stone to lose & its very slow. Need to find some online workouts that aren't too awful

Also made bagels with dc for the first time and they were amazing. Can't make them again until my birthday or will eat them all!

Snorkelface An applesauce and marzipan loaf cake with almond toffee topping. Its fucking lush.

Set up a new business.
Not a clue whether it’ll make any money, but it’s more of a ‘side’ business, on top of my normal job (but relayed, same industry)
I’ve been wanting to set it up for ages, and finally had the time to do so.

@Natsku
I think I for one, need the exact details

RickOShay
Hah :D Well start off making banana bread but instead of bananas use applesauce, and also grate a load of marzipan into it, and chuck some small chunks of marizpan on the top for good measure (they will sink to the bottom and be delicious), cook for almost as long as it takes banana bread to cook. Meanwhile boil up butter, cream, sugar and almonds for a couple of minutes. Take cake out of oven, pour the almond toffee mixture on top (make sure you put the loaf pan on a baking tray to catch the toffee that spills over) and stick back into the oven for 10 minutes or so.

That's about as accurate as I can be with my recipes

Done a CIPD course, a postgraduate module on leadership, and about to start an online journalism course.

I do need to get motivated regarding the diet and exercise though. So maybe walk the dog a bit further.

Absolutely nothing as I've been working from home since the lockdown and have doubled my workload due to staff being furloughed

Natsku - that sounds AMAAAAAAZING! Do more!

Sorry - but you lost me at marzipan. 🤢 I always put chopped apples in my banana cake - mmmm.

I run 5k a day.
Completed my Master’s degree.

Have been working from home the whole time so not done a lot.

We decorated our bedroom and bathroom just before the lock down, just need the motivation to finish the glossing, but will make a start on DD's room, the house is tidier, i iron on my lunch break so my Sunday night ritual of spending a couple of hours doing all the ironing has vanished.

I was walking to try and lose weight but it has stalled, will start it up again before DD goes back to school. I want to lose 2 stone that i lost last year and have put back on.

Just depressing sitting in the dining room working and looking at how bad it is as it need decorating, its not time that is the issue but money. I am going to buy paint next pay day and make a start.

Lordfrontpaw Marzipan is amazing stuff. There is something clearly wrong with you.

Marzipan is the devils work, it really is. Although I did have homemade on my wedding cake and that was nice.