Issue 3 | 17 April 2020

Do you have something positive

to share?We’re a free weekly newsletter that focuses on the positive things and

support available to help us all get through this challenging new time! If you have a positive story to share, send them to us via our

Facebook page @upshotmk, email editor@upshotmk.co.uk

or text/WhatsApp them to 07515 357228.

This PDF file is free to download from a number of places, but if

you have a vulnerable neighbour that isn’t so technical maybe you can print a copy out and

post it through their letterbox?

Positive stories in challenging

times

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Brought to you through:

Gym pumps up positive vibes for Willen Hospice!

This week énergie Fitness Kiln Farm has been recruiting its amazing community of members to raise money for Willen Hospice! We have taken our entire presence online during this lockdown period and launched a virtual “48 hour relay run”, due to take place from 17th to 19th April.

Gym members and others are able to book a 20, 40 or 60 minute running slot on the Willen Hospice website, along with a sponsorship page to help raise some much needed funds. Our virtual baton will be passed along within a live Zoom feed from each runner at every stage, so that we can support them and be with them every step of the way!

The idea was inspired by one of our members who had seen that an Italian man had run a marathon on his balcony! If he can do that, then we can go one step better! Anyone of any ability and in any circumstance can join in with this event from the comfort of their home, garden or garage!

bit.ly/energie-fitness-willen-hospice

One of énergie Fitness’ amazing members, Paola Collins, supplied nearly 100 Easter eggs to Willen Hospice! So many eggs that the team needed to deploy its van to deliver them to staff and residents. Paola said “I know this is a tough time for many but hope this can bring a smile to some peoples’ faces!”

Anyone of any ability and in any circumstance can

join in with this event

By Claire Banbury, énergie Fitness

Let’s face it, with all the possibilities that going online has to offer, some people are feeling busier than ever! Here are some online activities you can indulge in this week!

National Theatre Performance Each Thursday at 7pm a different performance from the NT LIVE series will be available to view for one week for FREE from: https://bit.ly/discover-theatre

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Musicals Every Friday at 7pm on this YouTube channel there will be a full musical performance of one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals. https://bit.ly/alw-musicals

If you have an event to go in next week’s diary, message us on our Facebook page or email us via editor@upshotmk.co.uk by next Tuesday to be included.

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In these challenging times, finding ways to keep active is vital for our health. Milton Keynes Gymnastics usually has hundreds of visitors every week but despite the lockdown we’ve been able to find ways to keep everyone active - from our world champions to the tiny pre schoolers. In the weeks leading up to the lockdown the coaches created home workout routines and skill practice for all its members.

Many of the elite athletes have set training programmes that they complete every day at home,

not letting isolation beat them or bring them down. We’ve been delighted with the response from all our members who send us clips, keeping in touch with their coaches and their teammates and keeping us updated on their progress.

We have lots to look forward to after the lock down. We plan to have a big party and there are plans to build a brand new gymnastics centre too. Why not have a look at our plans and give us some feedback too?

SPOTLIGHT ON A LOCAL CAUSE:By Hannah Bond and Kati Simpson

VIRTUAL EVENT DIARY

MK Gymnastics

mkgymnasticsandtabletennis.consultationonline.co.uk

www.facebook.com/MiltonKeynesGymnasticsCenter

Just thought that I would update everyone on the status of my gardening efforts! My seedlings all began sprouting over the Easter weekend, with the addition of some newly planted beetroot! We have spent the last few days preparing an area to re-plant them, as they grow. I’ve also

made up three bean frames and will be using existing beds to grow them in, alongside roses and other established plants. I believe the Victorians grew vegetables in their flower borders for their beauty and foliage. I will keep you informed as the garden continues to mature.

Keep fit, stay positive

the update!Why not by Jackie Roots, updating us on her story from Issue 1!

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL

Daniel Cutting - DC Freestyle

Daniel Cutting, also known as DC Freestyle, is a world renowned Professional Football Freestyler and holds eight Guinness World Records for different football tricks and skills.

His skills have taken him all over the globe, to more than 40 countries over the last 10 years and seen him work with some of the world’s biggest brands. Dan has a large following on YouTube where he is currently busy putting out content to help kids stay active during lockdown and to teach them new skills. Dan, who lives in Milton Keynes with his wife and young son, wants to help to keep kids active and healthy in both body and mind. He states, “Keeping fit and healthy goes hand in hand with what I do, but it is also something I believe is really important both physically and mentally. I love to inspire people to follow their passions and to do what they love.”

https://bit.ly/dcfreestyle

I prefer to call the voluntary ‘lockdown’ being under ‘house arrest’ - this is effectively what it has become as She Who Must Be Obeyed does not approve of me taking a walk along the Grand Union Canal for fear of bumping into a COVID-19 carrier!

Though getting insufficient exercise, I have adapted well to my confinement and at least have a small garden to enjoy (weather permitting). Being retired and in self-isolation strangely means that I have far less time than usual to do the things I am committed to doing. How so? Well, despite the sincere and highly appreciated offers from several different people to get my wife and me anything we need, I have a strong sense of wishing to maintain our independence for as long as possible. Due to this, I have approached online shopping as something of a military exercise. At first, online shopping was tricky with queuing and site crashes. Now into the fourth week of isolation, I am finding it slightly easier to order as the system glitches are being slowly rectified - and after several hours I’ve been able to secure a delivery date in three weeks’ time. To avoid running out of supplies I’m now trying to plan a month in advance – which seems to be working!

Being housebound means that I have searched for and located suppliers still prepared to deliver to my home - even when their premises

aren’t open. Alban Hill Nurseries at Sherington were able to supply a ready constructed raised vegetable planter, a supply of compost and a selection of flowering plants. I was highly impressed when these all arrived within a week. From elsewhere, I have since ordered tomato plants and a supply of vegetable seeds. A new hobby!

Again, on a local note, I phoned an order to the Market Hill Greengrocer in Newport Pagnell - within forty minutes they had delivered a box full of fresh fruit and veg! For service, you cannot do better than that. I am delighted to see just how many small businesses are going out of their way to be innovative and helpful.

All in all, I am quite enjoying being under house arrest, but I really must find the time to get back to my proper work of writing my next book...

I am delighted to see just how many small businesses are going

out of their way to be innovative and helpful.

I am relishing being under ‘house arrest’

Bob Bluffield of FB Group “Grumpy Old Men & Women” is being as positive as he can be...

I love to inspire people to follow their passions

and to do what they love.

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Staying in TouchBy Joy Dilnot

To quote the Blues Brothers, everybody needs somebody. Below are some useful contact numbers for various mental and physical wellbeing needs:

MK Corona Virus Community Support Help with small, practical tasks. Helping hands coordinators in all areas www.mk19cv.org

Youth Information Service (YiS) Youth counselling services Messenger: https://bit.ly/ fb-message-yis

MIND Mental health support mind.org.uk

AgeUK 24 hour helpline for the elderly 0800 470 80 90

AgeUK Covid-19 Emergency Service Mon - Fri, 9am - 4pm 01908 550700

Milton Keynes Council Food Bank Xtra Mon - Fri, 10am - 4pm For people in severe debt or crisis 01908 565852

Milton Keynes Council Out-of-hours Emergency Number 01908 226699

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Useful Contacts

We are now three weeks into lockdown with all the challenges that it has brought to us. Don’t get me wrong, there have also been some highlights too. I’ve really enjoyed the extended family time and the fact that my older kids actually want to come out for a family ‘Boris walk’ as we call it. We have talked, played games, enjoyed each other’s company (most of the time) and had some ‘interesting’ meals depending on what was left in the shops! However, I have missed interacting with friends and family outside my own home and I’m sure that this is magnified more for those that live alone. What can we do to stay in touch with others during this time? Technology is an absolute Godsend and we have spent time setting up ‘Zoom’ https://zoom.us/download with the grandparents so that we can video call regularly. There are other apps that do a similar thing such as ‘Teams’, ‘Houseparty’, ‘Discord’, ‘Messenger’, ‘WhatsApp’ or ‘Facetime’. You can find helpful set-up guides on the internet. But what about those that don’t have the tech?

If you live nearby, you could always interact through the glass of a door or window. A game of noughts and crosses with whiteboard pens is possible from both sides! Sending letters or cards is always welcome. Good old snail mail! Sending ideas to each other of treasure hunts, pictures or maps of a teddy playing hide and seek or a little quiz where you have to post the answers back. Most of us can still get to a local postbox or have someone who could do that for us. This could also be the time to think about whether you could help someone who is lonely and would love a letter. Lucy Murray has set up ‘The Cheerful Little Letter Project’. Their aim is to help combat loneliness and isolation by matching children with care home residents so they can post them drawings and letters, giving children and parents a positive focus and spreading kindness. They have already matched almost 1000 residents.

You can find out more on Facebook at https://bit.ly/fb-cheerful-little-letter or give her a call on 07930 323836.Stay in touch!

Celebrating good deeds, and kindly acts - did someone do something for you this week that you’d like to say thanks for? Send your shout-outs to

our FB page or email shoutout@upshotmk.co.uk

“I just want to give a huge shout out to my newly adopted theatre family who have been an incredible support over the past few weeks. From entertaining phone calls and enthusiastic games

night participation, to chocolate/wine drop-offs and unusual side project

involvement. Just having friends keep in regular contact makes the world of difference in these isolating times. I

adore you all.” Anonymous

80

words

ET

To submit content for future editions please email editor@oneshotmk.co.uk, or via our Facebook page @upshotmk

R U P S H O T M K G G T H W TE S H U G P S H E B C M T R RT O M E A Y P E G A S I P I IT L G L P L M C T I E E K T GE C I P S O H N E L L I W I OL E O L H I O F A R B T O N MS O T U E C H F C S A N O G EW M G H H P A R G O T O H P SE K C A B D E E F E E I E C SN U K R E W N E E E G O C S EA T S S L T M S S E E T E S NS H O U T O U T A R V N U E GT E N A A T N Y C O T L S O EC H E E R F U L T I H E T I RH T F N R T U E F T N S L L E

CheerfulContactFeedbackFitnessFreestyleGymnasticsMessengerNewsletterPhotographShout OutSpotlightUpshotmkVegetablesWillen HospiceWriting

WORD SEARCHOur regular wordsearch - this week with words related to this very issue of upshotMK. Can you find them all?

Photo challengeTake a look at this week’s NHS Rainbows! For next week, the theme of the photos is “Happiness is...”.Take a photo of your happiest handiwork and either: email it to editor@upshotmk.co.uk, post it on the @upshotmk Facebook page, or tag us on Instagram @upshotmk.See if your pic appears in next week’s edition! We’ll also share other entries we like via our social media channels throughout the week.

THE MYSTERIOUS TALE OF AN UNKNOWN STORY - CHAPTER 2!The second part of our tale is found here, courtesy of Charis Dilnot. Want to take this tale further? Submit your finest literary efforts - no more than 150 words, by 22 April - to story@upshotmk.co.uk or via Messenger on our FB page; we’ll choose a submission and include it next week! The story so far can be found here:

http://hivecreative.co.uk/upshotmk

Happy writing!

“John took a cautious step into an unfamiliar atmosphere. The peaceful ambience of the gentle wind and the birds was quickly overturned by a fear of the

unknown – what looked natural from a quick glance was vastly different when inspected up close. Random objects stood still, frozen in the air – as if gravity had all but forgotten them. A light touch would send them drifting gently through the air; the breeze offering little resistance. The shadows cast by the trees stood still even as the sun moved over the sky. Besides all living things, time stood still – motionless, as if it had been paused like a movie. John pushed a few leaves aside as he walked through the clearing he found himself in. Struggling to associate it with anything familiar, he looked backwards in hopes of seeing the house he’d just come from, but it was nowhere to be seen…”

Solution shown next week!

EmilyJoy SeanDavid

Editorial: Design:

upshotMK

Team:

R E S U R R E C T J P I H J BR S Y C T P W X E E G T O E SL E C A H N O S Z E R N Y S CA L T N E O U V T G D O T U HY P I S E S C H R E I I I E RA I J T A H S Y I C S T N G IR C E K Y E B N C I C C A G ST S S N M H M N K F I E I A TE I U A I U O U E I P R T E IB D N M L N T B D R L R S R AS E T A L O C O H C I U I B NJ S G G E A R I O A N S R G IJ W Q N F I R C A S E E H G TG N I I H C R A E S U R C E MK W J N J E S U N W I N R O QD N I H N B R E A D T E T N Y

Last week’s solution

MK Gymnastics

K Thomas

G Lovesy