Merry Christmas to all

2020 has been an unprecedented, and for many the end of the year will come with welcome relief and a certain amount of trepidation for what 2021 may hold.  The global epidemic has changed our lives in so many ways, separated many of us from our family, friends and daily lives, and made us relearn many of our normal routines.  For many this Christmas will be unusual, with restrictions on travel and limits on gatherings.

It is still, however, Christmas, and no matter how we celebrate this year there are still many Christmas traditions we will still follow.  I feel fortunate indeed that after the challenges and uncertainty of the year, here in Victoria, Australia we have our lives running fairly close to normal.

For me, Christmas means that the tree is up - in fact it has been put up several times thanks to the enthusiasm of my cat who sees the Christmas Tree as his own personal climbing gym - and the house is decorated.  The fridge is full, the presents wrapped, cards sent and received.  Work is about to shut down until New Year, a lovely week of leave.

Tonight, my sister and I will continue the annual tradition of watching The Muppet Christmas Carol.  It is a tradition that we have had since I was a child and we watched it one Christmas on TV.  Much searching from my mother produced a video of the Carol and even as teenagers the tradition of watching "The Muppet Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve prevailed.  It continued as we became adults and spent Christmas with our parents, was tolerated by baffled partners and friends, and after our parents passed was continued by my sister and I.

Starring the brilliant Michael Caine, so shiningly evil as Scrooge before he finds the spirit of Christmas, he seamlessly interacts with his Muppet costars.  Kermit is a perfect as the kindly, patient Bob Cratchit, with Miss Piggy as his feisty wife Emily, Statler and Waldorf are the evil Marleys, cackling gleefully about evicting children from orphanages.  And Gonzo shines as the 'omniscient narrator', a blue furry Charles Dickens with his sidekick Rizzo the Rat who cheerfully states he is here for the food.

We both pretty much know the film by heart.  We've watched it every Christmas Eve since we were young children.  We will happily settle in to recite lines, sing the songs, munch mince pies and thoroughly enjoy our evening. This is our Christmas.

Whatever your traditions and however you celebrate the end of 2020, I hope everyone out there enjoys the festive season and I look forward to 2021.  Merry Christmas!

#ANZAncestryTime

#ANZAncestryTime is a Twitter Platform for anyone with an interest in Family History and Genealogy.  Whether just starting out or an experienced researcher, #ANZAncestryTime is a place and time where like-minded people in the genealogy community can come together and connect in conversation. #AncestryTime has an initial focus on genealogists with an interest in Australian and New Zealand family history but we enthusiastically welcome the participation of genealogists all around the world.

Each week, a topic for discussion will be introduced. To participate, follow Australia & New Zealand Ancestry Time on Twitter, use the #ANZAncestryTime hashtag to tweet and retweet participate. You can share your experiences, services, ask questions and offer help. Need more help on how to participate? Then check out How to join in now.

#ANZAncestryTime will be hosted at 7 PM AEST every Tuesday. You will find out your local time on the Time Zones page.

Topics already covered include Newspapers, Military and Occupations.

Free Digital Records at National Archives UK

The National Archives have made digital records available on their website free of charge for the time being, as their reading room service is suspended in line with national restrictions in England.

Registered users will be able to order and download up to ten items at a time, to a maximum of 100 items over 30 days. The limits are there to try to help manage the demand for content and ensure the availability of digital services for everyone.

To access the service and download for free, users will be required to:

• Register/sign in to their Discovery account before adding items to their basket (maximum ten items per basket).  You will be required to register for a free account on our website and be logged in to be able to download documents.
• To find records that are available to download for free, filter your search results in Discovery to include records that are ‘available for download only’.
  
• Abide by the terms of the fair use policy
• Complete the order process to receive a download link, which will remain active for 30 days. (The link will also be saved in ‘Your orders’ in your account for 30 days)

What sort of documents can I download?

You will be able to download records digitised by The National Archives and published through Discovery, their online catalogue. These include:

• First and Second World War records, including medal index cards
• Military records, including unit war diaries
• Royal and Merchant Navy records, including Royal Marine service records
• Wills from the jurisdiction of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
• Migration records, including aliens’ registration cards and naturalisation case papers
• 20th century Cabinet Papers and Security Service files
• Domesday Book

 So take advantage of this wonderful offer while it lasts - and happy researching.

Free Magazines

Campaspe Library subscribes to a number of Genealogy magazines that library members can download or read online for free.  In addition to BBC Who Do You Think You Are magazine, we also subscribe electronically to Traces Magazine and Family Tree (U.S.).  We also have a selection of history magazines, such as BBC History, All About History, and History Revealed.

 

To access these magazines, and many more, go to the library homepage and click on the link to RB Digital and follow the instructions to download the app and log in using your library membership.  You can even set up to automatically receive new editions of your favourite magazines.  There is no limit to how many magazines you can access or how long you can keep them, and many titles have back issues available as well.

 

So check out our eMagazines - and our other eResources like eBooks and eAudio - all available free with your library membership, and all accessible from the comfort of home.  If you have difficulty accessing them, library staff are only a phone call away to help you.

 

Happy reading!

The Year in Review

A rather challenging and different year is almost over, and as I usually do at this time, I'm looking back at the genealogical highlights.  Feel free to make your own responses to each question.

1.  An elusive ancestor I found was - Thomas Farmer, Master Mariner.  Born 1781, Thomas was also a Mason, made a member of the Dundee Arms lodge 8 March 1810. He is one ancestor I have managed to discover quite a bit about during the year.

2.  A precious family photo I found was - my fathers WW2 Air Force enlistment photo.

3.  An ancestor's grave I found was - Thomas Farmer, 1781-1850 (see question 1).

4.  An important record I found was - Thomas Farmers Master Mariner's certificate.  Downloading a digital copy of his original certificate was definitely a highlight!

5.  A newly found family member shared - notes on common ancestors.  I keep basic trees on several sites - Ancestry, FamilySearch, My Heritage, etc mainly as 'cousin bait' to make contact with others researching in the same tree so we can share information - and every now and then I strike it lucky.

6.  A geneasurprise I received was - so many genealogical websites, archives and companies who made special effort to keep going during the pandemic.  From the National Archives UK making all their digital records free while in lockdown to Ancestry allowing libraries who subscribed to Ancestry Library Edition to let their patrons access the database from home, so many went out of their way to keep us all researching.

7.  A new piece of software or website I mastered was - the updated Trove website.  While I am still not convinced I like it better than the old version, spending time getting to know the ins and outs of the new site has been useful.

8. A social media tool I enjoyed using for genealogy was - Zoom.  Online meetings and get togethers have been the order of the year, with so many planned activities, conferences and meetings having to be cancelled by the pandemic.

9. A genealogy conference/seminar/webinar from which I learnt something new was - The Virtual Genealogical Society's Annual Conference.  Like so many of the talks, presentations and meeting I attended this year, everything was online and attended from the safety of my study.

10. I am proud of the presentation I gave at/to - Library patrons via Facebook on using Ancestry Library Edition from home during lockdown.

11. I taught a friend how to - download her family tree from Ancestry.

12. A great repository/archive/library I visited was - the National Archives UK - online.  I've downloaded a number of wills and other digital records this year while the website so generously made them free.

13. A new genealogy/history book I enjoyed was - Tudor History: A Captivating Guide to the Tudors, the Wars of the Roses, the Six Wives of Henry VIII and the Life of Elizabeth I.  A great ebook read.

14. An achievement during lockdown was - a major cleanout and reorganisation of my house.  While stood down from my job for several weeks, I built shelving, cleaned out my garage, sorted through my wardrobe, reorganised the lined cupboard, cleaned out the pantry, and turned my 3rd bedroom / junk room / study into a usable work space.  All those jobs that I'd never found time for got done, along with 2 trips to the local recycling centre.  The glow of accomplishment was wonderful!

15. Another positive I would like to share is ... Treasures hidden away in dark corners.  As mentioned previously, a few years ago I faced the task of clearing out my family home after the deaths of my parents.  Treasures were found in every corner, and quite a few were glanced at briefly before being boxed up to transfer to my new home.  During lockdown, many were rediscovered, more closely examined, recorded for posterity and put on display around my home.

WDYTYA Magazine

The latest issue of Who Do You Think You Are magazine is now available free online for Campaspe Library members via our subscription to RB Digital eMagazines.

Inside this month's issue

• 50 hottest websites Don't miss our annual preview of the biggest record releases and online resources family historians can look forward to in the new year
• Picture perfect Helen Dawkins explains how to safeguard your old family photographs to ensure they are protected and preserved for generations to come
• Reader story
Katie Carmichael investigated her great grandfather's mysterious death in 1930s New York
• Remembering the Holocaust How to trace the victims of Nazi persecution using online records
• Railway mania
Did your family lose money in the rise and fall of railway speculation?
• Plus: The lives of the first policewomen; finding Irish probate records; tracing publicans in your family tree... and much more!

WDYTYA Magazine

The latest issue of Who Do You Think You Are magazine is now available free online for Campaspe Library members via our subscription to RB Digital eMagazines.

Inside this month's issue

• Give your tree the WDYTYA? treatment Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine editor Sarah Williams shares top behind-the-scenes tips from the TV series to help you uncover your family history
• Reader survey Tell us what you think about the magazine for your chance to win a £200 Marks & Spencer e-Gift Card
• New census series
Don't miss our new monthly series exploring UK census records as far back as 1801
• Christmas crackers The cracking story behind the festive tradition
• World War Two army service records
All you need to know about discovering the war heroes in your family tree
• Plus: The best websites for finding cemetery records; researching shipwrecks; finding Polish refugees in your family tree, and much more!

Donating Your Research

Have you ever considered what will happen to all your family history research after you are gone?  Do you have family members who are interested in genealogy who will take on your research and pass it on, who understand your work and value it?  Or do you wonder if all your details and documents will end up in boxes in the garage until they are eventually thrown out?

While I have provided casually interested cousins with some details of my research and copies of documents and photographs, I have no close relative who is interested in continuing the family history research I have been accumulating for decades.  Several of my friends are facing the same situation - their children and grandchildren might enjoy a few stories now and then, but they are not interested in the detail and have no desire to continue the research.

Donating your research to a local, state or national Genealogical Society is an option worth investigating.  The Society of Australian Genealogists accepts both published and unpublished materials which have value for genealogical research.  They accept both hard copy and digital formats, and their website has both a Background Information Leaflet on donating your research to the SAG, and an Assessment Form for unpublished materials.

Your research does not have to be complete to be donated, and they accept relevant supporting documents such as immigration and military service records, correspondence, birth death and marriage records, and research notes.  Any research you donate will be able to be viewed by other researchers, and you will be expected to fill out a donation form. 

There are other Genealogical Societies around the world who are prepared to accept donations to preserve the information for future generations of researchers, so consider who will look after and pass on your research, and if donating a copy of all you have learned is worthwhile.

WDYTYA Magazine

The latest issue of Who Do You Think You Are magazine is now available free online for Campaspe Library members via our subscription to RB Digital eMagazines.

Inside this month's issue

• Missing birth records Can't find your ancestor's birth? Genealogist and former deputy registrar Antony Marr shares his top ticks for tracking them down
• VJ Day 75 years later Historian Kevin Telfer looks back on the turbulent months between the end of the Second World War in Europe and in Japan
• Slavery in Jamaica In light of the debate about the legacy of the slave trade, Richard Atkinson reveals how it felt to discover that his ancestors owned slave plantations
• Getting started More people than ever started their family tree in lockdown. Jonathan Scott picks the best websites for beginner family historians
• The lives of Boy Scouts Writer and Scout leader Nina Hoole reveals how the Scout movement made a difference to thousands of our ancestors
• Lancashire Our complete guide to family history in this historic northern county
• Plus... Finding records of Japanese PoWs; discovering the lives of chimney sweeps; reader stories from the Battle of Britain, and much more…

History Magazines Online

Campaspe Regional Library has expanded its selection of online magazines available for patrons through RB Digital.  The selection now available includes a number of history magazines, which can all be downloaded and read on you PC, tablet or iPad.  Below is a small selection of the "All About History" specials available.

On Bosworth field in 1485 the feud that had caused bloodshed and battle for three decades came to an end. The victor was the last hope of the Lancastrians, Henry Tudor. In this book, you'll get the full picture of how Henry's Tudor dynasty cemented its place in history, from the red-soaked fields of the War of the Roses, to the string of Tudor monarchs, to what everyday life was like for the lowly population. Packed with beautiful illustrations and insights into the period, this is the perfect guide for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the most legendary period of English history. Featuring: Battle for the throne - Find out how the War of the Roses came to be and the key battles that decided its victors The key figures - From Henry VII to Elizabeth, by way of Henry VIII's wives and Thomas Cromwell, get to know the key Tudor players Tudor life - See what life was like for everyday folk as well as the upper classes in the Tudor period Change & Legacy - From religious to artistic revolution, discover how the period has affected life to the present day.

The mid-17th century was one of the most explosive periods in history across the British Isles. In England, a desperate king fought bitterly against his defiant Parliament; in Scotland religious turmoil sparked invasions from the north; and in Ireland, an oppressive regime led to an all-out Catholic rebellion. In this bookazine, we explore the how all these events, and more, combined to make up the British Civil Wars, from the political machinations of Parliament to the bloody battlefield clashes at Edgehill, Naseby and Marston Moor. We follow the meteoric rise of Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army, as well as the tragic decline of Charles I – a king executed by his own subjects. We also investigate how the countries transformed in the period of Interregnum, for better and for worse, before taking a look at how the monarchy made a stunningly peaceful return during the Restoration.

The Life And Times Of The Stuarts focuses on a nation-defining period of British history that is every bit as enthralling, dramatic and pivotal as that of Henry VIII and co. BBC History magazine now turns its attention from The Story Of The Tudors to the seismic changes that occurred within the British Isles during the Stuart rule between 1603 and 1714. Inside you will find: • The Gunpowder Plot • The English Civil War • Charles I’s execution • Oliver Cromwell’s rule • The restoration of the monarchy • The ousting of James II in the Glorious Revolution and many other key events in British history! This special edition calls upon the expertise and analysis of the world’s leading historians as an in-depth and invaluable way to understand more about this absorbing time.

Meet the colourful monarchs who reigned though some of Britain’s most tumultuous and dramatic centuries Inside you will discover: -A timeline of key milestones, from the Norman conquest to the fall of Richard III at the battle of Bosworth -The regal women who stamped their mark on medieval Britain: Matilda, Isabella of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine -The motives and military exploits of Henry V, Edward I and Richard the Lionheart -How Owain Glyndwr and Robert Bruce fought English rule in Wales and Scotland -The debates that still rage about Richard III and the death of Edward II -Civil Wars that rocked England, pitting Matilda against Stephen and York against Lancaster

Ancestry Library Edition from home extended

Ancestry has just announced that home access to Ancestry Library Edition will continue for another month, until 31 August.  They made the decision back in April to allow this database, normally only accessed in the library buildings using our public PCs or wi-fi, to be accessed from home while libraries were either closed or only open to limited numbers.  So those Campaspe Regional Library members who are still unable to research Ancestry Library Edition in the library can continue to access this fantastic genealogical resource from home.

To access Ancestry Library Edition, you need to go to the Campaspe Regional Library web page at https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/library  On the right hand column, click on the link for 'Things to do from Home'.  The link for Ancestry Library Edition from home is at the top right.  You will be prompted to log in using your library card number and PIN, then follow the prompts to Ancestry's page and continue researching your family history from the comfort of home.

A huge thank you to Ancestry for making this resource available from home during the pandemic.  I hope you all enjoy access and stay safe.

Family Tree Magazine

Among the new eMagazines available for free Campaspe Library patrons through RB Digital is the US Family Tree magazine.  Check out the July/August edition now.

What’s Inside!

Highlights from this issue include:

• Our annual list of the 101 Best Genealogy Websites
• a quick guide to using Family Tree Maker
• Tips for becoming a professional genealogist—and other ways of using your genealogy skills in the workforce
• Expert analysis on how to protect your DNA information
• a FREE US census cheat sheet

Contents

Good as Gold by David A. Fryxell

We won’t see medals awarded this summer after all. But these 101 Best Genealogy Websites are all winners in our book.

Maker’s Mark by the Editors of Family Tree Magazine

Document and organize your hard-earned research with these 12 tips for using the Family Tree Maker software.

Red-Handed by Amanda Epperson

Because Irish records are often scarce, those researching ancestors from Ulster have their hands full. But these seven websites will help you find your Scots-Irish roots.

Hanging Your Shingle by Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer

Achieving genealogy credentials can help you raise your family history “rank.” Here’s how to earn them through the two most prominent organizations.

Alternate Roots by Sunny Jane Morton

You never know where the road of life will take you. Put your research skills to good use with these six genealogy “dream jobs.”

Plus!

• State Research Guides: Maryland and Oklahoma
• Lisa’s Picks
• Timeline: Archery
• Family History Home: Caring for Wedding Finery
• Stories to Tell
• Your Turn: Relationship Chart
• Document Detective: Cemetery Interment Ledgers
• Now What
• Tech Toolkit
• DNA Q&A: How Can I Keep My DNA Information Private?

Genealogy Events Online

As the Corona Virus pandemic shuts down so much across the globe and most of us are staying pretty close to home, more and more genealogy events that would have been held locally are now going online.  That means there are more and more talks, seminars, conferences and training sessions held around the world that we can attend online from the comfort and safety of home.  While for me attending online cannot beat personally attending these events - the chatting, the networking, the sharing ideas with other attendees - it does give me the chance to virtually participate in events I never could have traveled to in person.

Its really worth your time to look around at what is available.  Gould Genealogy has a list of online genealogy events on their homepage.  The Virtual Genealogical Association is completely online and offers a number of talks and presentations each month.  FamilySearch continues to offer a range of online classes and tutorials.  Legacy Family Tree is offering several webinars free each month.  And there are many more.

A number of research facilities are offering special or free access.  The UK National Archives has announced in April that it was offering free access to its digital records for as long as it remains closed to the public during the Coronavirus pandemic.  How much longer that access will remain free is unknown, but it has certainly been a boon to many who have been researching from home in the past few months. 
Ancestry recently announced that home access the Ancestry Library Edition for patrons of subscribing libraries will continue until 31 July.  The Family History Show made the move to host their annual conference online to replace the family history events closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.  The Family History Show Online took place in late June.  There are many more, from single talks to genealogy society meetings to major conferences, that have made the move to online in order to keep functioning.

Virtual tours of many cultural institutions have sprung up as well.  The British Museum is allowing virtual visitors to search the collection online to view specific objects or find out more about individual galleries. 
The Hermitage Museum announced they were preparing a large quantity of broadcasts to view on their YouTube and Instagram channels. So far they are only in Russian, but in the near future they plan to begin broadcasting in other languages too – English, Italian and more.  The Smithsonian Open Access applies to digital assets that are created, stored, or maintained by the Smithsonian. This might include text, still images, sound recordings, research datasets, 3D models, collections data, and more.

As the pandemic changes the way we live, genealogy has changed with it, and the way we research, learn and interact with fellow genealogists changes too.  For those who often miss out on conferences because of the cost of travel and demands of work and family, the increase of online participation may even prove an advantage in many ways.

So keep an eye on what is available online and check out some of the talks, seminars and conferences that are out there.  Happy researching.

Traces Magazine

Traces uncovers Australian history, from ancient Indigenous heritage to European settlement, local history, artefacts and genealogy.

Launched in December 2017, Traces is the only quarterly printed magazine dedicated to providing its readers with insight into the latest historical research, news and heritage projects taking place around Australia. The expert voices of historians, researchers, heritage professionals, genealogists, and journalists uncover the fascinating characters and stories of our past.

With the partnership and collaboration of key national and local heritage organisations, as well as state libraries, Traces has its finger on the pulse of heritage news and developments around the country, making it the best consumer publication for anyone passionate about Australian history and genealogy.

Traces magazine is available free in digital form from Campaspe Regional Library via our eMagazines from RB Digital.  Ask our staff for more information or how to download onto your PC, tablet or iPad.

National Archives UK Free Access

Have you been taking advantage of the free access to The National Archives during lockdown?  The UK National Archives has announced in April that it was offering free access to its digital records for as long as it remains closed to the public during the Coronavirus pandemic.  How much longer that access will remain free is unknown, but it has certainly been a boon to many who have been researching from home in the past few months.

Users can download records digitised by The National Archives and published through Discovery, its online catalogue. These include:

• First and Second World War records, including medal index cards
• Military records, including unit war diaries
• Royal and Merchant Navy records, including Royal Marine service records
• Wills from the jurisdiction of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
• Migration records, including aliens’ registration cards and naturalisation case papers
• 20th century Cabinet Papers and Security Service files
• Domesday Book

Registered users can order and download up to 10 items at no cost, to a maximum of 50 items over 30 days. National Archives explains that the limits are there 'to try and help manage the demand for content and ensure the availability of our digital services for everyone'.  Registration itself is also free.

To access the service and download for free, users will be required to:

• Register/sign in to their Discovery account before adding items to their basket (maximum ten items per basket)
• Abide by the terms of the fair use policy
• Complete the order process to receive a download link, which will remain active for 30 days. (The link will also be saved in ‘Your orders’ in your account for 30 days)

So if you haven't already been downloading records, make sure you take advantage of this great offer of free records while they last, and see what new detail you can find about your family history.

WDYTYA Magazine

The latest issue of Who Do You Think You Are magazine is now available free online for Campaspe Library members via our subscription to RB Digital eMagazines.

Inside this month's issue

• Free records from The National Archives Discover millions of online family history records that are now unlocked during lockdown

  

• Marriage records What does it mean if your ancestors were 'married by certificate'?
• Postwar photographs The latest in our family photo dating series from National Trust curator Catherine Troiano
• Catholic ancestors How to find Roman Catholic baptism records
• Holiday camps Can't get away this year? We look back at the golden age of British holiday camps
• Strathclyde Our complete guide to finding Scottish ancestors in the area around Glasgow
• Plus... The best websites for finding coal miner ancestors; the secret history of private eyes; tracing family in Wales, and much more...

Using Ancestry Library Edition from home

During the Covid-19 outbreak, the wonderful people from Ancestry have allowed public libraries to make Ancestry Library Edition available for our members to use from home.  Normally this database can only be accessed in the library, using our public PCs or wi-fi.  It has been a fantastic resource to offer people while they have been quarantining at home, especially while libraries were closed or operating with reduced numbers as they are now.

This access was to end 30 June, but Ancestry has just announced that home access will continue for another month, until 31 July.  So those Campaspe Regional Library members who are still self-isolating can continue to access this fantastic genealogical resource from home.

To access Ancestry Library Edition, go to the Campaspe Regional Library web page at https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/library  On the right hand column, click on the link for 'Things to do from Home'.  The link for Ancestry Library Edition from home is at the top right.  You will be prompted to log in using your library card number and PIN, then follow the prompts to Ancestry's page and continue researching your family history from the comfort of home.

A huge thank you to Ancestry for making this resource available from home during the pandemic.  I hope you all enjoy access and stay safe.

The Crazy month of May 2020 meme: pandemic experiences

I’ve seen a few genealogists posting their responses to the Covid-19 crisis and how it has changed their lives, so thought I would post my own responses as I restart my genealogy blog after the break while stood down from work.

What are you most grateful for during this covid-19 crisis? 
That I live in Australia, which has certainly fared better than many other countries.  I’m grateful for friends and family, to all the people who have stood up and pulled together during the pandemic, made the necessary changes to their lives to limit the outbreak and keep each other safe.  I’m glad I was able to work during at least part of the stand down, only spending a few weeks stood down from my job, and especially glad to be back at work, even in a somewhat limited capacity as we practice social distancing and keep working to limit risks of transmission within the community.

What have you missed most during the full or partial lock-down? 
Being able to get in the car and go anywhere I please.  Simple things like browsing through shops, having coffee with friends, going to the cinema or a restaurant when I please.

What changes have you seen in your life over the last few months? 
Certainly I am going out less, changing my usual habits to practice social distancing and keep safe.  While I have never considered myself to be particularly social, not being able to go out, meet friends, stroll through shops and chat face to face with workmates has made significant differences to life.

Have you been exercising more or less?
During the time I spent not working I tried to keep busy and keep moving, doing jobs around the house and garden, but not going out has definitely impacted my activity levels.

Has the refrigerator been your friend or foe?
A little of both.

Have you been participating in virtual gatherings with friends or family?
Some, although there are times when my internet connection can be a little slow.  I think many of us have found ourselves using technology to communicate a lot more that before the pandemic.

Have you taken up new hobbies during the lockdowns? 
The ones I have already have been enough, plus the projects around the house I have finally made time for.  Certainly being stood down from work meant more time for my hobbies than usual.

Are you cooking or gardening more? 
I have never been much of a cook – or a gardener – but during lockdown I have definitely done more of both.  Dinners were occasionally more elaborate and I even found myself baking a few cakes and scones.  The garden also shows some improvement from the extra attention.

Have you found the changes and experience stressful/anxious/worrying? 
I think there would be few who have not.  Being stood down from work was certainly stressful, but I was also aware of being much better off than many, knowing my job would still exist afterwards and having enough leave stored to see me through.

How have the closures affected your local community? 
I know many businesses are struggling and some may not survive.  There are too many who have lost their jobs – either temporarily through stand-downs of permanently through business closures, and the losses will continue to be felt for months to come.  While so many have struggled, it has been wonderful to see so many pulling together to look after each other and help out friends and neighbors.

Have in-person meetings been replaced with virtual meetings via Zoom, Skype etc? 
In some areas, yes, it has certainly been a change.  Living in a country town online attendance to meetings has always been an option, but it is much more common now.

Do you enjoy the virtual meeting format? 
Sometimes.  It can be difficult missing out on face to face contact and the ability to chat to friends and colleagues during breaks.  Meetings are all very well, it is the networking and socializing that happens around the edges that I miss.   

Are you working from home instead of in your usual place of work? 
No – after we closed to the public and shut everything down staff were stood down. 

Have you had to cancel travel plans for pleasure or family? 
Yes.  I had been planning a trip for an upcoming significant birthday (50^th!!) and those plans have had to be cancelled.  I will look into something closer to home in the meantime, and look to a bigger trip next year.  Australia has plenty to offer, places I have never been, and I think local travel will be the only option for months to come.

Have you/others been wearing masks when out and about in your area? 
Not many masks locally, but there have been a few around.  I haven’t worn one yet but have used gloves and plenty of hand sanitizer (when I could get it), and am much more aware of things like wiping shopping trolley handles and washing thoroughly when I get home.

Will you change your lifestyle after this experience? 
I think there will be ongoing changes for many people, in the way we live, shop and work.  While many things will return to normal it is very much a case of ‘wait and see’.