KINGSTON UPON THAMES, GREATER LONDON, UK
51.4123° N, 0.3007° W
Exploring Kingston upon Thames, with Elaine.
1. So firstly, where do you live, and how long have you lived here?
I live in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and have lived here for 30 years.
2. Has the current Coronavirus pandemic affected your life here, and if so in what ways?
The Corona virus has affected my life enormously. Because of my age I am regarded as vulnerable and the current advice is to stay at home. In "normal" circumstances I have a busy life. I am a volunteer cook at my local community centre where every Tuesday we provide hot food for around 50-60 vulnerable people. I have had to withdraw from this. Fortunately, some younger volunteers have continued a modified arrangement so vulnerable people are not abandoned. But I miss this important part of my life.
I belong to a walking/fitness group and normally attend 4 sessions per week in my local park. This is a remarkably close-knit group made up of 20 people. We each get enormous social support from the group as well as keeping fit. Classes have had to stop and we're all missing each other and the social contact and fun a good deal. However, we do meet each Saturday morning on Zoom so we have had to grapple with the technology and - happily - we have managed.
I no longer go out to cinema, concerts, theatre, restaurants with friends and also don’t have friends around for dinner.
Perhaps most of all, I am missing being with my family and having a hug and a cuddle of my grandchildren and great grandchildren. This is especially difficult. However we are communicating daily on our family WhatsApp and we're planning regular a regular Zoom mocktail hour. I have also kept connected with grandchildren by setting "nan's mini quizzes " and also an art project.
I was hoping to travel to India or Sri Lanka with a friend this year but that has now been abandoned.
3. Once restrictions/ any quarantine rules lift, what is the thing you most look forward to doing here?
Spending time and having fun with my family and friends.
And some human contact such as hugs!
4. In more normal times, what would you say is the best thing about living here? Likewise, is there anything you would change?
I love living in Kingston; it has a good hospital on my doorstep, good schools, wonderful public parks such as Richmond Park and Bushy Park, plenty of shops, excellent public transport etc. It is also close to London and all that the capital offers.
5. A friend comes to visit here for the first time and wants to discover the best of what your location has to offer...what is your itinerary for the day? This would very much depend on the age and interests of the friend. Most of my friends are getting on in years (like me!). So, I'd probably take them to Kew Gardens to explore the beautiful gardens and then lunch - maybe in a local Italian cafe run by a family which I love. Then perhaps a Short trip back to Kingston by ferry on the Thames. The evening would probably be a takeaway curry meal at home or at a trip to my local fish restaurant. Another alternative might be a long walk on the Thames towpath to Hampton Court Palace where we could do learn more about an interesting period of English history. To be honest, there is so much to do in London (galleries, museums, theatre shows, street markets, concerts etc). I can't begin to list it all.
Thanks very much Elaine for your responses, and for helping us to discover your local area!
Above:
1. Kingston town Centre
2. Hampton Court
Background Info on Kingston upon Thames:
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