Page 3 - HGS Suburb News 144 - December 2020

Quarantined – again...

he first time I was quarantined or working from home anyway, As for exercise, I wish I
Twas over sixty years ago when so no life-changing shifts there. could escape the stigma of
ALEX PALMER
I was confined to bed, itching Food and indeed supplies of having had it all too easy and
unbearably and covered in virtually anything under the claim the only sky I’d seen for
chickenpox; catching it was sun were no problem either with two weeks was through my
considered a good thing even if the friendly Ocado delivery man windows and I’d had to make
then it wasn’t called ‘herd just a click away. We couldn’t do with an endlessly repeating
immunity’. Result: off lessons have starved even if the internet video of Joe Wicks’s ‘fitness’
(mixed news), off games (great had gone down permanently, exercises , but we have a garden
news) but exiled for weeks from as our neighbour texted us leading onto a paddock which
the company of all my chums several times to ask if she could we could circle every day until
(definitely bad news). My principal go shopping for us, or do we got giddy.
memory is lying in bed listening anything at all to help. And finally, how many times
to Test Matches from Lord’s and While the novelty of Zoom have you said to yourself “What
Headingly, England v India, five get-togethers wore off during an opportunity: I’m going to
days at a time of blissfully lockdown, they banished any catch up on all those books
soothing commentary. I’ve been sense of being cut off both then piling up by my bedside”? Me
trying to recapture the experience, and during quarantine; what a too. And I still haven’t read
on a deck-chair, ever since. magical weapon the mute button Proust. Lost time, indeed.
Six decades later, I was in has become. NEILL ROSS
quarantine again, on return
from France. I was lucky in the
1950s and I was lucky now – CAROLINE MASSEL
unlike any number of people
who had their annual holidays
(l-r) Karen and Oliver Bobroff: Debra Young, Juliette Katz and Freddie Dalah (the delivery bags are donated by G-Star clothes). cruelly cut short or, worse,
The Chicken Soup Run rushed for home to find they
were held up at the border,
missed the deadline and had to
quarantine after all. So, I have
here are numerous anecdotes very deserving recipients from to use the services of neighbours
Tand recipes about Chicken all faiths, who were elderly, offering help. no horror stories to report from
Soup and its benefits. Just do a isolated, vulnerable, or unwell. One afternoon, an NHS personal experience, which may
be boring but there it is. Given we
browser search on ‘Chicken Soup’ Needing help, I reached out to volunteer came to our house to always knew our confinement
and you will find innumerable friends. The outpouring of deliver a prescription she had
recipes. There are even medics volunteers was incredible, their collected for us. Her name was was time-limited and short, there
that tell us that chicken soup input invaluable. Bakers, delivery Juliette and we struck up a was something of the desert
island about the whole thing,
offers several health benefits. drivers, fruit salad makers etc. conversation about our personal without any of the hardships.
However, when Lockdown Our deliveries contained circumstances and discovered
was imposed in March at the soup, cholla (bread), croutons, she also lived in Oakwood Road. Even stumbling into the over
onset of Covid-19, Chicken Soup homemade cakes, cookies, latkes Consequently, there was a swift 70’s bracket has its compensations:
yes, we may stand a higher risk
suddenly took on a completely (fried potato cakes) and fruit salad. offer of a delivery of Chicken of becoming properly ill, but
unique connotation. Children in the community Soup which I gracefully accepted.
Juliette Katz and her team drew beautiful cards with heart- It was a wonderful surprise to be we’re most likely already retired Neill and Brenda Ross
snapped into action forming warming messages. For many greeted on a late Friday morning
‘The Chicken Soup Run’. recipients, seeing the same with a large carrier of food. Big push in 2021 for Combat Stress
JULIETTE KATZ’S delivery driver every Friday was This dedicated team of
STORY their only form of human volunteers have been brightening
At beginning of lockdown my contact and those relationships our lives with the generous food he Hampstead Garden Suburb The events already planned • Concert on Saturday 9 October
concerns were not only for are still ongoing. they make for us and deliver TCombat Stress Committee is for 2021 include: in the Free Church.
friends and family but also my As lockdown restrictions every Friday. Their wonderful now concentrating on making • Nearly-new Clothes & Book Sale; All of these events of course
neighbours and local community. eased, many volunteers returned act of kindness not only raises a huge effort to raise as much as • Refreshments at the HGS Art are subject to Covid restrictions
I wondered what else could I do to work or lived too far away. I our spirits but makes us feel possible in 2021 with a variety Fair on 5 & 6 June; but we’re really hoping they’ll
other than shopping and wanted to keep the scheme cared for and not alone, of fundraising events. • Private Garden Opening (David all be running and look forward
collecting medication. From a afloat but needed help. So, I bolstering an appreciation of As we’ve been unable to do & Caroline Broome, next summer); to welcoming you all to our
local WhatsApp group I learned posted a message on our being part of a remarkable and any events this year, boosting • Screening of Military Wives events next year!
of a gentleman who was ill with Oakwood Road WhatsApp special community. funds for Combat Stress is even Choir’ Film; and MARJORIE HARRIS
Covid but not hospitalised. I group for volunteer drivers and CAN YOU HELP? more important than ever as
contacted him and offered him the response was incredible. The committed squad of our fundraising capacity has
some Chicken Soup. The next DAPHNE BERKOVI’S volunteers want to continue been severely affected by the
day I received this message: STORY this valuable service as they are Covid-19 crisis.
Juliette your soup is delicious. This Once lockdown started we were aware that restrictions will In these difficult times it’s
is the sort of penicillin that will literally confined to quarters. As prevail for some time, causing important to be positive, so in
cure any coronavirus symptoms. I am a carer for my hubby and continued isolation to some addition to the events listed
In case you are interested this is have been for over 10 years, I members of our community. below, Chairman Ruth Smith
the first proper meal I have eaten suddenly found myself having However, they do need vital wonders whether some of you
in 6 days and it tastes so good. to be reliant on others; not an easy funds to ensure its survival. If might like to fill any spare
Maybe I am on the turn after all! thing to adjust to. you can make a small donation ‘lockdown’ hours helping us to
The Chicken Soup Run was A friendly and supportive please do contact Juliette at make some hand-made craft
born! Within three to four weeks WhatsApp Group was formed julietterkatz@hotmail.co.uk. products which we can sell at our
GAD_Property_SuburbNews_137mm x 120mm_Layout 1 21/08/2020 00:18 Page 1
we were delivering to over 50 in Oakwood Road and I started DAPHNE BERKOVI events in aid of Combat Stress.
These items could be garden-
related eg DIY paper plant pots
for seedlings, clay hand-printed
Oliver Joseph, Solicitor plant labels, decorated pots,
bird food seed cakes or pet-
related for the many dog and
Suburb you’d like to make or you have
cat owners in the Suburb!
Perhaps
something
there’s
some crafting ideas that will sell
specialist well. So, if you’d like to help us G Cohen
with our craft project, please do
ANTIQUE SILVER
contact Ruth at ruthafsmith@
hotmail.com - we’d love to hear
from you!

We wish to purchase items of silver in any
condition. As a long standing resident of the
For fast and competitive conveyancing Suburb, Gideon Cohen is happy to view

call Oliver on 020 8209 0166 or your silverware at home and will make an
email ojoseph@gadlegal.co.uk offer to purchase, free of any obligation.

17 The London Silver Vaults
53-64 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1QT
www.gadlegal.co.uk 020 7404 1425
746 Finchley Road NW11 7TH enquiries@gcohen.co.uk

Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors is a trading www.gcohen.co.uk
name of National Law Partners Limited.

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