Should we carry on as usual here in the forum despite the coronavirus?

Dear users, dear authors,
I was thinking I’d just carry on as usual with the chat threads, promotional threads, project threads, etc.
Just talking about the coronavirus all the time doesn’t really help anyone.

How much do you want to address or discuss this topic here on the forum?

Thanks, Josefa, for asking this question.

I think it’s especially helpful right now if we motivate each other here and do what we love together—namely, crafting. It takes our minds off things and puts us in a different frame of mind. So I’m in favor of carrying on just as we have been.

It doesn’t help anyone to stoke fear even further. Everything will return to normal again, just as it has so many times before. There are two sides to everything, and that’s true right now as well. Families are growing closer again, and people are starting to refocus on what really matters in life.

If we support our immune systems during these times with vitamins D3 and C and with positive thoughts, we’ll get through all of this just fine. Dr. von Helden has even made an informative video on this topic. Just Google it.

I’m grateful that this forum exists and that we can share our thoughts here. It’s encouraging to know we’re not alone right now and to focus on our creativity.

Warm regards to everyone from Monika

I actually really liked having a “coronavirus”-free space here. As Moni already wrote, it doesn’t do anyone any good to further fuel people’s fears. The media is already doing that more than enough.

For me personally, the virus has thrown a wrench in our vacation plans. We booked this 4-week vacation 18 months ago, and we were getting more and more excited about it. In two weeks, we were supposed to board our flight to Cape Town. And now this—the trip has been canceled. My rational mind tells me it’s the right decision, and yet I’m still very disappointed.

Well, I guess I’ll just start the gardening season now—and the yarn will always be waiting anyway.
Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone, and stay healthy.

Warm regards
Petra

I’m also in favor of “carrying on as usual”—after all, the virus doesn’t spread online.

We can’t change the fact that the virus is spreading anyway, so let’s get crafting and use this time for creative projects.

Given that we’re literally being overwhelmed by a flood of new reports everywhere and every day, I’m also in favor of creating a few coronavirus-free zones here and there. In that regard, I think it would be good if “forum activity” here continued as usual. ;-)

I can only agree with the others. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of panic being spread, and there are already so many restrictions for everyone. You can’t get infected online, so let’s just enjoy our hobby!

Crafting makes you happy and is such a nice distraction

I also think it’s great to have a virus-free zone for a change.

Everyday life is already dominated by the coronavirus. My daughters won’t be going back to school until April 27. I work in the public sector for a government agency, and I’m curious to see how things will unfold for us.

Crocheting really helps me unwind and relax.

Let’s keep going and not let this get us down.

I think it’s a good idea that we keep sharing our thoughts on crafts here. Distraction is the best medicine.
All you hear everywhere is “coronavirus.” 

I had to work this weekend, and when I arrived in Oslo by train, the city looked like a “ghost town”—hardly anyone on the streets, and quite a few shops were closed.
I work at a hotel, and starting Monday, it’ll be closed too—no more guests, so no work for us.
There’s a silver lining,
though. Now I can do whatever I want for two whole weeks. I can finally finish all my unfinished projects, continue my crochet projects, sleep in... I still need to buy a few small things—let’s see what’s left :-)

Anyway, I hope you all have a pleasant week, and keep sharing and showing off your crafts regularly. Together, we’ll get through this with positive crochet energy.

The virus is really starting to affect our daily lives—for example, my niece is marrying her long-time boyfriend in early April.
She’s now only allowed to bring a maximum of 10 people to the courthouse, and whether the restaurant they booked will still host the reception is anyone’s guess…

Life can really be cruel!

But they don’t want to postpone it, since she’s just getting back on her feet after a very serious motorcycle accident, and her son—whom she brought into the relationship—has already asked at her bedside whether he’ll be able to stay with Tobi and his half-sister at all, or if he’ll have to go live with his biological father—whom he hasn’t seen in many years and doesn’t want to see.
Now Tobi is urgently supposed to officially become his father, even if it’s without a celebration.
After such a difficult time, I would have wished her a wonderful wedding so much...

Stay healthy, everyone, and stay as positive as possible.

I’d also be very happy if there were at least “one” space left where Corona isn’t the topic—I agree with everyone else. Here in Austria, some drastic measures have been put in place, and when I got up this morning, Vienna looked like a ghost town. No cars, no people on the streets… no one walking their dog… everything quiet and silent… completely different from usual. My boss and I have agreed that I’ll only come in if he urgently needs me, and then he’ll pick me up by car so I don’t have to take public transportation.
I can’t decide what to believe: Is this all really as bad as they say, or is everything being overdramatized?
In any case, I’m stocked up on plenty of yarn and can really let my creativity run wild, and I hope everyone here stays healthy.

I’d also be very happy if there were at least “one” coronavirus-free space left—I agree with everyone else on this.
We have a few bigger celebrations planned that now need to be rethought, since no one knows if the restaurant will even be open by then.
Our 3-day trip to Prague was also canceled—oh well, there’s nothing we can do about it.
The main thing is that there’s enough yarn at home to keep me busy :)
Take good care of yourselves and stay healthy

Dear friends, let’s just keep things as friendly and considerate as I’m used to here on the forum. Because that’s what I appreciate so much about this place.

Yes, the virus is very much on our minds right now. Mine, too. I’ve been through quite a bit health-wise over the last few months, and it’s going to take some time to recover. That’s why I’ve been a bit less active here. Still, I’ve kept up with the forum whenever I could. During this very difficult time, my crafts have given me a lot of support, confidence, and a sense of purpose. And that’s how things will continue for the next few months. 

And as Monika already said: Positive thoughts are among the best things you can do for yourself and those around you. So let’s knit and crochet, craft and joke around, and enjoy our passion.  

I wouldn’t mind if a COVID-19 thread were to pop up. For everyone who could use a little discussion on the topic. But there should only be one—one you don’t have to read if you’ve had enough of the topic for the moment.

Grab your needles—it makes you happy, and happiness keeps you healthy
Best wishes, Caro

Oh, and since we stayed home like good kids yesterday, my husband took a new profile picture of me. He’s a photographer—he usually only takes black-and-white portraits. But I always thought the old one was too dark for this purpose. So now it’s colorful and cheerful. Bring on spring! And I’m going to get my balcony ready for spring in the next few days, too. 

Sofi, it was strangely quiet here in Solingen today, too. It feels a bit eerie. But now the neighbor kids are playing in the yard, and I’m enjoying their laughter and the sound of them running around behind the house.

Okay, time for a midday nap on the couch with my knitting. I decided yesterday to rewatch all the seasons of *Game of Thrones* whenever I want to take my mind off things *grin*

Fadenstrang, take care of yourself and your health… all the best! 
I, too, can hear children’s voices in the neighbor’s yard, along with the loud noise of excavators from the street. I’m also enjoying the beautifully blooming apricot tree at the neighbor’s—ours has been pruned back so severely that it’s only produced a few blossoms—and I’m waiting for the magnolia buds (also at the neighbor’s) to burst open.

My daughter and I will now only talk to each other on the phone. I’m over 50 and have a chronic illness. I work in a mini-job. For important matters, our company contacts us by email. So far, we’re still able to work; I hope not all businesses will close, otherwise we’ll be stuck at home without work.

Instead, I’ll write my texts. I’m not bored at the moment.
My cats are running wild in our apartment. When they get going, nothing is safe around here,



Caro, I think your very nice new photo is great! 

Here’s a spring greeting from me to everyone, to cheer you up

Please keep being so positive and cheerful...
I’ve had enough of hearing about nothing else on the radio and TV....
Since I hardly ever leave the house or garden anyway, it’s not all that hard for me to tune out the virus 😇
And our mail carrier brought some new yarn today—here in the village, they sometimes do that without a signature...
Best regards, Steffi

Hi,

I think what’s going on in the media right now is really bad… especially with all the fake news and so on… that’s why I’ve taken a step back and retreated a bit.... I have plenty of yarn here… for many more beautiful projects… I crochet a lot live… on YouTube… but I’ve banned the topic of the virus there because I tell myself… let’s have some fun here… let the world out there be the world, and just focus on crafts…

I agree, Trixi. There are so many great movies we can watch right now on YouTube or on our computers. We haven’t had a TV for a long time because the internet is way more fun. Right now, we’re enjoying watching ventriloquists on YouTube—it’s really funny and takes our minds off things—a nice change of pace, so to speak. Plus, we have a wonderful hobby in crafts.

I’ve started posting a photo every day on Twitter and Facebook from our visits to the zoo, since it’s currently closed.

I’m also keeping myself busy with my garden… 

Enjoy every sunny moment, just like our cat, who’s lying in the sun by the door!