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What is it Like Quarantining in Singapore?
By: Louisa Wirawan
Tags: Quarantinelife, Covid Diaries, Quarantine, Singapore, Covid-19

Along with all those flying into Singapore from Indonesia, i was assigned to two weeks of quarantine at a dedicated SHN ( Stay at Home Notice) facility. The facilities differ for each individual, ranging from four star hotels to dormitories to smaller inns. I was placed at the V Hotel , Lavender.

After a quick briefing by the hotel staff at reception, i was guided to my room was instructed to immediately download Homer, a locating app, on my phone. Using Homer, i had to submit three reports of my health status a day, with a picture of myself, and other details like my temperature, and presence of flu-like symptoms. This ensured that i was in my room everyday as under the SHN, i had to remain in my room for the entire duration of my stay, and common facilities like the gym and pool were of course, off limits. No housekeeping services were provided in the room itself, but i could leave the linens outside, and have a fresh change of pillowcases and duvet cover placed outside the room door once a week. Similarly, fresh towels were given the same way.

Laundry services were available upon request, but as charges may apply for them, i chose to wash my clothes in the sink instead, using some detergent i had brought from home, and hung the clothes to dry in the wardrobe.

As for meals; breakfast, lunch and dinner are all provided and placed outside the room door. There was actually a choice of meal types to choose from when i first arrived at reception: Chinese, Halal, Indian non-vegetarian, and Indian vegetarian food options were all available, so anyone with dietary requirement needn’t worry at all. I chose the Chinese food option, and was surprisingly pleased to find out that the meals were quite varied, and each was accompanied with fruit and drink. Though the meals will certainly vary at each SHN facility.

An example of lunch

The days will feel much longer in the room, since there is nowhere to go, so i did feel restless at times, but luckily i had packed some paints with me and each room had its own wifi connection, so boredom could be beaten. I did also spend a good portion of my time trying to exercise and move in general, since i couldn’t walk anywhere and really did not want to turn into a blob on the bed. The days started to fall into a routine.

Thirteen days of Netflix and painting passed in a flash, and before i knew it, it was the last full day of my quarantine. Every SHN guest in the hotel will get a message on their phones to alert them when and where the COVID Swab test they have to do before the end of quarantine, will be. Mine was on the thirteenth day, in the carpark of the hotel. I was guided down along with a few other guests on the same floor as me to the testing area.

After a few health questions and identity checks, the test was carried out promptly, then we were guided back to our rooms.

Check out times were also staggered for each room, to encourage social distancing measures even further.
I need a risk management tool for the holidays
By: Donna Moriarty
Tags: Missing You, Covid Diaries, Family, Thankgiving, Acceptance

Photo by Sammie Vasquez on Unsplash

I’m feeling a little reckless about Thanksgiving.

Infection rates are climbing everywhere. Warnings, dire yet vague, from public health authorities say don’t travel. Don’t visit. Stick with your “pod,” the people you live with. Wait for a vaccine. Wait until next year.

My two granddaughters live hours away. Our visits are sparse. The baby, now seven months old, was born during the pandemic, and I’ve seen her only twice. My heart aches to see and hold those little girls.

It’s enough to make me throw caution to the wind.

Really? Am I ready to risk infection just so I can hold my granddaughters close, feel their damp kisses, breathe the air they inhabit, whisper stories and secrets and my love for them? Have I braced for the consequences, which could mean illness or death — not just for me, but for the others who will share our space?

Part of me says, yes of course. Risk — in particular, risking all for love — is the stuff of ancient hero tales. But maybe real heroism requires sacrifice for the greater good. Surrender with grace. Acceptance.

Well, I’m not giving up yet. I have plans.

Our middle son will drive up from Philly and stay in his old bedroom. Our eldest will drive down from Massachusetts with his wife and our granddaughters, buckled into their car seats. They plan to stay in a hotel.

My immunocompromised daughter and her new spouse will not attend. They have their own bubble, newly strengthened by their mid-pandemic wedding, which entitles them to draw a protective circle without worrying what others think. That indulgent freedom of new love is theirs to own while its hottest fire burns.

That’s it. Seven people around our Thanksgiving table.

At dinner, we will minimize touching — of food, of utensils, of each other. There will be no serving platters. I will load and serve the plates of food, just like in a restaurant. We will say grace. It’s not a year to skip the gratitude.

We will open the windows, wear masks, and keep our distance. We will do everything we can to resist the pull of the holiday, with its loud talk across a crowded table and its jovial camaraderie in all the rooms of our small home.

As I imagine other years — me searching for the right sized serving dish and the utensils I polish once a year, my husband wrestling the carving knife through the bird’s crackling skin, forking slab after slab of meat onto the platter we also use only once a year — I shudder to think of how much thinking will have to go into this operation.

And yet…

There’s no do-over for 2020, the year when my granddaughters were tiny, my daughter a newlywed, and my husband and I brimming with gratitude honed by the hardships of the past months. I’m hoping for the best while planning for the worst — even though I’m not sure whether “the worst” is canceling Thanksgiving, or not canceling and waiting to learn that I made a terrible mistake.

Hang on a minute — my phone is ringing. It’s my daughter-in-law.

Let’s see how good I am at gracefully accepting whatever comes next.
Why I love the mask!!
By: Nirupama K. N.
Tags: Coronavirus, Ambivert, Masks, Pandemic Diaries, Covid Diaries

Basically I don’t like to talk to people a lot. I don’t like to tell what I’m presently doing, which college, which year, WHAT NEXT AFTER MY GRADUATION?, blah blah blah to people whenever I go out.

Yes!I like to mind my own business, meet friends very rarely, talk to and text only handful of people though I am always online. I am like this and I like this. But before the pandemic whenever I went out, I would meet people who would be very much interested in my life and its ongoings. My friends endlessly bragged about how I never stepped out of house and meet them even after ages. All I was thinking was THIS HAS TO STOP!!SOMEHOW.

That was when the disaster took place. Corona aka Covid19. Everything I had thought and believed, flipped of right in front of my eyes. I had planned so much for my college last day, my last internal exam, last traditional day etc. Literally NONE OF IT HAPPENED!! Out of which I only miss missing my last internal exam, not because I liked exams, but it was my favourite subject!

When the pandemic started and everything locked down, people could not just stay at home 24*7 and the complaints regarding how frustrated and stressed out they were was all over; on phones, on talks, on faces etc. But I hardly felt those. I never felt like going out or roaming, though I like them. What pissed me off was seeing nothing new. Even now I would not prefer to go out for a nice lunch or catch up with my pals, because that is how I have always been..

Coming to the part, why I like mask! Few days ago, I had to go out for some personal stuffs and obviously mask is mandatory now! To my surprise, none recognised me and asked all the questions which were ‘The Traditions’. I walked to the bus stand, took the bus, went to my destination, walked back home and none could recognise. I had my headphones and I travelled all over listening to songs which I really could not do before. Those people who sat with me in the same class for 3 years and more did not recognise me. My friend’s annoying parent couldn’t care less. I just loved this! People prefer to take out their mask while speaking but trust me, I liked this mask so much that I would prefer to put it on even while speaking or going to a near by shop!

What I felt looking at these was, in this new normal people have actually learnt to focus on their life and guard their own farms more than peeping into others life. This literally makes my life easy and of all other ambivert’s! That is a heavenly moment which I thought would ever happen.

Let me know what you felt after wearing your mask for the first time in the comment section. Hope you liked what I penned down this time!!

Cheerios!!

Until next time !!
*Covid confessions*
Tags: Wisdom, Relationships, Love, Covid Diaries, Life Lessons

*Covid confessions*

January to June- This part of the year will be remembered as The Corona season ! Despite being a deadly virus we have been able to share lighter moments with it too ..that's a trait human nature is blessed with ..to find comedies in tragedies!

The virus is encompassing all the good and bad moments of our lives..

From funerals to marriages ,from birthday celebrations to protests, from trains losing their way to people walking thousands of kilometers making their way back home!

We are locked down in our homes but Life hasnt stopped !

People still continue to love their families ,play with their kids , unite as a happy family!

Many are still cheating on their loved ones, busy in breaking the ties of kinship and trespassing the limits of inhumanity!

For many this has been the time for deriving motivation for self love and awareness ...

For few this would be the worst phase to be away from near and dear ones, stuck in loneliness while some would be having the best of times with their families..

Each one of us would be having our own struggles .. be it fighting with the virus on the hospital bed or simply walking on the scorching roads...

The time is passing ,and with each day the virus is catching up ... Let's all be Negative till Covid is here!

No one knows when this tiny yet mighty creature will leave and what it will

leave us with!!

One thing I would be left with will be WISDOM!!

Wisdom to deal with life on one to one basis!

Wisdom to control my negative emotions, wisdom to be tolerant and co exist ...

Wisdom to relate with every one suffering in pain ..

Wisdom to forgive but never forget!

And lastly wisdom to accept and Love myself for what I am!
Is this the new normal? A world where by simply being ourselves puts us in harm's way.
By: Pure Project, Ryan Fix
Tags: Newnormal, Freedom, Covid Diaries, Race, Human Rights

Is this the new normal? A world where by simply being ourselves puts us in harm's way.

What might the world look like if women were safe? Or people of any color could walk freely without fear of persecution? Is it normal that so many of our fellow humans, the global majority actually, fear for their own survival simply because of their sex or the color of their skin?

This is simply insane. And our ignorance is the very reason this exists; plain and simple. We all are smart enough to know that if we rose up together, this would all change. It might not happen tomorrow, but it will change. This isn't rocket science folks. It doesn't take education to know that what's going on in the world isn't right. If you're confused, just ask your children. They know for sure.

Fear is the real issue here. I get that you might be judged by your privilege friends for speaking up. I hope you do! Then maybe, if you're strong enough, we can start to talk about the insanity we've been silently supporting with our ignorant brothers and sisters.

It's common freaking sense that this world we've created is broken, unless of course you are the privileged 1% of humanity. And yes, you are to blame. They're outnumbered by a long shot. And it's your silence, your laziness and your fear that fuels this broken system that oppresses the majority to serve your comforts as the privileged. Yes, if you have the time and mental space to be reading this, then you, like me, are privileged.

This can all stop with one simple decision...to speak up. It may not be easy, but if it creates a world that works for everyone, it's a no-brainer. Feel into your body, just like your children, and you will know what's right.

The first step is always the hardest. Soon you will be running. And so will all your friends. Together we will win this race.

Yes, you are that powerful.

You must speak up. But please do it with love. The alternative is a race to the end. This is not the race we want to be in.

The time is now.
How I survived the novel virus. So I am not much of a writer but given…
Tags: Covid 19, Covid 19 Crisis, Covid19 Survival, Covid Diaries, The Struggle Is Real

Symptoms that I dealt with:

It all began with a very bad headache and I am not someone who ever gets those.Day 2 my ashtma started to flare up. It was also the spring season so I thought that maybe the reason. I immediately called up my doctor and got my asthma medications. The wheezing lasted for more than a week but I kept telling myself its not the COVID virus as I was not coughing. Body pains were starting to show and I could hardly make myself move from my bed. Even going to the kitchen was a big task and I would start panting. I however did go for the COVID test and I waited for the results.The results took more than three days and during this time the cough started as well. This was the worst of all. If you think its the cough you get when you have the flu then you are wrong. Every time I coughed it felt like lungs were going to pop out and thinking about it now gives me the chills. I couldn't sleep because I would be coughing all day. The body pains, the cough and my asthma; it was the worst I ever felt.

What I did:

Thankfully my aunt is a doctor here, so I asked her help immediately. She put me on steroids for asthma, Tylenol for fever, benadryl for my cough. I even tried the non FDA approved drug(I keep forgetting the name). I think I am just thankful that I did not end up in the ER. I was dealing with the symptoms for a little more than a month before I was able to do things without losing my breath. Do not read the news when you have the virus. It just worries you more and doesn't help.

Few things I did at home that helped me:

Hot milk with turmeric and honey twice a day

Hot water every time. Helped with with the throat pain

Eating bland food cause diarrhea is an issue

Using my inhalers five times a day

Inhaling steam with a vapor rub

What I realized about the American facilities:

I hated the fact that I had to drive 20 mins in my condition to get tested in my area. People who are sick shouldn't have to go through this.

My doctor suggested that I get a chest X-ray to make sure its not spreading.Guess what? None of the facilities were willing to treat me. Umm okay. What if it got serious? Aren’t you an essential facility? I called up to four locations and none allowed me.

The county officials called me for contact tracing. I appreciated the efforts they took. I gave them my roommate's details but they did not check on her. Icing on the cake, two weeks later they sent me a mail saying I am all good to go out now. Out of the blue.

Reach out

I know I missed out on a lot of details but anyone who needs help or just wants to talk about this please feel free to comment so we can talk personally if you’d like.

Did I tell everyone?

NO. I dunno why I am being secretive about it but I guess I just felt people around me would think less of me or something which I think is stupid even as I type. This is my first step in trying to be open about it and talk about it. So hopefully I muster the courage to talk about this openly to everyone and educate them.
YES IT WAS ME
Tags: Covid 19, Covid Diaries, Coronavirus, Hope

Yes, it was me, I survived that time,

When walking out of your house was considered a crime.

When to live one more day, was the sole desire,

When corona virus spread like fire.

Yes, it was me, I saw that day,

When the virus took humans as prey,

When a coughing person was seen as a vampire,

When the world went totally haywire.

Yes, it was me, I experienced that pain,

When we thought it was finished, but it came again,

When we sat with the fear that we might die,

When people fell sick and no one asked why.

Yes it was me, I saw that earth,

When people finally realised that life has that much worth,

When we believed that the world is going to end,

When staying alone, was the only way to defend.

Yes, it was me; I lived through that day,

When all people did was wish and pray,

That someday, someday pretty soon,

Someone would come with a happy tune,

And bring an end to this grief,

So everyone could breathe a sigh of relief,

O that saviour, soon may you come,

And change this world to a heaven from a slum,

So that we live freely and without any fear,

So that the future generations can hear,

And we can tell them with pride and prime,

Yes, it was me child, I lived through that time.
How a drunken evening of drawing helped me become a published illustrator.
By: Christina Connelly
Tags: Janey Godley, Book Design, Illustrator, Illustration, Covid Diaries

How a drunken evening of drawing helped me become a published illustrator. Christina Connelly Feb 14·6 min read

March 2020, and the UK goes into lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The whole of Scotland tuned in daily to watch First Minister Nicola Sturgeon give her updates, and then as lockdown continued we waited patiently for the hilarious comedy encore voice-over from Glasgow Comedienne, Janey Godley.

It was a Friday night, my wife and I were having a wee drink and watching some of Janey’s Nicola Sturgeon voice-over videos.

"Stay in the hoose or am gonnae take a run and put ma toe up the crack ae yer arse"

This was the quote from the most recent video - it was hilarious, but straight to a very truthful point.

Instantly, I thought, that would be brilliant for a campaign - a World War 1 style poster. Just like the iconic Lord Kitchener ‘Wants You’ 1914 advertisement, by Alfred Leete, which had been developed into a recruitment poster, calling for the viewer to enlist in the British Army to help our country. Like Lord Kitchener, our First Minister reached out to the viewers, asking for our help to “Stay At Home”, and Janey was right behind her, translating it into typical, sweary Scottish slang.

1914 Lord Kitchener Recruitment Poster

So I began to draw. My love of drawing began when I was little and continued with me all through school and high school. I started drawing Disney characters, progressed into still life, to graffiti art, Japanese Manga, and then digital art.

Once the illustration was finished, I posted it to social media. Janey saw it, shared it, and overnight it blew up over Scotland. People wanted to buy it to display in their windows.

So that’s what I did.

I set up a website and listed the poster for 1p plus £3 p+p to help cover my print, postage and packaging costs. I kept it as cheap as possible as I didn’t want to make any profit from something that was for a good cause. Then I could donate any leftover cash to a COVID-19 fund, although I thought there wouldn’t be much. Turns out the posters sold out in minutes, and I already had over £100 leftover.

I used some of the money to do another print run. Again, they sold out instantly, and I made a profit of over £500, which I donated to various care homes, and people in the community who had been affected by COVID-19.

Posters were going up in windows all over Scotland and what a feeling that was. Seeing my artwork and Janey’s comedy writing being used in such a positive way in order to help spread an important public health message across the nation was overwhelming.
I finally have a diagnosis for Long Covid and it’s shocking
By: Jasmine Hayer
Tags: Coronavirus, Long Hauler, Corona, Covid Diaries, Long Covid

Thursday 11th February 2021: a day of specialist tests at The Royal Brompton

On the 11th February, I was given the full ‘MOT’ of tests at The Royal Brompton Hospital — the country’s best specialist lung and heart hospital, under the referral of the internationally renowned lung specialist and Head of Brompton’s Covid Recovery clinic, Dr William Man. I’m part of his clinic and study of 100 of the worst respiratory Long Covid cases.

They involved a variety of specialist lung function tests, a CT scan, a specialist CT scan (called a dual-energy CT pulmonary angiogram), a 24/7 ECG, specific blood tests plus the basic’s (ECG and baseline bloods).

The lung function tests were interesting —I wondered why my previous respiratory specialist hadn’t given these to me or why I hadn’t heard of other long haulers having them. They included: a capillary blood gas test, peak flow test, spirometry and a gas transfer test (also known as lung diffusion).

This is what my lung function tests looked like

The specialist CT scan (dual-energy CT pulmonary angiogram) was pretty full on. I was injected with a special dye and they had warned me to expect ‘possible nausea and a feeling that I was going to wet myself’ from it. How strange I thought.

Anyway, in I went — into this white looming CT machine. Good job I wasn’t claustrophobic. And indeed, I felt like I was well and truly wetting myself and that my entire body was on fire. My heart was beating so fast — a clear “WHAT the hell have you put inside me”, my body screamed. I definitely thought I was going to pass out but surprisingly I didn’t. Apparently it was all a normal reaction and it was over in thirty minutes.

Experiencing these severe physical reactions triggered instant flashbacks from traumatic Covid episodes, overpowering adrenaline and the same feeling that my body is fighting for it’s life — classic PTSD.

Though, mentally I knew that I would be fine and it was ‘just a scan’, at that point, I realised even more how traumatised my body really was.

Throughout the scan, I repeated affirmations to my heart and lungs — “this scan is helping us”, “this scan is helping our recovery”, defusing the anxiety and PTSD that had just arisen.

I could handle the tests. The hard part was waiting for the results, though thanks to Dr Man I only had to wait for half a day…
Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake|Chocolate Cake Day
By: Itsosime Jemila
Tags: Cake, Cooking Recipes, Covid Diaries, Mayonnaise, Chocolate

January 27th is National Chocolate Cake Day

As today is national chocolate cake day, we are all advised to eat chocolate cake.

Chocolate cake is a decadent, guilty pleasure for some, I included.

For most people, baking can seem a chore with less than positive results, a chocolate cake may even seem daunting.

Today been chocolate cake day, I am going to share with you my full-proof chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe.

I discovered this recipe when I was in my 3rd year at the university when I had to bake a birthday cake for a close friend of mine. This recipe has come in handy several times after then and I have not found it necessary to change or use another recipe

.

It’s very easy to make with a prep time of less than 15mins. I’ve found that it makes the most delicious and decadent chocolate cake ever. With awesome taste and melt in your mouth texture.

History of Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate mayonnaise cake, some historians say, was an “invention” of Hellman’s company to promote their mayonnaise.

Another story was that during WWII, the depression era, meals were gotten by use of ration coupons. That is, each family, according to the number of people in it, had a specific amount of food items they could get with these ration coupons. during this era, eggs, milk, butter, and oil were

Surprisingly, mayo was readily available and obtained in plenty of quantity; there was no need for a ration coupon to get this commodity.

Women of that era found that you could substitute mayonnaise for eggs, butter, and milk. And when used, you create an edible, delicious cake.

But this wasn’t a new invention according to some recipes published before this era with the same idea.

Come to think of it; mayo is an emulsion of egg and fat. So they were on the right track with this inventive recipe.

My history with the chocolate mayo cake wasn’t as dire as the women of the depression era. But I am thankful to them for it all the same.

I love eating cake, but not just any type goes into my belly.

I wasn’t keen on the Browning cakes that are passed off as chocolate cakes around me.

There came my research mode, was there a cake that had an authentic chocolate taste and smell and still melts in your mouth? My answer was yes; there was good old fashioned chocolate mayonnaise cake.

I hope you’ll get infected with my love for this cake.

Ingredients

2 cups flour

3 tbs cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1 cup mayonnaise

1 ½ cup water

2 tsp coffee

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Tips

Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature. Use Mayonnaise you actually like, don’t use products that you hate. Miracle cream is not mayo. Instant coffee is fine to use.

Find more recipes and cook with me.

Sharing is caring, share, like and comment.

Have any recipe you will like me to try? Tell me in the comment section below.
How Covid-19 has made us feel the importance of owning a house even more?
By: Pankaj Garg
Tags: Covid 19, Covid Diaries, Covid 19 Crisis, Covid 19 Testing

They say, “Always grab an opportunity when it knocks at your door.” When they do, how many of us actually optimize it to the fullest?

The answer is well- known to us.

Covid-19 has truly made us all realize that having your own home is such a blessing as any rented arrangement cannot give you that comfort and ease like that.

People have also realized the importance of real estate as an important asset in their lives which is actually the most reliable option for stable returns.

A recent study stated that the level of March 2020 residential property sales in China stands at almost 95% in comparison to the December 2019 levels. If this bounce back after the lockdown that ended in China is an indication of a trend, the Indian real estate market is also likely to witness a similar scenario after attaining normalcy in the near future.

RBI has also taken a monetary policy decision earlier in March 2020 to slash repo rates by 0.75 basis points (bps). This move by the Indian central bank has made it quite easier to have home loans thereby attracting larger home buyers to surely give this one a try. The steep cut has brought interest rates on home loans by public and private sector banks to their lowest, between 7.20% and 8.05%, in over a decade.

It’s a great time for the home buyers to make the right move considering this to be an apt opportunity to take up the plunge!

If you are one of those looking forward to buying a residential property then wait no more!!

That’s because home loans at prevalent interest rates allow for considerable savings while creating an asset for end-use or investment purposes. Furthermore, the borrower gets to use the savings resulting from a reduced equated monthly installment (EMI) to avail of a top-up loan, also available at lower interest rates.

The additional funds can easily be used for undertaking interiors related work for the apartment being purchased.

Those looking to acquire a property for investment purposes and earning rental income have their own set of benefits. Rental yields are currently pegged at 2.5%. And with effective interest rates at 6.75%, the net effect, if a home is purchased for letting out, comes to 4.25%. This beats long term inflation figures of India's hands down, thus presenting another win-win situation.

Buying an apartment is the most expensive financial commitment that an individual makes in his/her lifetime.

Isn’t it?

But what better than a great time to do so!

For more such insights and detailed conversation on the real-estate metrics, follow:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/maddex-consulting/
I Miss All the Strangers in Coffee Shops
By: Nadine Clay
Tags: Self, Writing, Relationships, Love, Covid Diaries

I Miss All the Strangers in Coffee Shops

Photo by ababaka at Envato Elements

March 7th was my husband’s birthday and what we now call our “quarantine anniversary”. On the 7th of every month since, we joke we’ve hit another one. We didn’t know it at the time but March 7th would be the last time we’d split a pitcher of sangria and tapas at our favorite restaurant before the phrase “social distancing” entered our vocabulary.

We started self-isolating for all but essential things pretty early on — we were fortunate enough to be able to work from home and we had no reason to keep going out if there was any risk. We quickly fell into a new routine and lost so many pieces of our old habits. I don’t know when we’ll be able to return to some semblance of normal. The last time we went to a restaurant was his birthday.

I’m clinging to a mental list of last times.

The last time I spoke to a classmate before we left for spring break not knowing we wouldn’t see each other again. The last time I Googled a place in Spain to add to a trip that never happened. The last time I went to a coffee shop, explored an art museum, saw each of my friends, had dinner with my family, talked to a coworker in person, or made small talk with a waitress.

It feels like all those memories are slipping away, like details of a dream vanish upon waking when you try to hold onto them. I’ll remember one detail and then wonder how many other pieces I’m forgetting. After months of losing your routine, details of your day-to-day life that used to flicker out of your thoughts in seconds start to feel precious. Small moments become dimmer like water lanterns disappearing into the horizon.

I’m nostalgic for all the little things I’ve done a million times and never stopped to cherish.

Holding the door for strangers in coffee shops and exchanging a smile with someone as you sit down at a table next to them. Meeting my friend at our favorite Irish pub and talking for hours over Guinness and Smithwick’s. Passing a friend in the hallway and catching up before we rushed off to class. Making small talk with the girl who works at the coffee shop down the street about the weather, how her dog is doing, and what fresh baked item she’d recommend this morning.
Imperfect Positivity
By: Emma Roy- Williams
Tags: Covid 19, Self Improvement, Self Love, Mental Health, Covid Diaries

I have read a lot of self- help books in my time; ‘Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway’ by Susan Jeffers, ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Toll and my personal favourite, ‘When I Say No I feel Guilty’ by Manuel J Smith. The one I am currently reading isn’t strictly a self help book it’s The Artists Way’ by Julia Cameron and is lauded by the self- appointed guru of Essex, Russell Brand as ‘A practical, spiritual, and nurturing book.’

I have enjoyed engaging with Cameron’s advice because it offers ways to access your creativity which, makes self improvement fun, and memorable. Usually with other books my renewed understanding of the world slowly fades within a month of reading it partly because I believe that, if I just follow the instructions everything will be fine.

Yet, happiness as most people know, is not a state we dwell in for long and to expect to live in a constant sense of well-being, joy and contentment is impossible. Yet, I think that is what a lot of self- help books promise to do. They provide people with hope that perfection is achievable if, you just think the ‘right’ way and if you don’t, you’re somehow lacking.

My Mum teases me over the amount of self help books I have acquired over the years and my naïve belief in their power to ‘fix’ my thinking. But I am not naïve enough to think that self- help books can ever take the place of talking to a trusted friend or a counsellor.

But those two things are not always readily available so for me, I find taking practical steps such as exercise and meditation are positive, practical steps which makes me feel better equipped to deal with my emotions.
Covid 19 in Every Doorstep
By: Subitha Athrapulikkal
Tags: Covid 19, Covid 19 Crisis, Covid 19 Testing, Covid Diaries, Covid 19 Update

Some truths are bitter though we have to admit without being panic. In India situations getting worse day by day; hospitals started to run out of beds and oxygen cylinders. Moments becoming crucial and people are deadly waiting for oxygen to save their loved one's lives.

Death due to this pandemic climb uncontrollable, social distancing and all other restrictions by the government has oscillated somewhere at some extent meanwhile the Election.

The campaigns and numerous rallies of mostly all the leading political parties in India played a strong role in the second wave spike of Covid 19 cases.

Obviously, it is not the time to blame the government or any political parties . But, there are strong pathetic factors to point out as a citizen of India like Socialist Republic Country to express the vision of the public.

Social gatherings have created drastic transmission and close proximity excreted viruses and that could surely lead to infections.

We are in deadly Covid 19 distress and it's heartbreaking to see the mass death of people at hospitals begging for the last breath.

Reminding to all who read this, the demand for hospital beds, medicines and oxygen cylinders are getting high and the availability to satisfy the need is getting reduced, as the need is getting uncountable day by day.

Still, it's a poverty country and we don't have enough medical support systems to treat all of us at a glance if the infection spread throughout.

So somehow Masks and Sanitizers can create miracles to save our lives with proper social distancing.
Accepting the Possible. I am writing this piece, the day after…
By: Ayushman Basu
Tags: Possibility, Learning, Pandemic Diaries, Covid Diaries, Family

Image Courtesy — Maria Pleshkova

I am writing this piece, the day after me and my family tested negative for COVID. It has been a tough two weeks for us.

During this time, I realised something. Until and unless something affects us personally, we do not realise the intensity and more importantly, the possibility of it.

In times of adversity, many of us tend to think, “why is this happening with us?” or maybe “is it possible that this can happen/is happening, to us?”

For some reason, till we are personally affected by misfortune, we tend to think of ourselves as someone who lie outside the spectrum of normalcy.

I will take myself for example. Before COVID struck, I kept myself away from the news and only concentrated on my professional work and personal projects (for which I even wandered outside with precautions). Although I knew I was surrounded by a virus which was plaguing the whole world, I had this unreasonable sense of security that it will not affect me or my family.

This “security” was broken to bits, when last week, I was struggling to find a hospital bed for my grandfather whose oxygen level suddenly dropped due to the virus.

I saw my grandmother panicking, while my parents — who were hospitalised themselves — were trying to make sense of the situation over the phone.

At that very moment, I realised, the sheer possibility of anything and everything.

I understood that we can only try to be safe, maybe from a virus, or while walking through an empty alleyway at night and it’s a possibility we can get affected and attacked respectively. We can try to be strong, but it is possible that we can become vulnerable.

However, I also understood that, if we can accept the “possibility” of any situation, it also makes us better equipped to deal with it.

For example, post our COVID skirmish, I am tracking every bit of news about the virus to stay on top of things and take the necessary precautions. More so, I have also begun to share important information through social media while lending an ear to near and dear ones who are afflicted. Again, all this is stemming from my personal tribulations.

This acceptance of the possible, is not only limited to the pandemic, but can work in every facet of life.

My only regret in the COVID case of me and my family is that, my acceptance came reactively and not proactively. Maybe I could have been better prepared?

But I am looking onwards and upwards as the harshest of moments can provide the most significant lessons.
A few months — note. It has been more than three months…
By: Preethi Govindarajan
Tags: Covid Diaries, Monthnote, Travel, India

I have been feeling constantly overwhelmed and largely un-tethered. I have not done anything in almost two months outside of work. Largely, because the pandemic is a strange thing. It feels as though your life is on hold even when it really is not. It is difficult to make plans and even harder to follow through with them. Work seems to be the only constant and there were days (maybe weeks) during these few months when I did nothing other than that. My life’s rather simple routine of breakfasts and meditations and exercise completely unwound itself until there was nothing except me on the bed in front of a laptop. There is a strange existential angst that comes with this as I sit in the same 7 feet of space that I have spent 99% of my last two weeks in. A strange tension/tightness that begins around my throat until the base of my neck and I cant seem to move.

Anyhoo, I am going to a shrink now to ease this feeling. She says I need to regain some control in life, even if it is just for five minutes everyday.

Taking back a degree of control, however small makes it easier and this works as a nice little feedback mechanism until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, until of course they fall apart again. And you rinse and repeat.

Activities that help with above mentioned control are as follows:

a) Sitting out on the balcony in the mornings with my coffee looking over the now familiar sight of the the river Tawi. I seem to only read fictional books these days.
Our #WFH Month 2 at AIV summed up: Are things going back to normal?
By: Emaan Hawa
Tags: Startup, Venture Capital, Covid Diaries, India, Funding News

Lately, the economic outlook has been nothing short of precarious… The wild market swings, the sudden oil crash has made the challenging game of investing even more complicated.



However, it has been a pleasant surprise that early-stage funding has shown an uptick in recent weeks, as investors are slowly adapting to the current scenario. As the deal flow continues, at Artha, we stay true to our core investment thesis and focus on investing in the most innovative start-ups around the globe. Our optimism is further driven by the performance of some of our portfolio companies — Several of them have adapted their business models or changed their product lines to align with the prevailing market conditions!



We are also pleased to announce that our portfolio company NUOS, has launched India’s first-ever smart safety measuring device. This touchless, wall-mounted device uses IR thermal sensors to detect the body temperature of people.



Also, Rapido has started operations in 35 cities in red and orange zones following the government’s social distancing norms.

Similarly, our portfolio start-ups like Purplle and BabyChakra have resumed their non-essential e-commerce business and are delivering to the zones out of containment in the country.

While we continue to engage in discussions with fund managers and incubators in the MENA and SEA region, Artha India Ventures has recently signed a term sheet with a cloud-based HRMS platform. We, as a firm, are actively evaluating deals and continue to bet on innovative ideas. A few members of our closed investor group have also started investing in start-ups again, and we hope to lead an investment with them soon.



Media Mentions of our portfolio companies during week #22 (24th — 30th May 2020):



Mobilewalla– Targeted audience data provider for mobiles

Rapido — Mobile Bike Taxi Service

• Restarts operations in 35 cities with safety measures

Coutloot — O2O social commerce

Enabling offline business to go online amid the COVID-19 crisis

Exotel — Cloud telephony platform for businesses
Have I chosen the right life?
Tags: Responsibility, Family, Life, Covid Diaries

Well, thanks to my motivation. When I wrote my first post, I thought I would do it every day. Here I am, after 15 days.

There is a lot to catch up. As my post suggests, I started thinking if I choose the right to be a migrant in a developed country, thank living a compromised life in a developing country.

I lost my grandmother three days ago. She did put on a brave fight staying in a coma. My parents lied to me that she is in stable condition and would recover in a few months. They did not want me to be upset.

You never know the real pain until you feel it. Every day reading at the news of someone missing an opportunity to bid a final farewell to their loved ones, I used to feel sad for them. My feelings are beyond sad when I am the victim.

I could not sit next to her holding her hand, or share my grandfather’s pain, or support my parents in the ordeal. Due to travel restrictions, my aunt, who lives in the United States, could not cry on her Mother. She is a doctor treating old aged corona patients. She is not allowed to travel even if there is a chance to visit her Mother’s funeral in India. Social distancing rules and vigilantism made sure that she does not get the farewell she would have wanted and deserved.

She is not the first loss we have seen after moving to Australia. 2019 has been a miserable year for my wife and me. She lost her grandmother, and I lost my aunt and a cousin for fire accidents.

Have we chosen the right life? I started doubting that. I thought about better living standards, work-life balance, and money. I believed I am never far from my loved ones with flights that can take me home in less than 24 hours.

I would have been with my loved ones when they needed me the most should I have chosen to live a less comfortable compromising life in India.
Solo Covid19 Quarantine and What to Cook
By: Allison E
Tags: Shelter In Place, Covid Diaries, New York City, Cooking

5/2/20

Hudson River Totems discovered on a solo run

For anyone who lives alone solitude is not unusual but COVID19 quarantine is its own type of challenge. Since March 1st I’ve been using the CDC’s 15-step hand washing process. Just try to do all those steps in under 20 seconds! At first I panicked about my fitness training business. I lost several clients early on. March 14th I stopped riding public transportation. March 16th I started working from home. Sometimes worry takes hold, but I know I’m fortunate. I still have some clients via video, so there’s income. My performer friends who’ve climbed to the top of their professions, some in Tony-worthy shows, are now unemployed indefinitely. I’m still healthy, only now it feels like a patriotic achievement.

I used to hate running in wet weather but, since it empties the parks, it’s now preferred. I can come home to make that 18-hour bone broth. I’d learn to bake bread, but there’s no yeast left in upper Manhattan. I find cooking calming and haven’t been able to stop even though I can barely close my freezer. Does it help replace physical contact? The jury is still out, but with a knife, a cutting board and a full array of root vegetables I can usually get through the evening news.

My freezer

Sometimes my head aches. I find it hard to concentrate. I have elderly friends and my parents live in another state. We all have underlying health issues. I haven’t been able to read more than a short article, haven’t been able to sit through a movie. Suspenseful TV shows are out. After 9/11, I found escape from terrorism watching Friends reruns. All ten years. Monica wasn’t worried about any Al Qaeda! Now, even YouTube has COVID related ads.

Perhaps I’ve had a mild form of COVID19 (headaches were just added to the list of early symptoms) or maybe it’s stress, but probably I was always distracted and just rushing around NYC so much I couldn’t address it. I worry that I’ll soon need to run to safety, run for more Purell, run for whatever short-term, short-supply panacea is being touted today. But right now, staying home helps me to slow my mind, to prioritize my own well-being and to be grateful for the many flavors of my good fortune. Honestly, I don’t need more news about “these challenging times,” I’m here at the epicenter… making Melissa Clark’s Coconut Curry Chicken for six.

Maybe I can Marie Kondo the freezer.
How to Manage Everything with a Newborn Baby?
Tags: Baby Products, Baby Care, Baby, Newborn Baby, Newborn

The moment you have your tiny angel, your life changes forever, you now have the responsibility to raise and care for a tiny human being who is solely reliant on you for every single need and who is utterly helpless without you. This is going to be the time filled with the most pleasant memories of your life and this would also be the most trying time as well, because you will be hard-pressed for time. There are so many responsibilities on your shoulder and you simply can’t find the time to rest or, relax. Here are some ideas that will help you carry out the jobs without any problem.

Hacks to manage the newborn baby

· Your first job is to set a schedule for everything. You have to feed the baby, clean the baby and put the baby to sleep, all of these several times a day. It would take some time for you to find the rhythm of everything and once you do, set up a schedule immediately. You must consider setting separate schedules for different tasks and it would help you find the right time to do everything else. The baby too would get used to the new schedule.

· Get everything ready before setting out to carry out a task, for example if you are about to clean the baby then have cotton nappies for newborns, diaper cream, wipes, water, everything ready so that you do not have to rush to and fro. The same goes for the feeding time, bath time, everything should be ready at hand before you start.

· Divide household chores and also some of the baby duties. You are a human being and you do not possess superpowers, so do not bite more than you can chew. When you take on too many responsibilities the stress that follows could be overwhelming. So, stay calm and stay sorted things would fall in place with you distributing a little of the work among other members.

· You have the responsibility of getting all the baby essentials, but you do not have to take out time to go store hoping and standing for a long time to find the product. Just go online and there you can find new born baby products with price. This will help you find the products in a jiffy without leaving the comfort of your home.

· Your comfort matters, so you need to give your body some rest, when your baby sleep you should also take a short nap. You must not exert yourself too much while feeding use a breastfeeding pillow, this would ensure that you can feed your baby without bending too low and having pain in your shoulders.

Those were a couple of ideas that you need to keep in mind.