Fun ways to pass the day

While the Coronavirus is hovering over us all like a big, bad cloud, it opens up lots of opportunities to do things a bit differently at home and even have some fun doing so. We like to see the silver lining in almost every situation here at Waterford.FYI!

Have a romantic indoor picnic

There might be a global pandemic right now but we can still squeeze in a little romance at home. With food shops open, it means you can still go get some nice wine or beer to have with tapas at home. So put on your best Spotify playlist in the background, throw a nice blanket on the floor and enjoy your date night with a difference.

Cook your heart out!

Are you one of those people who has spent more time staring at your cookery books rather than using them? Well, girl and boys, the pandemic might just be the moment when you go and get all creative in the kitchen! Check out these everyday recipes on Pinterest if you’re looking for ideas to get started.

Family takeaway night

Make family movie night in even better! Some of Waterford’s restaurants are offering a takeaway service. You can check their Facebook page for details. Emiliano’s are offering a new takeout service for their pizza to do their bit during Coronavirus restrictions – Check out their menu

Asian street-food restaurant, The Bell Pepper, is another good option, and prices pretty reasonable too. Order online

Right now, Justeats.ie has 61 restaurants that you can order online from. Worth checking out.

What to watch when the kids are in bed

Catch up on your favourite movies and boxsets on Netflix. Channel 4’s on-demand app, 4oD, is great especially If World Drama is your thing (and you don’t mind subtitles), Walter Presents has some really, amazing international series. Disney+ finally lands on March 24th, you’ll especially like it if superheroes and Star Wars are your thing. Kids will love it too.

Strike a pose!

There are tons of great yoga and fitness apps out there to download. Great way to stay in shape and especially calm all those anxious thoughts about the Coronavirus. Plus, it means you can exercise in the safety of your own home and on your own time. There are also lots of YouTube videos that you can work out to or even do

Have a virtual session with friends

Set up a group video session to have a chat and a few beers. There are lots of apps around to get together virtually. FaceTime means you can do a video call with up to 32 people at one time, definitely enough people to party virtually with! WhatsApp is also another one, as is Slack, Google Hangouts and Discord.

The great outdoors of Waterford

Walk, cycle, run on The Greenway. Take a spin out to Tramore or Dunmore East. We have a lot of space here so make the most of it. Below are some places to visit to blow off the cobwebs and practice social distancing.

Do-It-Yourself

Home improvements can be good for the soul and a great way to burn off all that energy of being cooped up more than normal. Check out some of the local homeware stores like Woodies to see if you can get items delivered rather than going into the shop. Paint a few rooms, polish the floors or clear out clutter from the garden shed.

Upcycling furniture is also something else you could do. Check out this Pinterest board for ideas.

Draw, paint, sketch.

Doodle or paint the time away. Getting creative boosts positivity and mood. Draw with the kids or alone, let your mind drift and see what you end up.

There are lots of online multiplayer drawing games to have a bit of fun with such as Skribbl.io.

Upskill and learn something new

Add a few strings to your bow. Check if any of the local educational institutions are offering e-learning courses. Waterford Chamber Skillnet sometimes runs digital classroom training. If not, there are plenty of online sites such as LinkedIn Learning and Skillshare.

Remember to keep your distance and wash those hands!