Ranjana Sarkar

• Resident of: BA Block

I am spending my time cooking, drawing, singing folk songs and Rabindrasangeet, reading the travel companion Bhramansangi, playing carrom and ludo, and chatting with my friends and son.

My son has gone to Japan to study. He is an animator and a good singer also. I send him mails and call him on WhatsApp.

Like I mentioned, I like cooking and my signature dish is kebab. This week I made Shammi Kebab, Galouti Kebab and Chicken Chapli Kebab. I have also travelled to Japan, China, Bangladesh, Europe etc and am writing on my experiences which is supposed
to be published in our office magazine.

I do exercise and pranayam everyday. I work at an insurance company as a stenographer and go to office thrice a week in the lockdown period. I go to the market once or twice a week.

I am watching TV programmes, especially musical ones, participating in Sananda club digital
workshops, contacting friends and relatives and, above all, praying to the Almighty for a better world.

Krishna Nandy

• Resident of: BC Block

I have five grandchildren but they all live in different parts of the world. They have a set of clothes here in Salt Lake but the kids always outgrow them by the time they visit a second time.

Initially I would distribute the clothes but now I’ve run out of kids who would receive them. So this lockdown, I put needle to thread and got creative.

I cut their trousers, stuffed them with cotton and made dolls. I made fairy tale characters like Goldilocks, Rapunzel and Cinderella as well as animals like cats and turtles.

I never learnt sewing. It was a hobby that I never had time for. But six months at home has given me ample opportunity to try my hand at it.

My grandchildren are still too young to realise their clothes are being recycled but their parents are appreciating my efforts a lot.

Amal Sengupta

• Resident of: CF Block

During the lockdown, there are plenty of things to do like gardening, photo framing, watching TV, listening to music, virtual tour and travel planning — all of it just by using the internet.

I am fond of travelling and this is the first summer after so many years that we are home. Last summer, we visited South America.

Travelling is an interesting part of our lifestyle and we are enriched with knowledge to learn more about our planet. So we try to plan our family vacations mainly to cover the natural wonders.

For this year, we had booked tickets to the Scandinavian countries but of course, it did not mature. So virtual tour is the solution.

This is the simulation of an existing location with the help of sequential videos and/ or still images. Other elements like music, sound effects, floor plans etc could also be used.

Rupkatha Das

• Resident of: Meena Florence, Dashadrone, Rajarhat

To overcome the boredom of being home, I tried learning new skills. As of now, my greatest achievement is having learnt how to sing. At least I don’t sing like a crow now!

Next, I learnt to make chocolate milkshake and I dare say I can also dance beautifully. I’ve lost a lot of weight too and I’m happy about that!

I’m also busy with school assignments, surprise tests and projects but my biggest challenge was helping mom with chores. She made me wash all the dishes and I loved doing it, even though I don’t help her more often.

Mother Nature Eco Leaf Dress Sourced by the Telegraph

Bhawna Shah

• Resident of: Vedic Village

I am using the lockdown for several creative pursuits. For instance, on Environment Day, I made a leaf dress for my daughter. I’m sharing the steps so you can try it too.

Mother Nature Eco Leaf Dress:

Materials required:

1. Leaves of different plants and of different shapes. 2. Strapless tube top
3. Shorts 4. Ribbons 5. Scissors
6. Ruler 7. Jute thread 8. Needle (8.5”-10” size) 9. Green cloth 10. Two-hole punch 11. Glue gun with glue stick

STEP 1:

Measure the size of your tube top and shorts and cut the green cloth accordingly.

STEP 2 :

Wrap the jute thread on the stem of a leaf for easy sewing on the cloth.

STEP 3:
Hand-sew the leaves of different sizes as an abstract art with the jute thread on the measured cloth according to your pattern for both the tube and shorts.

STEP 4:
Sew all the leaves on the cloth and use glue gun to paste if needed.

STEP 5:

• Turn to the reverse side of the green cloth and punch two holes on each side. Insert the ribbon through the holes to tighten your top. Repeat the process with what will be your leaf skirt.

STEP 6:

• Wear the leaf top over the strapless tube and then tighten it from the back with the ribbon.
• Wear the leaf skirt over the shorts and then tighten it from the back with a ribbon.
• Now you are ready to showcase yourself as a jungle queen.