by Martin Thomas | Jun 25, 2020 | Antenatal, Aromatherapy, Art, Bands, Charity, Covid 19, Covid-19, COVID19, Facebook, Indie Bands, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Louth, Networking, Online, ShopLocal, Sleaford, Twitter, Website
How to shop local in Lincolnshire
Shop Local In Lincolnshire – follow the # Hashtags
Do hashtags really work? The simple answer here is ‘yes’ and ‘no’!
How many times have you seen posts on social media with the hashtag #ShopLocal on it? As crazy as it may sound, the hashtag really isn’t much use if you’re using it to help people find you. It’s fine as a statement of fact on your post but when you search for it you’ll find that the posts are anything but local. In fact, the posts you’ll find are from all around the world! If you’re expecting people to find your cheese that you produced in Sleaford I strongly suggest you think again! Try using and promoting the #ShopLincs hashtag instead.
When I set up Lincs Connect in 2012 I experimented with several hashtags and names before settling on #LincsConnect. Other examples of my trial hashtags included #ShopLocal (ironically I created this hashtag in January 2011 for use on my @MANDARINLEISURE account but scrapped it because it went global) #SupportLincolnshire #SupportLincolnshireBusiness #SupportLocal #SupportLocalBusiness with the latter being shortened to #SLBiz.
Early research made me realise that the ‘Support…’ hashtags were just too long so people refused to use them. Another reason for scrapping them was because they start with the word ‘Support’. When searching social media for relevant hashtags about Lincolnshire you’ll find that typing the letters ‘Linc’ into the search bar will give you LincsConnect on twitter and Lincs Connect on Facebook in the top three names to visit. Compare that to typing in ‘Support’ which will give you all sorts of connotations from TwitterSupport to a whole host of other national and international business support sites.
It makes sense then that the hashtag to use on your tweets needs to be #LincsConnect as it is at the top of your searches and is truly local to Lincolnshire.
How To Use A Hashtag
If you’re happily adding hashtags to your post but never searching them you’ve truly missed s trick!
Here’s what to do: Type in #LincsConnect in your search bar then press enter. Don’t click on the account @LincsConnect as that’ll take you to the account only which means you’ll miss all the good information. Once your device takes you to the messages on the #LincsConnect timeline you need to look for the ‘Latest’ tab at the top of the Twitter page. If you type #LincsConnect into the search bar on Facebook you’ll need to look for the ‘Posts’ tab at the top of the page (this’ll also show you related Instagram posts).
Once you’ve discovered these pages you’ll realise that there is a huge amount of information, business posts, personal posts, charity posts and requests for help etc etc that are all related to our local area. Try it now to see what you can find. It’s a fantastic way to network and find out what’s going on locally.
Supporting Local In Lincolnshire
How do you support local? Is it as easy as going to the local shops and picking something from the shelves? In case you hadn’t considered it before, let me share some of my ideas about shopping and supporting locals:
- Shop locally – supporting local traders by buying their produce in local shops, garden centres, farm shops and markets
- Online – Many local traders have online shops. A more cost effective way of selling may be via platforms like Etsy shops or even selling directly via social media
- Don’t forget the local charity shops. Dropping off your unwanted items is absolutely crucial but don’t forget they are there to help raise funds for the many worthy causes that otherwise would’t survive without our support. Buying from the shops is absolutely essential if the charities are to survive.
- Social media – Since I’ve been running #LincsConnect I’ve noticed big changes in how people use the various platforms. I’ve noticed a big rise in the professionally run accounts (some companies run several accounts for different clients) and I’ve also noticed the reluctance of many accounts to share anyone else messages or support others. I’ll talk more about these two subjects later.
Obviously there are many other ways to support local businesses, charities and organisation but I’ll focus on my main observations first if that’s OK?
Shop Local In Lincolnshire
Shop local in Lincolnshire – this concept certainly isn’t new. However, during the Covid19 pandemic it became much more important and (thankfully) much more prolific. We know how important our local CoOp, Post office, newsagent and Spar shops are. Many of them are in walking distance (for those who are able) and stock locally produced products.
Perhaps, with the use of ‘people power’ they might be able to stock more local produce to help our economy even further. A polite request from customers or local traders may be all it takes. It’s worth a try! In addition to helping to support local traders (including the shop owners and staff) it must have also come to your attention that during the lockdown there were less emissions, less fossil fuel burned and less litter. All of these positives are good for the planet so let’s see if we can learn the lessons.
If you can’t physically support local businesses you could try supporting them online
Shop Local In Lincolnshire – Online
This isn’t something I ever considered for my own businesses before Covid19 but it is something that I explored during the lockdown. FaceTime and WhatsApp video calling is still a fantastic way to maintain contact with my clients while reducing my fuel usage in my truck. It’s definitely a practice that I’m committed to. During the lockdown I was busy writing blogs and searching for companies who sell online. Some are using Etsy, some use Facebook and others use Twitter.
I’m sure there are other platforms that are equally as good or even better. I haven’t come across them yet but the obvious choice and probably the most popular is direct selling from personal/company websites. Many people have their own eCommerce shop on their website which is easily maintained by the trader and convenient for the customer. If, like me, you’re a bit of a technophobe you’ll be able to find website designers to build a site for you. They’ll even help you with your existing site. If you’d like to get in touch with any designers please feel free to ask me for some suggestions. After all, that is what Lincs ‘Connect’ is for!
Charities
I often include charities in my blogs because I feel they need all the help they can get. I’ve focused on very small, medium and large charities and the one thing that they all have in common is their use of social media. The posts may not raise funds directly but their constant presence certainly helps to raise your awareness of them and they help you to shop local in Lincolnshire.
Share The Love
Looking at the various accounts on social media I often make up my mind whether I should support them or not simply by looking at their posts. The ones who never share anyone else posts, have conversations or try in any way to support anyone else is a big red flag for me.
I find myself asking the question “why should I support them when they don’t support others and are very unlikely to support me?” I’m a big believer in helping others so when I find someone who shows no interest other than to post their own tweets I tend to move on to find someone who is more sociable and supportive.
Buying And Selling
I’ve noticed Fiona @OrigArtPrints on Twitter while searching the #LincsConnect hashtag and really like what she has been painting on old maps. Her main sales come from Craft Fairs but during covid she turned her attention to Facebook and Twitter for her sales. Facebook has been successful but Twitter less so. However, her Twitter account is a good platform for showcasing what she does and for directing people to her Facebook account. It’s important to use more than one platform on social media if you want to increase your client base. It’ll be interesting to see if future sales turn more towards social media and less towards the craft fairs. Only time will tell.
As a consequence of lessons learned during the covid lockdown I’m pleased to see that Fiona has turned her attention to Etsy for her sales too. An online presence is great way to keep customer engagement. 
I think these paintings on old maps are fabulous. You have to admit, they do bring the map to life. Here is another example:
Shop Local In Lincolnshire – Use Websites, Social Media And YouTube
I’m no expert of course but it appears to me that one of the best ways to find a website (given that you probably didn’t know the sites name or even that you wanted to make a purchase) is through social media. I’ll say that bit again just to clarify, “through ‘social’ media”. Why the emphasis on ‘social’? Because I’ve noticed far too often that many people are using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to show off their products but don’t realise that they need to talk to followers to get continued engagement and sales.
Put it this way, if you don’t talk to me on social media I’m not likely to notice you! Likewise, if you talk to me but I don’t talk back you’ll soon stop talking to me. Either way, I would be the loser so that’s why it’s always best to be ‘social’ on social media!
While being pre-occupied with social media I almost forgot about YouTube. Surely I can’t be the only person who searches YouTube on a very regular basis for music and information? I do think it’s a great platform for showing your products (you’ll have seen some of my YouTube videos if you’ve been reading my other blogs), courses and skills.
While the social media could drive potential customers to your website the same driving force could apply to your YouTube channel. I sometimes feature a local band on twitter. Invariably I find them on Twitter or Facebook first then either follow a link to their YouTube channel or take a few seconds to search for them in the YouTube search bar.
This band (Saboteurs) from Sleaford have really got my attention . You can follow them on Twitter @sabsbanduk for regular music posts and updates. Alternatively go straight to their website www.saboteursband.co.uk for lots more info and a chance to purchase their albums.
Have a listen to one of their albums by clicking on the YouTube link above.
Shop Local In Lincolnshire With YouTube
YouTube is arguably more useful than Instagram. They are both popular of course and Instagram has a huge customer base. However, YouTube is a constant. When a video is posted on YouTube it’s there to be found at any time until the originator deletes it. Finding a specific post on Instagram is much less easy.
As a shopper it’s easy to go to YouTube to search for what you are looking for. A good video will show you the product before you decide to buy. Subsequently, as the originator of a YouTube post you are able to upload the link to any social media platform or your own website at any time. An uploaded video can be an ongoing advert for many years because the link can be copied and re-posted multiple times.
Uploading a video to YouTube (this one is about Nordic Walking with @MandarinFitness) can be timeless. This video is often posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to help encourage new customers to join the sessions. Simply following the link from the social media platform takes you straight to the advert.
The videos don’t need to be long or even professionally produced. Simply upload a video clip from your smartphone to YouTube then copy the link and post it onto your social media platform.
I hope you’ve found the blog useful. Don’t forget to shop locally wherever possible to support our local traders.
See You Soon…
I hope you like my brief blog about using social media for selling and finding new customers. Please feel free to leave a comment below and share the post with your friends and contacts. Hopefully I’ll see you when I search the #LincsConnect hashtag again soon.
Additional Blogs By LincsConnect:
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by Martin Thomas | May 7, 2020 | Afternoon Tea, Bailgate, Chocolate, Cleethorpes, Doddington Hall, Food, Gainsborough, Grantham, Grimsby, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Louth, Mail Order, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Online, Pie, Restaurant, Scunthorpe, Spalding, Stamford, Take Away, Takeaway, Vouchers, wine
Food And Drink – Collect And Deliver In Lincolnshire – When The Sun Goes Down…
Food and drink – collect and deliver in Lincolnshire. Are you a lunchtime or evening meal sort of person? Whether you prefer to call it dinner or tea it makes no difference but I’m guessing the majority of people reading this will have their main meal in the evening. Perhaps the ‘lockdown’ has helped to change your eating habits? I do know that initially (way back in March) we were all suddenly thinking about food and toilet rolls. However, the initial rush and panic seems to be over now and our shopping habits are starting to return to something close to normal. Have you been missing your normal foods though? Many of them have been in short supply and we have been discouraged from nipping out to our favourite restaurants to eat with friends. However, some Lincolnshire companies have come up with some ingenious ways of surviving the lockdown so I thought I would share with you some of the establishments that I know of who are still trading and supplying take-away food and drink for us all to enjoy.
We don’t have to wait for the sun to go down to enjoy our dinner (or is it tea)? but it does pay to plan ahead. If you’re looking for something for lunch, dinner or an evening feast let’s see if we can share some ideas. I’ll list some of the Lincolnshire establishments that I know of but it certainly won’t be exhaustive so if you know someone that I’ve missed out please let me know in the comments below:
Alford
Caythorpe Water Mill are providing takeaway pizzas and burgers so if you’re in the area why not pre-book yours today? Just click on the picture to place your order or telephone 01507 451366
Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese provide delivery throughout the UK as well as pre-arranged sales direct from the farm. Click on the logo to go straight to their website www.lincolnshirepoachercheese.com or follow them on twitter @Poachercheese
Mail order Poacher Cheese delivered straight to your door. Click on the picture to go to the Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese Twitter page
Apley
Apley Lamb (Near Wragby) offers a free local delivery of freshly boxed lamb cut to order. Click on the logo to go straight to their facebook page or follow on Twitter @ApleyLamb
Post Covid-19 – Are We Ready?
Without doubt things have changed. The way we have lived our lives, the way we have thought, the way we have communicated, the way we have shopped….. A huge proportion of what we’ve done over the last few months has changed compared to what we were doing in February. I never would have thought that I would have managed without my car but since the Covid-19 outbreak my car has been on the drive and hasn’t moved other than to roll it forwards or backwards a few inches to prevent flat spots on the tyres. There will be a time in the not too distant future when I’ll be using it again of course. Being a mobile masseur and Personal Trainer I’ll need to be thinking of ways to see my clients again while keeping them (and myself) safe. We do of course, have the threat of re-infection looming over us so now is the time to make adjustments to help prevent that from happening.
Social media has been a lifeline for many of us as it’s allowed us to maintain contact with friends and followers throughout the lockdown. I’ve used it to collate lots of information and keep in touch with all sorts of people. It’s reminded me just how resilient we are and how well we can adapt. However, we are entering a new era at the moment where some of our old rules and precautions need to be revised. Shops are starting to open again which really is positive news but I wonder how many shop owners and local businesses have really thought through the precautions required for safely re-opening or increasing the staff levels in the immediate aftermath of Covid-19? Social (or should that be ‘physical’) distancing is at the top of our agenda at the moment of course. Those of us who have used the supermarkets recently have become used to it very quickly and the small businesses (butchers, bakers, local food stores) have become adept at restricting the numbers of people allowed in the shop at once.
Recent conversations on social media with Alex of The Specialist Safety Group have made me realise that many of us may not be as ready as we thought we were for the ‘grand re-opening’ of our businesses. Yes, we all know about distancing and restricted entry to our businesses but have we considered other Health & Safety at Work issues too? We don’t want, or anticipate having a fire at work but we have to plan for it. How would fire evacuation change with the new distancing precautions? Perhaps we have a dedicated first responder at work should someone be taken ill. Have rules change with the distancing precautions? Perhaps insurance companies may require us to have new documentation/risk assessments post lockdown? What about cleaning? Will our ‘normal’ cleaning practices need to change? I know my cleaning practices will have to change. My massage couch and exercise equipment will need to be cleaned with different solutions from now on.
If you have any concerns about starting up again and returning to ‘business as normal’ you might like to chat to Alex at the Specialist Safety Group Ltd. He has a dedicated ‘Return To Work Safely’ package that normally costs around £339.00 but by quoting this LincsConnect blog you’ll be able to receive a 10% discount. I’m sure this offer won’t last forever though so contact Alex on 07870 760 145 to confirm your discount. You can also email him at specialistsafetyoffice@gmail.com or click on the logo above to go straight to the website
Baumber
Stourton Estates is delivering Venison around the County and orders over £25.00 can enjoy FREE delivery within 20 miles of LN9 5PB
Boston
Mountain Abbey Parks Farm Shop selling fresh and cooked meats, chutneys, plumb bread….. You’ll need to click on the picture to follow the link to their Facebook page for a full list!
Brigg
Fully online and sold locally around the County you can easily get your hands on some of these award winning botanical chocolates. simply click on the logo to go straight to Fionas’ website to learn more or click this link Sciolti Chocks to follow on Facebook
Caistor
Sandhams Wine Merchant in Caistor offer both in store (social distance rules apply) and mail order options with a huge range of wines and easy to navigate price list. Click on this link to go to their Facebook page or click on their logo to go straight to the website
Cleethorpes/Grimsby
Docks Beers is more than just ‘beer’ but you’ll need to visit their shop to discover their full range – and it’s all delivered too! If you fancy a gin, they’ve got that covered too. click on the logo to go straight to their website/shop.
For more information about Docks Beers click on the photo to go to their facebook page or follow them on twitter @DocksBeers
Message In A Bottle deliver a huge range of drinks across Cleethorpes & Grimsby. From local to international beers, gins, rums…. You need to check their website for a full list. You can find them on Facebook by clicking on their logo or or on Twitter @miabcleethorpes
This picture says it all so just click on it to go straight to the order page. Enjoy
Let’s Get Back to Doing What We Do Best
I don’t know about you but I’m really ‘chomping at the bit’ to get cracking again. I love helping people and making them feel better whether that’s through exercise, massage, injury rehabilitation or injury prevention. Many people will have been suffering with stress related problems since the lockdown and my diary is already starting to fill with new clients who are suffering with neck, shoulder, back and sleep issues as a result of the lockdown. If you are in need of help please feel free to contact me at martin@mandarinleisure.com or pay a visit to my website www.mandarintherapies.com or www.mandarinfitness.com where you’ll get a better idea of what I have to offer. I’m also on facebook of course Mandarin Therapies & Mandarin Fitness so feel free to follow me there too.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO PLAY THE FULL VIDEO
When I say I have a website; if you visit it you’ll quickly notice that it’s a very old site. I do have a new one but I would much rather be doing my fitness and therapies than ‘wasting time’ on the website stuff! Am I alone? Does anyone else put off doing admin ‘stuff’ in favour of getting on with the real work?
As a sole trader I really value my time with clients and would much rather be doing what I do best than shuffling paper and files! Needless to say, much of my admin work gets put off to the last minute before getting actioned. I know I shouldn’t but…!
Perhaps I should consider the services of a Virtual Assistant (VA)? I’ve been chatting to Nikki from www.Time4U-VA.co.uk who certainly seems to have the admin sorted! My muddled, dyslexic brain is reflected on my muddled and (seemingly) disorganised desk. Unlike Nikki who is adept at multi tasking with a clear desk. Is there such a thing as desk envy?
Perhaps it’s time to re-think my working practices? I know that I’m going to have to work very long hours (and probably 7 days a week) to catch up with the backlog of work over the months between now and Christmas. I’m guessing that my experience will be mirrored across many industries and not least by the food & drink industries. Let’s face it, Lincolnshire has some fine artisan food and drink producers as well as some fantastic restaurants and bars. Preparing and serving or delivering these fantastic products is a passion for most but I wonder how many really have the time for updating menus and completing the admin? Don’t get me started on book keeping! Thankfully I don’t have payroll issues being a sole trader but I can imagine they will be a necessary evil for many businesses. Perhaps ‘now’ is the time to consider how we are going to tackle the admin while staying on top of our game with our work. Perhaps Nikki can help you?
Click on the logo to go straight to the website
Gainsborough
Fully Online – You can order your No 12 Chocolatier handmade chocolates online now and receive them in the post. That’s an offer you can hardly refuse! Follow @No12Chocolatier on Twitter and just click on the picture to go straight to the online shop.
Uncle Henrys Farm Shop is providing a home delivery service within a range of 10 miles but don’t let the Gainsborough address fool you as it’s situated on the A15 and the delivery range is quite extensive. Click on the picture to follow them on Facebook or follow them on twitter from here: @unclehenryslinc
Grantham
Brakes Food Hub in Grantham provides the full call & collection service for all of your food shopping from fresh to frozen to cake to…. you’ll need to click on the picture to go to their website to see more. Offering a call and collect service 7 days a week. Tel 0344 800 4900 (option 4) place your order. Follow @John_Nicky on twitter too for more updates.
Gelston Lamb deliver in the Grantham/Sleaford areas. Click on the picture to go to their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter for more updates @GelstonLamb
Teaspoon Tea Company have a free local delivery service and a full mail order selection including tea, coffee, gift packs, gift vouchers, birthday cards, chocolate by @No12Chocolatier honey by @ArtisanHoneyCo and quite a bit more. Click on the picture to go to their website. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised
Heighington
Anderson’s Family Butchers are providing a ‘text and collect’ system in Heighington. Simply text our order then collect when it’s ready. 07983003435 or 07880745083 – click on the picture to follow on Facebook
Ingham
The Inn On The Green, Ingham (on the outskirts of Lincoln) are providing a local takeaway service of food and drinks. Click on the photo to go straight to the order form and you can follow them on Facebook The Inn On The Green Ingham
Lincoln
The Bowl Full Tapas restaurant will be providing pre-paid take away meals from 15 May. Click on the picture to go to their Facebook page or follow them on twitter @BowlFullTapas
Browns Pie Shop – Orders are cooked and delivered cold for re-heating at home. Orders can be delivered or collected. Click on this picture for more info or call 07809 477126 to pace an order
Cafe Portico are now providing take away pizza for your delight. Orders taken from your car (or on foot if you’re walking there), cooked to order and delivered fresh to you when it’s ready. All made possible with mobile contactless payments. Click on the logo to visit their Facebook page or go to their website for the latest menu www.cafeportico.co.uk You can also follow them on twitter @CaffePortico
Grow Your Own
Isn’t it fantastic that we have all of these lovely local Lincolnshire restaurants, cafes and takeaways who’re working hard to serve us during the lockdown and beyond. They really have been up against it and are a testament to the resilience that has been so evident during the lockdown. Being in Lincolnshire we’re lucky to have such wide open spaces with lots of farmers producing some superb crops for us and for the local restaurants. Wouldn’t it be nice though if we could produce some of the fruit and vegetables for ourselves? Not all of us are able to enjoy a large garden so perhaps a vegetable patch isn’t a high priority when we need to consider making our space into a multi purpose area for children to play and for us to relax. However, having chatted to Simon (you may remember him from previous blogs) I think he’s found the perfect solution. If you have space for a straw bale in your garden or yard it appears that you have space for a vegetable patch!
Having looked around Simon’s website I’m at a loss as to what to include here. Not only does he run StrawbaleVeg growing courses from your own home (corporate events too) but he sells own brand seeds at realistic prices. I was very impressed to learn that while some others had increased prices significantly during the lockdown Simon kept his prices static. Well done Sir, I’m very impressed. It’s little things like this that catch my attention and impress me the most. I digress – who would have thought that you could grow your vegetables in a concrete yard or in such a small space? Obviously Simon did and I think it’s a fantastic idea. I was going to include pictures of the vegetable seeds that he supplies but there are far to many to list here. If you click on the picture above you’ll be taken straight to the www.strawbaleveg.co.uk website where you’ll be able to make your won selection and have them delivered.
Click on this picture to purchase The Strawbale Gardeners Handbook Vol 1
Would you believe that Simon has also produced an eBook which can be downloaded by clicking on the picture above ‘and’ a DVD that can be purchased from the website www.strawbaleveg.co.uk – you have been busy Simon!
Curry Jacks provides a mobile service around the Lincoln area on a Pre-Order basis. Take a look at their Facebook page for regular updates by clicking on the logo or follow on Twitter @CurryJackscaf
Damons, Doddington Road, Lincoln will be offering a drive through service from Thursday 21 May 20. Call ahead with your order (01522) 887722 or click on the menu to visit their website
Doddington Hall Farm Shop are still open for your shopping but please obey the social distancing rules. Follow them on Twitter @DoddingtonHall or click on the logo to find them on facebook.
FAB Craft Beer from Fiskerton are busy delivering boxed beer as well as bottled beers around the Lincoln area so why not click on the picture to follow them on Facebook or perhaps follow them on Twitter too @FABcraftbeer
The Garden Tea Room in North Hykeham is providing a Lincoln and surrounding area home delivery service for a modest £2.00 and they also have cakes, cheesecakes and lots more goodies to choose from. Click on this picture to follow them on Facebook and take a look at their menu below:
Burton Waters is the home to The Greek House who are now providing takeaway meals. Have a look at their menu and pre-order on 01522 542758. Click on the menu to follow them on Facebook
Imperial Teas of Lincoln are providing FREE DELIVERY on their mail order teas and coffees right now. That’s a great offer that can’t last forever so be sure to get your order in quickly. You can follow Imperial Teas Lincoln on facebook or on Twitter @Imperial_Teas Click on the logo to go straight to website to make your order – If you like your coffee strong I can personally recommend the Voodoo Comet.
Lincolnshire Brewing Company – delivering a selection of beers to suite every taste or collect directly from Langworth. Click on the picture to find them on facebook or follow them on Twitter @LincsBrewCo
MaCH Indian Restaurant (Wragby Road) are now offering a takeaway service. Click on the logo to find them on Facebook or go straight to their website to place your order www.machrestaurant.co.uk
Ole Ole Tapas Bar offer a delivery and (social distancing) collection service for their meals. Click on the logo to go to their Facebook page and click on the link here to go straight to their menu/order form www.oleolelincoln.co.uk or call them on 01522 534222
Lincoln & Gainsborough – Redhill Farm Shop offer a delivery and contactless collection service with safe in-store shopping too. Click on the picture to go straight to their website or follow them on Twitter @RedhillFarmPork
Sammys Chinese takeaway is set to open again on 20 May with social distancing rules in place (of course). Click on the picture to go to the ‘Lincoln food To Go’ Facebook group page. You can find Sammy’s Kitchen at Unit 11 Lambeth House, Woodhall Drive and you can call to make your order on 01522 567333
Cafe Shanti Vegan restaurant are now doing take away hot and frozen food (including breakfasts and curries) so why not order yours today? you can call them on 07735161481 or find them on twitter @Cafe_Shanti and Facebook by clicking on the picture
Veg Out Lincoln provides a delivery service in the Lincoln area including a vegan inspired recipe box and plant powered food plan. Gemma will have her new online booking site and new website ready very soon but in the mean time you can contact her through twitter @vegoutincoln or click on the picture for a link to her book
Louth
Beaumon’t Deli on Bridge Street in Louth are open to take your orders. You can follow them on Facebook Beaumont’s Deli or call 01507 355927
Market Deeping
Takeaway Weekends. Call 01778346952 to order or click on this picture to go to the website
Market Rasen
Cote Hill Cheese delivers cheese and milk locally. Click on the picture to go to their Facebook page
Minting
Minting (near Wragby) Farm Shop has a collection service with your safety in mind. Give them a call today to place your order. Click on the logo to go straight to their website
Skegness
Lymn Bank Farm handmade cheese. FREE delivery on orders over £20.00. You can follow them on Twitter @lymnbankfarm or click on this logo to go straight to their Facebook page
FREE DELIVERY. Go too www.postacheese.com for details and your order form or click on this picture to take you straight there.
Sleaford
A Little Luxury Distillery is still taking orders for Gin & Rum which will be delivered direct to your home. Click on the picture to go to the shop or follow on Facebook A Little Luxury and Twitter @ALittleLuxuryLt
Spalding
A real pub providing real beer. Buy a bottle and bring it back to get a refill – what an excellent idea. Click on the picture to find them on Facebook for an up-to-date- list of times and ales
Spilsby
Takeaway Afternoon Tea from @TheElm_Tree just outside Spilsby. Click on the picture to find them on Facebook and don’t forget, you can buy gift vouchers too!
Woodhall Spa
Woodhall Spa Bakery & Delicatessen provides fresh bread, cakes meats and much more. A gem in the Woodhall Spa crown offering Safe Distancing shopping. Click the picture to go to their Facebook page
The India Village restaurant and takeaway are providing takeaway meals during the lockdown. If you would like to order your meal click on the logo to go to the website or follow them on Facebook India Village. Alternatively you can give them a call on 01526 354657 or 01526 352223
The Tea House In The Woods is providing a range of foods from Afternoon Tea to Roast Meals and they’re all Take Away too with strict social distancing rules. click on the picture to go to their website or give them a ring on 01526 354455. You can also find them on Facebook at Tea House In The Woods
All this talk of food has made me quite hungry! This list is going to be added to but I’m going to get myself something to eat now. Bon appetite everyone and please don’t forget to let me know if there are any takeaway/safe shopping food outlets that need to be on here as I can add them later.
Stay Safe
Mandarin Therapies provides a bespoke mobile complementary therapies service from the comfort of your own home. Gift vouchers are available now then book your massage for later in the year. Mandarin Therapies “Feel the difference”
by Martin Thomas | May 5, 2020 | Antenatal, Aromatherapy, Bailgate, Burton Road, Ellis Mill, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Heritage, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Museum
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Museum Of Lincolnshire Life
Around Me In Lincolnshire – Burton Road & Bailgate – Museum Of Lincolnshire Life – Front entrance. This picture was taken in 2017 so the Lincoln Knight won’t be outside the gates anymore but there will be a new trail soon for the ‘Lincoln Imp’ so it’s worth checking out and putting in your diary.
Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour. There really is far too much to know about the museum to put in one blog so click on the picture above for a link to the website or click here to go straight to the same website Museum of Lincolnshire Life
If you’re interested in discovering more blogs by LincsConnect go to www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs The museum covers Lincolnshire culture and life through the ages from 1750 right up to the present day. The exhibits (over 250,000 of them) even include a world war one tank. For those of you who weren’t aware, the tank with its caterpillar tracks was actually developed in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire has a very strong engineering history and many of its historic pieces are displayed here. I have no doubt that some of the pieces may well still be in operation around the world today. As you can see, the red brick building has a rather grand looking entrance. It is actually an old Victorian barracks and was home to the Royal North Lincoln Militia.
The Walk
If you’re interested in the idea of a Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour the museum is a good place to start. As far as I can tell this is a suitable route for wheelchairs but be aware that Mill Road is a bit narrow so you may need to take to the road in parts. It’s a one way road and if you follow my route you’ll be facing oncoming traffic.
Make Time
Make plenty of time for your visit to this museum as it really is fascinating. When you’re ready to leave, turn right out of the entrance and right again at the crossroads. You’ll now have the museum and its car park on your right. Walk down Upper Long Leys Road and stop at the right turn to Mill Road.
Wartime History In Lincoln
The picture is deceiving. When you get up close you’ll realise that the wall isn’t just built around a corner, it is actually ‘that’ thick!
Before turning onto Mill Road take a look at the wall on your right and notice how thick it is. It’s not until you take a proper look that you realise that this wall is actually solid!
I’m reliably informed that there was another wall on the other side of the road and a chain would have been strung between the two. Believe it or not, this was part of our WW II home defence; had Britain been invaded by Germany this chain will have acted as a tank trap. The chain will have been pulled tight to stop the tanks thus enabling the home guard to execute an ambush. Continue onto Mill Road…
Ellis Mill Built in 1798
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Ellis Mill
For those of you in the Lincoln area this’ll be an unmistakeable landmark. It’s easily visible from the Grandstand and West Common area of Lincoln as it stands proud on the Cliff Top to the left of Lincoln Cathedral. I wonder how many of you have actually visited it though.
The normal opening times are Saturday afternoons from 2.00pm until dusk during the months of October to March and Saturdays & Sundays 2.00pm – 5.00pm from April to September. The entry fee is ‘free’. If you don’t manage to get there at the right time to look inside it’s still worth a visit for a photo opportunity. The picture above was taken from the footpath using my iPhone so in case you were wondering, ‘yes you can get that close!’
Built in 1798 the mill has seen a few owners as you can imagine! It’s currently owned and run by Lincoln County Council and is maintained by some dedicated volunteers. It survived a fire (just) in 1974, was restored and re-opened in 1981 and is still producing flour today.
Unsurprisingly you’ll find the mill on Mill Road, Lincoln. Parking is difficult in the area as the streets are narrow so I suggest walking from the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Entry is free (check before you go to make sure it isn’t closed for maintenance) but the visit won’t take you long so I suggest you make it part of a general sight seeing trip. Next free entry will be 17 Sep 22. Follow @VisitLincoln on twitter for updates
Mill Road To Burton Road
Continue walking along Mill road and note the different ages of the buildings and their architecture. The road is quiet but very narrow so be careful if you’re forced to walk on the road. You will however, be facing the oncoming traffic on the one way system. When you reach the end of Mill Road turn right and cross when it’s safe.
Mill Row
A sneaky picture of me taking a picture of the chimneys on Mill Row
If you look at the old outhouses along Mill Row you’ll notice that they all have chimneys. They may well have been where the household washing was done. I can imagine it must’ve been quite smokey in that area on wash day! Continue along Burton Road to the award winning Burton Road Chippy on your left. If you have time and are feeling peckish I can highly recommend a visit.
Award Winning Burton Road Chippy. Click on the picture to go to the website.
Since originally writing this blog the restaurant has had to close due to the economic downturn during the pandemic. However, make a note of the sign because the business has re-opened a little further up the road as a takeaway Fish & Chip shop. The fish is traced as is the local potatoes so you can be sure of freshness and quality. How they keep turning out such a high quality is beyond me but I guess that’s why they are award wining!
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Burton Road
You can be mistaken for thinking you’re in a village when you walk down Burton Road. With its local shops and thriving community it really does take on that village feeling. Do stop to browse and buy in the local shops then carry on towards the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
Keep walking past the museum and carry on to the mini roundabout then turn left onto Westgate. Historically this is where the gallows were housed. You’ll notice the pub on the opposite side of the road called ‘The Strugglers’ – apparently named after the people who were hanged but didn’t die instantly. We do have quite a gruesome past in the UK!
Carry on walking (the Castle will be on your right) until you reach The Castle Hotel then turn immediately left onto the cobbled street (Westgate Bight) at the side of the hotel.
Just a short walk on the cobbles will take you to a notice at the entrance to a small passageway. The notice informs you about the history of the Roman wall directly behind you. If my memory serves me well, this section of wall is the highest standing section of Roman wall in the city. I could be wrong though as I’m going from memory (which is notoriously bad) but the site is worth a visit nonetheless.
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Bailgate
I hope you’re enjoying the Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour so far. You’ll now be entering the Bailgate area so allow some time to explore.
Double back on yourself from the cobbles then turn left onto Westgate again. You’ll be entering the Bailgate area which has a whole history all of it’s own. Turning right in the Bailgate will take you towards the Castle and Cathedral. Once you’ve had a look around this area make your way back through the Bailgate walking past Westgate (where you came in) and carry on to the Newport Arch.
Newport Arch – Part of the Lincoln Roman wall
Carry on through the Newport Arch then turn right onto Church Lane. After just a few paces cross the road at the island then stop and look back. You’ll see the Police Station and City Fire Engine building.
City Police Station & Fire City Fire Engine building.
City Police Station
The City Police station and City Fire Engine building was under construction in 1881 according to the census. However, it may have been a police sergeants house. The first police sergeant in charge of the station was Robert Richardson. More information is difficult to find but It’s likely that the building was closed as a police station/sergeants house in 1967 but continued as a stores building until around November 1981. Apparently this is where new recruits would have picked up their uniform. It would have ceased to be used as a store when the
City Fire Engine
The building pre-dates petrol driven appliances hence its small size. Horse drawn appliances would have been used at the time so it’s unlikely that there are some stables near or around the back of the station. It’s likely that the police officers also doubled up as the local fire service too.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Formerly the Radion Cinema, then a supermarket before becoming BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Cross back over the road and head back towards Newport Arch. Keep walking and follow the road round towards the right on the road called ‘Newport’. after just a few paces you’ll see BBC Radio Lincolnshire on your right. This building has had a long history with previous guises being both a supermarket and a cinema. To many locals it’s still known as the Radion Cinema. It was built in 1939 as a 850 seat cinema but closed in 1960 and was re-commissioned as a supermarket. It again changed use in 1980 when it became the home of BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
In the roof space above the BBC Radio Lincolnshire is the air conditioning fittings but you can still clearly see the remain s of the old Radion Cinema screen and decorative wall patterns (Credit BBC Radio Lincolnshire for the photo)
Above the radio station and offices parts of the original Radion Cinema screen still remain intact.
Turn left onto Cecil Street and stay on the left side of the road. Part of the way down you’ll notice that the old terraced houses give way to a newer red brick building with a large arch into the car park. Immediately in front of you (inside the car park) you’ll see a remaining section of the roman wall that links the Newport Arch to the largest section of Roman wall that you will have seen earlier.
Carry on to the end of Cecil Street then turn left onto Rasen Lane. At the end of Rasen Lane you’ll find yourself back at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Congratulations, you’ve just done a mini walking tour of the Burton Road & Bailgate areas of Lincoln.
Staying In Lincoln?
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Additional Blogs For You:
Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? Help stamp out domestic abuse
Click or tap on the picture above to go to a previous blog. More blogs can be found on the website www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs
Stay Safe
by Martin Thomas | Apr 29, 2020 | Authors, books, Charity, Covid 19, Covid-19, COVID19, Food, Foodbank, Grimsby, Immingham, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Louth, Pie, Take Away, Takeaway, Vouchers
Food Glorious Food – Grimsby Food Kitchen
This Food Glorious Food – Grimsby Food Kitchen blog was published during the Covid19 lockdown of 2020. There have been some lovely stories emerging about organisations and individuals recently as they provide food for those in need during the pandemic. We mustn’t forget the organisations that have been providing food and support for the homeless and vulnerable all year round though. I can think of several and during this lockdown period I have had time to contemplate and decide what I value and what I am truly grateful for. As I look around and see more and more people doing wonderful things for the community I realise that I could and should (and will) be doing more.
I find many of my contacts through Twitter, several of them really stand out for their kindness, selflessness and community spirit. Some of the things they do without the need for praise or recognition is truly humbling and it’s worth remembering that they don’t have to do what they do. They could have an easy life and leave the volunteering to someone else. That said, if all the volunteers stopped what they were doing to leave the help for others to do, nothing would get done!
Grimsby Food Kitchen – Volunteers
Society owes the volunteers a great debt and with that in mind, I hope to write about some or all of them in my blogs to let their stories be known.
One such group is the Grimsby Food Kitchen which is run by Cath and Ken with help from some of their lovely volunteers. In normal circumstances (outside of the Covid-19 restrictions) Cath and Ken provide emotional support to the homeless and vulnerable people in Grimsby. Hugs and smiles usually flow freely.
I can’t imagine what it must be like to be homeless and without human contact. I can imagine though that the Grimsby Food Kitchen is much more than just a place to visit for Sunday lunch.
Grimsby Food Kitchen – The GFK provide so much more than just Sunday lunch. The smiles and kind eyes say so much more… Click on the picture for a link to the Facebook page
Grimsby Food Kitchen – Generous Donations
Sometimes, when you’re faced with the worry of having to move premises the answer is right on your doorstep. A very generous donation by Pete and Tricia saw the GFK move into new premises rent free for as long as they need it. A donation of £4000 from the Lincolnshire Community Foundation @LincolnshireCF and generous donations from the Rotary International, Humberston Lions and many others help the GFK to continue. Donations from the general public plus outstanding support from the local press who regularly contribute on their twitter feed @GrimsbyLive and through their website GrimsbyTelegraph.co.uk help to make it all work.
With these donations Cath and Ken are able to make bulk food purchases from the cash and carry in order to cook the Sunday lunches and Wednesday hot dogs. Support is always helpful of course but when you are volunteers providing a no cost service that the support is pretty vital.
Food Glorious Food – 5.00am Start
GFK Ready for service on Sunday and Wednesday lunch times
Alas, it’s not just a case of ‘turn up for work, cook, serve and leave’! There isn’t a kitchen in the centre so Cath cooks everything at home then transports it to 18 Clethorpes Road, Grimsby where she, Ken and their volunteers prepare to serve between 11.30am and 1.30pm. The additional voluntary help is essential if everything is to run smoothly.
Cath and Ken are always on hand to ‘dish out’ the smiles, hugs and support to those who need it and guide people to other agencies for additional support when required. I can imagine that the room is normally full of chatter and laughter but, with the Covid-19 outbreak they have had to adapt to a take-away service and social distancing. That will be difficult on many levels I’m sure.
I had a lovely chat with Cath yesterday and she explained how everything works. Although it’s very generous of people to turn up with a food parcel you can imagine the storage needed for small amounts of perishable foods – it just isn’t practical. The new Wednesday Hot Dog lunch sessions alone will need around 150 sausages each week so bulk buying is the only practical way forward.
Grimsby Food Kitchen Relies On Charitable Donations
Having chatted with Cath I can tell you now that she just isn’t the sort of person who will ask for glory, praise, recognition…… or cash! As a result, I’m asking on her behalf. If you can spare ‘any’ cash please get in touch via Facebook Grimsby Food Kitchen or Twitter @CathHomewood to make your arrangements.
Let’s keep in mind that the GFK isn’t the only charity in the County that needs your financial help. If you would like to make a donation to a charity in your local area perhaps this short blog will have helped to jog your memory.
I would also like to say a special thanks to @GrimsbyLive for the use of their pictures for this blog.
“Never Betray Anyone’s Trust”
Cath & Ken
When dealing with people it’s important to be approachable and trustworthy. That applies every day of course but when you’re talking to vulnerable people it’s important that they are able to trust you. Cath told me that she won’t tolerate ‘he said, she said’ conversations where people are talking about others. It’s probably fair to say that the people who are turning up for food are like an extended family. When they need help or advice it’s important for them to know that the person they’re talking to will be there for them. In Caths’ own words “never betray anyone’s trust” seems doubly important.
Bless you Cath and Ken, you’re doing a fantastic job. Keep smiling and keep cooking.
Food glorious Food By LincsConnect – Did Someone Say Food?
This year (2020) the Louth Pie Day (#LouthPieDay) had a bit of a setback. Just about to celebrate it’s second year….. and then we had the lockdown for Covid-19.
Not to be disheartened Justine and Kiat made a subtle change to the hashtag and called it #VirtualLouthPieDay. What a brilliant idea! Louth Pie Day is here to encourage visitors to the various shops in Louth to sample and buy a variety of pies. If there is any competition going on I certainly wouldn’t like to have to select an overall winner! What’s your idea of a pie? Is it a pork pie? What about a steak and ale pie? Vegetarian pie or vegan pie? Oh yes, and then there’s the fruit pie of course…
Click on this picture to go straight to the Facebook page
Food Glorious Food – Unfortunately the shops were closed for customers this year so there were no pies to be bought. As a result the #VirtualLouthPieDay was conceived and facebook and twitter followers were invited to make their own pies and share pictures. The creations can be found on the Facebook and Twitter @LouthPieDay pages. If you would like to see what happened just type in #VirtualLouthPieDay to your search bar on twitter or Facebook. Do also follow the pages to make sure you don’t forget to enjoy the fun next year.
#LincsConnectJobs
The #LincsConnectJobs hashtag is still live so if you have any jobs to advertise just add in the hashtag to your advert and tweet it. You can also use the hashtag on Facebook.
To follow @LtsaSCITT on twitter just click on this picture to go straight to their profile, click the follow button and search their tweets for more information.
If you’re considering a carer in teaching, recruitment is still going ahead for 2020 via Zoom. If you are interested email pslack@lincstsa.co.uk today for a Zoom link and an appointment. Don’t let Covid-19 deter you. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Are You A Reader?
Author Lynette Creswell from Immingham
Author Lynette Creswell has several books to her name already and has now produced a book of short stories which is due to be released very soon.
Being dyslexic I much prefer to read short stories so this book will be perfect for me. Do you have a preferred genre or do you just pick up a book that takes your fancy at the time? I know some people can read a whole book in a weekend (or even faster). I’m afraid a ‘normal’ sized paperback can take me up to a year to read. It’s odd that I can enjoy writing so much and can plan a blog like this one in my head in seconds. It takes around half a day to research it, put it together and post it but when it comes to reading….. Well, a year to read a paperback tells you its own story.
There’s an empty space where a book should be!
I’ve been invite to the ‘Cover Reveal’ for the new book of short stories titled ‘Cat Thief’ and I’m pleased to be able to extent that invitation to you too. Don’t worry, it’s all online so we’ll be safe and secure; Hopefully I’ll see you (virtually) there on Saturday 2 May 2020 from 11.00am to 12.30pm
Click on the picture to book your virtual place….
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Food Glorious Food By LincsConnect – Looking Forward…
I’m certainly looking forward to getting back to some sort of normality and I’m sure everyone else is too. With that in mind, I’ll leave you with a gift voucher idea that’ll give you something to look forward to. You can buy your voucher now and look forward to enjoying a bespoke massage from the comfort of your own home later in the year. What’s not to like? If you would like to order your e-voucher just email massage@mandarinleisure.com
Click on the picture to go to the Mandarin Therapies website
Stay Safe everyone
by Martin Thomas | Apr 27, 2020 | COVID19, Food, Lincolnshire, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect
Home Is Where The Heart Is – It’s Not Just Lincolnshire…
Home is where the heart is and it’s not just Lincolnshire. A huge number of volunteers across the country have stepped up to lend their help during the pandemic. They work in the community and from home. The whole nation supports their selfless actions and deeds. I salute you all for your kindness and dedication.
Whether you use social media or not you must surely be aware of some fantastic initiatives across Lincolnshire. By touching on a few I can highlight the hard work that everyone is putting in. Documenting a single initiative will highlight this and countless other selfless acts of kindness. Too numerous to mention but they’re all happening daily.
Home Is Where The Heart Is – Charity Really Does Start At Home
Nerves of steel – I wonder how many onions Barry has had to chop in his kitchen?
Staff of the NHS, police, fire, first responders and others were asked to step up to the mark as lockdown was announced. Many volunteers also sprang into action to lend a hand.
Barry is the head chef at The Pyewipe Inn Lincoln (2020) but found himself without customers thanks to the pandemic. That is until he teamed up with his neighbour Laurance to start cooking from home. Meals for the frontline services became their priority.
Let The Cooking Commence
Thankfully you don’t need a kitchen the size of a village hall to cook a thousand meals. Cook from home in a domestic kitchen while spending no money and having no ingredients. That’s a pretty tall order! Thankfully the generosity of local businesses and the public knows no bounds.
People have been so generous that Barry and Laurance managed to prepare and cook over a thousand meals. Staff at Lincoln County Hospital, Grantham Hospital, Sleaford fire and police crews, Nettleham police HQ, Metheringham fire station, ambulance crews and more. They all benefited from the skills and dedication of this duo.
The men behind the meals… You can find them on Twitter @LiversidgeBaz or click on this picture to find them on Facebook
I might have caved in after chopping my way through my second or third batch of onions so hats off to these guys. They saw the queues at the supermarkets and experienced the empty shelves so decided to put their skills to good use. As a result they made it their priority to make sure our frontline services were fed.
Having food and ingredients delivered from The Pyewipe Inn, (Lincoln), The Old Angel Inn (Bardney), Jordans/Ryvita (Bardney) and Moy Park (Sleaford) to name just a few, the meals are produced at home then locals collect and deliver the meals to the front line workers.
Cooked and portioned
Lids and labels
Baked with love
Appreciated by all
Home Is Where The Heart Is – It’s Not Just About Feeding The Frontline
Taking meals to the workers isn’t just about making sure they are fed and able to do their job. We struggled to get ingredients needed for our meals but we managed to get something. Without doubt, showing a greater understanding and appreciation for the jobs and risks of key workers is paramount.
We all know what a fantastic job the NHS staff, police, fire crews and paramedics are doing during this difficult time. The key worker list is much bigger than that though. The farmers in the picture would’ve been surprised to receive their free lunch but without them we won’t be getting fed in the future.
#StayHomeSaveLives is a very important message for most of us. Perhaps we tend to forget how many key workers still have to go to work to ensure we stay safe at home and have a future to look forward to. It’s not just about the food. It’s also about the recognition and gratitude. Being on the receiving end of a gift is always nice but in these difficult times it means so much more.
Home Is Where The Heart Is – Delivering 250 Meals Each Week
You don’t need to be too much of a mathematician to work out that delivering 250 meals a week will soon lead to 1000 delivered. Actually, the 1000 milestone has already been reached. It won’t be long before we are looking at 1500. The system relies on people delivering the raw ingredients with others collecting the cooked meals for distribution. Logistically it must’ve been a headache and I’m sure the pressure has been high since day one.
The project would never have taken off without the enthusiasm of Barry and Laurance plus the support and generous food donations from Sarah Pickles (The owner of The Pyewipe Inn). Assistance in the kitchen by Julie Ann Clark who also helped to provide some of the fresh veg has been a great help. You can visit Julies charity shop in Horncastle and visit her on Facebook too Thrifty’s Community Charity Shop.
Huge respect to everyone involved but especially to Barry and Laurance who had the vision, skill and foresight to make it all happen.
#LincsConnect Music
The Tin Pigeons are a duo from Rutland…
Being a music lover I follow quite a few local bands, orchestras and choirs so I thought you might like to hear what I’ve found. I follow @TheTinPigeons on twitter and this one is from their back catalogue (click on the picture above to hear their song ‘Steel’). If you like what you hear why not nip across to their YouTube channel, give them a follow on twitter or Facebook
Revivalry – A young band from Cleethorpes
Revivalry @RevivalryBand are a young up and coming band from Cleethorpes who I’ve also been following on Twitter. I’m really pleased to be able to post their first studio recording ‘Run’ here today. I get the feeling this won’t be their last studio recording and it may well be the beginning of something rather big. You can follow them on Twitter, Facebook or on their YouTube channel. Enjoy
If you would like to hear more Indie bands you could give Dave a follow on Twitter @Laamb4 or better still give his website a visit https://www.laamb.co.uk where you’ll find an update for lots of local music and arts plus regular charts and much more:
“This site is dedicated to promoting Artists and Musicians in Lincolnshire. We aim to combine the marketing of local art and music, with features and sales of material produced within Lincolnshire.”
Click on the picture to go straight to the LAAMB website
That’s just about it for this edition but let me leave you with one more note. Please keep it in mind and pass it on whenever you feel it’ll be appropriate:
Click on the picture to go straight to the website. If you know someone who may be affected call 0808 801 0327
Stay Safe
by Martin Thomas | Apr 22, 2020 | Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, Lincs Police, LincsConnect, LincsPolice, police
Be Tolerant. Are We Tolerant Enough In Lincolnshire?
I wonder what your thoughts are? Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? Do you think we have become more or less tolerant during the Coronavirus pandemic? Putting the pandemic to one side, ask the same question “are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire” in general?
Without doubt I have seen some truly exceptional acts of kindness and heroism in recent times and I really hope it continues into our future lives on this planet. Members of the NHS have stepped up to provide an outstanding service to keep us safe and well. Helping those who have succumbed to the virus is (excuse the pun) in their DNA.
When I say NHS staff I don’t just mean the doctors, nurses, midwives, physios and the whole host of other medical clinicians and experts. No, I include the background staff too. The health care support workers, cleaning staff, porters, canteen staff and the huge army of volunteers who’ve put themselves forward to help. Without these people the ‘front line’ workers couldn’t do their job effectively.
Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? On the whole, ‘yes’. Many of us have given up our normal way of life in order to preserve life. Keeping that safe distance has now become normal for most of us. Some are still ignorant to the dangers of not distancing while others are genuinely putting themselves in harms way in order to help maintain our health, freedom and way of life.
Some things never change. Our Police are still here to look after us and protect us
Policing The Streets
It can’t have escaped your attention that the police are continuing to do their primary roles as well as policing the streets to make sure we keep a safe distance. I read on social media recently that a group of people had been dispersed for quad biking in some local Lincolnshire woods.
Not only had they ignored the social distancing rules but it appears that they had travelled from Bedfordshire to do it! It’s beyond comprehension that people would knowingly put lives in danger like this. I feel both sorry for, and proud of, our Lincolnshire police who constantly put themselves in harms way to deal with these acts of lunacy.
Day in, day out, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year… The police are always on duty to protect us. It’s fair to say that I’m a great fan of ‘everyone’ who acts so selflessly to protect me, my family and everyone else in our County and country.
Pride in Our Lincolnshire Police
Having witnessed an incident in London during Christmas (2019) we accompanied a young lady to the local transport police station to provide witness reports and support. The police officer on duty was very helpful and did everything he could to assist. At the end of the meeting he handed us some plastic wallets for our Oyster cards.
The wallets had the emergency numbers on for reporting crime on London transport. He then instructed us to fold the wallet inside out to hide the police markings telling us that showing the wallet in London might make us a ‘target’.
I know I’m a ‘country boy’ but I was quite surprised at this advice. Have you noticed that in Lincolnshire there is a great pride in our local force? Whenever I see @LincsPolice posts on social media when they are out in the community the police and public are always smiling and engaging.
Obviously if things go wrong we can expect to be dealt with accordingly but that’s the nature of the job! In these difficult times the tolerance levels of our police officers must sometimes be tested to the max!
Are We Tolerant Enough In Lincolnshire? – Coronavirus And The Police
I only know bits and pieces about how the Lincolnshire Police are operating during these difficult times. In fact I don’t know any more than the average reader. However, I do know a lady who knows just about everything there is to know about policing during the lockdown. Let me introduce you to Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Kerrin Wilson @KerrinWilson999 who will be chairing a Q&A session on Facebook this Thursday morning (23 April 2020) at 10.00am. We’re all invited:
Q&A – Click on this picture to go to the Facebook post
If you have a mind to help and would like to have your opinions heard perhaps you might be good enough to complete the survey below. This is a copy of the image from the Lincolnshire Police Facebook page so the blue link you see in the picture won’t work. However, if you click (or tap) on the picture you’ll be taken straight to the survey. Alternatively, you can go directly to the Lincolnshire Police Facebook page to complete it from there.
Click on the picture to complete the survey
How Tolerant Are We?
Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? I’m talking about our personal lives and perceptions. If we ‘conveniently’ forget the social distancing rules for purely selfish reasons how do we react if we’re reminded to step back or turn around and go home? Something simple like reaching across someone in the supermarket to pick something off the shelf – it’s unacceptable but how do we react if we’re asked to step back and wait?
The answer should be obvious but I’m afraid the obvious doesn’t always happen. It can lead to confrontation (personal experience speaking)! Ask yourself this simple question each day: “Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire?”
Don’t invade someones space and don’t be confrontational if you’re asked to move back. Good manners applies both ways so with a bit of common courtesy we can all be happy
The coastal towns and beauty spots were closed over the Easter holidays (2020) but some people still thought it would be acceptable to ignore the rules. The rules are there for the safety of everyone so for those who are feeling aggrieved over the situation I ask for a little more tolerance for a little longer please. It’s not rocket science but disobeying the rules could be life threatening!
The Dark Side
Domestic Abuse ….. Rather than going away this ugly and often hidden form of abuse is now more prevalent than ever.
Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? Tolerance takes on a whole new meaning when we consider domestic abuse. Being locked in together can cause some anxieties and tension for families. As a result we usually have coping mechanisms and rational thinking that allow us to overcome the tensions with simple distractions. However, abusers and those suffering from abuse (physical, mental, emotional or financial) can really be finding life more difficult now.
Domestic abuse doesn’t have age limits or gender preferences. If you know someone who is suffering call the police today. You’ll find some useful numbers here but if there is an immediate threat of harm call 999. The Covid 19 lockdown won’t stop the police from carrying out their duties. They’re here for us 24 hours a day.
Click on this picture to go straight to the EDAN Lincs website. If your life is in danger call 999. If you need to make a silent call to protect your safety call 999 and add 55. You’ll also find @EDANLincs on Twitter
GET HELP if you are suffering. Use the numbers above or 999 if you’re in immediate danger. CLICK ON THIS PICTURE for more information
Don’t Put Yourself In Danger
If you are unable to speak during ‘any’ emergency simply dial 999 and add 55. The operator will immediately see that you are in need of help but are unable to talk. Your call will be tracked and you’ll get the help you need.
Hate Crime
Religious, race and homophobic abuse has no place in our society so don’t tolerate it. If you are aware of religious, race, homophobic or any other related abuse REPORT IT. Call 101 to report hate crime and call 999 if you fear imminent danger. Your action could result in an organised network being uncovered and prosecuted. Let’s all be more tolerant of each other. Employers also have a duty of care for their staff so if abuse is happening in the workplace, report it there too.
Some Things Need To Be Said Or Asked – Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire?
I know my blogs normally focus on the good things, the jolly things, the brighter side of life but some things need to be brought out into the open. Perhaps you can help to make someones life that little bit happier again. If you have doubts or suspicions make the call. Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? I hope so!
Additional Blogs For You:
#WhatsOnLincs – Louth In Lincolnshire by LincsConnect – Louth Market
Click on the picture above to go to a previous blog. More blogs can be found at www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs
Stay Safe Everyone
#StaySafeSaveLives I’m going to clean my keypad, clean the mouse, clean the iPad, wash my hands and get out on my bike for an hour. #StaySafeSaveLives #HandsFaceSpace
