Last month the Local News shared some Beeston creatives and what they got up to during their spare time in lockdown. Below we find out about two more residents:
50 things
Wendy Lippman from Chilwell turned 50 in September. Feeling negative about it, she decided to do something positive and try 50 new things during her 50th year that would be both fun and challenging. But she didn’t stop there, she decided to raise money for her 4 favourite charities whilst doing so.
Wendy said, “I’ve been asking all my friends, family and anyone else to sponsor me and have raised around £840 so far, with a target of £ 1000. The deadline is 11.9.21!.
“My list of 50 things range from physical challenges (like climbing Ben Nevis, doing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, cycling 100 miles in a day) to creative (like starting a blog, learning to cook meringues, accompanying my daughter on the piano), digital (e.g. learning to play Minecraft, tweeting), exciting (e.g. helicopter ride) and travel (e.g. go to Edinburgh Festival, Auschwitz, stay in an ice hotel).
Every month I do a blog to update my supporters on my progress, with pictures, videos etc. My charities are Juno Women’s Aid (South Nottinghamshire), Mencap, the Mental Health Foundation and the Worldwide Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. I’ve started to interview people from each charity and post the link to them on each blog, one per month.
In June Wendy took park in the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, and coming up she has the long cycle ride in July and climbing Ben Nevis in August.
Wendy continued, “Although lockdown has prevented many of the activities between November to April, there have still been a lot of other activities that I have been able to do, as well as training for the physical challenges, so it has been good fun and given me something else to focus on during this really difficult time. My family have been very supportive.”
To support Wendy, please visit: www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyLIPPMANN
Whittling & photography
Father of four girls, Ben Harbottle who is also from Chilwell, has used his time during lockdown to engage in multiple endeavours.
Ben said, “I have always been creative and have been writing and sharing poetry for years. Around May last year during lockdown I had a seizure and was diagnosed epileptic. Since then, I have been had to leave work due to prolonged illness.
“As a means to occupy my time and lift my spirits since leaving work I have started going on nature walks and taking photos and I have started whittling/carving wood. The nature photos I post to a twitter account I started called @naturenotfar whose aim is to showcase nature throughout Nottingham. I am also currently doing market research into the possibility of opening an independent bookshop whose main aim is to promote and sell artwork from local artists.”