Video lessons to indoor rugby - how Edinburgh is coping with working from home

All those who can work from home must do so.

People from all over Edinburgh have found themselves spending more time at home than ever before in the wake of government lockdown to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

We asked Evening News readers about how they were keeping themselves entertained during this unprecedented period of isolation and working from home.

Film editor Stephen Mulholl and baby Xavier.

Paul McKerrow, a front of house manager for events and performances, has set up a place to work from his home on Easter Road.

“So far so good,” he said when asked how working from home was going.

“I’ve tried to recreate a few similarities between my home and my office at work.”

He added: “Technology has played an important part in keeping in touch with our teams over video conference.

Paul McKerrow is using video conferencing to keep in touch with colleagues.

“I have also tried to keep my routine as close to normal as possible.”

Darren McMillan has been self isolating at his home in Dalkeith with his son, Kyle, 14, who is more at risk from the virus due to Type 1 Diabetes.

Mr McMillan, a self-employed joiner, has been keeping Kyle entertained as best he can.

Darren McMillan and his son Kyle, 14, a keen touch rugby player.

The pair of them shared a clip on Facebook of themselves playing catch with a rugby ball through doorways around the house.

“Nothing has been broken yet,” said Mr McMillan.

“We get some time in the garden when the weather’s nice but when it’s not we’ve got to think of something else to do inside.

“I’ve been inventing some strange games, just trying to think of weird and wacky things to do really.”

Kyle had been missing rugby training while in self-isolation, as the 14-year-old represents Scotland on the U15 Touch Rugby team.

He played at the European Championships in France last year, and ordinarily trained four times a week.

“From four times a week to nothing is hard,” said Mr McMillan, who devised the indoor game as a way to keep both father and son entertained and maintain some ball skills.

Other games created by Mr McMillan include a rule against making cups of tea until you have managed to throw the teabag into the mug.

He hopes that his and Kyle’s rugby clip will inspire other locals cooped up inside to entertain themselves as best as they can - without, he adds, blaming him for any smashed ornaments.

Kate McAllister, who works in communications within science and medicine, is currently on maternity leave.

Her husband, film editor Stephen Mulholl, is finding himself working from home with a new helper - 10-month old baby Xavier.

“It’s interesting!” she said.

“We’ve turned our box room into an office, which has made life easier.”

“We’ve also been in our garden for the first time since we moved in as we’d normally go to the Meadows.”

Anita Le Tissier is a nursery teacher in Edinburgh.

She has been finding creative ways to engage with her nursery class remotely, including using video lessons.

One video on the subject of dams reminds children of an activity which took place last week when the children were still at the nursery, and saw them attempting to stop the flow of water with their hands.

Ms Le Tisser has now created a follow-up lesson by video, which teaches about flowing water and famous dams.

Nicole, 20, works at one of the Sainsbury’s superstores in Edinburgh.

She has continued to go into work during the coronavirus pandemic, and keeps her spirits and those of her co-workers up by bringing baked treats into work - made with strict hygiene standards to try and avoid the spread of the disease.

On her days off she travels through Fife to deliver food packages to her family.

Do you have a story to share about working from home? Get in touch on [email protected]