Some entertaining ideas by our special columnist, Perrie Croshaw

A Shetland came to visit!

Bring the music home
The Sydney Opera House is running a ‘from our house to yours’ program of full-length performances, live recordings and never-before-
seen footage from the Opera House archives. From Missy Higgins to Beethoven.
www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Music Travel Love: Missing the great outdoors?
Twins Bob and Clint travel the world with their mobile sound studio, recording great songs in amazing landscapes such as: Have You Ever Seen the Rain at the Grand Canyon, More Than Words at Alberta Falls Canada, Perfect at Gasparilla Island and more…
Go to Youtube.com and search for Music Travel Love.

Not enough Drama in your life?
The UK’s National Theatre is showing a series of plays from April 2, free to stream for a week. First play is One Man, Two Guvnors with James Corden.
Youtube.com channel – National Theatre at Home.

Tiptoe through the tulips… or irises… or sunflowers
Wander past Van Gough’s The Starry Night at New York’s MOMA, Caravaggio’s Medusa at the Uffizi in Florence, Rembrandt’s Self Portrait at the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam or Millais’ Ophelia at The Tate.
https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/14-virtual-museum-to-visit-during-social-distancing-and-quarantine-2905827/

Or closer to home, the Art Gallery of NSW
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection

And the Newcastle Art Gallery in the Hunter Valley also have a virtual tours of their collections
www.nag.org.au/virtual-tour

Kiama library ebooks, audio-books and virtual events
Here’s one for the kids: Storytime is going online from Kiama Library with the lovely Elizabeth and Lauren every Wednesday at 10.30am.
www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/library

And while the actual Library is closed, visit the website to reserve e-books and audio books.

Get a wild life, observing wildlife
“Birds can bring you joy, solace and a connection to the natural world,” says BirdLife Australia, especially at a time like this. So, they’ve created a resource for you and the kids to have fun, learn new skills and enjoy the beauty of our feathered friends while our movements are restricted.

Especially checkout the Birds in Backyards Autumn Survey because scientists would love to know what birds you can see from your windows, on your windowsills or in your backyards.
www.networkbirdlife.org/birding-at-home

Let’s get physical
Kiama Leisure Centre is running free yoga and fitness programs on their Facebook page. Enjoy a 60 minute Yoga session or home fitness program with Mary
@kiamafitnesscentre

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
Get online to learn a language. Kids will love this, too, and it can be more fun than watching TV. Learning a language is good for the brain.
Check out Youtube.com and search learn a language or download the Duolingo app.

Missing friends and family?
Download Zoom or another video conferencing platform, put on your gladrags and host your own (virtual) dinner party, drinks night or chat with friends, all from the comfort of your sofa.
Everyone’s doing it! Download the free Zoom app and google how to use it.

Enjoy a visit from some virtual animals
Be like Lucia (above) and have some 3D animals come and visit!

Choose your favourite animals and stage your scenes for endless amusement.

Just google your favourite animals on a smart phone and see if they are available from their Wikipedia entry as augmented reality. Then see them come alive at your place, complete with sound.
Some to try as a start are tiger, brown bear, panda, lion, shark and turtle.