Despite isolating, we’re baring our souls… and a whole lot more besides in lockdown

Method:

WHEN I saw a naked Charles Saatchi wander into shot while his girlfriend Trinny was videoing an Instagram post on make-up tips from their (rather fabulous) bathroom, it got me thinking.

One of the upsides of lockdown is that because we’re all having to work on Zoom and Skype, it means we can have a gratuitous nosey into other people’s lives. I was doing something on Sky this week from our kitchen and during the break I was told the director wanted a quick word.That could only mean I’d accidentally said the F-word or I’d been talking nonsense.

It turns out he just wanted to know what breed our dog Murphy is because he thought he was fabulous. I’d forgotten he was there so I said I’d get him out for the next part of the show: “No, no, leave him there! We love him in the shot.”

Ten seconds later the presenter came into my ear, “Carole, what make is your fridge/freezer? I’ve been looking for one for ages and that’s exactly what I want.”

So, I am under no illusion now that whatever I say on telly during lockdown – about politics, about what’s happening in the world – no one actually gives a stuff. They’re more interested in having a gander round the house which I completely understand as it’s exactly what I would do and it’s far more riveting than anything I have to say.

Then last week a friend was in a Zoom meeting with his boss and a dozen others. When the meeting started, the boss’s wife was in the back garden in full gym-bunny kit doing her daily workout.

Now I know this particular lady and she’s in fantastic shape and so for the entire meeting no one gave two hoots what the boss was saying – they were all gawping at his very fit wife through the patio windows.

And this is all good isn’t it?We’re getting little snapshots of the lives of the people we work with that we wouldn’t otherwise have if it weren’t for lockdown.And not only does this humanise them it’s often very funny too. In many ways that shot of a naked Saatchi wandering around his bathroom oblivious that it was being broadcast to millions was sort of reassuring – testament that the rich and famous don’t live much differently to the rest of us.They just have bigger, more beautiful bathrooms. But you can also get caught out.A friend’s daughter was having a chemistry lesson on Zoom and didn’t understand what her teacher was saying.

So, forgetting her microphone was on, she started singing Justin Bieber’s song, ‘What Do You Mean?’ Now, this particular teacher is pretty eccentric anyway – she does lessons in her conservatory surrounded by dozens of budgies which she intermittently kisses (you see those kids would never have known that about her without lockdown). Anyway, my friend’s daughter was warbling away for two whole minutes before the teacher eventually snapped: “Who IS that singing?” She had to own up.

My point is that even though we are all locked down, there are parts of our lives that have been opened up to people we barely know – and it’s incredibly revealing. I’ll admit I look at the backdrops to some people’s lives and I cringe a bit – dated décor, awful wallpaper, terrible lamps. But then I look at others’ houses and I feel an immediate connection to them.

Lots of people have taken to posing in front of their bookshelves – presumably because they think it makes them look scholarly. But I don’t look at the book titles – I’m looking at how the books are arranged on the shelf.Are they neat, messy, colour-coded, lined up by size, by subject? I can spot an OCD person or a slob at 100 paces.

So even though we’re not meeting up with people in lockdown we’re seeing more of their personalities than we would normally. Of course knowing as much as I now know about Charles Saatchi’s backside is a revelation I could have done without.That said – it all adds to the rich tapestry of Life in Lockdown.

IT IS so important when staying at home to keep moving – for the benefit of your physical and mental health.

So the Daily Express has teamed up with award-winning fitness coach Julie Bartlett to bring you some beneficial exercises.

If you have been following Julie’s routines, you will have been working on your strength and your aerobic fitness.

Now it is time to work on your flexibility and stiffness.

Please watch the short descriptive videos before participating and you will see the different stretches: express.co.uk/ videos/6154367934001/ Workout-at-home-Fitnessexpert-showcases-simplestretches

If you have any medical conditions or restrictions, please check with your doctor before participating.

Julie says: “Stretching is so good for our bodies and following a routine every day helps keep your muscles flexible and strong. Stretching can improve posture, reduce tightness and even help you to relax. I love to stretch at the end of each day in front of the TV and others love to start the day with a stretch. Do what you can, when you can.

You won’t need any fancy equipment and there is no need to change into fitness wear.

Hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds and do what feels right for your body. Some of the stretches are more dynamic (with movement) so flow slowly into the positions shown and hold on the last repetition for 20 seconds. Start easy and increase the stretches as you become more flexible. Remember to warm up first. You can do Julie’s easy-to-follow stretches day by day or collect all the exercises and build them into a longer workout

● Find more exercises and tips juliebartlett.me/hub