SUSAN GETS EVERYONE MOVING AND GROOVING
While we’re all locked up inside, we’ve had to find new ways of keeping ourselves fit, healthy and entertained.
And if dancing around the house is your choice of activity, you might as well do it like no one is watching.
That’s certainly the motto which Active Communities CEO Susan McDonald has adopted.
As part of the online activities the charity has been posting since lockdown began, the 55 year old has been giving everyone a giggle by donning her best nostalgic costumes and performing dance routines to the likes of Wham, Abba, Elvis and Taylor Swift.
From pom poms and sunglasses to tap shoes and glow sticks, Susan has kitted herself out every morning and cranked up the stereo to post hilarious grooves on Twitter and Facebook.
And it’s something which has gotten a lot bigger than she had ever anticipated.
It might have started out as a bit of a laugh, but dozens of Renfrewshire residents now find themselves poised at the computer at the crack of dawn waiting for the next performance.
“I did not plan to do this everyday, it really was just a bit of a joke to start with,” said Susan, who lives in Ralston.
“But I’ve just kept going as I was getting so many comments. I thought I’ve started something now!
“It’s really just to give everyone a giggle at this difficult time and it certainly gives me a purpose as well.
“The costumes are something I decided to bring into it because I’m just silly like that.
“I honestly don’t mind making a fool of myself if it gives people a laugh.”
Things haven’t been easy for Active Communities since the team were forced to close their bases in Paisley and Johnstone due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Usually, staff and volunteers would be running arts and crafts workshops, fitness sessions and cookery classes for around 250 people every week.
A lot of activities have now moved online though, and around 100 people every week are still enjoying taking on challenges and having a blether with their friends over Zoom.
Susan added: “It’s been difficult because obviously face-to-face is always better with groups of people.
“But, at the moment, we are still getting around 100 people taking part in things each week.
“We are still delivering some of our workshops online such as cookery and arts and crafts and we’ve hosted our Sunday blether group as well over Zoom.
“People can at least see each other then, it’s the next best thing.
“We’ve been making sure we are phoning people and keeping in touch as much as we can.”
Susan has promised she won’t be calling time on her dance moves anytime soon, as she’s now digging through her record collection for something to do a bit of line dancing to.
Whether it’s Cotton Eye Joe or 5,6,7,8, she’s sure to have Renfrewshire in stitches as lockdown continues.