Back to mine – but only briefly!
AMAN who found a washedup sea-mine on a beach and rolled it home to use as a footstool has been forced to hand it over to the Royal Navy.
Stunned Joe Gray, 43, spotted the massive mine on rocks near his home in Penzance, Cornwall.
Joe runs a salvage yard and wanted to keep the device and make it the centrepiece of his quirky collection.
He used the mine to put his feet on and as a coffee table and said it became part of the furniture.
Joe had been told by the Government’s Receiver of Wreck team that he could keep it if it was unclaimed after one year.
But Joe said his dreams of becoming its permanent owner were dashed when the Royal Navy visited him to reclaim it.
Joe said after finding it he called coastguards, who confirmed it was non-explosive and had come free after being used in a training exercise.
Joe, a self-confessed lover of all things “weird and wonderful”, then dragged the mine to his salvage and reclamation yard, Shiver Me Timbers.
He added: “In this line of work, we’re always coming across weird and wonderful things – and I’d been on the hunt for a mine for a while.
“As soon as I heard a mine had washed up, I was so excited – I dropped what I was doing and came running.”
He added: “Obviously I didn’t go anywhere near it until I knew it was safe but as soon as I knew what I was dealing with, I couldn’t wait to get it back to the shop.
“I thought if I could keep it, I might have it turned into a unique stove or a piece of artwork, but that wasn’t to be because the Navy wanted it back.
“I’ll just have to hope another one washes up.”
Joe said he was able to proudly display the mine in his yard, and even in his home, for just under two weeks.
Coastguards told him the mine contained no explosives because it had originally been tethered to the sea bed as part of a Royal Navy training exercise in Plymouth several months ago before breaking free and washing up on rocks.
MAKE A PRACTICAL PLAN If you’re unable to get to the shops for food and medicine, that can be a worry, so work out how you can get any supplies you need. Ask a neighbour or friend, find a delivery service or take a look at local Facebook groups offering mutual aid.
If you have a doctor or hospital appointment booked in for existing physical or mental health issues, go if you can, and discuss how to continue receiving support.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS Everyone is missing their friends and family, and a good chat is one way to give yourself a boost. Sometimes it can be hard to admit you’re struggling, so arrange to check in with one friend to see how they are – and they can do the same for you.
And why not set up a WhatsApp group for friends and family who enjoy a particular TV show? It’s a simple way to get together and have an “event” to look forward to.
TALK ABOUT YOUR WORRIES It’s normal to feel a bit scared about the current situation. And it’s OK to share your concerns with others you trust – remember, doing so may help them talk about theirs too.
But if you feel like you don’t want to burden others who are having a hard time too, there are plenty of helplines you can try.
The Samaritans offers confidential support: call free 24 hours a day on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
LOOK AFTER
YOUR BODY
Our physical health has a big impact on how we feel. At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour that end up making you feel worse.
Try to eat healthy, wellbalanced meals, drink enough water and stay active – and try to avoid smoking, drugs or drinking too much alcohol.
Physical activity can help to boost your mood, but often it’s the last thing you feel like doing when you just want to stay in bed and block out the day. There are lots of workouts you can do at home, so try to get into a habit when you’re having a better day. An online PE session first thing can give you a lift for the day ahead.
Find a type of exercise you enjoy – that’ll make it easier to motivate yourself. Write down how you feel at the start and then compare that with how you’re doing afterwards.
For more tips and support to look after your body, search NHS Better Health.
STAY ON TOP OF DIFFICULT FEELINGS Remember, feeling worried about things just now is normal. But you might be experiencing intense anxiety that can affect your day-to-day life. If so, try to focus on the things you can control, such as how you act, who you speak to and where you get information from.
Try some ideas to help manage your
taking extra time to look after your own health is one thing you can control, so concentrate on the small things you can do to make the situation better.
For tips and advice to cope with difficult feelings, search Every Mind Matters.
AVOID OVERWHELMING YOURSELF WITH NEWS It’s tempting to “doom scroll” on your phone the moment you wake up or just before you go to sleep, but this will only add to your stress.
Set yourself a specific time to read updates, and be mindful of how you are consuming news depending on your mental health. Be wary of and fact check any information you see on social media. If you feel you’re going down a rabbit hole of bad news, set your timer for 15 minutes and do something else (that’s where cleaning can be very therapeutic!)
CHECK YOUR EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS RIGHTS
Work and money are a big worry while you have to stay home, and this can affect your mental health. Talk to your employer if necessary. Also find out about Government support for businesses and self-employed people, and understand your sick pay and benefits rights.
CARRY ON DOING THINGS YOU ENJOY
If you feel worried or low, you may stop doing things you usually enjoy. Make an effort to focus on your favourite hobby if you can still do it at home. Or start a new one: do crosswords or jigsaws, bake, or try drawing and painting. Don’t underestimate the power of sitting under a blanket with a good book, bingeing on a feel-good Netflix show or blasting out some music while you’re tidying the house.
TAKE TIME TO RELAX Home used to be a place for rest and relaxation, but after nearly a year of spending so much time there, it’s no wonder it’s becoming harder to find the head space to switch off.
If you’re working from home,
try to set limits on your day: log off and enjoy a lunchtime walk, and spend evenings away from the laptop. And make sure weekends feel different, whether you take the opportunity to enjoy a home spa experience, board games with the kids or a refreshing afternoon nap.
Practise relaxation techniques to help with difficult emotions – check out the Every Mind
Matters website.
AND GET SOME G SLEEP Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how you feel, so it’s important to get enough. Try to maintain your regular sleeping pattern, even though it’s tempting to let routine go out of the window when you’re at home all the time.
STRIKE A POSE Staying active is vital for both physical and mental health
KEEP REGULAR HOURS
Go to bed when you feel tired and get up at roughly the same time. And avoid naps.
CREATE A RESTFUL ENVIRONMENT ake sure your bedroom is dark, quiet and cool.
OVE MORE emember, being active during the day helps you to sleep better.
ON’T FORCE SLEEP f you’re wide awake, get up and do something relaxing, like reading a book, until you feel sleepy.
WRITE DOWN YOUR WORRIES
Making a list can help put your mind at rest.
CUT DOWN ON CAFFEINE AND BOOZE Especially so near bedtime, as they can stop you falling asleep or affect the quality of your sleep.