‘It’s brought us close to neighbours’ - Hastings dance steps raise spirits
With the country entering its third week in lockdown, many communities and streets are doing all they can to raise spirits and maintain emotional and physical health.
This was on the mind of the Hastings family as they reached out to their neighbours and brought some music and movement to their street.
A video posted yesterday showed former Scotland player Scott Hastings dancing down his street as his wife and daughter started up a lively exercise class.
Wife Jenny Hastings explained: “I was coming back from walking our dog Parker when I got chatting to a neighbour who asked what stretches I did after a run.
“Before long we were chatting about dancing and doing the Hokey Cokey.
“Next afternoon I went out with our daughter Kerry-anne exercising. We grabbed a CD and put some music on.
“Before long there were 16 people out in their driveways exercising and dancing, with Scott dancing up and down the street.”
The spectacle has become a daily ritual for local residents, with Scott adding: “We’re keeping them fit and healthy.”
As well as daily exercises, the neighbours are chatting over fences and checking in on each other.
Jenny said: “We didn’t really know our neighbours before this lockdown. It’s really brought us together, which is so important at this time.”
Scott won 65 caps at centre for Scotland from 1986 to 1997 and is the younger brother of Scottish great Gavin Hastings.
Alongside his wife, Scott is an ambassador for charity Support in Mind Scotland, which last year launched its 100 Street Challenge.
The challenge encourages participants to walk, run or cycle 100 streets in their community ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
Scottish sports broadcaster Andrew Cotter, who has covered Wimbledon, the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, has meanwhile come to global attention after tweeting comedy videos of his two Labradors.
The “dog Olympics” began with his two canine stars, Olive and Mabel, eating from their bowls with Cotter’s commentary over the top.
In one clip, Cotter recites in a deadpan voice: “So into the final minute and Olive in possession – but this is where Mabel is strong, chasing the game, using that intensity.”
The dogs are seen engaged in a quiet power battle over an orange rubber bone.
Appearing on BBCS Good Morning Scotland yesterday shortly after the success of the first video, Cotter explained the feedback has been astonishing.
Hollywood movie star Ryan Reynolds has been among the nine million viewers to have watched Cotter’s videos.
The broadcaster was left surprised when betting companies got in touch asking for him to create more clips on their behalf, which he said he had refused.
His latest offering had already hit six million views after being uploaded yesterday.