Sheffield woman’s ingenuous way of raising smiles from isolation in New Zealand– using a paper bag

Sometimes, especially during a global pandemic, you have to make your own fun.
'Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate': Liz Douglas transforms into the Cowardly Lion and Jack Sparrow in quarantine.'Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate': Liz Douglas transforms into the Cowardly Lion and Jack Sparrow in quarantine.
'Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate': Liz Douglas transforms into the Cowardly Lion and Jack Sparrow in quarantine.

This was certainly the case for Liz Douglas, who got creative when she found herself stuck in isolation in a hotel room in New Zealand.

Liz is originally from the Wadsley area but emigrated to Auckland in 1997 to work as a dental hygienist.

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The 53-year-old came back to Sheffield just after Christmas to spend some time with her parents before returning to New Zealand where she lives with her partner, Craig.

'WILSOOOOONNNN!''WILSOOOOONNNN!'
'WILSOOOOONNNN!'

People returning to New Zealand are currently required to go into managed isolation for 14 days in order to help stem the spread of coronavirus.

Although she was allowed out for a few walks a day at the Novotel Ellerslie, Liz soon grew restless- but found a way to keep herself amused.

"Every day we had our meals left outside our doors in brown paper bags, left by the food fairies nobody ever saw,” said Liz, who has a 20-year-old daughter.

'Life feels like a circus at the moment': Liz as Mary Poppins and a clown.'Life feels like a circus at the moment': Liz as Mary Poppins and a clown.
'Life feels like a circus at the moment': Liz as Mary Poppins and a clown.
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“After three days of this, boredom setting in, I looked at one of these bags and thought- what can I do with this to pass the time? Obvious solution… make a hat.

“I posted it on the New Zealand Hotel Quarantine Facebook page and got so many positive responses saying it had made people laugh and brightened their day, and it grew from there.

“I recreated characters I love like Mary Poppins, the cowardly lion from Wizard of Oz, or googled images from the net I knew I could easily recreate with a bag and bits of stuff I had in the room.

“I became a bit of a magpie in the outside area searching for anything I could use, such as the feather for Jack Sparrow.

Liz, originally from the Wadsley area, moved to New Zealand in 1997 but had to isolate after returning to the UK to visit her parents.Liz, originally from the Wadsley area, moved to New Zealand in 1997 but had to isolate after returning to the UK to visit her parents.
Liz, originally from the Wadsley area, moved to New Zealand in 1997 but had to isolate after returning to the UK to visit her parents.
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"My parents-in-law sent me some lovely flowers and my first thought was oooh, that bow and netting will come in handy.

"It was a great way to pass my days and make fellow returnees smile along with my friends and family.”

Liz has since been released from isolation and is currently enjoying the New Zealand sunshine after being reunited with her family.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

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