Blog: Home - but not alone

Hello everyone, day three of working from home for me which is tricky as I always like to be in the thick of things in the office but it's a new world we're living in and a new way of getting the news to you.

We're doing everything we can to keep Calendar Towers a safe place to be as you see from the distancing we've got in place outside the studio, and inside where the magic happens with Christine keeping her distance from Jon, well who wouldn't!

Seriously, Jon is doing a fantastic job keeping all our spirits up, never an easy job to balance up when you're talking about the weather outside when everyone has to do their very best to stay at home.

And we're quite rightly reminded regularly of what we have to do to make sure we get through this together.

Only go out of your home to buy essentials , and don't do that regularly, have just one lot of exercise, a run, a bike ride even just a walk but keep at least two metres away from anyone you may come across.

(I'm off to the pharmacist to get my prescription for an ear infection soon - after a phone consultation with my doctor this morning. We've agreed that's what it is but no examination possible at the moment).

If you need to help someone who's vulnerable or need medication yourself then that's allowed too but make sure you wash those hands for 20 seconds with soap and water when you get back in, clean all those surfaces and wipe down the door handles as I advised on last night's programme.

No room for me on the show tonight but we will be reinforcing those messages with a great piece from Matt Price. And we'll make no apologies for repeating those crucial public health messages as our coverage continues.

I must say I'm extremely proud of how everyone on the Calendar team is handling the current crisis, the new ways of working and news gathering, the support for all those not in the office - and I for one can't wait for the tea and biscuits hangout this afternoon!

Actually there is a lot of snooping going on with the hangouts - who's got the best kitchen/study/conservatory/ washing line. I dare not show you what state I'm in for the morning conference.

I think it's at times like this that having contact with colleagues, if you're working, and friends and family, is so important. That's why I was delighted to be able to spend five minutes on Facetime with my 91 year old mother today from her bed in the care home in Sunderland. Her nurse, Louise, kindly called me on her mobile to make it all happen. It was great to see her laughing and smiling and relatively oblivious to the world's troubles and traumas.

And that's why for Louise and all mum's carers and everyone who's doing such an amazing job in the NHS, I'll be outside at 8 o'clock tonight clapping as loud as I possibly can. And for the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who've signed up to help the service in any way they can my heartfelt thanks.

Please stay at home so they keep well and look after us, but remember you're never alone.