A GRAN who beat a suspected case of coronavirus has been keeping people entertained with her poetry.

Sandra Follett, from Southend, started to put pen to paper when self-isolating after becoming very ill with coronavirus symptoms.

But having fought off the illness, she is now entertaining hundreds of people on Facebook with her uplifting poetry.

The 56-year-old has now penned 39 works and joked that the inspiration might be running a little low.

Her works cover a range of topics, including her clothing, banana bread and even NHS fundraiser Captain Tom.

The grandmother-of-five who works at Sainsbury’s, in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, and also Blow hairdressers in West Road, Southend, said: “I started to feel very ill about eight weeks ago. I called NHS 111 and they were marvellous on the phone and said I was being treated as if I had the virus, but they could not be sure they are were not doing testing.

“I became very ill and was just sleeping and my neighbour was bringing me food, I couldn’t breathe and thought I was going to die.

“I felt very bad and my breathing was getting worse.

“Then one morning I woke up and started to feel a little bit better and I started writing as, having three children, I thought I needed to write them a letter as thought I could die.

“It was easier to write poems and they started a bit dismal but I found I could get down how I was feeling.

“I felt like my body was trailing behind but my mind was doing OK. I didn’t want to go to hospital, as I felt sure I would catch it in there.

“I felt that I could manage it by myself at home. I went back to work before I should have really and I then got pleurisy.”

The Sainsbury’s worker and hairdresser went to a respiratory clinic being run by the Queens Way Doctors at a surgery it took over in Wentworth Road was told she had the condition about three weeks ago.

She was put on steroids for the pleurisy and NHS 111 told her to freeze pineapple juice, use a throat spray and paracetamol for the suspected coronavirus.

She added: “As I began to feel better I would sit at a table and write the poetry.

“I realised I had worn a cardigan for a long time when I was recovering so I did one about that. I read it to a friend who suggested I should do a Facebook video and I was a bit unsure at first but did it.

“I wanted to make them funny and relatable about things people are feeling, such as one I did about feelings around going back to work.

“One of the poems had about 450 views on Facebook, I didn’t think it would get such a good reaction.”

“I think my children started off feeling a little bit embarrassed by the videos and poems but they are now really enjoying them.

Banana Bread No.5

Why… is everyone cooking banana bread?

I’d rather be cooking bacon and eggs

With a nice fried slice, stuck on the edge

They’ve never cooked a thing in their life,

My Kipling used to make their own lemon slice

Now they don their pinny and in the kitchen they go,

Like a domestic goddess from many years ago

I must buy a banana, is that what they thought?

When they stripped all the shelves and in a panic they bought

They’ve been in for a week, and there it has sat,

‘Till suddenly they think, ‘Ooh I must use that’

They’ve seen all the pictures, from all of their friends

The culinary delights a banana can bring

The load, the cake, the banana scone,

‘I’ll have a go at that - what could go wrong?

They polish their oven, that’s never been used,

Dig around in the cupboard, for the loaf tin that’s new

The panic bought flour has come into force

The manual for the mixer had to be read – of course

It comes out of the oven – in record speed

With camera ready, for the evidence they need

Let’s get a photo, before it sinks,

And put up with the quote ‘what do you think?’

Did anyone eat it? I want to know

Did they force feed the kids ‘Go on, give it a go’

Let’s just hope it didn’t go to waste

Neighbours doorsteps seem the best place

You can drop it off with a little note,

Don’t have to watch if it gets stuck in their throat.

Weight Watchers bosses are preparing the app

With no cakes on the menu, no sugar, no fat,

Ready for those that can’t get out of the door

The banana will be eaten on its own once more!