Thread 25 - Covid Cohort - Christmas Trees, No Omicron Please!

DH's Xmas works drinks cancelled as well. Just to be safe.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn - We will try the walkin this week - fingers crossed although the queues look insane. GP not yet doing any vaccines - I rather hope the little clinic they opened up in the Scout Hut opens up again. All staffed by the local GP's and nurses so its all familiar faces. GP was lightening quick over our egg free flu vaccine this year - phone call in Sept advising order arriving in 48 hours and booking us both in so I feel they will do everything they are allowed to.

Our local walk in couldn't cope with the number of people it already had, not enough parking, people queued right down the road. No idea how they are going to manage all the extra numbers.

My friends office party for this week has also been cancelled but not because of an outbreak in the office, just to be safe.

One of the (many) odd things about Boris's announcement was that there was no acknowledge that they want to do over 1,000 a day over the Christmas and New Year period, he is expecting so many people to give up their Christmas break, but don't cancel your parties - oh no!!! Oh, and pay rises? You don't need those NHS.

DH's party now cancelled because a load of people who went for a drink on Thursday have now tested positive.

@Zebracat love your wreath! Mine is a bit old and tatty but I like it. My tree went up last weekend and I think it looks lovely. It's too big for my room though since we did it up, I've had to remove some furniture to fit it in!

It wasn't your ignorance Zebra. It's more about her, not us.

Spending time with the family sounds like it was a real tonic. I'm loving the smell of pine too. Less so the clearing of needles. And it's not even been 24 hours!

@Wheresthebeach Ridiculous that the nhs staff had that thrown at them last night like they are not already overwhelmed. I can not understand why asthmatics have been taken out of group 6, it makes no sense to me at all. If you have no luck with a walk in, can you phone your GP to get an appointment? Given the way things are now a free for all I can' se how they could refuse?

Thanks for the lovely new thread and lovely new list. I feel a bit responsible too @ealingwestmum. Wondered if my ignorance was too provoking! But it was not just me,so that’s ok!
Still no offers at all here, but lots of information from places, so hopefully that’s a good sign. Sorry some of us having such tough times. I just spent the night with my son , his wife and their gorgeous babies,so feeling very blessed.
I got early retirement on mental health grounds in 2012. It was a stinking job, really stressful. Broke me.The miracle is that I lasted through 25 years and 4 children. I love every minute without it.
Tree is up but naked I quite like it. Smells fab. Window fill needs work though!

New thread already - I cant keep up!

I wish I knew what to believe @JustHereWithMyPopcorn - Bojo is fighting for his political life right now, and this sort of dramatic announcement, not having warned GP's before hand, is a great distraction. I'm pro vaccine and desperate to get my asthmatic DD boosted but they've taken 16-17 yr old asthmatics out of Group 6 so she isn't eligible. She had her second jab in June so waning immunity but no booster. We will try our luck at a walk in but I have to wonder why they are ignoring asthmatics and denying boosters for these kids?

I work 17 hours a week back to WFH. I used to work more before DS. DH is retired - he has a serious head injury after an assault at work before I met him. He does pretty much all the housework but I do all the family ‘admin’ and deal with everything like that as he isn’t capable of doing that. We have a good balance and are very lucky I think. I don’t work Monday or Friday so we are currently out for coffee. DH thinks he is very fortunate as he has been able to spend so much time with DS since he was a baby.

@Oblomov21 I've just seen your photos lovely wreath and all but that poached pears chocolate ganache tart looks devine - what recipe do you use? would love to make that myself.

[quote Nard75]@Piggyinblankets DS not applied for Oxbridge but he has friends who have had interviews so was just wondering when they would find out. It has been a lot of extra work and pressure on them so well done to everyone who applied. [/quote]
If Oxford, it's 11 Jan I think.

If Cambridge not til 25th Jan ! (Burn's Night...)

Thanks for the new thread @OrangeCinnamonCocktail and the updated list @singingstones.

I can't keep up wit you lot, because I'mnot on here generally at the weekend I find Monday catch up a bit overwhelming so I'll just jump in here and hope I get the gist of things!

Felt very depressed after Bojo speech last night. It's coming isn't it.

I miss my old world, which I left around 8 years ago. But we couldn’t sustain both of us walking through the door at 7.30pm, my commute from Canary Wharf was killing me. Such different times now, with flexible hours naturally part of working life without the battle. I’m self employed in the creative world, but not very creative right now. I do miss my salary and independence, but I made the decision so am at peace with it.

oh @seeline - hope its just sprained. That must have been a shock.

@Monkey2001 It would be awful to get Covid and be confined for Christmas. I wish DD wouldn't go into school for the last few days as it makes me nervous (twice we've had 10 day isolation starting on the last day of school...ruined our summer holiday to Cornwall). I swear if it happens again I'll explode.

@Wheresthebeach hope you have dodged Covid. Lucky that they should be over it by Christmas, really don't want anyone starting a 10 day isolation after Wednesday!

@Seeline Ouch that sounds painful.
@Heifer Glad your catch up with friends proved a tonic.

I work four days which is enough but it comes with a low salary. Luckily we live in an area where housing is relatively affordable. I do all the home stuff except the garden. The house looks lived in.

Good luck to all those who have had, or are having, interviews. It must adding to the stress.

Ohh The Chase...you'll have to let us know when it airs @singingstones.

Thanks for the new thread Orange and for the list Singing.

DD handing in Geo course work today. 40 some pages...she's happy to have it done, so she can concentrate on mocks revision over the holidays.

DSS has Covid, so does his girlfriend. They got it from housemate. We're daily testing and so far so good. We saw him over a week ago so think we'll be okay. Fingers crossed.

@singingstones: how exciting!! Good luck to Dh! And to you for doing the bins ;-)

I went back into a full time role in April having been self employed since Ds wa born. It’s been tough tbh. Dh is brilliant and has taken up a lot of slack but I do feel like I’m so much less on top of the kids stuff, the house, life admin…. I’m just moving to slightly compressed hours which I hope might help but it’s certainly been a tough time. Of course making that decision as both my kids go through external exams was a great one ;-). Otoh I’ve really enjoyed being back as part of a team and learning loads. I’m fully remote at the mo and had only been into the office 3 days so far so that makes it easier.

No where near ready for Christmas here. Was already behind, then managed to fall flat on my face whilst out shopping on Saturday. My left hand has come off worst - really swollen and bruised and can't do anything much at all with it ATM.

I work part time on a consultancy basis, so today have to work out how to type one handed in order to meet Christmas deadlines!

No decorations here. Still have presents to get. Not a card written, or present wrapped....

Thanks for the new thread @OrangeCinnamonCocktail and new list @singingstones. Thanks for the good wishes, I'm ok really. Mostly Menopausal blues mixed with time of the year sadness and just general lazyness tbh. I had a lovely catchup with friend which definitely helped.

Good luck re offers, getting forms in and interviews this week. DD breaks up 12.30 on Friday. She hopefully will be getting mocks results in this week although she's been told they can't give them an actual grade just scores. Seems she did well in Pyshcology just waiting on Biology and PE (PE didn't go great as she missed a whole section out as didn't see it until too late). She usually gets A* so hopefully will still get a decent score (she is hoping B).

Fingers crossed no more covid outbreaks for you all, just had booster yesterday so we are all covered - although DD only had 1 as she had covid then ill so had her first one quite late, and needs to wait for 2nd.

DS exhausted and has a deadline for PE coursework today and interview at Manchester tomorrow, so glad it is on line target than F2F! He has managed to negotiate an extension for the PE to Friday (due to interview) but had to show progress today, so was typing furiously after midnight. He was signed up to a group session with medics about interviews last night at 6:30, when I went to see how he was doing at 7:30 he was very soundly asleep!

I don't currently work, worked stupid hours when boys were small running a company we set up, which was super exciting but we both worked about 70 hours/week. I haven't worked since we sold the business, but still not on top of anything at home!

[quote OrangeCinnamonCocktail]@singingstones? your DH is on The Chase the TV Gameshow?[/quote]
Yes! Filming on Thursday 😬

I used to work four days when I was in a big 4 accountancy firm, I had to switch to full time 2 years ago when I moved jobs, to earn the same amount. It’s a pain working every day but it’s so much less stressful and demanding than my old job so it’s fine. I’m also a minister’s wife, so lots of things going on at church. I’m glad I only had two kids, don’t think I could keep up with any more!

Good luck to those with interviews this week! Dd visibly relaxed on Sat evening after exams and singing exam were done. Ds has three more exams but appears to have relaxed already!