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Anti-Dementor Alliance Thread - learn how to produce your patronus here

999 replies

Tappering · 09/05/2020 18:50

New thread!

OP posts:
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26
TheAdventuresoftheWishingChair · 11/05/2020 13:39

Springersrock Grin Nice chicken! That second photo is fascinating.

It is interesting to hear all the lockdown opinions. I was mortified by the Trump supporters protesting against lockdown so recently. It just seemed like they had a death wish and were so stupid. And yet now I have that bit more sympathy with their viewpoint (!!)

I do want lockdown to be eased slowly simply because by doing so, you spread out the burden on the NHS and there's more chance of care for vulnerable people who do have some chance of surviving. We are so stupidly overpopulated and there is the potential for our numbers to shoot high very quickly. And the shock of lots dead in a short number is a lot for HCP's to cope with. God knows what some of them have seen in the last few weeks.

But I definitely do want it to be eased and now. I have been thinking of how furious people are with the Tories for botching this. I am also left wing but I keep thinking, no one could have stopped this. This virus is a nasty, sneaky thing which spreads very successfully asymptomatically. If it was possible to stop it, the Chinese with their authoritarianism would have done so. They were so draconian about shutting everything down. We have Heathrow and Gatwick and big, busy cities. I am growing more convinced that places like Germany and South Korea and Norway etc. will ultimately have many more deaths too. Maybe not as many as us but it just takes one asymptomatic super spreader to set off a new outbreak and by the time various people in that chain have been identified and tested, it's away again. It's going to be constant fire-fighting for the next couple of years. And ok, then let's say we get a vaccine, which seems very likely - we already know they don't work on everyone. Quite often they aren't that effective in the oldest and weakest and that is who this virus is targeting. We have to accept at some point that many more will die and it's unfair and sad and horrible but it's also life.

At the moment, we are literally, as a society, running around flapping at the idea of something new killing some of us, trying to find a way to stop it, as if we have that kind of power. And whilst that's totally understandable and it has been frightening, it's been such a recent thing that we've had any control over death at all. For most of human history we've had to live knowing we're extremely vulnerable. Go into any Victorian cemetery and it's mind blowing how many mothers lost multiple children. And it's horrible because who wants to be in a situation where we can't save everyone? It's gut-wrenching. But we are mortal. We are human. Viruses and pandemics are part of life. We are at least in a much better situation than we were in 1918. We have at least some ability to save some lives. And we can learn lessons for the next one. Antibiotic resistance, anyone? That will happen and it will take far more lives.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 11/05/2020 13:41

If teachers refuse to go back to work after being told to reopen by the government then they should forfeit their pay. If I refused to go to work when my employer asks then I'd get sacked.

I appreciate everything teachers do but there are plenty of other people who are at risk at their jobs. Care staff are the major ones - they can't social distance from residents when they're helping them get dressed, go to the toilet etc. And they still have to go to work.

heylittlehenwhenwhenwhen · 11/05/2020 13:44

Meanwhile, you are allowed to come in and out from France with no checks.

No you aren't, not at the moment.

fartingsparkles · 11/05/2020 13:45

Agree with so many on this thread. (Thank God for some sanity).

I am in the 'lift gradually' camp, alongside increasing testing and tracking. As a early 40s slightly overweight white female, in a area with approx 0.03% death rate, I feel easing is appropriate, and am not too bothered about sending my dc back to school, if only so they can see/talk to people other than me and their sibling on a semi regular basis. As a sahp on a fixed income I 'should' probably be one of the 'not til there's a vaccine' but a) its unrealistic b) its unhelpful and c) I am not a good primary school teacher! I also don't think it's doing our mental health any good at all.

I think even though people on these threads differ vastly in our opinions and the reasons we hold them, we seem to be able to accept these differences and not stoop to cussing and name calling (although believe me I can do both). I also appreciate that we seem to be able to risk assess for ourselves and make thought out decisions based on this - you know, almost like we're adults!! But this seems to translate to is being MURDERERS everywhere else obviously!

Thank you all, and long may the ADL assemble.

HauntedGoatFart · 11/05/2020 13:45

Yeah, I don't by any means condone teacher bashing, but it does seem to me that if Tesco staff are able to serve a constantly rotating cast of hundreds a day for minimum wage with little to no PPE and often no social distancing, all of whom are adults who definitely do spread the virus to other adults, it's reasonable to ask teachers to teach a fixed group of children, especially when primary ages may not spread the virus at all and likely spread it less than adults do based on evidence to date.

Springersrock · 11/05/2020 13:45

Grin posting without my glasses on

My friend has some ex-battery hens and she was saying they didn’t really know how be normal hens and couldn’t perch so she had to teach them but that they kept falling over.

Drivingdownthe101 · 11/05/2020 13:51

Love the chicken picture Grin.
I think teachers are great. I have many teacher friends, all of whom are keen to get back to school. At the school I’m Chair of Governors at, all the teachers are positive and keen to get back to school. MIL is a primary school teacher in Spain. Even at 59 she’s desperate to get back to teaching in school.
On here... well. The teachers seem very different to the ones I know ‘in real life’.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 11/05/2020 13:57

My DS's headteacher has been great. She's been posting videos on the school website every week saying she can't wait for the children to come back.

Mascotte · 11/05/2020 14:03

The chicken picture is even better with the explanation

Orangeblossom78 · 11/05/2020 14:05

I think it should definitely be gradual too. the sunissagittarious they shouldn't be taping up the benches and closing the parks now. I hope that you can soon take a rug out and have a picnic perhaps.

In New Zealand, many people have broken the lockdown. On here it is revered as the place with the perfect lockdown. I mentioned previously unrest in France and protests in Germany

Now I just read horrible stuff about how in Japan people are being bullied and treated horribly due to the virus, health workers also and families, really nasty. Goes against their clean obsessed culture apparently.

Also reading some interesting stuff from the Economist about how offices might become a thing of the past and might even bring about change in house prices / north south divide, very interesting.

Orangeblossom78 · 11/05/2020 14:06

So it seems they have very nasty Dementors in Japan!

Mascotte · 11/05/2020 14:07

@fartingsparkles love the ADL!

Maybe next thread should be Anti Dementors, Assemble!

soberfabulous · 11/05/2020 14:10

where is the new thread!

Bollss · 11/05/2020 14:13

That chicken picture really made me laugh Grin

Are chickens generally agreeable creatures? I'm trying to picture quite how you'd convince one to wear a crash helmet Smile

As for teachers... I only know one in RL she's 25 with no underlying health conditions, white (whether or not that makes a difference tbc) and definitely not overweight. She doesn't think it's fair on teachers to open schools.

Actually seen one of Ds old nursery staff share a petition about schools not opening. I am vair disappointed in her to be honest. It's under the guise of "we care about children" - but realistically we know the risk to children is tiny. It's about teachers getting sick. Nobody wants that but again the risk to healthy teachers is tiny. I'd fully support older or vulnerable teachers doing something from home of course.

DominaShantotto · 11/05/2020 14:25

I'm appalled at the teachers - and I was one for 20 years. With the MN flowerbombing to shut down any discussion earlier (allowed of course), and the attacks on anyone who happens to have a school that's just cut the kids adrift (newsflash - some have been fantastic - some have been appalling) and now the ones refusing to go back to work. I hope they're fired if they do that.

We've been told basically to piss off by DD2's school when we flagged up her mental health collapse - no support they're prepared to refer her for or plan to put in place if she ever gets back - just everything short of fuck off and do not bother us again. I've put in so many hours and been the strongest advocate of that place - but it's shown the Head's true colours that it's all front show and when she's got an excuse to shut the doors and produce pretty paperwork for next year and ditch this year's kids... done it in a heartbeat.

If my child was older - I think honestly she would be a suicide risk she's that depressed. She is only just seven and with special needs, birthday in lockdown. She's fucking seven - but stiff upper lip, teach them resilience, if they cry it's shitty parenting.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 11/05/2020 14:41

I am a teacher and I am desperate to get back into school.

Teaching lessons via Teams is all very well but I want to be back in the classroom with my kids.

BogRollBOGOF · 11/05/2020 14:41

The chicken picture made me giggle so much that I just took out half of Luton Grin

I'm sorry your school is stonewalling you and leaving your daughter to suffer. Sad DS9 was diagnosed at the end of last year. So this has interfered with applying for an EHCP. Fortunately he currently copes and masks his way through school and is quite happy with a low-key life at the moment. Transitioning back to school is likely to be his bigger issue. I've had barely a word from the SENCO since diagnosis, and during lockdown just a call from his teacher to review his targets. I'm doing our own thing with schoolwork as he has dyslexia and dyspraxia too. An unfamiliar version of school as it is currently is not the right place for him at present, but I will happily send him back as soon as school ask. If they're not fussy about his hair and clothes, I can get him to them in 3 minutes Wink

bakingcupcakes · 11/05/2020 14:54

De-lurking so say I love the chicken picture!

Also, my friend is a teacher and he completely disagrees with the stance the unions are taking and wants to get back in the classroom.

bakingcupcakes · 11/05/2020 14:55

*to

I should stay quiet until I learn how to type. Grin

Bollss · 11/05/2020 15:09

Looks like early years is re opening June but "paid childcare" such as nannies and childminders can open Wednesday.

But nursery is paid childcare?

I'm furloughed until June anyway so it doesn't especially matter to me right now but that doesn't make much sense to me!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 11/05/2020 15:13

@TrustTheGeneGenie hmm. Maybe it's because childminders only have a small number of children and nurseries have quite a few.

DS goes to a holiday club in the school holidays, hopefully they will be allowed to reopen over the summer.

DominaShantotto · 11/05/2020 15:17

I am going to kill DH if I'm stuck with him much longer and he doesn't shut the fuck up with his little snide comments and muttering all day - or take the one fucking headphone out of his ear that he plays music in to ignore the kids.

The only reason he is still alive is cos the patio cost us a bomb to get built and I don't want to ruin it.

Bollss · 11/05/2020 15:18

Yes I guess that's likely. It's the use of the words "paid childcare" that's thrown me!

I've got a lovely childminder lined up for when Ds goes to school for the holidays. I bet she'll be bloody thrilled to be back open soon. You can tell she really loves her job.

Pinkflipflop85 · 11/05/2020 15:20

We are all desperate to get the children back in at our school and looking forward to face to face teaching again.

My only minor concern is if they think we can even manage to social distance the children.....it just isn't going to happen!

DianneWhatcock · 11/05/2020 15:22

Just wanted to say its been so great having all of you lot and this thread

the dementoring going on on my fb and elsewhere online is unreal and more so after boris's speech

this thread is honestly saving my sanity. thank you all