Despicable Anti Dementors

[Mascotte]

New thread

Oh but you know what I saw today? I went for a walk first thing. There were PARAGLIDERS out and about. I nearly bloody cried to see people enjoying themselves. I hope they were having the best time. It gave me a bit of hope.

Well I am not a huge "Boris fan' or anything but at least it does seem our gov are looking at how other countries are doing things (e.g. Denmark's approach to schools) and with this quite cautious, month by month approach mentioned on Sunday it will allow time to adjust things.

It seems it might be a balanced approach. I would like perhaps to see things going a bit like Sweden / Holland and maybe instead of a 'peak' maybe a manageable state of things where there are some cases but not overwhelming the NHS so much that other health services have to stop again.

And where covid cases are more separate form the other health conditions - as is starting to happen it seems. I guess that might be a reasonable aim.

And maybe with the hand washing and social distancing our flu season might even be OK too.

I saw someone flying a kite the other day as well.

I would love to go and sit with a friend and get out my own head for a bit but I can't

are you in Wales or Scotland as well Wishing chair, as in England you can now. I hope it changes in those places soon.

There is a mix I think of loving the drama and being 'part of something' (as pp have said, these people want more death - you can tell from the morbid glee in their tone); not wanting life to go back to normal (in all honesty for example, if I were a teacher I wouldn't want to go back to a class of 30 either! The teaching profession has terrible retention levels so the logical conclusion is that at any one time, a lot of teachers are very unhappy in their jobs. That's not an excuse by the way for the unions' negative behaviour); and generally really poor scientific and maths literacy, so that the appallingly irresponsible press coverage has a disproportionate effect.
No idea what the solution is as anything factual or sensible or nuanced is ignored or attacked.
I wonder if there will be a slow change though...There has to be doesn't there because this is totally unsustainable in the medium to long term...

I think it's the first sign I've seen of how the tide is turning- local rag's FB feed posting more takeaways opening and the comments are more tagging friends and "can't wait" than the morally outraged ones. The rest of the FB feed comments are the usual bottom half of the internet drivel.

But Nihil, surely a large part of the reason it was considered uncloseable was all the people continually crossing it in the course of work?

Not really, merry.

It was considered uncloseable politically and also practically, because it's so long and crooked.

The position (I shared) was that there was no way to close it practically and without massive political pushback from nationalists. Now Irish nationalism is making Drakeford noises about the germ-ridden Brits spreading disease through the pure Irish hinterlands.

It's hard to come back from that to insisting there is no de facto border and never has been.

Also, it has been the Gardaí rather than the PSNI or UK Force policing it. Again undermining arguments the Irish made against the border being closeable.

I went to a garden centre today, it was a lovely bit of normal. I took DD (6) with me, she's not been in any shops since school closed, I think she really enjoyed it too. We planted our new herbs up together when we got home. Even found a plant that smells like cola! I have really missed the small things, pretty evident that she has, too.

Back from the Peak District where very many others were out murdering as well. It’s a big place though so no need for head tilting concern, dementors.

Most people were friendly, said hello and kept their distance. A few jumped into hedges, but that was up to them.

We had a picnic on the banks of the river, several other family groups were doing the same, but again we were all nice and spread out.

6.5 mile walk under our belts, so I’ve cracked open a beer and DH has lit the BBQ.

Just back from a murderous trip to the garden centre. We went just before they closed and it was quiet, although from what staff were saying it had been busy earlier. We bought totally nonessential bedding plants, paint for our garden bench and compost (actually we’re going to grow potatoes in the compost so I’m taking that as a semi-essential. DS was so bloody excited to be going somewhere, it was lovely. And the garden centre staff were smiley and chatty as well. It felt good to be out.

One of the garden centre ladies was asking me if I’d send DS back to school (we were generally chatting about things) and I had to say I didn’t know - I feel like I’ll take the decision nearer to the time? I’ve heard nothing from his preschool anyway yet so it may not even reopen and we’re lucky that I’m a SAHM so we aren’t desperate for the childcare side of it. I think it would do DS good to be back with his peers a couple of times a week though, so we’ll see.

But all very nice and chatty, no doom, plenty of hand gel and a one way system. All good.

Nicked from one of the saner people on my FB's feed (an ex boyfriend who seems to be as bemused by the stupidity as I am - although veers mildly dementory at times)

My kids just had the girl next door in to play.

They insisted (using persuasive writing as a cover) that we put up the trampoline. Middle child overheard me say to DH that we should offer use of it to child next door and sent her a note and made it all happen much quicker than I had intended.

OMG the sound of children laughing

The joy of them playing with a child that is not a sibling.

I can't tell you how right it felt.

If I knew when things were going to change I could cope far better.

Yep, same here. It is indeed like Groundhog Day and it's doing my nut in. I was so fed up I lay in my bed until noon today because I just couldn't see the point. I felt hungry, but literally couldn't be arsed to eat anything. My brain feels like a big grey sponge full of mud. I've been wearing the same clothes for days and I don't care. I never thought I would be like this - I'm normally very active (gym 7 days a week; walk everywhere) and sociable. I retired from work in January, but all my plans have gone to shit and now I just feel like a rudderless ship. And I'm drinking too much wine...

I know I have very few things to complain about compared to most, so why have I become like this?

BarkAndCheese that was raised on the last thread and I think in some cases you're right. Teaching is often a horribly stressful job with appalling working conditions and if I were still in the profession I'd be desperately hoping not to have to go back before summer. But at the end of the day that's why I left. If your job is stressful enough that you'd rather hold up half the country and put children's needs aside than go in and do it - which, again, I can COMPLETELY empathise with -

PS they "socially distanced" throughout.

Kids are well able to be sensible about this stuff, despite dementor insistence that they are all germ-ridden idiots.

Went for a cycle ride this afternoon, had to drive about five minutes to get there, which felt too naughty before. Saw lots of other families out cycling and walking. No-one in masks. Several over 65s. Everyone was happy and smiling and saying hello to each other. I suppose all the dementors were busy dementing at home.

It was glorious.

If we get better weather next week we'll go again and take a picnic. Murder ahoy!

Bollocks, hit post by accident. Anyway, if you'd rather do that then you're most likely better off looking for a new career. The problem is it's not easy for a long time teacher to change career anyway, let alone when we're on the brink of a humongous recession and it's one of the more stable jobs around. But ultimately, unless there's a miracle cure in the next few months or government comes up with a magic solution to the issues around safety in schools, delaying re-opening is just going to store up problems for all of us without actually solving anything. I feel for teachers, they're really caught between a rock and a hard place here IMO.

Teaching is often a horribly stressful job with appalling working conditions and if I were still in the profession I'd be desperately hoping not to have to go back before summer. But at the end of the day that's why I left.

I've said something similar before. I was driven to a full mental breakdown by teaching, I would have been looking at every reason not to go back in.

Same Vimes and I suspect a lot of this is the last day of August dread on crack, legitimised.

Have to say I was sceptical about how much difference the new sitting outside rules would make when they were first brought in, but it's been a major improvement actually. Combined with the fact that several local cafes have opened for takeaway in the last week, reading a trashy book in the park with an overpriced coffee has done a lot to restore my sanity. Hopefully Scotland/Wales/NI will follow suit in the coming weeks - really don't see how they can justify not doing so once they realise it hasn't resulted in mass graves in England

Blimey this thread moves quickly!! Ive been killing loads today - during my bike ride of 36 miles during which I saw at least 6 groups of 2,3 and 4 men (obv not from the same household) out cycling together, I saw three groups of bikers (ditto) hanging out in a couple of laybyes and then I have spent the afternoon with my OH who lives 30 miles away after 6 long weeks apart. I dont feel guilty in the slightest!!

So you remember the venom thrown at that poor street who did the conga? I was so upset for them. People saying they deserved to die and all sorts. Can you imagine the level of bitterness you've got to have to say that? In normal times surely it'd be challenged, but I'm ashamed I didn't say anything. I'm getting much braver now

I've said something similar before. I was driven to a full mental breakdown by teaching, I would have been looking at every reason not to go back in.

I've been lurking a little on some of the Staffroom solidarity threads (not posting for obvious reasons) and it's giving me so much guilt and a serious identity crisis. I'm normally the one banging on endlessly about the unsustainability of the education system and teachers' mental health. In two months I've gone from that to praying the Tory government will ride roughshod over the unions and I don't understand how it's happened.

I suspect a lot of this is the last day of August dread on crack, legitimised.

Me too, which is partly why I think waiting til September is a terrible idea. If it's this bad now, imagine what it'll be like after five months off.

*OMG the sound of children laughing smile

The joy of them playing with a child that is not a sibling.

I can't tell you how right it felt.*

^ This. It's how we will right the world one bounce at a time...

Still working on bold though...