AD's say "well open the playgrounds and swimming pools then you Malaka"

[Ibake]

New thread!

Similarly joining in with a bit of a health kick. Haven't run in days and I'm only five away from finishing C25K. Drink more days than I should. Lots of cake in the house post birthday.... and I may have had a slip with the deathsticks which I feel horrendous about but have hit rock bottom on a few occasions recently. Guilt and shame are my friends at the moment.

@BogRollBOGOF June was stupidly sedentary for me too. I have given myself a bad back from sitting on my bed too much.
No dry July for me, but definitely up for moving more (can you link your thread? I'm not going out there blind, I might stumble into threads of doom!).

@NothingIsWrong hugs and good luck with GP call. You are worthy, you matter, you are a good mother and a good person xx

@nothingiswrong you are a kind, caring, decent human being but it's no wonder your self confidence has plummeted when the person who is supposed to love and care for you speaks to you like that. Glad you're seeking some real life help.

The discussion about losing friends is an interesting one.
In the early days of lockdown, there was so much panic and some of my friends didn't cover themselves in glory. But as time wore on, they emerged from the darkness and started questioning the narrative. The totally loony rules over easing of lockdown was their breaking point, where they realised the means don't justify the end.

I have lost just one friend, not because he is still parroting that everyone should stay at home, but because he is utterly nasty about it. That one has been such a shock to me as I always thought he was mild mannered, kind, and always quick to help. I don't understand what happened to him, but he has hurt a number of people in our group, sometimes when they were openly struggling. And I can never forgive nor forget.

@Supermarketworker06

I've worked all the way through this whole pandemic; from the panic buying, imposition of rationing, social distancing and screens being installed etc, so the "new normal now"(bloody hate that term) has been a gradual change for me. Next week we have someone coming back to work who's been shielding for over 3 months, not been out, not seen anyone apart from her daughter and son in law. It'll be very interesting to see how it affects her when she's back; hopefully she'll be ok but I do worry about her. One of the women I work with had to self isolate right at the beginning of lockdown and when she returned the shut shops, absence of cars and people, the whole "ghost town" aspect of everything really freaked her out. There's a lot of anxiety at work re the whole situation (I'm fine, definitely a get on with it mentality) and I seriously think a lot of people are never going to get back to how they were before.

I'm in the same boat. They are gradually returning the furloughed workers in my office so it'll be interesting to see how they find it. A little part of me is jealous of those who've had a couple of months off on nearly full pay, but I'm mostly grateful to have been mixing with collapsing and keeping a routine going.

@MagdaS love what you said about jobs. I'm really lucky that mine ticks all those boxes for me, only the second job I've ever had that does, and I'm fortunate to have been working throughout so still have some normal. I dread to think what state I'd be in if I didn't have that.

Have tweeted Keir Starmer re schools and mentioned the impact on working mothers as well. If DH wasn't self employed and usually working from home and DCs weren't old enough to leave at home for a few hours at a time, we would be stuffed as no family close enough to help.
Women are being screwed harder than men, as per usual...

• colleagues, not collapsing!

Oh, and one friend has barricaded herself and her two small children in their homes and won't even step into their front drive.
But I'm not angry with this friend as she is clearly struggling, but isn't nasty to others. She desperately needs help. I can't help her as she's so wedded to the lockdown that she won't let me or anyone else near her......she needs professional help. We all know how much of that there is going spare

seaotter we've had 2 back who were self isolating or shielding for 7 weeks, one of them is ok now but the other one is not quite so good, very anxious, both young girls, how will it affect them long term I wonder?

I have a phone call booked with the GP this afternoon. Actually calling them was quite difficult. Especially as the kids are around ALL THE TIME.

And I'm going for a walk with my friend this evening, up on the Ridgeway (Wiltshire edition) to blow away the cobwebs

Hi everyone,

I have somehow managed to gain a pound, despite stopping all the bad eating habits I had built up over lockdown. So I'm still really fat but no longer eating loads of crisps.

I'm going to have to keep going but also now that pubs and restaurants are opening after months, I'm not going to avoid because I need to see friends and socialise more than I need to be less fat.

No dry July for me, although I might join you for a week or so later when the novelty of open bars has worn off. I will join the running thread. My team sport starts back this week too. Fitness will help my mood, but not my girth, sadly.

Spudlet - this is such a shit time to be planning a big change and a future because the future has been taken away and we are stuck in an endless present.

It's hard to imagine your lack of confidence has any basis in reality, given how clever and insightful you are. What do you really like doing?

Enjoy your run. 🙂🏃‍♀️

Nothing - I am married to a man who is better st stuff. I also get my dishwasher restacked because he can fit more stuff in.

What he said sounds so weird I can't tell if it was a joke that landed badly but it's worrying that he is not supporting you when you are struggling.

Much love to your messy, complicated self ❤. My Mum is messy and complicated and totally awesome. Tidiness and simplicity are overrated.

@nothingiswrong good news on the go front.

I deleted any friend on Facebook who went on and on and on about masks, and also anyone who doesn’t like JK Rowling for standing up for women’s tights. I’ve now got a timeline full of nothing but adverts and groups .

Good news @NothingIsWrong! Hope the appointment goes well, and hope you enjoy the walk with your friend.

I'm going to kick myself up the arse today and do stuff, even if work is being shit. I'm self employed and have some work on the go, and some other work promised (not enough, but it'd keep me ticking over) but it all seems to be stuck at the client's end. So I can't do very much at the moment. It's frustrating but I may just switch the machine off and do some decorating It'll at least make me look like I've achieved something.

And DH has an interview today!!!! It's a job for half the money he was on before, but he says he can do it standing on his head, and it'd be some security so fingers crossed. EVERYTHING crossed!

Today I’m making a new placard.

STANDING UP FOR WOMEN’S TIGHTS!

The only people who are overly-dementory are those who have zero financial worries whatsoever. Most are muddling along the best they can observing guidelines which make sense for their situation.

It’s pudding down here but I need to take the dog out. June was more than a little sloth like.

(Only people I know, not only people).

@NothingIsWrong well done getting the GP appointment & I’m glad you’ve got a walk planned.

@Allflightscancelled excellent news about the interview!

“The only people who are overly-dementory are those who have zero financial worries whatsoever.“

This is so very true with my dementors (they also have no young children) - it’s an extra kick in the teeth tbh. I’m back to wondering if I should bother getting up today.

Remember to check that placard for typos Insane

Because I hate tights

The snooze button on Facebook...and just avoiding Facebook generally...has been my salvation! Luckily none of my friends are dementors, but some were a bit "Oh look at our lovely fluffy family time! Isn't this wonderful!" in early lockdown. That kind of thing dropped off pretty quickly though . Sadly one of the people who was most like that has just heard her DP is being made redundant & I'm gutted for them. She really hadn't thought through the implications of shutting everything down. I think alot of people just somehow thought that would all be ok.

I can't believe only 7000 people have signed the 'end the lockdown' petition 😳

@ilovetotoro
It’s end the lockdown uk on fb..it’s a very small group..less than 400 people
I said to Mr Dowser last night, in a population of over 66 million and we halve it to 32 million to cut out children vulnerable people, non English speakers, etc..how can there are less than 400 people out of 30 odd million Who are uNhappy with this situation

Although sympathetic..he did say I think midnight is a bit late to be getting wound up about it.

But I am.

@MagdaS
Well done on giving up the FAggie’s..Your body will thank you in spades.
Mr Dowser said, they only tell you about lung cancer and other lung diseases, they never tell you about raising your blood pressure and the effect it has on your teeth.

Argh! I need a mini rant, just off the phone to spec savers trying to book DD a check up. I’ve got a letter from them in front of me which was sent out on March 10th telling me she’s due for an eye test, complete with a paragraph about how regular checks are essential, don’t underestimate the importance of them because young people’s eyesight can change quickly. Except apparently that’s all bollocks in the new normal as I was given the third degree about why I wanted an appointment, because she’s overdue for one didn’t now seem to be a good enough reason. I did get an appointment but it was very grudgingly given. Contrast that with the lovely dog groomers who I rang next, who were only to happy to take my business.

Can I join you in healthy habits? Food is my vice not drink, I need to lose the weight I’ve put on and be more active.

In hopeful news the Bank if England seem to be predicting a V shaped economic recovery. I bloody hope so

@Allflightscancelled
Can you post the petition
I don’t think I’ve seen it

Anyway my dementory highlight of the morning is someone describing planes as "sealed germ canisters". Don't think I'll top that today.

@Dowser

It's here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/315979/signatures/thank-you

Although I am starting to smell a rat, because your name isn't added to the petition until you click on a link in an email they send you. And I am still waiting for mine.....