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

[Ibake]

New thread!

My son was meant to be doing a sailing course this summer. It's just been cancelled because the rules on having enough instructors to cover all the kids (to stop them drowning, presumably) aren't compatible with the rules to keep one adult with a small number of kids at all times (to stop everyone Sadly Dying). I know that it isn't the end of the world but I am sad about it - he's been looking forward to it and has lost out on lots of nice things over the last few months.

I'm also skimming the schools guidance - the stuff about discouraging the use of public transport and keeping groups separate on buses is not going to work in central London (or any major city where lots of school children have to go on the buses).

😂agree there, to all points!

That was to Trust, sorry Cru, badly timed cross post!

I've just had the weirdest experience in a Sainsburys.

I've been doing my mum's shopping since lockdown started, in my local Morrisons. This week we decided it'd do mum good to get out, so we took her to her local Sainsburys to do her own shopping. She's 89, refuses to wear her glasses and can't hear so she is a bit of a liability to be fair, but we stayed alongside to help.

She ignored all the 2m stuff but didn't get too close mostly. The she walked around to look at the carrots, and there was a shop worker (aged 20s I would say) there with a large wheeled gurney type thing unloading veg. it was between her and mum.

The woman screamed (I'm not exaggerating) "Get away from me" and spun off with her trolley into the next aisle. Fortunately mum was oblivious but DD and I laughed, I admit. So then the woman shouted "Oh yes, its really funny isn't it?". Gobsmacked, I may have said "Calm down, love" and she went striding off, still screeching, although I'm not sure what else she actually said except it wasn't rational.

Two things I take form this:

1. That woman needs a different job
2. The government needs holding to account for its communications strategy, which has clearly been designed to terrify the gullible

Haven't read the school guidance stuff but imagine its similar to that being given to dentists and the like. My OH doesn't really want to wear his PPE and feels safe enough without it but he has to as if a patient 'gets' Covid and tries to prove he caught it at the dental appointment then OH won't be covered by insurance if he hasn't taken extreme precautions to prevent infection Its bonkers but unfortunately in the 'sue everyone for a mistake' world that we seem to be living in, is getting more necessary. I imagine the teachers are the same - no, theres no need to wear PPE but imagine the fuss if Chief Dementor's little Jonny/Jane 'caught' covid at school and the teacher wasn't wearing a mask! Ambulance chasers would have a field day as well as the 'sad face' photographers for the Daily Fail and suchlike

One of the teachers at our school is wearing a mask indoors. How in God's name do you teach with a mask on. So much of it is non verbal if you see what I mean.

@DesmondTheMoonbear

I saw someone wearing a literal gas mask in Asda the other day. WTAF has happened to people's sanity?

There's a chap that comes in our store with a proper army mask, double respirator things (tubes, nozzles?) and previously he'd had a white all- in- one thing as well. BUT when he stopped to talk to a member of staff, he took his mask off!

@derxa

One of the teachers at our school is wearing a mask indoors. How in God's name do you teach with a mask on. So much of it is non verbal if you see what I mean.

I know, it’s Reception too. How on earth do you teach phonics with a mask? It’s not DD’s teacher though so selfishly I’m not getting worked up about it

Can't remember who it was who mentioned playgrounds and that theirs wouldn't be opening because the guidelines state they need to be cleaned regularly? Well I was pleasantly surprised to see a post on social media today from our council saying they wouldn't all be open on 4th July because they needed to be inspected and checked they are safe and fit for use (fair enough), and with some guidelines for use once they did open (sanitising hands, not using when crowded etc). So seems our council has interpreted the guidelines in a pretty non dementorish way!

I’ve just checked our council’s website and ours are opening too!! Guidance published about taking sensible precautions which is fair enough - phew!!!

And also, I've worked all through the whole panic buying stage (no screens up then) the rationing, the imposition of queues and social distancing and, if I remember correctly, was working with people who were later told to shield due to health issues. We are in a diverse area and have many customers from all walks of life. Do you know how many of the staff have had covid? None.

Like others (wonder if we’re in the same area?!) have just seen local council post about playgrounds and public toilets opening this Saturday. Also an email from the school saying their holiday club is open over the summer, we are fortunate not to need it for childcare but happy for those that do and more so the optimistic feeling it gives me of things returning to normal and that the school are feeling more confident to provide it.

I've unwatched the school threads and I'm vowing not to comment any more. It's not good for my mental health! If you catch me on any threads tell me off and drag me back here

The shielding thing - I think I'm going to tell my husband I'm now shielding so he can no longer come within 3 steps of me. This sounds like an excellent plan.

Also, I've had the most manic day. I very nearly finished my last post of with my usual email sign off of

If I can be of any more help, please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below,

Kind Regards,

Like dialing 9 to get an outside line from home when we still used landlines. None at work now and I don't use the home one either anymore.

I did consider a much more rigorous mask after one of the local drunks sat directly in front of me on the bus, this afternoon. He reeked. Instead I've bought some cotton fabric squares so I can make my own non-medical masks with wires for my rather large nose, so my glasses don't keep fogging.

I had to hunt for my size in cotton and make do with some stupid fucking bows, but I now have a drawer full of nice comfy knickers.

And I managed to drag Ds2 out of his stinking pit for a walk, this afternoon. Much less stressful than in last week's heat. And all the more appreciated for it not being all I've seen for 3 months.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

I've unwatched the school threads and I'm vowing not to comment any more. It's not good for my mental health! If you catch me on any threads tell me off and drag me back here

You've been doing a stellar job. But like they say, you can't argue with....

Re schools - could they just go through a boot dip of virkon like in a foot and mouth outbreak. I'm sure with appropriate messaging people could be convinced.

I went shopping - took a child with me - wanted a picnic basket, failed but bought two Hawaiian shirts, a Panama hat & a skateboard (50% off from Tiger) instead.

Witnessed no dementoring (or demented!) behaviour bar the very officious shouty woman from Superdrug. That was a fail for them since the (tiny) queue of people buggered off & went next door to Boots instead.

Not letting the fuckers get me down today.

@countrygirl99 good new about your dad & super news about the wedding!

Does anyone remember those fucking awful footbaths you used to have to go through before school swimming lessons? To do with verrucas I think? Yuck.

@NothingIsWrong I think you should definitely shield from your DH...here is an extract from the advice Seriously though, how is he now as he sounded like he was being a bit of a knob to you? I hope he isn't like that all the time.

(Re the advice I also Win in respect of the "well ventilated" as I like the windows open and DH usually goes round closing them but now I WIN haha)

At home you should still:
1 Minimise the time other people living with you spend in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas, and keep shared spaces well ventilated.
2 Keep 2 metres (3 steps) away from people you live with and encourage them to sleep in a different bed where possible. If you can, use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. Use separate towels from the other people in your house, both for drying yourself after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes.

It goes on and on and on by the way...including tea towels, crockery etc etc etc...

since my plan of sacking all the teachers & replacing them with young (now unemployed) graduates didn't go down well I've had a rethink & come up with hermetically sealed perspex boxes for the adults & the children carry on as normal. Gav's got nothing on me.

(I was amused to read a Torygraph headline this morning "What's the point of Gavin Williamson?")

We had another blazing row this morning where he insisted I was lazy for using the dishwasher to WASH THINGS.

No problem with SD at the moment, we aren't talking.

but sad news ... I think our John Lewis might not open again My grandmas used to take me there getting on for 50 years ago - my mum bought the fabric for her wedding dress from their haberdashery. It will be a massive loss if it closes.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heelas_of_Reading

Surprised the Reading shop might not reopen. I thought if would be busy.