Ads have had enough of malakas On July 4, they went crackers.

[TheGreatWave]

Slight tweak to the suggestion, but here it is.

I can't see a national winter lockdown happening really.

I've had the distinct impression that the government are going to press ahead with opening everything up despite the gloomy predictions of dementor types.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

I feel like a horrible person, I'm now totally reduced to a position of I'll do what's right for me and my family, and if it impacts old or vulnerable people - well they've had enough warning to stay in. They can do what my parents do and simply don't go out - DM says she'd rather do that indefinitely than have everyone else including her DGS having to do it

I feel exactly the same way.

Me too

@Nihiloxica

The problem is that the Dementors have identified children as the one group in society that can't fight back.

If you close down their things and ban them from all open public space, you can force them (and their mothers) into lockdown.

And when it comes down to it, that's all the lockdown they ever wanted.

Shoving women out of public life so the real people 'men' can get on with things.

Someone said on an earlier thread that this whole situation is a big 'Fuck you! ' to mothers and that is resonating even more to me today.

I am bored out of my skull, there is nowhere to take the children, they are quarrelling and lethargic and I just feel utterly powerless and yet really angry.

I don't feel it is worth writing to anyone as my council and MP are Dementors.

Mascotte I'm jealous

An interesting article from a prof emeritus saying why everyone was wrong

medium.com/@vernunftundrichtigkeit/coronavirus-why-everyone-was-wrong-fce6db5ba809

I'm anxious about silly things like driving and finding parking in the city by myself.

I find that kind of thing so daunting too. I get really anxious. But you will feel on cloud nine having managed it afterwards. And with stuff like that googling in advance (like for good parking spots) helps and just knowing you can take your time if you need to. If other people are in a rush, that's their problem. There is nothing like French food. I miss it!

I was told off on another thread (about swimming pools opening) just for saying track and trace would put me off going if they did it there

But yes it would impact us a lot living on a flat with no garden, and I also think we had it too. I feel cross they wouldn't even test us then, but now the antibody tests seem a but suspect and would have to pay over £100 for one as well.

My DC2 has also started to fear people. He will run at me and stay next to me when people come close. I took my just turned 4 month old into a shopping centre for the first time this weekend and he was terrified! That horrible scared crying. It was horrible. I hope all this hasn't messed him up long term.

@Nihiloxica

The problem is that the Dementors have identified children as the one group in society that can't fight back.

If you close down their things and ban them from all open public space, you can force them (and their mothers) into lockdown.

And when it comes down to it, that's all the lockdown they ever wanted.

Christ yes. There was a thing in the Times yesterday that said that some "pupils may sit only 5 GCSEs as state classes play catch up". I'm not going to copy out the whole article but they quoted the chief executive of the Harris Federation, who said that he's planning to cut some GCSEs and expects other schools to do the same. There's a bit in the article about how this is going to create a wider gulf between state and private schools.

Also agree with those saying they couldn't do winter lock down. I only just about managed not to have a breakdown. Just. I don't even want to think about a winter lock down. I can't.

I couldn’t do a winter lockdown either. I struggle enough (especially January and February) so I make sure I schedule meals out, meet up with friends, days out etc as I need something to look forward to.

@Mascotte I took the boys to France three years ago (car, ferry etc) and was also worried about those kind of things.

I Googled a few things -motorways (specifically bridges, because I'm scared of heights and particularly bridge heights), town centres etc which really helped. Once in France I found that actually it was really ok- the French drivers didn't seem to be as impatient as English ones.

You can definitely manage it just fine

Yes, I am a bit confused about the dropping GCSEs and if that will happen as seen different interpretations of the guidance.

It seems the guidance from the gov said 'in exceptional circs' they can drop one, of two, but it may be how that is then interpreted by schools. Will have to see what happens with it.

True story: driving from Calais to home (Flanders) one night - winter + rainy + ferry delay, I decided to try and be a smart arse and go cross-country to hit the new motorway. The irony was not lost on me when my “mix CD” started belting out Bonnie Tyler’s “lost in France”.

Lille has (had) an excellent auchan- hypermarket extraordinaire!

Ieper would be worth a visit if you’ve time and inclination.

Are Mumsnet having a day off today? I've been told to fuck off, fuck you, been called several different names and more and they're doing fuck all about it?

I'm getting fucked off with this site now. Bullying and name callings allowed if you fit into certain categories isn't it?

@TrustTheGeneGenie

Are Mumsnet having a day off today? I've been told to fuck off, fuck you, been called several different names and more and they're doing fuck all about it?

I'm getting fucked off with this site now. Bullying and name callings allowed if you fit into certain categories isn't it?

Which thread?

I just peeked in some other threads.

Why are people still talking about how 500k people would have died without lockdown. There is no proof that's the case. Sweden demonstrates it's not that simple. The media have covered the fact the model predicting that was flawed. Why has the message not filtered through?!

About the lockdown in a tower block in aus. They're finally doing something about it.

Some people are just self righteous horrible pricks aren't they?

@TrustTheGeneGenie

About the lockdown in a tower block in aus. They're finally doing something about it.

Some people are just self righteous horrible pricks aren't they?

They really are.

@TrustTheGeneGenie bloody hell! They hardly ever shoot anyone except the odd mentally ill person...the mind boggles about some people.

Shodan the English government certainly seems keen to press ahead with reopening things, Scottish and Welsh governments- not so much.

I get the impression that the SNP would be delighted to have any excuse to thrust their vile blended teaching onto children and am very concerned about what that means when the Scottish numbers invariably rise - as they will because they are negligible at the minute - when things are eased.

I would pretend we all have coughs so at least we'd get tested and then if negative we'd hopefully be able to get out.

That's what I will do. There is no way I am staying in for 14 days, unpaid or at least on piss poor pay, if I don't need to. No way. I'm self employed FFS!

There are some people on MN absolutely frothing at the thought of a plague epidemic. This is just so fucking wearying :(

I live alone and work at home, and hate the winter as it is - the thought of a winter lockdown scares the shit out of me - even if restrictions remained the same as they are now it wouldn't be much fun - I want huddle indoors with friends from more than one household for a meal or a drink. @Mascotte If you feel brave once in Lille, it would be very easy to get a train to Paris for the day??

There is no way I'm spending the winter on my own in lockdown. No way.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

About the lockdown in a tower block in aus. They're finally doing something about it.

Some people are just self righteous horrible pricks aren't they?

I'm just reading that now.

On an entirely separate note, my dad had to fill out the track and trace forms to have a dinner in Morrisons cafe yesterday. Is that the norm in cafes now? If, for example, you pop in for coffee and cake?
My argument was if he was on his own at his own table and someone down the opposite end of the cafe tested positive for it, why should it affect him? They're sat separately, there's social distancing in place, he's not had any interaction with them so why? He said that viruses don't have boundaries, are in the air so could be anywhere so in that case, as I pointed out, social distancing is a waste of time? Or am I missing something?