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

[TheGreatWave]

Slight tweak to the suggestion, but here it is.

Just been for a walk and the children's park is open- Lovely to see the children running about playing. Seemed normal too, the only things seem to be there are marshals (smiley ones) controlling the numbers so a bit of a queue, and also if you get food at the cafe you can't take it in to the play area.

Apart from that big signs about some bees to watch out for. I had a flapjack and a coffee and watched the children for a little bit in the sun

And yy to Morrison's - we have used them for years and they have been wonderful in lockdown. There was only 2 weeks when I couldn't get a slot and the substitutions have been minimal.

Oh no, I'm a winter lover, well less of a winter lover and more a summer hater.

I will get my coat and gloves and hat

It’s why we take our summer holidays in winteR
Tenerife in October lengthens the summer
Again in December gets me away from Christmas madness but we do go back for Christmas then back in March to shorten the winter

Look at it now . July and wind is blowing a hooley
I just knew the weather would change when lockdown ended

Im psychic lol
I wouldn’t let the dental receptionist shoot that temperature thing at my third eye , got her to do it on my wrist

I am going from Scotland to England tomorrow with DD to see my parents without a government muzzle in sight yippee not sure when I'm coming back probably 15th when there is maybe a cafe open am so so fed up

Hi all!

I’m being a bit of a bitch to my husband. I’m irritated because he had loads of skiing holidays last season and brought back Covid. Now he keeps dementoring and I snap “But we’ve had it! Do you remember? You gave it to us!”

I am honestly fine with him going off on friends’ holiday and, actually, I’m all right with catching Covid off him (because disease and risk are part of life). I’m annoyed because most of my small pleasures have disappeared while he is having an awesome time. I don’t need to have him going on about how schools aren’t going to be getting back to normal for AGES and how they’ll almost certainly be closed again.

Sorry, I’ll stop whining.

My old nanny went to the pub last night and took a load of pictures of her pint with the caption “Up yours judgementals!” I think she is probably an AD.

I like snuggling under a blanket. Love hot chocolate too (far too much actually, she says looking at her stomach). But even as keen on those as I am, I'm always done with winter about 4 weeks in. It's then just damp and dark and wretched. I have plans to win the lottery one day so I can spend half my year somewhere warm.

It feels weird knowing so many people were out last night. A few brave souls have posted on my FB that they were out, including one couple who have been absolutely screwed financially by lockdown - I was so pleased to see they'd booked themselves in somewhere really expensive and gone to town with what they ordered. They will have some tough times ahead. Anyway, no accusations they're murderers thus far which is good.

And my parents rang me to tell me they'd been to church. They've not exactly been terrible dementors but the last few months made me question whether they'd spend the next year at least not really going out just to be on the safe side. But they were very relaxed about going and said they feel they've done their bit staying in up to now and what will happen will happen. My dad is possibly at risk of not coming out of it if he gets the virus (although of course it's hard to say) but they want to live.

@trappedsincesundaymorn

BogRollBOGOF

Your children have my undying admiration.

I blame their parents.

DS2 entered class legend this year. He was warned that a) he would not go to school with unbrushed teeth and b) I was not making the other children late because of him faffing around (I take a friend's DD too)
So the toothbrush came with us, and DS2 had his teeth brushed by his class' door inder the watchful eye of the head teacher. He went in diverting to the toilet to clean his face.
Shortly after, a classmate goes to the toilet and comes back saying "sir, there's blue stuff over the sink" DS2 sheepishly puts his hand up and confesses, that it's his toothpaste and mummy made him brush his teeth

The other good one, just before lockdown. DS2 and DS1 are about the same shoe size. DS2 had football the evening before, comes home in kit, then has an early start the next morning. DS1 goes to leave the house, and there are no school shoes... DS1 finds these types of issue... challenging.

I reassured him that it was OK, he could go in in trainers, his shoes are on DS2's feet and we can sort it out. Fortunately I was supporting in school opposite DS2's room. DS1 bravely goes up and tries to explain to the teacher but struggles to articulate the problem so I end up having to explain that DS1 would like his shoes back off DS2's feet and that DS2 needs to get his own shoes out of the football bag on his peg. 🤦‍♀️

We're a bit low on stocks of fitting shoes atm. DS2 drenched his new trainers on Friday night by pratting around in long grass getting soggy shoes. So we get back from a couple of hours at the park and the DCs take their shoes off. I realise that not only had DS2 worn an odd pair, he'd somehow managed to wear a size 10.5 and a 13 of similar style and not notice! His newest shoes are 1s. How? How?

I've noticed a few new grey hairs recently

Drove into our little market town about 6 last night to see what pubs were open
There were three in the square. Actually I think there’s four
Maybe if the other two had opened up the ones that we’re wouldn’t have been so crowded ... just saying

We’re just back from church. No singing, no coffee afterwards, and two-thirds of the pews taped off, but an actual service with other people! It was interesting that quite a lot of the older people in the congregation have chosen to come back straight away- I wondered if some of them might prefer to stick with the Zoom services we’ve been having till now.

@Dowser and @BogRollBOGOF Thank you for your tales of school rebellions! I could write a book of little ways I played the system, and with my parents too. I had a very good memory, so I could quote things my parents and teachers had forgotten they'd said, and hold them to account. They sometimes tried to shut me up with "How rude!!!", but that didn't make me respect them.

One teacher (who I normally got on very well with) favoured dragging children by the wrist when telling them off, or holding their wrist and shaking it. When she once did this to me, I said, as bold as brass, "stop pulling my nice jumper". She muttered an angry reply through clenched teeth. But I respected her, because she was more straight with us than other teachers. She'd say things like "if we don't get the classroom tidy, you'll miss your play, and I'll miss my cup of coffee".

I was amused to see on the internet a tale of a principled little boy whose mum threatened to make him write lines "I will stop using potty talk". He thought it was worth it to keep on swearing, and he wrote his lines. Harry Potter would be proud.

It makes me smile when I read on MN about parents who are highly concerned for their children's mental health lifting them over the playground fences. We need to be principled like this in the face of Boris's chaotically authoritarian regime. I'm sure some hairdressers (CFs for charging for PPE) worked undercover during lockdown too; good on them.

@TheGreatWave

Oh no, I'm a winter lover, well less of a winter lover and more a summer hater.

I will get my coat and gloves and hat

You're fine, you've not been glooming over our sunshine

Just taken the kids to the toy shop to spend some of their pocket money. Inside lovely, families spaced out picking toys- but some knob in the queue outside picking up a PS4 headset for himself I assume was glaring at us having children daring to come to a toy shop!

Bella ringing at church today. I don't go, being a dirty heather, but we live next door. Another edge back to normality

So quick info from pubs...

All tables are spaced 2m apart, one door host and all people have to be taken to a table, nobody can just sit down. People are encouraged to book to minimise queuing and orders and payment through an app. All tables outside can not be booked so if it rains you have to leave or go to the beginning and queue. Details are taken but not forced so people can say no. In terms of someone testing positive, staff and other customers will not be told to isolate by us, certainly it seems unlikely any other customers will be told to isolate because of the spaced out tables. Staff will be wearing face coverings at all times so the risk to them is minimal and thus no immediate isolation needed.

We are to encourage social distancing but we can not force people to do it. If people are causing problems we can ask them to leave. If they refuse then we call the police and they can get cautioned. We have been told we can shut at any point if we think things are getting out of hand.

Potentially things could, our beer garden was being used to deal drugs so they've been moved on but there have been large gatherings all along the river. I've seen large gatherings further down the river myself so pubs being open won't stop these people no matter what others think. They are the kind of people that will cause trouble for us but us being open is not the cause.

No limits on drinks or time limits on tables unless we get busy and need them back. People are allowed to drink as much as they want and we deal with them as normal so if they cause trouble then out they go.

The majority won't, like anywhere there is always a small minority that cause trouble and they will do that no matter what.

Morning ADs. Feeling so angry and sad today, my oldest friend is very seriously ill in hospital and NO visitors are allowed, none, only one family member to provide end of life care. One family member. We have been best friends for over 30 years and speak/text every day despite living far away from each other now (for the question up thread, what we speak about is usually just what our DC and pets and DHs are up to, current news, lots of reminiscing etc etc). I love her so much, she is even better than a sister to me and I can't see her. It's so hard and it's so unfair. She can't text or talk to me but I keep thinking what if she wants to see me and I'm not there.

, @BubbleIsNotAFuckingVerb. That’s awful.

Bubble I'm so sorry. That is wretched.

@BubbleIsNotAFuckingVerb I'm so sorry, what an awful time for you.

Just a thought Bubble - can you record a video message (or two or three) on your phone and send it to her or her family member to play to her? It might make you feel you are doing something and it might bring her comfort. I'm not sure if she's conscious but even if not she might be able to hear you on one level.

Am so sorry @bubble what a dreadful situation for all of you. Your poor, poor friend xx

Bubbles I'm so very sorry. That's too hard 😔

I'm so sorry Bubbles

My rebellious nature was awakened by a dinner lady in primary school (about 100 years ago now). We were served rice pudding for afters and I bloody hate rice pudding, so was told to "sit there until you eat some. You're not leaving this table until you do!". I think it was around 2.30 when the teacher finally came to get me, still sat there with a stone cold uneaten rice pudding in front of me. That dinner lady hated me for the rest of my time there.

This happened to my sister, except it was banana custard and she loathes bananas. She told the dinner lady she’d be sick if she was forced to eat it, the dinner lady still forced her to eat it, and my sister's prediction came true all over the table.

Bubbles that’s so hard for both you and your friend .