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

[TheGreatWave]

Slight tweak to the suggestion, but here it is.

I'm sorry that was a bit me me me especially when so many of us are struggling. It's the thought of my friend alone and that I can't see her. The voice recording is a good idea and I thought photos especially old ones of us would help. But I can't see her, only her H can see her, from what she has told me recently I don't think he will do anything like that. The saddest thing is I also know from what she has told me they don't even love each other any more yet he is there and I can't be with her. She can't see anyone that loves her. How can this be fair, to treat people in the absolutely worst and vulnerable moments of their lives like this.

Bubbles. It's horrible how the tough times are being made even tougher with those kinds of restriction.

I saw this and wanted to share but possibly not for the reasons David King wanted me to. He is advocating harder lockdown and doing more to prevent whereas I saw that figure and (forgive me if I sound callous, here is literally the only place I feel comfortable typing these words) I thought, that doesn't seem a high enough figure to justify what we are doing. When added to all the other reasons people die, when you have people dreadfully ill and all alone like Bubble's friend I think that a 27000 figure is actually a good example of people saying a Covid death is more important than any other death. I'm pretty sure you all know I don't mean those numbers aren't sad on a micro, individual level but that collectively they aren't enough on a macro level to justify the impact we are having on all other aspects of life?

I had a similar dinner experience at primary school. Watery cheese flan. I warned them I would be sick and indeed I was.

@BubbleIsNotAFuckingVerb hugs to you that sounds horrendous.

Bubbles - your poor friend. So unfair

bubbles I am so sorry that your friend and all her loved ones are going through this.

One of my colleagues passed away last week, it was unexpected (she was ill, but prognosis wasn't that short) and friends are hurting, yet can't go to the funeral due to number limits.

Bubble you can post whatever you like here - the virus is affecting different people in different ways and they all matter. What you are experiencing must be so incredibly hard. Please keep talking to us about your friend if it helps you. And I'm so sorry about the situation with her husband. You must be boiling over with frustration that you can't go to her.

@BubbleIsNotAFuckingVerb, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. That sounds really hard.

Oh bubbles... I’m so sorry
That is just awful
I still miss my friend of 60 years ( lived next door from age of 2) . I hadn’t seen her for awhile either.
I don’t have have a sister so you really do get to value a good female friend.
This is when the situation is at its shittiest
My friends dh rang me and told me the news . I wrote her a letter and mr dowser took it round and it was read to her. All the family were crying apparently.
Shitty shitty shit life
Yet bastards who cause the utmost pain and grief walk around without a care I. The world.. well seemingly

Would doing something similar be appropriate?

@bubble. Have you looked at the hospital trust website re their rules for visiting? The approach across the country is varied and vague so your friends DH may not necessarily have the correct info eg one of the trusts near me says 1 visitor at a time for end of life but that the visitor doesn't always have to be the same person but then trust next door doesn't allow for that. It might be worth checking directly with them? Also, with some easing of restrictions happening from yesterday it might be that what the trust didn't allow on Friday they might allow on Monday, especially if you arranged to have a test first and then isolate until you could see her? I know you're shielding though so they might not let you anyway, am just trying to think of all the ways you might be able to push against the system.

I have decided I am actually very laid back about risk after someone on FB said about sanitising playground equipment before using it.

It wouldn't even occur to be to do this, however [confession time] I also never locked away the bathroom cleaning stuff etc. It was just there and they just didn't touch it, my reasoning always was that I didn't want it locked away and then go to another house where it was out and see it as novelty.

Maybe I go too far that way, but I have never been one of those that try and eliminate every single risk, however small it might be. (Or indeed understand it)

@crucru
I can imagine your anger
I said to Mr D I’m glad we are on true same page with this
I’d find it extremely hard if you didn’t want to go out and do things
I think I’d feel like not only was I in prison but there was a gaoler with a key

@NothingIsWrongis no words for you lovely
I know you are having a difficult time and are in my thoughts
I hope you get some time to yourself today

@Ibake yes I'm going to see what happens today and try and ring the hospital myself, I don't think they would know I was in the shielding group anyway. I know my DH would drive me there as soon as I asked him, she lives hundreds of miles away now. A couple of years ago my DC was in hospital and she drove all the way down to see us, she didn't say she was coming, she just appeared. She is lovely and she deserves better than this. And this must be happening to so many people and families, such a cost.

@HesterShaw1

I remember one April a few years ago, a poster breathlessly starting a thread entitled "Is anyone else really struggling in this heat?" It was all of 15 degrees, and she was rending her own hair at the thought of all the unbearable 18 degree days to come, and wishing for cosy crisp autumn days full of hot choc and fires.

Hint: autumns and winters in the UK are rarely "crisp". They are brown, grey, muddy and windy. For fucking months!

You know, I hate heat. I'm fair, atopic, hypermobile, with an associated tendency to low blood pressureand menopausal, but 18C is very much my sweet spot. It's temperatures in the mid 20s that render me a sweaty, itchy, dizzy mess.

[quote Allflightscancelled]@TrustTheGeneGenie I know you are a good 30 years younger than me but I always agree with every word you say 🤣

Only news I've heard so far today was on Five Live. It seemed to consist of:

Met police spokesman: we were prepared for mayhem but people have mostly been well behaved though we are a bit worried they may not all have been socially distant

WM ambulance man: we were prepared for mayhem but it's been really quiet. Possibly some people were a bit close.

BBC in scary adults behaving themselves shocker!! Hold the front page!!!

And thanks for the new thread, whoever it was.

Off outside to clip a tree back. Oh the excitement [/quote]
I looked at the bbc app first thing this morning and the headline was something about people returning to the pub saying it had mainly gone well- the quote from the police was way down the article. Now everything’s been shuffled around and the police quote is the headline and the comment about things being fine is buried!! I must be naive but I feel a bit shocked about how they’ve changed the presentation in the space of a few hours

@BubbleIsNotAFuckingVerb that does sound hard.

I have family member who need to go to consultant appointment finally and the hosiptal in letters and website is currently saying they'll have to go in alone whatever the situation- but they won't cope walking or naviagting or retain much information.

When they phoned and spoke to a the department it was a different story and they'll likely let one person in as their carer. They're still worried about it - worried it will depend on who is on the door on the day.

@DominaShantotto

To the people with crappy Tesco stories (I had an awful experience with a staff member too). Complain - let them know it’s deterring you from going back. I got a how was your visit questionnaire after and boy did I let rip

THIS.

They do read the feedback and the points based scores go into their KPIs.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend @BubbleIsNotAFuckingVerb

Churches - Mine is looking into options, it is mainly an older congregation so they want to get it right.

My parent's church may struggle as it is larger and no way they could abide by all the SD rules. It is difficult for my parents as they don't have internet access (Mum just has a bit of phone data) . They get a recording but not quite the same.

Someone did try, yesterday. No one seemed keen to engage in a this is how long I can make a food shop last competition.

@SockYarn I have a SAD lamp I drag out of the cupboard for my desk every November. Summer is the right time of year to get a bargain.

I like cold - we get that lovely dry cold here (-10) that freezes your nostril hairs but feels warmer. We even have a curling pond! Nb, curling ponds in Scotland are very different to the curling ponds used by brummies in Bournemouth. 😉 I’m very body conscious and much prefer adding layers to stripping off.

I’m still loving the photos of all those people in their 20s going bonkers last night in their natural habitat. The policy maker in me is also thinking “awww taking one for the team in the name of herd immunity too”. 😁

Bubbles

I keep being sent letters to tell me my hospital appointments are cancelled. Except I had no idea I had them.

@BubbleIsNotAFuckingVerb that's just horrible. 💐💐

Bubbles

Have you rang the hospital to see if you can speak to your friend directly? Apologies if this is not possible though.

It's a shit situation and my heart goes out to you.