ADs deflower male cucumbers for the Greater Good. All phallic aubergines welcome .

[BogRollBOGOF]

Because bitter male cucumbers don't bring joy, but phallic aubergines can raise an irreverent smile.

AD chat continues about life, the universe and everything. We know the answer is 42 but what is the question?
6x7?
How many roads must a man walk down?
How many unsadly reincarnations have PHE put into the database?

My local city centre loads of shops have closed down, one large store barely open a year. But a local greengrocers has had a refurb and looks fantastic. Been to Waterstones and bought the newest Jamie Oliver book to support the high street. My hatred of the mask is curbing my love of a browse, so saving money.

Are you where I think you are, @MxEWeatherwax?

DS1 has discovered Red Dwarf abs we watched the one with the Holovirus, last night. Rather tickled me, it did

Did you watch the "making of it" programme on Dave recently? I've had the theme tune on a loop in my head ever since.
"It's cold outside, there's no kind of atmosphere......"

Welcome back @chocolatesweets. I think it's good to not pretend everything is ok when it isn't, & I'm glad your friend "gets it".

'I've still got that library book.'

If it has a cathedral and begins with the letter D then yes.

I tried wearing lippy under my mask the day the mandatory mask rule came in for shops. It all rubbed off All of it. A little bit was left on my chin And just specks of it was left on my lips AND it was one of those stay put ones. It looked a right state when i took the mask off. So i can see why sales have dropped. So there is no way that moisture dosnt gather underneath the mask. Its not recommended that make up should be worn underneath these masks . So its not surprising that sales have dropped. I did say on a previous thread a month ago that within a month Hancock will find out what women spend ..............oh sorry SPENT on beauty.

@MxEWeatherwax

If it has a cathedral and begins with the letter D then yes.

Ooh. I'm glad the greengrocers has re-opened so quickly. It was pretty much my only reason for walking that way instead of to the retail park I live equidistant to.

The Chinese grocer and wanky gift shop do look a bit lonely, now.

T cell immunity study update: all my ILs tested positive for Covid T cells. My MIL had symptoms and a positive antibody test, my FIL and BIL no symptoms and negative antibody tests, despite repeated exposure to MIL (she had it early on and didn’t realise it was Covid).

My results are probably tomorrow, they are coming in dribs and drabs.

This is the study we are taking part in:

www.medicalnewstoday.com/amp/articles/covid-19-how-a-new-blood-test-could-help-speed-up-vaccine-development-and-population-screening

@MagdaS interesting stuff

BTW my MIL and FIL are both nearly 80, and FIL has numerous underlying health conditions, so are exactly the types who the Ds would scream about immediate sadly death if they got it. Or not.

Yes the Street beginning with S is looking very sad now. I’m looking forward to the students returning.
I love that retail park I am a frequent visitor, even that’s a bit sad now Lakeland closed and Oak furniture closing soon and Laura Ashley( very sad).

@MxEWeatherwax I think I also know where you are talking about. Worked there 25 years ago & loved shopping there. Have a soft spot for the place but it's really wrecked. Haven't been for ages but have seen it on local news & can imagine the recent decline.

@MagdaS the T cells study sounds interesting. I hope there's something in it.

@MagdaS that's fascinating, thanks for updating!

I'm in Austria. It seems to be the land of the ADs, it's wonderful. Shame BoJo just announced quarantine which is a bit of a joke considering cases seem to be centered specifically on Vienna.

That t-cell study is fascinating. I had a negative antibody test but I really do think I had it but very early on. Wonder if I'd show t-cell immunity. It's not a test you can buy like the antibody ones though is it?

How old is your son @PickAChew ? I was considering if DS1 was old enough for Red Dwarf a while ago and thought maybe not as the language can be quite strong. He's just 13 and I've introduced him to Blackadder which he loves.

One of my new year's resolutions was not to buy any more work clothing. I normally detour into our local big city when I'm at a conference and pick something up from Jigsaw, Hobbs or Mango so not cheap but I figured its better to buy one new dress / suit every year so you never get to the point of everything in your wardrobe being 10 years old and you are job hunting (as happened to me about 10 years ago). Anyway, not been difficult to keep that resolution but I have bought a fair amount of sportswear as I've been exercising more frequently but for less time as mostly with the kids. I desperately need a new pair of running trainers too.

I remember the couple of days before shops were allowed to sell non essential items I was turned away from a boots for trying to buy hair dye, (having just given birth it was definitely an essential item to cover up those greys) when i explained i wanted shampoo as well she said they didn't sell the one I was looking for. So I wasnt even allowed in! Looking for the positives in all this I'm glad the argument over essential and non essential items has ended
Once dd1 goes back to nursery I would have loved to have a mooch round the large primark in bristol but I just don't think I can face it at the moment.

I've been taking part in a few studies related to pregnancy/birth and covid19, we think we possibly had it in January when dd1 and i had the worst coughs, hers lasted for months,well into lockdown. Personally I think the government don't like the antibody tests because they might just prove that a lot of people have had it mildly and can stop being scared

@MxEWeatherwax

Yes the Street beginning with S is looking very sad now. I’m looking forward to the students returning. I love that retail park I am a frequent visitor, even that’s a bit sad now Lakeland closed and Oak furniture closing soon and Laura Ashley( very sad).

I did visit Laura Ashley, a few weeks ago, and it was dementor central with one staff member ending up blocking me in with store fittings in an attempt to enforce the ridiculous one way system. Shame because I've made many spur of the moment purchases there, on the way to markses or sainsburys, over the years.

I think that one thing that doesn't help with S street is the ancient buildings. Top shop has some pretty bad rising damp.

I'll not miss oak furniture land but it's still sad to see gaps there.

@Taswama he's 16. I had to explain what smeg was to him, mind :o

I find the language fairly mild, tbh. Some of the themes are a bit heavy, though.

I went into Laura Ashley this week to say goodbye to the staff who have been absolutely every time I or DILs visited and purchased different things over the years. So sad.

I went into my chemist today for something overheard a member of staff pharmacy assistant talking about her trip to Liverpool at the weekend. She moaned about pulling her mask up and down a lot during the day. EH!! ??

Had a lovely day involving a mass flock on a notorious beach We managed to park responsibly in a car park, didn't leave any litter and despite being blatently busy, everyone had a natural gap of a couple of metres around them anyway
It was lovely seeing general playing, swimming and watersports. Relived a few of my A-Level geography field trip haunts too.

Now5 months since the DC's came home from school. It stings a bit less with it being the holidays now.

Saying about not considering the wider family with WFM. God yes. I feel like a non-person some days. I'm used to school hours to myself. I'll still have DH at home indefinitely and I just feel permanently stiffled. I can't just stick all the radios on around the house for an immersive effect or have a good sing. I'm accountable to let someone know what I'm doing all the time (not in any controlling way, just a courtesy).
Still no sign of any of my voluntary roles returning. DH will still have the DCs bouncing in after 3, plus the background disruption as I try to herd them out in the morning... It's crap all round.

Anyhow, the holiday is going well despite there being zero novelty of family time I'm hoping the weather behaves tomorrow as strong winds could scupper our plans. The good weather days are great, but it is much, much more awkward for grotty weather when indoors is off limits due to pre-booking, reduced capacities and masks. While DH is more resiliant than me in that department, he's still not up for wearing one for multiple hours.

@MagdaS I was just explaining T cell immunity to DH today and saying I think they've got a test now then I read your comment. That is absolutely fascinating.

Traffic at a standstill on A55 this afternoon. A flock of sheep had wandered into the tunnel. It is the little things that make me giggle these days.

I feel live the Covidcon Is like a high pitched droning sound that you just can’t get away from , no matter how hard you try?
It’s always there droning on in the background.

I would love to go back to August 2019.
Lovely holiday in Cardiff with my relatives and my dd and her family came down for a few days.
Perfect.

Amazing about the t-cell study. I would love to access a test, I'm sure we had the virus in March. I just read about a Swedish study of over 200 people who'd recovered, and regardless whether they'd had very mild or severe infection, they all showed the same 'robust' t-cell response. It was reported in Business Insider (I think the actual study was published in the journal Cell last week.)

Couldn't get to sleep last night. Think it was nearly two by the time I finally went, and dd2 woke me up at her usual 6.30. Gah. On my period and annoyed by everything already, still waiting to hear from dd1's school about new procedures, and dealing with a sulking DH because I've had to be the bad guy and veto starting an expensive new hobby while he's still on furlough and we've just had to borrow money from my family to finish off a DIY project.

Aaaand now I've snapped at dd1 and she's stomped off in a sulk. Ffs.