ADs are braving the wind and the rain

[CruCru]

Hi all

I couldn’t find the new thread so here is one I set up. It’s windy out there! Glad I weeded my flowerbeds a couple of days ago.

Any non-contact, outdoor sport/ recreation should be allowed to continue. The benefits far outweigh any miniscule Covid risks.

@BogRollBOGOF

Any non-contact, outdoor sport/ recreation should be allowed to continue. The benefits far outweigh any miniscule Covid risks.

So strongly agree (actually I even think that on the evidence gyms should stay open but realise that may be too far for some). I can't conceive of a government in charge of one of the least healthy countries in Europe and with some of the highest rates of obesity making it harder and less attractive to exercise in the face of a virus whose effects are correlated with lack of health. You couldn't make it up.

What a relief to see that botanical gardens must close. Imagine allowing people to walk about in restrictable numbers in the open air. It would be carnage - border to border dead grannies.

No problem with the gardens of stately homes, etc, which remain open however. Much safer.

Head. Desk. Ouch.

Really, botanical gardens? Surely not..

I think there must have been some lobbying by the national trust, or else some financial favours slopping around Westminster, to make sure the stately homes of England can stay open.
Apparently Serco are employing students on minimum wage to run the test and trace. Says it all really. You know, some people are going to come out of this fiasco very, very rich.

Oh great botanical gardens is my refuge and we live in a flat. that and swimming.

Hello you lovely lot. I've been lurking on your threads for a couple of weeks - I love the AD spirit, honesty & wisdom on here. You've helped pick me up on my despairing days.

My dad received his terminal cancer diagnosis a few days into the first lockdown (via a telephone call 'due to the epidemic'). He was denied palliative chemo 'due to the epidemic'. Little trips with my mum to M&S cafe, the occasional meal out, shopping for a new jigsaw - all these small things have kept both their spirits up over the last months, and it breaks my heart they'll be taken away from Thursday. I honestly believe he will deteriorate even more quickly now.

A brilliant local restaurant let us book two adjacent tables yesterday so we could celebrate his birthday together. He was so happy. I'll hold on to that.

I have written to my MP today asking him to vote against the futile lockdown. (He won't - he's a Boris arse-licker) It just felt good to have a rant on paper. At least I feel I've tried.

Keep AD'ing

I just don't get why botanical gardens have to close. How exactly are they different to other parks??? What is the rationale?

Are National Trust places definitely staying open, does anyone know? I couldn't find anything about it when I looked online. If they are then that is something I guess... but the thought of NT visits being the highlight of our weekends once again doesn't have me jumping in the air with excitement, tbh.

Sorry about your dad, DesireAs

I emailed my MP over the weekend, got a stock response back which didn't even acknowledge anything I said.
Something I did find interesting though was:

"Fundamentally though, the reasons for tighter restrictions relate to hospital admissions. There are now three times as many occupying hospital beds than at the start of October. Staff sickness rates are high again, and hospitals are struggling to staff wards"

DH is to go out to work as in manufacturing (many in factory) despite being told to shield (but no financial support for ecv)

Meanwhile secondary DCs in with thousands in school

But at the same time can't even go for a swim or to the botanical gardens for a walk. Yes, really sensible.

@DesireAs so sorry to hear about your dad

I see now they're all over the site begging and imploring us not to shop at Amazon because of small retailers.

Sorry fuckers - you're locking me up - you don't get to dictate how I obtain otherwise unobtainable goods.

I'm sorry to hear about the chemo. We have a relative who has had palliative chemo but they had to go alone and with a mask. maybe it depends where you are.

You can sell things on Amazon, I used to see old books, it was fab. Sanctimonious things

Welcome to the new people.

Telling someone to "be more resilient" is the fancy modern equivalent of, "pull yourself together." Or as they say round here, "Ooh, I need putting in a sack & shaking up." None of which are kind or helpful.

Re single people living apart not being able to have sex indoors- the rulz say you can meet one other person outside "for exercise." Just saying.....

The covid threads on here are actually quite boring now.

Was it my imagination, but did Jeremy Vine sigh with exasperation when the leader of the NEU didn't listen to him on his show today?

I think I'm going to do what one of the most socially & mentally vulnerable people I know said to me today : "Dunno how to do this lockdown, it'll be awful, but I'll just have to go with the flow."

As expected, visits to second homes allowed for work purposes ..... the MPs are covering their backs!

A bad day here. Shattered and DC decided today was the day to remind himself how to grab a handful of my hair and refuse to let go. Am ashamed to say I shouted at them. Checked email later to discover that the small amount of singing work that recently came in has, unsurprisingly, disappeared with no guarantee the tiny amount left in December will actually happen either. This is normally the time of year where an day with no carol service/corporate gig (if not two) is rare and it pays the tax bill and a chunk of savings towards the leaner months in the new year. Feel shit as a mum and no longer a singer, so what am I actually for?

Sorry fuckers - you're locking me up - you don't get to dictate how I obtain otherwise unobtainable goods

Couldn't agree more @DominaShantotto

100%

@DesireAs

So sorry about your dad. It’s good you managed to get one happy memory in xxxx

I wonder which celebs/politicians hair will magically stop growing this time.

Thanks for the link to the petition have signed.

(Long time AD but struggling with life and so now mostly absent from MN. You lot remain the sanest part of the site).

I'm alone!

DH is doing the swimming. I really couldn't (bare)face sitting at the pool in tier 3 with how fragile I've felt today.
I should psych up and play some banging tunes.

Welcome DesireAS. Little things add up to big things.
I think garden centres are permitted to stay open? That might make for a little outing if they are.

Hello @DesireAs and sorry about your dad. What a kind, human thing that restaurant did though. I get really 😡 that it’s places like that, run by people with good heads and kind hearts, that are likely to be affected disproportionately badly by this fuzzy-ended lockdown.

And here we go with the over privileged shit again. Some doctor or viroligist on BBC News advising to use a separate bathroom??!!

I live in a one bedroom flat

FFS! They expect people to engage with this.