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ADs won't tut when you're stuck in a rut, we're all too busy pouring Amaretto in our porridge

989 replies

BogRollBOGOF · 04/11/2020 10:44

Welcome into another thread of alternative reality as we try to nagivate through the Coronacoaster of life.

We may be up, down, spinning around (generally in confusion at the next random edict drawn up on the back of a fag packet) but never sucking the joy out of life.

OP posts:
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16
NothingIsWrong · 08/11/2020 10:23

I've finished sewing myself a new skirt and now we are going for a walk. Another bastard walk.

Aztectrousers · 08/11/2020 10:24

Does anyone else feel like their whole life is about covid? The government have made it this way.

It’s like we aren’t allowed to do or think about anything else without considering this virus and I feel like each day I’m just going through the motions till it all ends. Chuffing pissed off and depressed today.

Blobby10 · 08/11/2020 10:34

So sorry so many of us are feeling so low today - I'm fighting to stay active to try and stop letting my feelings take over but its bloody hard work. However thanks to some advice on this wonderful thread I am proud to announce that I now have 3 newly painted kitchen cupboard doors and 3 newly painted drawers (after a change of colour!) Rust-Oleum Satin Finish paint is amazing although the smell is giving me a splitting headache - Need to get out on my bike after the Remembrance Service to clear my lungs of fumes Grin.

OH is isolating again - he tested positive 2 weeks ago but had had recurring high temp so now has to isolate until next weekend Sad. Kind of glad we don't live together but would really love a hug from someone today Sad

Reedwarbler · 08/11/2020 10:38

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts about my fil's situation.
This info is from the Telegraph yesterday.

"The Rights for Residents campaign group is asking for anyone who feels strongly about this issue to contact their MP and ask them that the Government grants Key Worker status to relatives of those in care homes immediately, and for rapid tests to be rolled out to care homes instead of spending money on ipads and plastic screens.
To follow their campaign or sign their petition, visit: rights for residents.co.uk"

Friends and remaining family members have been phoning wanting to speak to and reassure my fil. The home now says it is going to fix the phone situation. However, worryingly, every time we phone to see how he is, and relatives/friends are reporting the same, we are told he 'is asleep', regardless of the time of day. This was never the case in hospital. Visiting was allowed and he was always in a chair, awake and communicating (in his own way) when seen. We now have concerns that he is being sedated because he has managed to get out of his room several times by sliding out of bed and shuffling on his bum into the corridor (he can't walk).
Many years ago (early 70s) I worked as a care assistant in an old people's home for a while. It was standard practice then to sedate most of the residents, but I would have thought that sort of thing wasn't done anymore. It doesn't sound good if, possibly, elderly residents are being sedated in order to make them comply with isolation. Is there anyone on here who currently works in old age care who knows how they are isolating residents?
My H will be making further enquiries about this.

Reedwarbler · 08/11/2020 10:49

@MercyBooth that twitter clip is frightening. Why are the police acting outside their powers? They say the shopper is committing an arrestable offence. I haven't read the act and section, but I very much doubt that failure to wear a mask is an arrestable offence. An offence for which you can be arrested and an arrestable offence are two completely different things in law.

AcornAutumn · 08/11/2020 10:52

[quote Reedwarbler]@MercyBooth that twitter clip is frightening. Why are the police acting outside their powers? They say the shopper is committing an arrestable offence. I haven't read the act and section, but I very much doubt that failure to wear a mask is an arrestable offence. An offence for which you can be arrested and an arrestable offence are two completely different things in law.[/quote]
Yes, the police have issued an apology. 🙄

Here’s some cat and piano if anyone finds it helpful.

TabbyStar · 08/11/2020 11:07

I don't think this had been shared yet, a useful article on measuring and balancing the cost of lockdown. www.spectator.co.uk/article/is-the-cost-of-another-lockdown-too-high-

BogRollBOGOF · 08/11/2020 11:15

I was typing out a long one about my moods and emotions last night, touched the wrong bit of the screen and lost it.

Basically I feel as flat as the 2D zoom fitness class I just did instead of the real 3D class that it is subsituting for.

By baseline mood is slipping down, and the things that make me smile and laugh feel weaker and weaker with less after glow. I can have bad days when it's sunny now. I remember days after losing my uncle in awkward circumstances feeling grateful that the weather was beautiful and getting strength from that, and distracting myself in work and my usual activities so that the raw grief was not constant.

This is constant and in that way it is worse than grief. It limits what you can do. Stops you distracting yourself in company. It is intrusive in things like adverts and the media. When you go out it's the annonymous masks, irrational behaviour, rules, (many irrational), having to pre-plan. In things like literature previously fantasy/ sci-fi plots feel like gritty contemporary social commentary, and fluffy light stuff hammers in more prohibitions.

I am concerned that I'm slipping into depression. Bad days and moods are becoming more frequent and not particularly connected to a specific trigger. I never used to be angry. I'm short tempered and can have tearful days.

What I need is the excitement and reliability of anticipating something. Spontenaity, company, purpose. It wil take time even when normality resumes, but I am concerned that I might not make it through the winter with sound emotional health.

A lot of the self-help mindfulness stuff is not helpful. I am living in the bloody moment... what else have I been able to do since mid-March???

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HitchikersGuide · 08/11/2020 11:18

Not wanting to get into any sort of debate about the rights and wrongs of Remembrance Sunday, but living in a street where everyone virtuously and rather sanctimoniously did the clap/pan/sirens/music for the NHS, I've found it ironic that no one stood outside at 11... Just to add to the irony of Johnson talking about those who 'lost their lives for our freedom' during the greatest theft of freedom for decades. The small-minded virtue-signalling hypocrisy of people is so depressing.

Reedwarbler · 08/11/2020 11:28

@BogRollBOGOF I am sorry you're beginning to feel depressed. My overwhelming emotion is anger at the moment. It's the same stab of anger I might have got as a child for being wrongly accused or punished for something. It has led to a great deal of profanity. Even my H has said 'you never used to swear so much'.
Oh well, off for a dog walk in the rain. Keep your chin up bog roll.

AcornAutumn · 08/11/2020 11:45

@HitchikersGuide

Not wanting to get into any sort of debate about the rights and wrongs of Remembrance Sunday, but living in a street where everyone virtuously and rather sanctimoniously did the clap/pan/sirens/music for the NHS, I've found it ironic that no one stood outside at 11... Just to add to the irony of Johnson talking about those who 'lost their lives for our freedom' during the greatest theft of freedom for decades. The small-minded virtue-signalling hypocrisy of people is so depressing.
Our local service was pathetic.

I go every year.

No music except something playing from an iPad. No band, nothing. I know they did what they were allowed to do, it’s not the fault of the organiser.

OP yes, I can have a bad day on a sunny day too, and I drink my anger away.

Mindfulness isn’t helpful, only escapism helps. Hence I watch a lot of cats and pianos.

110APiccadilly · 08/11/2020 12:13

I'm not sure I can think of anything more ironic than Johnson talking about those who lost their lives for our freedom on a Remembrance Sunday we're scarcely free to do anything to mark.

BogRollBOGOF · 08/11/2020 12:14

We'd normally be at Rememberence parade with scouting at our usual church service.

The layout of houses where we are means we can only see on neighbour's frontage diectly. Standing there silently isn't much of a gesture.

OP posts:
wanderings · 08/11/2020 12:26

Did Saint Boris write his speech himself today?

How DARE he talk about freedom.

LadyOfTheImprovisedBath · 08/11/2020 12:26

There's usually a huge scouting meeting in city and a big service there's been a very small laying of wreaths with few councillors and prominant service people - no one's been standing out doing a minutes silence here.

We've heard nothing from Scouts for a while now and I'm not sure DS is as bothered - if it has kept up and done something I think he'd have kept interested. Due to leadership issues there haven't been any camping trips since he's started and now he's 13 there's not a huge amount of time left.

Willow2017 · 08/11/2020 13:29

@110APiccadilly

I'm not sure I can think of anything more ironic than Johnson talking about those who lost their lives for our freedom on a Remembrance Sunday we're scarcely free to do anything to mark.
Exactly. Maybe someone should remind him what freedom means?
ISaySteadyOn · 08/11/2020 13:37

I couldn't sleep last night. I was grieving for London. Silly I know but living in London was my ambition from about the age of two onwards. And I succeeded. I love this city and it feels as though it is dying a slow death.

I slept after figuring out what my personal vengeance might be for those who have put everyone in this position and harmed me, my family and my friends IRL and on this thread.

Flowers to everyone having a hard time. I know I am one person but I am on all your sides and maybe that helps a bit.

CruCru · 08/11/2020 14:01

London will recover. It always does.

Islington council have taken away half the swings in our local playground - so there’s only one “grown up” swing. So my daughter shimmied to the top of the swing frame and dangled there while she waited for my son to finish.

I can’t believe any children have caught Coronavirus from swings.

110APiccadilly · 08/11/2020 14:13

I don't think living in London is a silly ambition. I'm perhaps sillier in that I don't want to live in London, but I love it, I love visiting it, and I desperately want it to still be there when I want to go!

But as Cru said, I think it will recover. I really do think that pretty much everything will recover in time, because living this way is so contrary to human nature. But some things, and many people, will be scarred for a long time to come.

Curlygirl06 · 08/11/2020 14:22

[quote Reedwarbler]@BogRollBOGOF I am sorry you're beginning to feel depressed. My overwhelming emotion is anger at the moment. It's the same stab of anger I might have got as a child for being wrongly accused or punished for something. It has led to a great deal of profanity. Even my H has said 'you never used to swear so much'.
Oh well, off for a dog walk in the rain. Keep your chin up bog roll.[/quote]
My swearing ability has definitely increased! If my baby grandchild doesn't have a swear word as her first word I'll be surprised! (Then blame her daddy) lol

IwishIwasyoda · 08/11/2020 14:24

I've spent a significant proportion of the weekend in bed reading Harry Potter to DS (7). Now off to have an extremely deep bubble bath. And, inspired by the Range thread on MN, have bought outdoor Xmas lights from Aldi. Let the good times roll eh?

justasking111 · 08/11/2020 14:25

Having come out of lockdown so much later than England August, then put into county lockdown on 16th September, followed by full lockdown 17 days ago I am feeling a bit battered to be honest. 17 days now have been to chemist, bank, food shopping. Seen one grandchild for two hours in all that time because I did the school pick up for his mum. I cannot see them because of curtain twitchers who might get them all into trouble. There is a residential home opposite one DIL and a fruitcake next door to the other one (council employee) I am counting down the hours to tomorrow to be honest when I can go out and about again.

ISaySteadyOn · 08/11/2020 14:27

I think you're all probably right. Our borough has kept all the swings probably to stick it to Islington Grin. There seems to be a rivalry there. So, @CruCru, cross the border to one of our parks. There will be swings.

I went for a walk today and that helped. It is a pleasant day and my DC are drawing beautiful pictures of dragons, griffons, and unicorns.

CruCru · 08/11/2020 14:31

Sounds great. Are you in Camden or Hackney?

ISaySteadyOn · 08/11/2020 15:08

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