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

[BogRollBOGOF]

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.

@BogRollBOGOF, I actually lived in China for about 7 months in the early '00s. I was in the southern province of Yunnan and it was exactly as you say.

I remember having to go to an office to get my visa renewed but I had to be accompanied even though I spoke the language.

I think masks really really bother me because I find people with only half a face nightmarish. But that may be my ASD.

Also, the other day I picked up 14 littered masks. They weren't doing any good.

And lastly, I don't think we'll get out of this until the face rags are drooped as otherwise they serve as a constant reminder that you should be afraid.

It's hard to escape it isn't it. I put Radio 6 music on this morning and it is all "hands, face space, records' and 'in times of great uncertainty we're here to bring some positivity'

Why not just play some music? And do we really need the news every half hour on a music station?

@Orangeblossom7777 Radio 6 is my go to station but I’ve had to turn it off and put my playlist on. Can’t be doing with having this crap spouted constantly!

I have been suitably distracted this week from all talk of Coronavirus.

Currently have 3 blokes knocking the hell out of my roof.. It will be great when it is finished!

Contemplating going for a run too. I'm dressed in my kit - and do need to go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription.. However I haven't run for at least 2 months so it may be a lot of walking..

🎤On the National Express
There’s a jolly hostess
Giving porridge free
She’ll provide you with shots
amaretto or what
You like to seeeeee...

Going out was in style
Now we’re stuck in this aisle
Dream of being free
And it’s hard to get by
When your arse is the size
Of the furlough feeeeeee🎤

Morning.

I woke up with my shoulders round my ears, hate that.

@Whoooootaminute I am also in my running kit. Was planning to get up early but was up in the night with DD so that didn't happen!

I've seen less of the complaining that runners don't immediately leap into the path of fast flowing traffic to give 2m space to a dementor and their family taking up the whole bloody pavement this time round, thankfully!

@MercyBooth

Just thought of the perfect Christmas jumper. The Three Jingle Bellends

This is excellent! Can you knit? Definitely £££ in that idea.

The Covid Recovery Group - I fear they’ll focus heavily on tracking everyone to get back to normal. Didn’t Steve do a u turn on one of the lockdown votes - after proudly wearing his “2020 is the new 1984” t shirt!

@BogRollBOGOFF I initially misread you post about China as "...People are in fear of being buggered", rather than bugged. Ooh er missus.
These people who are enjoying working from home so much due to covid. Will it eventually pall? When I retired in 2014 I was so thrilled, like a kid on school holidays. Every day was fun and a gift. Well, the novelty wears off and you realise that if you want to have interaction outside your household you have to make a real effort, otherwise your only conversation will be with your OH. I realised I totally took for granted how many people I spoke to in a day, how stimulating it is and how it gives you other things to think about other than yourself. It's a gap that needs filling when you retire, be it with sport, voluntary work etc. If I was a younger woman, the thought of spending the rest of my working life sitting at home in front of my computer, on my own, would fill me with horror.

When I stopped teaching, it didn't take much to fill my time up. Even just doing mum taxi to Beavers, swimming etc gives structure and puts you with people and possibly smalltalk.

I have scooters (withLEDs strapped on) and hi-viz in the car. When the kids get out of school it's offin the car to yet another park...I think rhat's my 6th different park since Saturday?

The organisation I work in has a very young workforce on the whole - as someone in their mid-50s I stick out like a sore thumb and I’ve frequently been in meetings where I’m double the average age of the rest of the people there. (Interestingly, they’re all terribly woke about race, gender, trans etc but constantly sprinkle casual ageism into their conversation but that’s apparently ok ..)

We had a survey on attitudes towards returning to the office - HR thought it would be the very few people like me who’d be wary of going back but no ... the vast majority of staff in their 20s and 30s are terrified .. despite their risk being negligible (as well as being young, they’re also slimmer, healthier, less deprived and overwhelmingly white so no extra risk factors either) - it doesn’t make sense

I would hazard a guess that although some may be 'terrified", most just can't be arsed to go back and want to stay WFH.

I hate it, have done 2 days at home since starting this job a few years ago, but it was mainly so I could plan work that required no interruptions etc so worked well and was a choice. Not going in at all is shit, and we have had 2 new joiners leave within 3 months as they just cant learn the job at home. Ive offered to go in but I think they are trialling no one in to see the feasibility of closing all offices, terrifying.

DH is WFH indefinitely but my work is less into it unless they're told they have to...

I'm actually quite enjoying it when he's here as well, mainly because I get some extra sleep, and I do think it should be offered as an option for those who are able to work effectively from home, although I do recognise the risk that when businesses realise their employees can be remote, they will also realise that they could be employing cheap overseas labour...

It's interesting about the people who want to stay at home forever. I wonder if they have children and what ages they are. I thought maternity leave would be chilling out but you're actually rushing about meeting the needs of someone even more demanding than the boss, 24 hours a day. And lockdown with a toddler is just as hectic. Maybe if I had a teenager who was happy to sit on the computer all day then it would be more relaxed but right now the idea of staying at home 'making memories' does not sound fun!

@Pleasedontdothat

The organisation I work in has a very young workforce on the whole - as someone in their mid-50s I stick out like a sore thumb and I’ve frequently been in meetings where I’m double the average age of the rest of the people there. (Interestingly, they’re all terribly woke about race, gender, trans etc but constantly sprinkle casual ageism into their conversation but that’s apparently ok ..)

We had a survey on attitudes towards returning to the office - HR thought it would be the very few people like me who’d be wary of going back but no ... the vast majority of staff in their 20s and 30s are terrified .. despite their risk being negligible (as well as being young, they’re also slimmer, healthier, less deprived and overwhelmingly white so no extra risk factors either) - it doesn’t make sense

I have found this as well. I work in a school as a TA. The staff who are the most scared are the younger ones. I am one of the oldies (50). A lot if the teachers are 20-30 year olds and they were the ones most concerned about coming back to work. The other staff in the 40-50 age range less concerned with most of us in our 50’s not concerned at all. Those of us who are older have the attitude that it’s just another risk like any other in our daily lives.

you realise that if you want to have interaction outside your household you have to make a real effort, otherwise your only conversation will be with your OH. I realised I totally took for granted how many people I spoke to in a day, how stimulating it is and how it gives you other things to think about other than yourself. It's a gap that needs filling when you retire, be it with sport, voluntary work etc

This worries me a bit as I can be quite socially anxious and avoid groups etc (although really like swimming and yoga classes etc and seeing people in general just not having to speak to groups of them)

Think it may make things harder in the long run if it continues- not sure. We have been asked to book some school parents evening online and am dreading that for example.

Cassgate I noticed that in our leisure centre before the main lockdown- all the mums and toddlers and younger people stopped coming but the older ladies in aqua aerobics and the retired early swimmers kept going

The pebbles on a beach thread from May has been revived in AIBU

Just catching up on the threads. So many good points being made. Thank goodness for a small corner of sanity. I had a quick calming look through Karol Sikora's twitter where the talk was of the numbers dropping everywhere except a part of the Midlands and the R (the dreaded and perennially unhelpful R) being 0.9. Then came on to MN to see 'numbers in my area surging... Oh me too... Yes, ours are awful...'
groan.

@AcornAutumn

🎤On the National Express There’s a jolly hostess Giving porridge free She’ll provide you with shots amaretto or what You like to seeeeee...

Going out was in style
Now we’re stuck in this aisle
Dream of being free
And it’s hard to get by
When your arse is the size
Of the furlough feeeeeee🎤

Morning.

I woke up with my shoulders round my ears, hate that.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 love it!

Numbers not surging here - dropping / levelling off.

Thanks Nasty that’s the first time anyone’s responded to my songs 😂

Amazing how numbers are surging on MN but dropping everywhere else ...

The numbers in my little district have stayed pretty constant, I’ll take my chances. I went to town yesterday and bought a unnecessary cappuccino, then met a friend for a walk at the local park. Loads of people out doing the same. All social distanced and the playground was open. I did 15000 steps and was shattered.
You lot are so good at poems.
I was reading pregnancy one and no wonder there has been an increase in still births. Are they really saying if you have reduced movements and a slight temperature you have to get a COVID test before you get checked out! Your baby could be dead by then.

Re parents evening, I don’t mind the phone call update but I would not be doing zoom or teams. My camera is staying off. In fact I don’t miss parents evening, one bit. Especially secondary school, and they took hours.

Staying at home is really not great for anyone long term- in my opinion.

I don't work but spend a lot of time out and about - gym, meeting friends, shopping, visiting family and running errands etc.

My DS is post Uni - no job and currently just at home with us. He can't even find a part time job in a bar or shop let alone in his chosen field. He ideally wants to go to Uni to continue with his masters but he's not keen if it is going to be predominantly online and living under a shadow of fear and lockdowns.. I really feel for him - when I was his age I was living independently, working and having a great time.

Run done - 4 miles - a bit of run/walk though.