ADs drinking al fresco at The Sleeping Swans

[BogRollBOGOF]

ADs, grab your thermals, long johns and winter woolies, we're finally off to drown our sorrows at the Sleeping Swan!

Great Post Bogroll.
Really nicely put.

I've had phone GP appointments, which were not terribly useful (including one 6 weeks after C-section, where I would quite have liked someone to check the scar was ok).

However, DD has had plenty of face to face, from doctor, pediatrician, health visitor and clinics, for which I'm grateful. However, there were some concerns about her at birth (so far baseless, which I'm very thankful for) which has definitely pushed her up the priority list. For instance, she still has a named pediatrician, whose secretary I can ring directly if I have any concerns. I'm pretty sure that's not the normal level of care!

@MercyBooth

Seems im not the only one who has eaten her way through the pandemic. Joanna Lumley has put on four stone.

I think I remember an interview she once gave where she said that to stay in work she had to perpetually be on a really strict diet. Presumably she’s not had a lot of work over the last year so has stopped the diet.

Of course I might be thinking of Helen Mirren (the interview, that is).

I had to take DD2 to the GP this week, after she fell and hurt her arm. Our gp seems to be getting an ok balance - spoke to reception, she out me on the call back list, got a call in the next few minutes and then went in to get it checked in person about twenty minutes later. They've switched to an online system for requesting routine care and you just email with repeat prescription requests. But it's clear from the website and phone message that you can still speak to reception if you can't do the website and you can still see a go in person if you need to. Seems like a good enough balance. I'm agog at the GP surgeries that seem to have just shut up shop. How is it not regulated? They are all NHS, surely there should be a basic agreed standard of provision?

Someone I know has text me from the train on the way to the London protest - apparently the train is heaving with most going to the protest. I’m really hoping we’re turning a corner.

It's a lovely sunny day and I still feel mournful! Sorry.

Got to do a care visit to mum. I do love her, but it can't be right that she's almost been my only company for such a long time.

I don't even want to do the phone chat with bestie tomorrow as I expect it will have moved on from lateral flow testing to variants...!

If I see any protestors en route, I might have to hug them! 😁

@Wilberforce42

Someone I know has text me from the train on the way to the London protest - apparently the train is heaving with most going to the protest. I’m really hoping we’re turning a corner.

Ooh cross post

So exciting. Present and maybe lurking protestors - THANK YOU 🥳👏🤗

There are people with megaphones saying ‘stand up, take your freedom back’ on the train apparently 😆 ear plugs might be needed

I went to the garden centre with my DM (hurrah, her first social trip in over a year!) Everyone was wearing masks outside, I don't know whether that's the rules if you're outside in somewhere? Anyway I tried to start a trend by taking mine off, but no one followed!

Wilberforce and Sloe, it was a really nice protest and there's a special place in my heart for the Hare Krishna people and the Rastafarian contingent for some lovely singing and drumming . I'm too cynical to think we're turning a corner - too much fear around - but it was nice to bit feel alone.

I really wish I could have gone. Sounds good.

We've had a pretty normal weekend day!
Went for a walk with friends. One of their children was feeling more sociable than usual and actually went running off with DS2 which was great.
They came back to ours for a BBQ. DH is more funny about indoors, but the kids piled into the playhouse to play minecraft together and were left to be.
With the shit weather in 2019, it's been a bloody long time!

Having a mob of feral boys between us, walk and BBQ works out pretty well for us.

@thefallthroughtheair

Wilberforce and Sloe, it was a really nice protest and there's a special place in my heart for the Hare Krishna people and the Rastafarian contingent for some lovely singing and drumming . I'm too cynical to think we're turning a corner - too much fear around - but it was nice to bit feel alone.

Oh I'm so glad it went well and that you feel less alone How many people would you guess? Did you go by Westminster?

The only chat I got was one crazy neighbour who thinks the park play equipment should be shut off again "because kids are all over it and don't wear masks - I think the parents don't understand". 😱😱😱😱😱😱

There's been a call for more people to join the residents association. People like her are part of the reason I don't want to.

Some people really hate children enjoying themselves.

@ISaySteadyOn

Some people really hate children enjoying themselves.

I'd bet money she hates adults enjoying themselves too.

Tabby is that a rule the garden centre have?

I was so freaked out by everything last summer, I can't remember what the weather was like. My flat gets crazy hot very quickly. It didn't bother me when I bought it because I was rarely here. I'm seriously going to have to put cardboard on the windows. I know you can get fancy heat reducing blinds but they're expensive.

I don't imagine anyone will be visiting to judge my crazy choices, so it doesn't matter!

I'm looking at the state of the flat and wondering if lockdown has clashed with some sort of midlife crisis.

I used to be the sort of person who ironed bedsheets and now I don't even know what's for dinner!

As far as I know there is no rule about wearing masks outside. There were no specific signs. It was busy but not crowded but every single person except for me and young children kept their masks on. It was quite warm too so not v pleasant.

The protest looks good but there's the usual shit on Twitter about how more people will die because of it despite no evidence that other protests have caused an issue.

Sloe my house is also a tip 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sloe, there seemed to be loads - many many thousands. And I too used to be really houseproud and now everything's a tip and would be way worse if DP didn't organise stuff.
And as for people wanting playgrounds shut and kids masked, just wish they would follow their own mantra and 'stay the f at home' and just let children and the rest of us live our lives. People are just so unkind. I'm sick to the back teeth of all the judgment.
Still, wow it was a gorgeous spring day and being able to eat out the last week or so - albeit getting freezing cold - is lovely. (for those of us lucky enough to be able to afford it)

@SloeSummer

I'm looking at the state of the flat and wondering if lockdown has clashed with some sort of midlife crisis.

I used to be the sort of person who ironed bedsheets and now I don't even know what's for dinner!

Sorry that made me laugh, you are now disorganised. I would say if you no longer iron bedsheets, your mental health is in excellent condition. As for dinner it is a pain in the ass to have to think about doing day in day out.

just "I would say if you no longer iron bedsheets, your mental health is in excellent condition"

My sister would say the same 😂

I'm.a shining example of not ironing sheets.
I avoid comptetive cleaning/ sheet changing threads. We don't have lice and have excellent immune systems so that's fine by me

It was quite satisfying to finally scurryfunge* the toilet today. They'd be the guests I'd have around first for levels of clean up as they also have a lived in style and an abundance of Lego. It will take time to reach an in-law level of clean

• meaning a rapid clean up for unexpected guests.

@TabbyStar

twitter.com/skepticalzebra/status/1386047137637613578?s=20

Mercy yes I saw that Rachael Clarke tweet, and I think James Melville pointing out she might feel differently if she'd lost her livelihood and home.

I don't know why many of these people can't seem to discuss that even if lockdown has helped in some ways (which tbh I am not convinced about looking at data e.g. from different American states) then it might also have significant harms. It's like they can only think about one thing at a time!

Rachael Clarke is an Arch Dementor. Does my head in .