ADs shelter in The Sleeping Swans and have a group hug

[BogRollBOGOF]

Another installment in the saga.

Maybe following up with an Indian, Korma please, but protect the naans...

Which infrastructure? In this country only or all across the world?

I don't get it at all. Nobody (in control I mean) is saying let the virus run riot, we have a very successful vaccination programme with a high take up. I cannot see how our infrastructure would collapse now. I am just happily going to as many things as I can - went to Bluewater on Saturday and other than masks and sanitizer everywhere it felt refreshingly normal. Am taking my girls to the cinema today and will be going to the fair later in the week - soft play has been fully booked!!

@LivinLaVidaLoki the reasoning I have seen on this is that it would be because so many people are off sick that essential services couldn’t be staffed. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m not in agreement with this, just to be clear, but that’s what I’ve seen.

But now plenty of people are going to be off because they have been actively discouraged from seeking treatment.

Sometimes I think the medical profession should be reduced to witches, midwives, and bonesetters. Might be easier to access those.

And diviners @ISaySteadyOn

Thank you, yes!

Just saw "If all restrictions are removed then lots of people will no longer feel safe going out."

Took all I had to not reply "then that's their lookout. If you think helping the chronically scared is on the govt agenda then I think you are very very wrong"

Well, then they can either stay in their houses or man/woman up and go out anyway.

What they should not do is require other people to stay in their houses.

To be honest, these people just need to get a grip now. No sympathy left.

I was trying to be tactful but you are spot on. Totally agree 👍

Haven't been on here for ages but need a bit of sanity.

It's that typical time when we have another easing and suddenly SM is determined there is going to be another wave. It's driving me crazy and I just want to live. Life is too short even without covid to hide away for years.

I'm in a tent and it's not in my garden!
I'm in my happy place between the sea (which I can hear between DH's snores) and the mountains.

It's the best kind of food for the soul

@LivinLaVidaLoki

Can I ask a stupid covid question here, as it's a safe space....

I keep seeing that if covid is left to run riot then entire infrastructure will collapse.

Now, we have just been through 15 months of mass disease, illness and death on a global scale. Companies forced to close or on their knees due to illness and isolation and huge disruption. On a global scale.

It didn't collapse then, why would it now?

March 2020 when everyone seemed to have a cough, suddenly 2 weeks isolation for a cough was pretty debilitating to society. At the current level of vaccination, we're in a very different place.

I can see a logic in 10 days isolating for specific circumstances for now, but it's not long before everyone has the opportunity to be vaccinated and surely we're just approaching the point of just another cold/ flu quite rapidly. People shouldn't routinely catch Covid again and again so the need to isolate should diminish.

I can't see why it's a major issue going forwards for anything other than politic (policy) reasons.

But now plenty of people are going to be off because they have been actively discouraged from seeking treatment

Suspected cancer referrals have fallen by 350.000 compared with 2019 with lung cancer referrals down 73%. Around 40.000 fewer people than normal started cancer treatment in the UK last year and the NHS currently has more than 4.6 million people on waiting lists for surgery. Around 300,000 people have been on hold for more than 12 months, a wait time that is 100 times higher than before the pandemic and a large proportion of those delays are for patients with cancer.
According to medical journal The Lancet 45% of those with potential cancer symptoms did not contact their doctor during the UKs first wave of the pandemic (March to August 2020) citing reasons such as fear of contracting COVID 19 and avoiding placing extra strain on the NHS.

copied out from last weeks Bella. If 45% chose not to contact their doctor what of the other 55%

It was always difficult to get a gp appointment pre covid. Now it’s impossible. It used to be when you rang at 8.01in the morning you were 129th in the queue. They have changed the system so queue place is no longer announced.

And the speculation into who's to be added to the green list has now begun, with the balearics and canaries expected to be added......but no mention of any Greek Islands. Now if Spanish islands can be considered separately then why not Greek? Considering their priority vaccinating the Islands and many islands having had zero cases for some time now.....
Looks like turning off the news for another week for me.

Fingers crossed for Greece!

Unfortunately we keep expecting the roolz to make sense. Have we learned nothing over the last 18 months

Also worth noting that travellers coming back from abroad are all wondering why testing is so simple and quick (and free) at the other end.

@Worldgonecrazy

Fingers crossed for Greece!

Unfortunately we keep expecting the roolz to make sense. Have we learned nothing over the last 18 months

Also worth noting that travellers coming back from abroad are all wondering why testing is so simple and quick (and free) at the other end.

The definition of stupid is...

I was simmering with frustration this time last year and that burned out over the autumn/ winter and the numbness set in.

I finally had my overdue smear test last week. Fortunately my lifestyle is fairly low risk in that department. I'm pleased that the nurse was decisive that medical care overrides my mask ishoos!

With the Greek islands, there's not much hopping from island to island other than tourist bases to tiny islands. They are relatively contained if the countries "donating" tourists are pretty sensible about measures.
There wasn't a tsunami of cases caused by tourism last year and that was with far less avaliability of testing, and no vaccinations.

I have largely lost my drive for things to make sense otherwise I'd bash my own brains out

I had an mri on Sunday for kidney lesion hospital phoned today I have a zoom call next week with consultant, feeling shit scared now. Not worried about a holiday now just want to be healthy. Have another appointment fast pathway for my boob on 14th of this month with another consultant. It never rains but it pours sigh.

Everything crossed for you @justasking111
Can't offer you anything practical but just know I'm wishing you the best

Oh justasking111 you've had a run of things recently haven't you? Glad you are being seen quickly and hope things aren't too bad, hope the results are good for you.
I had a busy day today- took all 3 of my daugh

Bloody thing never normally posts that quickly! Took all 3 of my daughters to the opticians, was weird because at one point me and the optometrist had to both hold our breath as I had to have my youngest girls on my lap and he had to use a handheld instrument which necessitated very close contact! I was wearing a mask, so was he, I am fully vaccinated and am sure he will be as he is over 60 and had cancer a few years ago. He is a lovely man and said himself after I said about all the single use plastic being used that they are still supposed to wear plastic aprons per patient but they don't because it's pointless. Then I had a blood test and mentioned to the phlebotomist that I was supposed to have a colonoscopy last year and it was then converted to a telephone appointment. She, bless her, said I might be from the NHS but I hate what this country has done about appointments!

@justasking111 Fingers crossed for you

@justasking111