North East thread 5: The one where we move to Chat!

[Someaddedsugar]

Here's thread 5 everyone! I'll post a link over on thread 4 too.

Boosted today courtesy of Nightingale. Am contemplating a walk in for DD (18) - she was vaccinated as part of group 6 (vulnerable but not CEV) but I can't get her an appointment on the website - computer says no... Tried GP but couldn't get past receptionists. Her 2nd dose was in May 2020 so bizarre that given the govt are reducing time from 2nd dose to booster from 6 to 3 months I can't get her boosted... fingers crossed a vaccinator at a walk in will join the dots!

I don't have a booster appointment for Ds1, yet, either. No contact from gp even though they arrange his group 6 shots, last time, and texted me to book mine (I'd already made arrangements) He can't cope with long queues and standing around so the big vaccination centres are out and I don't know if any of the smaller centres are any better.

DH and I get ours, tomorrow, though.

I’d definitely just go to a walk-in clinic. Or see if one of the vaccine buses is in the area. I got mine done as a walk in with my mother at the centre for life. It’s worth checking they are still doing walk ins though.

The problem with the walk ins is the queues. I need to be sure there is no queue or he will bottle it. It's hard enough getting him out of the house, these days, as it is, and he's never done queuing (ASC) or standing for any length of time. We ended up waiting around for his flu jab but he had a seat and his phone so that wasn't a major problem for him.

@PickAChew according to the CCG website at Arnison you are given a time slot as a walk in and so you can choose to wait or come back for that timeslot - would that work for you and your DS?
countydurhamccg.nhs.uk/where-and-when-you-can-you-get-a-walk-in-covid-19-jab-in-county-durham/

My oldest DD is in group 6 and a couple of weeks ago received a text from GP to follow link and book booster( she is 20). So good luck.
Arnison centre was very well run.

[quote myrtleWilson]@PickAChew according to the CCG website at Arnison you are given a time slot as a walk in and so you can choose to wait or come back for that timeslot - would that work for you and your DS?
countydurhamccg.nhs.uk/where-and-when-you-can-you-get-a-walk-in-covid-19-jab-in-county-durham/[/quote]
Nope, and when I've passed when they've had active walk ins, the queues have been out the door. Last time I went with an appointment, I waited 40 minutes.

I made an arnison appointment for him then cancelled after driving past the queue and I got a text that day to make my own appointment at Brandon. I'm waiting for that for him.

I wouldn’t like to be queuing for my vaccine now!
The weather is so miserable, give me crisp winter days. I’m sick of the cold and damp.

I've just managed to book my booster for Monday. I would have thought boosters would be based on previous vaccine dates rather than ages. It would have made more sense esp for younger people.

We're off to the Bowes to see Santa tomorrow and I can't wait. It's the first year DS has really understood everything and it's made me so happy. Although the grim chat on the Covid board does make me feel really miserable so I'll be staying away from that topic.

When is the little retail park near Bell's open? I know it hasn't really started yet 😂

Well dh just had his in the final evening slots at Arnison and there was no queue so I've bagged Ds1 a similar slot the week before Christmas. There's a lot more choice than there was when I booked mine.

The walk in queue was long this morning as I drove past.
@Someaddedsugar the new bit next to Arnison is due middle of next year.
I miss taking my DD’s to Christmas activities etc. Will be going to Beamish before Christmas. Went to Newcastle last week so saw Fenwicks window from distance. Was very busy and it’s so stressful with crowds and masks etc. I’m avoiding the Covid section too, but it keeps spreading to other sections.

Pleased you got your DS a good appt slot @PickAChew.

I wonder how big the Aldi will be - I hope it's a nice spacious one like the Stanley one!

Beamish at Christmas looks lovely @MrsEWeatherwax - we've never managed to get there but it's on the list for next year.

I really hope the 8pm announcement tonight doesn't mean Christmas activities get cancelled. We've got a pantomime and the Snowman booked for the 23rd and 24th and I've been so looking forward to them. Although if that does happen at least DS doesn't know we're meant to be going so can't be disappointed too as that would be worse.

Ds2 at home with a cough, this morning 😣

At least I'm allowed out, this time.

Hope your DS is okay PickAChew.

I'm hoping so, too. He seemed less bothered than expectd by staying off. He's vey hoarse so probably feels a vit rubbish.

Hope he’s ok @PickAChew. Do you need anything getting?

We're good, this time @Someaddedsugar. Ds1 trusts my sandwich making, these days. I think he's learned to lower his expectations :o also, with the jabs, unless he does come back positive for Omicron, I don't have to automatically isolate, while this time last year, we all had to isolate if a family member sniffed twice.

Online food shopping slots are also easier to come by than last year. For now! I book one every week, now I can.

Hopefully it's just a cold!

The supermarkets have definitely stepped up the services they offer since the start of the pandemic. We've started to use Sainsbury's click and collect every week but I really wish M&S would start one. I know you can order from them with Ocado but getting a delivery slot is absolutely impossible!

Yeah, I tend to book a weekly waitrose or ocado slot, 3 weeks ahead. Crossing my fingers it is just a cold and we don't lose our M&S Christmas food deposit, next week!

I noticed when booking ds2's pcr that they're re-opening the county hall testing site.

I’ve name changed. I thought they only closed the county hall covid testing site for the Lumiere. So was wondering when it would reopen.
PickAChew do you have anyone who could collect your M&S order if is worst case scenario? I was going to order M&S but then realised I can’t deal with the Arnison centre so busy.
They are missing a trick doing home delivery from store, just for Christmas.

It closed back in the Spring. I was one of the last to get tested there and the guy said they were going to be packing up shortly after I was done as there was hardly any demand, at the time.

When delta emerged, they put a temporary one in the dli car park but that one didn't stay long.

And, unfortunately, we don't, so I'm crossing my fingers!

hello, we popped up to Arnison at 8.20 this morning to join the queue for walk in booster for DD - at just before 9.00 they announced no more walk ins for the day!

Hoping to get her booked in when the website changes tomorrow...

have managed to get her booked in for a booster tomorrow - don't know if the website finally realised she was group 6 or if I hit lucky in terms of 18-29yr old access but hey ho!