The positive mental health thread - part 4

[Spudlet]

Keeping it positive, keeping our sanity, people 👍

Also I have a food question but daren't venture onto the main boards... if I make a stew with chicken thighs can I freeze the leftovers as is or do I need to de-bone the thighs first? Never used thighs before. This is really teaching me positive things about cooking with cheaper things and using all leftovers!!

Yes, you can freeze a stew with bones in it. Or at least, I have done for years and it hasn't hurt me yet....

This may not be all that important, but it made me have a small laugh: www.insider.com/abbey-road-crossing-london-repainted-during-coronavirus-lockdown-2020-3

Oh no! I'm hoping that the Food section of Mumsnet isn't dangerous as well? Surely not!

I dare not look @tobee!! Can't we just stay here forever?!

Oh and thanks @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime I'm definitely going to be less wasteful after this is over. I think lots of good will come of it.

I had eft over pasta for breakfast the other day. It was actually really nice. I have to admit, I can be terribly wasteful, with veg quite often going off in the fridge, but the current situation has made me wise up. Even if it’s a handful of veg, it goes in the fridge, then gets added to a soup or casserole when I’m cooking. You can even use the pasta in soup.

We're wasting a lot less food than we usually would. I've even lost a bit of weight! But am really hungry all the time. When DD is at preschool I do usually scoff chocolate ... can't do that now!

DD (3) is driving me a bit mad today. I've tried to get some activities sorted for her but she's just not interested. The only thing she wants to do is play tag in the (very small) garden (not easy when also trying to keep baby happy!) or watch TV. In fairness we have done the Joe Wicks class every morning this week. I think the novelty is well and truly starting to wear off now! Definitely more worried about keeping her entertained now than the virus!

We did the virtual pub quiz last night too, it was fun!

It's hard isn't it @DaffodilThatch my preschooler wants to do imaginary play CONSTANTLY. Its exhausting. I had to ban her from my bedroom for ten minutes this morning so I could at least get dressed in peace!!

DS is being ok today, but I’m dreading next week a bit when the weather isn’t meant to be great. We are so lucky to have a great garden, but our actual house is tiny... and gets very cold. Being cooped up in it with a bored DS is no picnic.

I do feel like this is giving us more daily time though. DS and DH just marched off with the wheelbarrow to collect some free firewood that our neighbours kindly said we could have and we had a picnic lunch, all together. It was nice.

Next week is likely to be a challenge though...!

@M0reGinPlease it really is! Speaking of imaginary play, we had tears yesterday because I couldn't find an imaginary cat she'd made up. I'm actually wondering whether we should get a real cat, she would love it. DH is also very keen to get one. I'm a bit less keen, and not sure how much entertainment DD would actually get out of it.

@Spudlet hopefully it won't get too cold! Sounds like you have nice neighbours . We'll get through the next few weeks.. somehow. Give your spaniel a cuddle from me, he's gorgeous!

I think I'm going to have to stop caring so much about screen time and her not being able to count to 20 etc. Or I will just make myself even more anxious (and cross!). I might try some cosmic yoga with her this afternoon.

@daffodilthatch I love your story of DD and the imaginary cat- that’s brilliant!
Not wanting to worry you and @M0reGinPlease too much re imaginary play but my 9 year old DD STILL likes imaginary play, as long as I “participate” Of course I’m not allowed any opinion or to deviate from the tedious storyline ..
Good luck next week @Spudlet, hopefully he’ll settle into a new rhythm and the time will fly by 😀

Any positive news articles today? The Telegraph positive daily round up doesn't seem to be there ☹️

I used to teach, but now work as a TA. I asked the class teacher to give my school email address to the children (I work in a small private school, so a class of only ten Year1s) and this morning I started getting lovely little messages from the children with pictures attached of the things they had been up to at home.
It's lovely to be able to keep in touch with them, and at 5 years old any writing is good practice for them. It's like having a tribe of little pen pals!
I sent them pictures of my cat back!!!

It's here Arcadia, but not quite as good today:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/27/coronavirus-positive-good-news-round-up-nation-turns-nature/amp/

Wow a 98 year old man recovered!
And testing kits may be sent out to a million people in UK within next couple of weeks!

Try this with headphones on - amazing! It's new 8D music ...

Thanks @T0tallyFuckedUpFamily. Tbf I don’t deal with these things well either. Anyway, there’s been an apology and all a bit less frosty plus I felt better after getting it off my chest here so all good. I think change will come, but right now we just need to get on ok and survive!

Sympathise re pre-schoolers - my 3yo doesn’t want to do anything unless I do it with him... and whenever I’m helping the others with their school work he likes to stand there wailing ‘it’s soooo booooring!’. I try to think of a couple of things just aimed at him in the morning then I feel better when those are done and don’t feel so guilty when we have to rely on screens.

Got a delivery from a local charcuterie place today which was exciting for me. All the veg box suppliers aren’t accepting new orders, which is a shame, but I’m happy that lots of local food businesses will be hopefully finding new clients.

Btw - anyone know am I ‘allowed’ to call a plumber? Got a leaking radiator. Wonder if they can do a safe service where they come in and out whilst you’re out of the way and just talk on the phone or something?

Thanks @Arcadia. I had a quick skip around the news sites but didn’t stick around long... the best thing I read was an estimate that 40-60% of the population having antibodies should ensure herd immunity if the current estimates of infectivity are right. If people are right that the virus is much more widespread than case numbers show then I guess we are working towards that?

You can call a plumber if it’s an emergency

@callybrid we've had a broken boiler here - nightmare - and plumbers are deemed key workers, so yes. He came out in mask and gloves and we avoided each other. They may be less busy than usual as they aren't doing the standard bathroom/kitchen refurb stuff.

Just off the phone chatting to (adult) DC who lives in France. They are a week ahead of us on lockdown & are now over half way through the second week. DC said that everyone says the second week is much easier as you are over the shock of it all & lockdown starts to become the new normal.

I found that quite cheering.

C'mon then @Bunnyflop, what's for tea?

I feel guilty in a way that I quite like lockdown. I feel safe. I like knowing everyone is in their houses. I've never been able to spend so much time at home before or with my DD.

@Callybrid We had someone out to unblock our drains and that was ok. I think if it’s deemed an emergency and you can be distant, they can still come out.