The positive mental health thread part 6

[Bunnyflop]

Morning all! Welcome to the new thread!

It would be great if it might result in some sort of benefits in terms of reduced pollution as well.

I've just been out into the garden and heard the children from the local primary school squealing and shouting in their break time, lovely to hear it again after months of absence.

Several roads have been closed to traffic here in Edinburgh, and reserved for cyclists and pedestrians. The council have set up a website with a map of city where you can mark pinch points and make suggestions like "We could do with bike parking here" or "the railing on the narrow pavement makes it impossible to distance here".

Much needed rain here yesterday and today.

I had a nice thing happen today.. a letter from local charity saying due to donations to their shop (nothing fancy just bits of clothes and stuff) they had raised £780 for local charities and had been doing food boxes for families and a home for single mums with new babies - I was so surprised had thought nothing of it, except clearing out some bits.

We have just finished a Chinese takeaway meal -- our first since early March. They had been closed for several weeks and just reopened on Monday, delivery only, and I do hope they do ok from here on.

That's amazing orangeblossom , I've been surprised to get one of those letters and see how much has been raised by our old tat, but it's never been anywhere near that amount!

Oh I lost this thread! It disappeared from my threads I'm on list for some reason!

How the heck is everyone?

I was too, wonder if it is a mistake. Although got one from another charity and was surprised there too. Anyway, good to hear something came of it.

I've been struggling last few days (no doubt others the same) just being quite low, anxious and un-motivated to even do things to help such as yoga or go for a walk.

It looks a nice day out so might try going out this morning perhaps.

The charity shop thing is strange, because surely they can't have been open during lockdown? I don't see how they can have made any money while they were shut, though I am delighted if they did.

I think the letter from the charity shop will cover a long period, like maybe the whole of 2019, and the lockdown period wouldn't be included anyway as too recent, even if we hadn't been in lockdown. The ones I have had cover at least 6 months.

I am registered for gift aid with a couple of charity shops and usually get a letter around now covering the previous tax year, could it be that?

It was from the past year, before lockdown. Yes they are closed now sadly.

Thanks for explaining: I was baffled fora bit there.

It's OK, think it maybe was the end of tax year thing as mentioned. DS did his D of E volunteering then as well (when things were more normal).
Seems like a world away now.

Yes, my DD was part way through DofE, she has managed to keep her skill going and a bit of volunteering from home but the work has run out now. Her physical was swimming. Mind you she has kept up the land based training online.

Positive news from here - met with DB, DSIL and DNs yesterday for a distanced bike ride. DB planned the route and it worked really well, got us out to the hills outside the city where we sat at a distance for chat and snack before return journey.

En route we saw people heading off to BLM protests with their placards. Thankfully the protest went really well here, totally peaceful and well distanced and most people wearing masks. It helps to have a giant park in front of Scottish Parliament building. Nicola Sturgeon says if it weren't for coronavirus she would have attended herself and I believe her.

My youngest had their first day back at school day- year 6. he was fine going; just feels a bit strange and hope he is doing Ok. Was tricky to sleep last night and kept wondering if I would sleep in and miss it or something. (not likely) been up since about 5 as seems to be usual for me these days.

He's just going 2 days a week, Monday and Tues then the rest of the week at home. Still have another son at home though. My eldest is part way through their DofE as well, thankfully has done the expedition and volunteering but also has the fitness part. They could do that during this time I suppose, not sure.

My niece has gone back today, she says it was good to see her friends. She's got 4.5 days, which is good.

@Orangeblossom78 how were your son's first couple of days back? Was it strange for his brother?

@UpOnDown that's good. we have 4.5 days too.

Ooh yes, would love to hear positive stories about kids going back. My year 6 boy goes back in Thurs and will be in 4 days a week

Mine are years 9 and 11 so won't be back till September. They have taken all this really well, better than I thought TBH.

Y9 has a lot of school work and is also limping along with DofE. Expedition should have been about now. She has been able to keep going with the other sections partially. Physical was swimming club but she's been doing land training, however with a different coach, volunteering was equipment maintenance for the archery club which she kept going for a bit (we brought all the club kit home at the start of lockdown) but once it was done that was that. Skill was singing - she's been doing lessons by zoom but not choir). We'll have to see.

y11 is doing badge work for Explorers, training with football club online, still getting some work from school and has a paper round.

@Layladylay234 there was a very nice thread about going back to school here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3926188-First-day-back-at-school-how-was-it

My reception child is happy to be back. It's a different way of doing things but she is still learning and having fun with friends. Good luck for him on Thursday. :)

You're all very lucky with the 4 days. No one I know has more than 2 days a week and my nephew (yr 10) has 40 mins a week 😱

How is everyone? Keeping going here. One at work and one at school now, so a bit of a weird limbo between a bit normal and not. But mostly we seem to be managing ok with it all. Hope everyone has a good week x