The positive mental health thread part 6

[Bunnyflop]

Morning all! Welcome to the new thread!

@callybrid I’m in the same boat as you re home schooling. School sending full day load of work. Things is though that we have to do the house work/ shopping/ deal with bills/ work from home or whatever AS WELL. The pressure is crazy. Today after a while of faffing with bits of paper and apps I said to myself fuck this, no more today, so we are in the garden now. Life is stressful enough at the moment. Some schools are setting no work at all and others are doing full school days- why has an overall decision not been handed down to them all so everyone does similar?!

@Taddda must be v hard not having any outdoor space but as said already, no way you could have known. And this is temporary. Do you get out every day for a bit?

I found my head was spinning this morning having stupidly not followed my own advice and looked at the news. And my body dysmoprhia has flared up and I’m paranoid about eating too much. And then I had to spend an hour on the phone sorting out a hefty bill- urgh. So now I’m laying in the garden.

I just spoke to DD's teacher today as she called to check in (year 5). I said there was a lot of work sent through this week and she said don't worry as long as they do some reading writing and maths every day and then one other thing maybe like art, history or science then we don't need to get through all the work set. Their problem is some parents complaining there isn't enough work set.
We Zoomed my uncle today who was an evacuee in WWII (their topic for this term) it was lovely seeing them talk and DD took notes, I also recorded it so she can go back through when writing it up.
I think that kind of thing is more important than the strict curriculum TBH.

Thank you @ExpletiveDelighted & @Callybrid.

True in this wont be forever, I just feel guilty for them more than anything- I know Dd1 is missing nursery, she was just settling in nicely (after an initial bout of nasty nursery bugs!), plus it was giving me and Dd2 a little 1on1 time which was lovely (theres only 15 months between them, 2.5 year old and 16 months).

Unfortunately there are no country walks nearby, it's a heavily developed area, we're in a sort of estate which is a mixture of houses, apartment blocks, 3 story town houses....so the only walk really is through the estate or on to the main road- theres a fantastic play area about 10 mins away, with a huge park and playing fields but it's been cordoned off....hopefully that will be lifted soon....!

In all fairness they've been amazing, we have a little weekly planner, not that detailed but themed (Disney) days, planted some seeds in the window box with Dd1, bit of messy play, alot of dancing (I've always danced so that's just fun for us all!)...my front room rug will need a heavy duty clean at some point!

Dd1s painting atm and Dd2s having an afternoon snooze- so feet up, cuppa and making a Disney list!

Lowest daily death rate for three weeks has just been reported today.

We're getting there. Keep swimming everyone.

@M0reGinPlease that’s good news - just what we need to hear.
I really feel for those of you little little ones - my boys are grown up now - but still at home. They would have been squabbling like hell! As long you do the basics re school that’s fine my mum in law - retired teacher says. Don’t expect too much of yourselves we all really need to cut ourselves some slack. Same re work we can only do what we can do while working from home and we and our employers need to accept that!

I’ve booked tomorrow off as leave so plan to garden and sit in the garden with my book. Then do some of the tidying jobs at the weekend that I keep bloody putting off.

Good points made about the war - my mum pointed that out the other day - look at what they had to bear. Doesn’t bear thinking about. That said I’m still completely avoiding the news and getting what I can cope with second hand from DH.

Anyhow it’s veggie parcels and oven chips for tea- a scratch freezer tea. Food shopping coming tomorrow.

Thank you lovely people for this thread 💕

@Bunnyflop we try, but we're on the first floor and it's been a bit busy at the communal area at the entrance- it's usually quite quiet here during the week with people at work, kids at school, so the buggy down, dd1 down, dd2 down journeys are always do-able, takes about 5-10 minutes by the time everyone is strapped in and we've locked up, but social distancing from the neighbours (and others) is near impossible atm. Last week I had a delivery driver look like he was going to burst into flames impatiently waiting at the top of the stairs for us to move out of the way, which is impossible until they're all in the double buggy safely- plus two people waiting to get in at the front door- it made me feel quite panicky if I'm honest, under pressure...?

I've had to become a bit of a peeper to try and judge who's gone out, how clear the entrance is...some arn't really taking any notice of the social distancing either.

It's been early mornings around the block for us, but theres nowhere to let them free for a run about.... but us getting outside always feels better than a day when we don't....

I have a big bay window in my front room which gets alot of sun through, I'm quite lucky in comparison to alot- but I really cant wait for the worst of this to be over.

That sounds like an absolute mare @taddda

Helpful Kittens are home from the vet and are sleeping it off now. I got to drive TWICE today - I haven't driven anywhere for weeks and I miss it so much. I was tempted to sail past the end of our road and keep going

Just discovered one of our local garden centres is delivering so as tomorrow's payday and I've barely spent any money, I'm going to treat myself to some bedding / container plants (even if they are at hugely inflated prices ).

Henry is doing some grooming...

And now he has laid down like the Sphinx...

@Bunnyflop Very true (I should have just put that instead of going on the rant of the century! )

Henry looking so regal! Do you think the fame is going to his head?!

Thanks for all the sensible thoughts re school and taking it easy - we are definitely going to stop working to the timetable and try work out a way that suits us

Proxy 34 in the Virtual Pub Quiz tonight.

Sweet little story here...

So the first two people got there first doses of the trial of the University of Oxford's vaccine. Even if that doesn't hit the nail on the head there are plenty of others in development. Lots of the scientists involved are women!

Had quite a good day today. Finally got my ass in gear and did a beginners yoga session and a beginners cardio session that I found on YouTube in my living room. Then I sat out in the sunshine and started my new book.

We also managed to WhatsApp video my dad who is 85 today.

I bought the local paper today. Cover to cover full of local people organising to help each other, fundraising for charity, small businesses finding new ways of operating through lockdown. really inspiring stuff.

Blerg I'm so sorry

Tadda that sounds really demoralising and frustrating and i'd have felt anxious too

I had a really lovely day yesterday. It was so nice to be absorbed in my work and content. Some buggering pigeon seems to have eaten the peas I planted out though. The cheek!! I tipped into another difficult evening but I accept that is just how life is going to be with being alone. I realised that instead of getting caught up on worrying about how difficult the next few months will be I need to look two years down the line and think of all the good I will experience. Mentally I am planning holidays and swims in the sea and parties and meals in bustling restaurants with friends. I was even thinking how I didn't spend enough time wearing what I want to before for confidence reasons. That is going to change. I will be adding in a lot more bold jewellery and silk flowers in my hair and all sorts. I plan on being very colourful Why not?? Life is better for more colour in it.

Morning @Noooblerooble nice positive thoughts from you this morning!

Thanks @Noooblerooble, I appreciate it. I love your positive plans for the future!

Last day Painting today wood work boring then I have a call schedule with friends.

Tomorrow DH will help me hang the wallpaper. Very excited about that.

@Noooblerooble what lovely positive thoughts? I’m dreaming of swimming in the med right now...

Just went to Sainsbury’s (prepare for lots of swear words) and fucking people are not fucking social distancing. I went to the local one and you’re meant to walk around in single file observing the two metre apart rule. Some woman came steaming up behind me trying to get past so I put my hand out and said ‘you need to stay back’. She said it know I’m a nurse, I work five days a week’ so I said ‘well you just came rushing right up to me’ and she started warbling on about how she has been working and her husband is in the car (what the fuck has that got to do with it?!). She was clearly in a hurry and trying to get the staff to let her past the single file situation but they wouldn’t thankfully.

But- a triumph- I came home with NO CHOCOLATE and only lovely healthy food. I normally eat chocolate every day but I need to lose a few pounds.

I get the shopping angst bunny! Trying to cope with deliveries and the mini/metro stores for as long as possible as the big ones are stressful!

I agree re colour and clothes Noooble - I’ve started wearing lipstick for the first time in ages and a hairband I impulse bought in Sainsbos, which looks kind of crazy but just colour instead of scraped back plain hair/plain face look is so much better.

I caught up with the first Sewing Bee episode last night and really want to sew myself some new clothes now, but do every year and have never done it yet!

Just made DD and I the best BLT's for lunch. Really fresh and we had them in sliced focaccia. Ate them in the garden too, so nice. The weather is making all the difference isn't it.

I don't really understand the supermarket rage to be honest. You're so incredibly unlikely to catch something from somebody simply walking past you. If they sneezed in your trolley of course that would be different!

pinkarsedfly the seeds they have arrived! have PMd you

Glad they’ve arrived safe! Happy growing!