I licked Trev's clipboard and I liked it

[PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock]

Thread number who knows , because I've lost count. We're adapting to normal 1.0 and lost our status as murderers. The grass is not off limits anymore and we can eat a bag of crisps outside with being accused of "premeditated picnics". Not a pan or pot in sight.

Oh well, there's still the second wave.

I may have said this before, but my gran's in a home. At the beginning of lockdown, the manager of the home commented to my mum that all the residents who were able to express an opinion had said to her that they'd rather be able to see their friends and family and take their chances of illness.

There comes a point, at least for some people, when you are conscious that only so much time is left to you, whatever you do. And you might as well spend it with people you love, even if there's a slight risk.

(Obviously the home had to stop visitors, you can't go against the government rules. They should be allowing visits again soon though, which is great - gran, who has dementia, is very much a family person and needs those visits.)

I'm saying, "slight risk," because although there would be a fairly substantial risk to those residents if they got ill, I do think that with some measures in place - e.g. outdoor visits, temperature testing, frequent hand washing/sanitising - the risk of them catching it could probably be kept reasonably low even with visiting.

@ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble

Hope you're ok Willow

I am fine thanks. Just fed up with the haters.😉 And knackered from work and all the crap there.

People complaining about small children not wearing masks or 'properly social distancing'.

Give me strength.

Aren't children under 11 exempt from wearing a mask anyways?

Indeed they are, come on, yet some people won't be happy until even babes in arms are rigged up in PPE and have 2m distancing drilled into them from birth.

I thoroughly give in with people.

The covid uniform

And no I have no idea why..how ..where ... WHY!!!?!

"And here we have Giselle modelling beachwear from the C-19 collection.."

I will need more masks!

People need to be more creative with masks. I did suggest to DD1 that she made one using the pouchy front bit from a pair of Y fronts so that it would be possible to drink from a straw.

She was strangely unconvinced.

Mine say things like "go away" on them. I'm waiting for my ex mil to make me a plague doctor one as she's good at things like that.

I got a takeaway last night and the driver had 2 masks on, one worn correctly and one for his beard!

I am off for my regular blood test this morning. Interested to see what latest plague protection measures are. Each time I have been they have got more complex. It is like one of those experiments where they try to teach a mouse how to go through a maze to find a piece of cheese.

Anything less than climbing in/out of a window or abseiling down from the roof will be a sore disapointment.

Best of luck Gnome, hope you manage to get to the metaphorical cheese without too much hassle.

I have to say, I've been surprised how minimal the infection control measures are in the hospital here. The surgery has more measures than the security for the Mona Lisa. The hospital has optional face masks and some hand sanitizer. I do use both because I'm aware I'm in a building with some very ill people who could do without catching a cold, let alone covid, but there's nothing to make you use either.

Good luck Gnome hope you have your rope and grappling hook ready.😉

Good luck Gnome . Portals would be cool.

Hope it all goes smoothly, gnome😊

Thanks all. Grappling irons werent needed (though packed just in case), pole vaulting the back fence came as a surprise.

Now I just wait for the results - no phone call means carry on with same dosage. Phone call means there's a change. It's very exciting I tell you.

Operation Empty Nest has started. For some reason DH has decided the first thing that needs doing is cutting a new door into the back of the garage. This involved DH buying a new angle grinder (local A&E are on stand by).

DD has attempted to book BT for internet in her new house. Their website makes no sense. It was easier getting it set up when we lived abroad and I didnt speak the local language.

I'm glad it went ok gnome, it really seems to be a postcode lottery on what measures are in place at health centre's etc. DS is having a right struggle getting my GS booked in for his imms, despite there being a big hoo haa over making sure you still get your babies to clinic for their immunisations!

Well I went to town and it was mobbed. 50/50 mask wearing, security fighting a losing battle with the one way system in the shopping centre. But there was no one shouting at little kids for not social distancing to perfection so there's that I guess.

I'm posting this here word for word as I posted it in the 'lockdown tightening for northern areas' thread.

"I live in one of these areas. Having been to the city centre a couple of times, that's what needs targeting and policing better - particularly the pubs and shopping centre where they seem to have just given up bothering - not families and households. It's an absolute shit show with disgraceful communication. I hope all my Muslim friends have a wonderful Eid as best they can.

Just to be clear, if this announcement was made at 10pm on Christmas Eve, there's no way on earth I'd let it change my plans, so shoot me now. It's called personal risk assessment. People who were allowed to be in my bubble the day before the announcement have not suddenly sprouted contagion overnight. It's bullshit and it's getting ridiculous."

But you all know my opinion on this anyway, just thought I'd share as I live in one of the areas affected.

Let's see if I have got this straight:

• Everyone who is currently in should go back out
• Everyone who is currently out should go back in

Do I need to stockpile toilet roll and avoid eating impromptu crisps in the park again?

But who should shake it all about?

I'm currently in the communal garden (getting food for the stick Insects) . I suppose I'm in and out at the same time.

If I'm entirely honest I dread the months after October, everyone and their mum will have a cough, sneezes, sore throat, mild fevers etc.

Fuck knows how we're supposed to navigate testing, isolation, work,school etc.

DD's school got cameras that can check temp as they go in. Better make sure she's cold on the walk there then.

110APiccadilly I think that is for when we have to go back to doorstep clapping

It is going to be impossible to navigate, and these targeted mini lockdowns aren't going to achieve anything. Everyone who says ah well good you northerners clearly we're breaking lockdown rules will soon have their knickers in a twist come September if random schools get put on lockdown. There'll be much teeth gnashing about finding childcare at short notice and how are we supposed to go to work if school is closed - especially if they announce if via Twitter 2 hours before implementing it.

It does make me (bitterly) laugh when people say "well you up north obviously broke the rules and lockdown and that's why this is happening and you deserve all you're getting. But beaches down south are fineeee... they're open so it's all fine".

Because no lockdown rules have ever been broken on the beaches. On no, the virus saw the open sign and just skipped that one.

Winter really worries me and there's nothing i can do to plan in advance or have contingency plans about. I have a friend who is CM and she's wrecking her brains as to how to update her policies since they also depend on school her mindees/children attend, the parent's work places etc.