Anyone in the North East?

[PennyDreadfuI]

Gateshead has just been added to the govt watchlist and Newcastle is on amber alert. Sunderland have had over 200 cases in the past seven days.

Are we next for a local lockdown? What do you think it will entail? Given Newcastle's reputation as a party city I'm guessing restricted hours for bars maybe - they were packed to the rafters over the August bank holiday weekend, which may account for lots of the new cases.

I use the metro to take DD to nursery and will continue to do so. Don’t know if that counts as essential but it’s essential to me as I don’t drive. There were 10 people at the most in the carriage today, we were nowhere near anywhere else.

The childcare thing is infuriating. I’ll only have to cover a day a week which hopefully we’ll be able to get from nursery (if not then it looks like using up the rest of my annual leave) but I know a lot of people with no option but to break the rules. Losing your job in the middle of the worst recession in living memory isn’t really a viable option.

I was going to go to the seaside at Saltburn tomorrow and think I'd better not now ☹️

@tornadoalley

I was going to go to the seaside at Saltburn tomorrow and think I'd better not now ☹️

So long as you can get yourself there, it's allowed.

I don't drive and have been catching the bus up to Newcastle every 3 or 4 weeks since John Lewis the shops reopened in July. I went up, last week, as I wanted some fabric, and it felt a bit like a final fling of the year, even then. Goodness knows when I'll get my hair cut again, as my salon is in Newcastle.

PickAChew, surely a visitor to the coast can go regardless of how she gets there? The public transport institution is only advisory, not a legal requirement, isn't it?

@littleowl1 just another one saying thanks, I know several people IRL asking for local figures so I will pass it on.

@AnxiousAlpaca

On the public transport issue:

People in North East England are advised to use public transport for essential journeys only, as the Government announced fresh coronavirus restrictions for the region.
Residents are advised they can use public transport for work and education, or when the journey is essential for other purposes.

It’s advisory and there’s no clear cut guidance on what is and what isn’t essential.

For example I don’t drive so if I want to go into Newcastle I need to use public transport. My mental health is poor at the best of times (bipolar) but I was getting better. During lockdown I genuinely contemplated ending my own life. Now that I can go to the gym again or just get out of my house I’m managing more. So is my need to use the gym essential or not? The thought of only being allowed to use it for work is really scaring me. I feel guilty but at the same time I don’t think I can face being trapped at home because I can’t drive.

I'm sorry you were so low, and it's good that you've been improving lately. I think it would be very hard for anyone to argue with you using public transport to get to the gym regularly. And I'm speaking as someone who is generally a proper stickler for the rules. Take care

@MartiniDry

PickAChew, surely a visitor to the coast can go regardless of how she gets there? The public transport institution is only advisory, not a legal requirement, isn't it?

It's pretty woolly, tbh and no, not enforcible. The MD of Go north east seems to be expecting business as usual, for this year's given level of usual. No idea about arriva, who operate in Saltburn because they never comment on anything (except to say sod social distancing on school buses).

I'm in Durham (near to where Mr Cummings went to get his eye test) and getting very disillusioned with this now.

As a couple of previous posts have suggested, I'm not changing anything. We don't go out much, haven't visited friends' homes more than once or twice since the restrictions were lifted and haven't acted carelessly.

I rely on mother in law for childcare and I'm not preventing my son from seeing his grandparents. I'll mix with whomever I choose and I'm not prepared to suffer as a consequence of this government's incompetence.

@Scrunchcake thank you

@AllesAusLiebe

I'm in Durham (near to where Mr Cummings went to get his eye test) and getting very disillusioned with this now.

As a couple of previous posts have suggested, I'm not changing anything. We don't go out much, haven't visited friends' homes more than once or twice since the restrictions were lifted and haven't acted carelessly.

I rely on mother in law for childcare and I'm not preventing my son from seeing his grandparents. I'll mix with whomever I choose and I'm not prepared to suffer as a consequence of this government's incompetence.

Ha! I think I live in the same place as you!

On the transport thing - Nexus (metro) are encouraging essential travel only at peak time and to use it outside of peak time for e.g. shopping.

I don’t know how that advice compares to buses but public transport is absolutely nowhere near capacity at the moment.

The Metro staff haven’t even got the power to enforce mask wearing so I doubt they will be stopping and challenging people unless they’re obviously a big group of friends out on a jolly and possibly not even then.

Parts of this region have the lowest car ownership in the UK, this rule treats us like we’re like Buckinghamshire or something and has everyone has two 4x4s sitting on the drive and is working from home.

Air pollution and increased traffic are a bigger risk to my child’s health than COVID so I’m pretty pissed off about people being made to feel they can’t use public transport.

And personally I think if travel by public transport is essential to someone’s mental health it counts as essential.

AIBU to think the NE are a test case for a wider national semi lockdown?

I read about the mini lockdown that might happen (here, no official stuff!) and Dh said he thought it would be families etc as it is here.

Or am I being tin hat?

It would be just the sort of thing they'd do to us here.

I feel for my young adult children. Both have boyfriends who they now can’t see. One starting university but living at home and hasn’t had any contact with anyone from her course. It just feels so flat for what should be a one of the most exciting times in their lives.

Saltburn isnt in a local lockdown area.

Where are you coming from? And if it's a lockdown area, are you allowed to leave the area for a day trip?

And equally, am I allowed to drive to Newcastle from Teesside to go for Dim Sum?

Morning all, hope everyone is ok and not too disheartened by All This this morning.

How is childcare today for those who rely on family? I was talking to someone yesterday who said that she'd tried to find a childminder but there are nine available locally because there's a been a 'run' on them. There are going to be a lot of people unable to go into work today. Even wfh with small DC is impossible, particularly if it's a customer service job where you're on the phone all day (a position loads of DH's colleagues are in).

It was brilliant for a few seconds this morning - I woke up and forgot about all the bollocks, then remembered. Bleurgh.

Looks like we're not going to be alone in lockdown bollockery.

I fully plan on sticking to all the rules/guidance/advice but 1.
It says not to socialise outside of the household.
I walk to drop off & pick up my DC from school. My friends child is in the same class. We'd usually walk together to collect DC - it's the same route, we're heading that way at the same time & its outside.

Am I okay to continue to do this or am I expected to ignore my friends even though we're walking that way at the same time, going to the same destination?

As a single parent to 3DC, one with SN's, support can be lacking to say the least. Those 10 minutes a day may be the difference between whether I can mentally do this or not.

@Shitfuckoh

I fully plan on sticking to all the rules/guidance/advice but 1. It says not to socialise outside of the household. I walk to drop off & pick up my DC from school. My friends child is in the same class. We'd usually walk together to collect DC - it's the same route, we're heading that way at the same time & its outside.

Am I okay to continue to do this or am I expected to ignore my friends even though we're walking that way at the same time, going to the same destination?

As a single parent to 3DC, one with SN's, support can be lacking to say the least. Those 10 minutes a day may be the difference between whether I can mentally do this or not.

Well, you're expected to do that, but in your position, I'd be doing the same as you. 100%.

It's a long time since DD was at school but I remember going to meet her from school and chatting to the other parents was a lifeline for me at the time (I was new to the area and didn't know anyone and was in an abusive marriage - some of the friends u made at the school gates helped me leave exH and find somewhere safe to live, that's how important they were). They can't expect parents to just ignore each other or wave from opposite sides of the road on the school run surely. Do they expect you and your friend to about from over the street? For one of you to change your route? Balls to that. It's not like you're licking each others' faces is it.

shout from across the street, even!

@Harrykanesrightsock

I feel for my young adult children. Both have boyfriends who they now can’t see. One starting university but living at home and hasn’t had any contact with anyone from her course. It just feels so flat for what should be a one of the most exciting times in their lives.

I know what you mean.

DD graduated this year. Her 'graduation' was an email with her grade and that's it. No ceremony, no end of course drinks, and no job at the end of it. So sad.

And equally, am I allowed to drive to Newcastle from Teesside to go for Dim Sum?

Provided it’s a restaurant you’re going to not a private home, and you’re only going with your household. Don’t think you’d be allowed to go and meet other people from outside your household even though Teesside isn’t subject to that restriction. But nothing about any of this is clear.

www.durham.gov.uk/localrestrictions

For anyone under Durham County Council

I'm feeling awful still this morning. Thoughts with everyone trying to patch up childcare today. With 24 hrs notice!

Talking to my sister yesterday as our mam looks after her 2 (baby and toddler) one day a week and tbh often the older 1 another afternoon. We were saying not sure how nursery is lower risk than grandparents. Who are not going out much, semi retired and socially distanced from everyone. Vs having contact with 5plus professionals who have contact with loads of kids!! Feels like utter nonsense.

I agree with pp's who said mental health is really important. She previously had pnd and staying well is really hard. I have ongoing /on off depression and anxiety. I take antidepressants to stay ok. I feel like right now I'm too physically ill to think about it properly but I am really concerned about being able to stay mentally healthy. So yes I'm all for making a risk assessment of what is safe and sensible and keeps you well.

@BikeTyson where's good for dim sum in teesside?

Oh sorry realised that was a reply. Illness + just waking up +painkillers =dozy