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.

You must be very near to me @FrolickingLemon. I live a few streets away from Holywell Dene, it's my favourite play for wearing out the kids

We discovered Holywell during lockdown too!

We also discovered that place where there's all those huts that shouldn't be there. Lovely walk with a river. Well, DH knew about it from student days but I didn't!

We may take them to the park today but away from the equipment. My eldest was good with the 2 m thing if we do meet anyone. Unless we are told to stay in our houses I think staying 2 m from people is ok.

This was posted elsewhere and I found interesting. It doesn't bode well for schools unless community transmission is much lower.

elemental.medium.com/the-most-likely-way-youll-get-infected-with-covid-19-30430384e5a5

One if our favourite walks is to follow the Dene right the way through until it brings you out at Seaton Sluice, ice cream from the van in the car park, then walk back up the Avenue past Delaval Hall and back to the start.

Went for test this morning at Dalton Park really easy and simple, thankfully got my shopping arriving tomorrow.Hoping my results
Come in quick but thinking since it’s the weekend it may not be until Monday.
@NeurotrashWarrior interesting read, especially the Starbucks case.

Sainsbury’s in Gosforth was quite busy this morning, called in to collect an Argos item. We were going to head for a walk this afternoon but we’ve got some popcorn and Attenborough on instead

@Bearfrills

You must be very near to me *@FrolickingLemon*. I live a few streets away from Holywell Dene, it's my favourite play for wearing out the kids

I am a 30 second walk from the Dene - hello😁

Hi!

Someone I know says Osborne road i. Jesmond is heaving with groups of drinkers.

Someone I know says Osborne road i. Jesmond is heaving with groups of drinkers.

Meanwhile I’ve had to explain to DS why his friend can’t come around to play this weekend.

Everyone else is making sacrifices while these arrogant fuckers can carry on as normal!

@Bearfrills and @Vicbarbarkley I used to live in Holywell Village, am now a couple of miles away but it's still one of my favourite places. Also fond childhood memories 😊

And I used to do that exact walk when I lived in Holywell, Bear. Today we I started from the Melton Constable, walked the length of the Dene then back again. My arthritic hip is berating me for this now, but my god the fresh air has saved my sanity somewhat.

@FrolickingLemon I grew up here, used to live in Wallridge Drive, right on the Dene. Moved away, came back a month ago, to a different part of Holywell.
Love the area, and Holywell is such a friendly place😁

@Vicbarbarkley I grew up in a neighbouring village. The first flat I bought was in Laurel Terrace on the main street. I used to walk back alone from West Monkseaton metro after nights out in town. Then that poor girl was murdered in Earsdon and I thought better of it! Pleased you are back home and happy. I remember ringing to set up council tax and the girl I spoke to had also grown up in Holywell and was in raptures over it, recounting all her childhood memories. Lovely schools in this area too.

Hope everyone's ok today. I had to take DS for a test at the park and ride just off the A177 at Durham today as he's come down with quite a harsh barking cough. The test site was pretty busy (we've been for a couple of tests pre-September and it was much busier than those drive in sites were). Fingers crossed for a negative result. On the plus side, looked for the test at 1.30 and we were tested and driving home by 2.45 today. Only issue is DP has an op booked for Monday so we're not sure where he stands with that and I know he'll be devastated if it's cancelled as he's already had a year of pain that has really knocked him.

And thank you for setting this thread up @PennyDreadfuI - it's so nice to be in contact with other people from the area as sometimes it can feel like there aren't that many of us on Mumsnet!

DS has asked if we can go conker hunting once he's better - does anyone know of any good spots near Lanchester where we could go once we're over this hurdle?

If anyone needs a test we found availability at the Durham site near South Road (drive in and walk in), Houghton le Spring and Dalton Park (both drive in). There didn't appear to be any home tests available though. And not sure how long the results take now. Last time we had our results within 20 hours of taking the test!

@NeurotrashWarrior intrigued to know about the huts, tell me more! I had a bike ride recently with one of my DC, all round the dene from the wagon ways. It was lovely.

Someone I know says Osborne road i. Jesmond is heaving with groups of drinkers

It wasn’t too bad just now but can imagine it might have been earlier when the sun was out

Gosforth Central Park and the playground relatively busy today but still easy to distance from people. DD doesn’t really like children she doesn’t know so even on the play equipment she keeps away from them which is quite handy

I heard that the testing centre on the old General Hospital site was taking walk ins without appointments but that was a few days ago so not sure if still true.

Are you Lanchester @Someaddedsugar? Not that I can help on the conkers though surely there must be some nice horse chestnuts down the lines. We were in lanchester today, had a lovely cycle and cake from the kaffeehaus.

Just a few mins away from there @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea but there's definitely none near us so thought Lanchester might be more likely as there are a couple of woods etc.

It's a lovely village and we've looked at houses a few times but they always seem to get snapped up so quickly.

Hope you had a lovely ride!

It is isn't it, we looked at a few houses there. Love our little village though. Was a nice ride, do it quite a lot, around 26 mile round trip along the lines. There are lots and lots of conkers at the tree next to our park at W...h... but it's an odd place to travel to just for conkers.

Got to be honest, I'm worried. Our local MP has issued an appeal for people to be careful, less than 20% of people showing symptoms where able to get tests. Our school is worried enough about a couple of children in my DC class to issue school tests. Yet my fb is full of people ignoring everything, still getting together, flouting guidelines despite local lockdown.

Another child in my DC class is abroad, partying, no social distancing. A country that may make it on quarantine list soon.

Hi everyone, only just found this thread. I'm just East of Newcastle - towards the coast.

Tesco at North Shields was really busy today, no way you could socially distance in the aisles. I ended up picking up a few essentials and coming away. Had originally gone in for my weekly shop! I'm really worried. From what I've seen locally, people aren't taking any notice.

Hi guys. Hope you don't mind me jumping on. I'm in Newcastle! And yesterday started with a cough which has gotten worse today :( went on to look at booking a test and my nearest test centre is in Carlisle. No walk in test centre and no postal tests available. I wouldn't necessarily be looking as I feel like it's more likely to just be a cold, but I'm 7 months pregnant and super anxious. Also have a one year old who has a cough but he started with a runny nose so I do think he's just got a cold. I'm just so anxious though. Don't want to waste nhs resources by getting a test as they are obviously stretched thin at the moment but with being pregnant I have so many appointments coming up both at the hospital and go surgery. I don't want to put anyone else at risk by ignorantly assuming I just have a cold. What would you guys do? Get a test or ride it out a bit more? Sorry for the long post

@FuzzyGoose I am not sure, just sending good wishes

We have been to Cramlington shops and Morrisons in Killingworth today. Neither seemed too busy. They used to be a lot busier. Only McDonald's drive through seemed to have queues.