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.

There's actually some really good horse chestnuts on the little bit of woodland on dryburn Road, where the bus stops for uhnd are. I imagine aykley Woods itself is full of them. I'm normally too busy trying to keep up with ds2 and his long legs when we go that way, though.

I have stayed in all day today.Am going out tomorrow morning but will take care. Apparently the metro centre was heaving this morning the usual hell on earth.

Oh no, I've got to go to the metrocentre tomorrow with DD. I was hoping it would be quiet with everything going on.

Thanks @PickAChew!

Thank you @GrishainDisguise

@FuzzyGoose can you get to Durham at all as there are slots available here. In your position I would get a test - even if it's so that you can explain to the hospital and gp that you've had one with x result. Hope you're ok.

bike we may have passed you in there! 👀

fuzzy in the current situation and also your own, both due to pregnancy and the appointments you have, I'd definitely keep trying to get a test. I know it's so hard to do and so effing frustrating at the moment but no one can risk it. I hope you are ok

Does anyone know what the situation is for a parent who has a child with SN in a residential under our guidance here?

Asking on behalf of someone in another part of the country but concern rules will change there soon.

@PickAChew

There's actually some really good horse chestnuts on the little bit of woodland on dryburn Road, where the bus stops for uhnd are. I imagine aykley Woods itself is full of them. I'm normally too busy trying to keep up with ds2 and his long legs when we go that way, though.

You and I must live very near to each other! The stretch of road up to the New police HQ and the trinity college has some magnificent ones !

@shesgonebatshitagain we'll definitely be heading that way for a conker hunt (hopefully we'll get a negative test result so can go this week as DS has now helpfully moved from a barking cough to a runny nose!)

Morning, just checking in!

Ended up doing sod all yesterday as was struck with the migraine from hell. I have what I call a migraine hangover this morning. Like a regular hangover but without the fun of getting drunk first.

Today feels so grey and autumnal. Usually on a Sunday morning like this in September I'd be getting started on my Christmas notebook (I looove Christmas). This year I can't find any enthusiasm for it. It's only ever me, DH and DD for Christmas, so our plans for the day itself won't change, but no carol services, theatre trips, possibly no cosy fireside drinks after a frosty walk? Balls to that. I did order my first Christmas present yesterday though (Bowie monopoly for DD). Usually I'm pretty much done by now but... Uggghhhh.

Today I am going to brave Tesco at Kingston Park. Wish me luck. I've a feeling it's going to be nuts. The Chronicle reported yesterday that delivery slots were fully booked weeks in advance because of all the talk of second wave/full lockdown. Did people learn nothing from last time?! Praying we don't have to self isolate at any point, we'll be fucked if we do.

Hope all of you who aren't well feel a little better this morning. Me and DD have colds, which is fun. The fun never ends lately! 🙄

@80sbambino

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

That's my local Sainsburys! We've probably walked past each other on Gossie High Street before now 👋

Hang on a minute. Why don’t we all channel Scummings

Penny

I feel the same about Christmas.

Last year I did Fenwick's secret cinema twice, I got hot chocolate at the market, I went to a panto, I went to a play at the live theatre, I did beamish, had loads of Christmas parties, went for dinner with close friends, did the pub on Christmas Eve, went to two Carol services and stayed in a hotel between Christmas and new year.

It's my absolute favourite time of the year and I organise it all in September and I just can't be arsed.

[quote Someaddedsugar]@shesgonebatshitagain we'll definitely be heading that way for a conker hunt (hopefully we'll get a negative test result so can go this week as DS has now helpfully moved from a barking cough to a runny nose!) [/quote]
So hopefully “just “ a cough and cold 🤞🏻 Almost certain your DS will be negative but we are damned if you do and damned if you don’t !
My kids are all full of cold and the occasional cough. No raised temperature. They’ve been in school and week and not sent home so the school are using their common sense for once

The thing is we are all now back of the queue for testing according to Hancock

@Snoringferret

Penny

I feel the same about Christmas.

Last year I did Fenwick's secret cinema twice, I got hot chocolate at the market, I went to a panto, I went to a play at the live theatre, I did beamish, had loads of Christmas parties, went for dinner with close friends, did the pub on Christmas Eve, went to two Carol services and stayed in a hotel between Christmas and new year.

It's my absolute favourite time of the year and I organise it all in September and I just can't be arsed.

That sounds lovely

Sadly I think most of it will not be possible this year.

Hello all you north-east people, we have a week booked in Northumberland in three weeks and are still coming. Not concerned about coming to your part of the world at all as we're self-catering, and planning to walk on beaches, go geocaching and just relax a bit in surroundings different to home. We weren't planning on partying late at night in bars or going anywhere crowded.

They better not stop us coming or I'll be gutted.

@PennyDreadfuI oh I love Bowie, but hate monopoly, my DH plays to win and I couldn’t bare it if he bought my favourite albums.

I agree the run up to Christmas won’t have the same feel to it, I probably didn’t realise how many little rituals I have. It feels like the life we usually enjoy is on hold.

Our garden benefitted from local lockdown yesterday, and a few neighbours stopped for chats while out walking.

Us too sock!
No idea if it will still go ahead though.
Northumberland is such a huge county and alnwick has had fewer deaths than my small town!

@shesgonebatshitagain

Hang on a minute. Why don’t we all channel Scummings

Absolutely like I said earlier the government lost all credibility with that farce.

Yey My rest came back negative- so assuming it’s ‘just’ a chest infection. Can’t wait to get out and walk on the beach as I’ve been self isolating for over a week!
@SockYarn we have a mini break booked in Northumberland in a few weeks and it’s still going ahead when I spoke to the owner when the new restrictions came in.

For the first time in months there was a massive queue outside my local Morrison's yesterday. Very weird!

SockYarn under current rules it’s still allowed, no idea what situation will be in a few weeks!

All the talk of a national “circuit breaker” lockdown is making me worried for my October half term break in Kielder, first world problems I know, but I just want something to look forward to

Thanks @Someaddedsugar and @NeurotrashWarrior I went on the gov website again this morning and there were loads in Gateshead so heading over at 12 today. Fingers crossed it's negative and I'm worrying for nothing but better to be safe than sorry! :)

That sounds lovely. Sadly I think most of it will not be possible this year.

Sorry I mustn't have been very clear in my post. Yes I agree that I don't think any of them will go ahead. That's why I'm feeling demotivated about it.
I know that there are lots of worse things happening in the world (hell there's even worse things happening in my life) but I just can't see any form of 'normal' Christmas going ahead.
I find Christmas quite tough as it's the only time of year I really miss not having kids so I usually make sure I'm doing lots of fun things with the people I love.
I'm sure we'll all come up with ways to make it special but it's just really hit me because this is the time of year is normally be booking all the things.