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.

Morning everyone.

Was just thinking too that I usually book Stephenson Railway Museum Santa Train about now. And the annual Christmas Play at the Northern stage. These have been mine and DDs lovely little rulutuala since she was tiny. She has just realised she also ain't going to be having a birthday party this year (Nov) so it's feeling extra shit. @Bearfrills I've had a look at the Seaton Delaval Robinson Crusoe panto pods and I think I'm going to do that. Hoping there still may be a few bits that can go ahead. There's usually carol singing in Earsdon village. May be possible but by Dec we could all be under house arrest again so who knows.

Would also love for this thread to continue. It's been a little bit of loveliness among the gloom.

*Rituals

NeurotrashWarrior- Not exactly the same situation but my brother is an adult with severe learning and physical disabilities. He had to move into residential care this year due to a decline in his condition. My parents were not allowed to visit him until recently and if the rules from the NE are adopted in their area they will have to stop visiting him.

I have some good news in terms of testing. Kept DD home from school Thurs and Fri as she had a sore throat and earrache, by Friday teatime her temp went over 38 and she started coughing. Brilliant. First test offered was in Galashiels , then nothing but I kept refreshing and at 6:30 it offered one in North Shields for Sat morning. Tested at 11:00am and text with result came at 8:00am this morning so less than 24hr turn around and means no cancelling of work/school as she’s negative.

Doing the test on a poorly 8yr old was another matter...my god!

A negative result - I have never been so happy for DS to have a cold!! Conker hunt this afternoon is back on!

Thank you @PennyDreadfuI for putting something in place to keep this going - so nice to hear from others from the region, and also very useful to find out local gems to visit!

Gibside are having a light display this year instead of a grotto - it's called Ignite at Gibside if anyone's interested. I think it's £15 for adults and £10 for 3+. I'm assuming as it's outside and with limited numbers the risks are reduced.

Agree - @PennyDreadful - this thread is brilliant - I've been feeling very isolated, and to be able to read about people up the road from me (well, not up the road, but close ish!) is very comforting.
Most of my friends live in Newcastle and I don't. Usually I'd get the train in to meet them down the Ouseburn, or see gigs etc. Obviously we haven't been able to do that, and I'm feeling very bereft. Now I can't even see them for a walk 😔
Mind, nobody seems to be adhering to the rules at all. Everyone is seeing parents and relatives and most of them are going round to see friends. It's all just a big farce now - advisory just doesn't work either.

Pickachew we must live fairly close to each other. DD has been a Pokemon fan since forever.
The lovely little cafe just round the corner has closed down. Luckily the proprietess has found other work. She was selling off all her nice crockery and miscellaneous Christmas and Halloween decorations yesterday. I bought a teapot in the shape of a desk, and a cake stand.

Morning everyone, may I join the NE Gang!

I'm lurking ... I live in London but I come from Morpeth so I'm hearing all about the latest restrictions from my family. Loving the NE chat!

@PennyDreadfuI

DH nipped over to Gosforth high street yesterday and said the pubs were very busy. Sainsbury's was low on beer #priorities

My Sainsbury’s has run out of Schweppes tonic water and the 70cl Gordon’s

Just been to team Valley in Gateshead as I needed to go to the pharmacy. ( My antibiotics have given me thrush. Fuck my life!) it was really busy. Seemed like various family groups who may live together but also likely not. Such as grown up children with parents and a grandchild. But I don't know everyone's circumstances. So I don't want to judge. Just mean it not keeping people away from shopping for leisure. Going to have some lunch and catch up on the thread. Hope eveone is doing OK today?

The Sainsbury’s at Northumberland Park/Shiremoor was well stocked according to DH, who went this morning.

A bit of sunshine now thankfully!

I'm a massive fan of Christmas too. I always have been but think since I've had more issues wuth my mental health plus when I used to live away from family in London and work in retail I feel like it was something which literally got me through the winter. Me and my partner have developed loads of little traditions like pp's have mentioned and I don't think we'll be doing many of them I know this is a format world problem so I won't dwell on it much.

@PennyDreadful we go to live theater and Alphabetti loads. I work in the cultural sector, art and museums not theatre so going to things like that and various cultural stuff is really a big part of our interests. I miss it soooo much! I watched a few streamed performances but it's not the same. I bought my lovely grandparents tickets for something at the sage which they would love and don't get out much so would be a real treat but it was cancelled. I'm obviously biased because it's my thing but the impact on cultural sector will be significant and felt for a while. But I know of course it isn't the only sector this applies to. Just think a lot of people or the gov think of it as a luxury.

@Quiero

I have some good news in terms of testing. Kept DD home from school Thurs and Fri as she had a sore throat and earrache, by Friday teatime her temp went over 38 and she started coughing. Brilliant. First test offered was in Galashiels , then nothing but I kept refreshing and at 6:30 it offered one in North Shields for Sat morning. Tested at 11:00am and text with result came at 8:00am this morning so less than 24hr turn around and means no cancelling of work/school as she’s negative.

Doing the test on a poorly 8yr old was another matter...my god!

Softy Southerner here...but parents from South Shields & a lot of the family still there. It's been scary reading this thread tbh.

Great news Quito about reasonable testing location & turn around. Good result too! Hopefully many others will start to have the same experience.

I think (generalising wildly here) that you have it so much harder up North as people are FAR more sociable and FAR more in & out of each other's houses than down here.

This thread has made me 'home' sick. As while I've never lived in SS I have spent a lot of time there and I LOVE being there.

Stay safe

Oh also my tip for shopping is go at 7 or 8 pm or later if poss. Often not busy. I understand those of you with little ones this is right in the middle of bedtime so not practical maybe.

Oh also @PennyDreadful your daughter being an elf is so cute and really made me want to do it! Although I think you're right in it might not happen or maybe they will think of a work around?

Thanks for your reply dockray. Oh I'm so sorry, that's so sad.

Metrocentre was empty when we got there at 11 but heaving by the time we left at 12.30 but winter coat bought and birthday money spent so mission accomplished.

@shesgonebatshitagain those ones are enormous, aren't they? We walked that way a lot, over the summer, due to ds2's obsession with the school minibuses.

Excellent pokemon go territory, too :o

@TheSparklyPussycat

Pickachew we must live fairly close to each other. DD has been a Pokemon fan since forever. The lovely little cafe just round the corner has closed down. Luckily the proprietess has found other work. She was selling off all her nice crockery and miscellaneous Christmas and Halloween decorations yesterday. I bought a teapot in the shape of a desk, and a cake stand.

Oh, I'm glad she's found other work. I'm also incredibly sad to see the little Indian greengrocer near the big coop gone. Such an amazing range of good quality herbs and spices and the proprietor was lovely.

@PickAChew
@TheSparklyPussycat

You both live exactly where I do!

@PickAChew

Have to admit, there are far worse places to be locked down.

@Someaddedsugar YESSS! Hope you had/are having/have a fab conkering session!

@Skyrabbit oh, gigs. I miss gigs so much. We had a few already booked this year which of course fell by the wayside. I'm most sore about missing The Smyths at the Academy - me and DH never usually miss a show of theirs but I had an emergency tooth extraction on the day of their Christmas gig last year, so had to. We consoled ourselves in the knowledge they'd be back in May. Sigh.

@shesgonebatshitagain My Sainsbury’s has run out of Schweppes tonic water and the 70cl Gordon’s grin Well that's just a step too far. Fuck everything.

@Plussizejumpsuit one of my favourite things about living in the NE is how theatre/the arts are so accessible to everyone. We're not exactly well off but thanks to the brilliant ticket offers at places like Live Theatre we can go several times a year. And the galleries and museums here are wonderful. The Christmas shows at the Sage have been a huge part of the festive season for us for years. Cultural pursuits are absolutely not a 'toff' pastime as some parts of the media love to portray that sort of thing. Music, art, theatre etc is even more essential when money is tight and a dose of beauty and escapism feels like a shot in the arm. Ironically we could all do with a bit of that just now, couldn't we.

By the way if you (or anyone) wants a go at elfing this year you can apply via the Great Grottos website - if it goes ahead 🤞