Howay the lasses - it's thread (but hopefully not tier) 3!

[PennyDreadfuI]

Haway if you're in Sunderland, of course

Just found the bit in the Chronicle DH was talking about. He's right, the express mention of bubbles in the amber bit (Tier 2?) but no social contact outside your own household in the red does make it sound as if bubbles won't be permitted in the strictest areas.

Of course this is all just speculation and I've also just read that we won't be subject to Tier 3 restrictions here anyway, it'll only be Liverpool. Which while a relief does seem strange, when our cases are rising so fast - wouldn't it be better to just get on with it now and get a lid on it, rather than put it off until it's unmanageable? I suppose it could be because most of our cases are in the student population rather than the general public and they're all locked down already, bless them.

Ah, who knows 🤷‍♀️

@FrolickingLemon good luck with the X ray! I haven't seen the Christmas thread - off to find it. I'm usually knee deep in Christmas by now but this year, meh. I thought I'd be well into it because it's a bright spot after such a shit year but my enthusiasm is nil. That's said, I got the M&S Christmas food catalogue yesterday and everything looks fabulous. In the absence of any kind of social life I think this year tis going to be a VERY foody Christmas!

@PennyDreadfuI - we are exceptionally lucky down here so far, but I am feeling for everyone in higher risk areas because I struggled so much with lockdown last time round. I keep holding on to the thought "if they keep schools open I can survive anything". Must hold on to that!

Cheers for the new thread Penny Hanging in my "new normal" of phone clinics waiting to see what this very wet Monday brings 😪😫
Does anyone think we will get Tier 2 with a pending 3?

I'm in SE now but from NE, But my mum is alone up there so I'm watching with interest.
I'm assuming NE will be tier 2 - Merseyside seems to be much worse.

Thinking of you all up there

Is thread two over then?!

Checking in from Northumberland. Hoping and praying we're not put into tier 3.

I have a 3 week old baby who hasn't met any of the family and I can't imagine a maternity leave with no coffee dates with friends.

My DP went back to work today so the reality of being on my own for the next 8 months seems much more real. ☹️

Checking in from Teesside. The bbc's multicolour coronavirus map of doom has Stockton at a higher rate of infection than Middlesbrough and Hartlepool now - and just about everywhere in the NE apart from Newcastle. The resistance to further restrictions might well bite the council in the arse given we'll all end up in tier two regardless.

@LatteLover12 I’m on maternity leave too- had dc3 in May. It’s been a weird time. Fingers crossed any restrictions are lifted quickly

Jonathan Van-Tam on sky news currently discussing case numbers. BoJo on at 6pm apparently

Hi from Newcastle. Also on maternity leave with seven month old baby ☺️. I’m also a teacher and thankful I’m not in school right now where we’ve had several outbreaks.

The Nightingale in Sunderland (and all the others in the north) have been put on standby.

Am I being overly dramatic by saying this feels more worrying than it did in March? Back then we had no idea what was to come (which was scary enough in itself). This time we're going into it with the knowledge that 50k people have died already and that second waves are often more severe, and it's winter to boot. And then there's all the job losses to come, too. The improvements in treatments and testing are some comfort but it's all a bit overwhelming isn't it.

I wonder if the north will get over the hump quite early, in the same way that London (which was the worst affected area then) did last time? I'm really trying to look for positives here, however scant.

Morning all, just back from town (Newcastle) and it was pretty quiet, even for a rainy day. Walking past Northumbria and it was completely deserted. Only one person in the queue in Primark in front of me and only a handful of people in M&S food hall.

TBH I'm trying to avoid the news until later when they make the announcement. I find the speculation and rumours make me more anxious than anything else!

@Seriouslymole I'm the same, if the schools stay open everything is more manageable.

Checking in after following the last two threads. Just waiting to see what the rest of the day brings...

@gingercat02

Jonathan Van-Tam on sky news currently discussing case numbers. BoJo on at 6pm apparently

So that's a bit more serious than 5pm but not as gut wrenching as 8pm?

Hmmmm.....

Well I got the dreaded text to collect my youngest from Nursery as he's been in contact with a confirmed case.

Collected him, having a bit of a battle with the school as he's not allowed to leave the house so no idea how i'll get his brother to & from school. Yet they're stating his brothers absence will be unauthorised.

And yeah, I'm trying to see the positives in the student outbreaks. We were never going to completely avoid it and on a population level (please note emphasis, before i piss someone off, again) it's a good thing if young, mostly healthy people get it over with, so long as they can be contained.

@Shitfuckoh

Well I got the dreaded text to collect my youngest from Nursery as he's been in contact with a confirmed case.

Collected him, having a bit of a battle with the school as he's not allowed to leave the house so no idea how i'll get his brother to & from school. Yet they're stating his brothers absence will be unauthorised.

Ask them straight if they're expecting you to break the law to get your kids into school. Obviously you're not allowed to take an isolating child out but you're also not allowed to ask another parent to take your other children in because that would be mixing households.

Muppets.

Thanks for the new thread. Another Mackem here

We went for lunch in Northumberland at what should have been our wedding venue last July and should be next July but who knows as they'd posted on SM about not being sure when the next chance would be depending on rule changes. I really feel for them 😭

Praying that support bubbles will remain for us. We break the rule anyway as we're a household of 3 in Sunderland. My parents do pick ups and drop offs, they also live in Sunderland. DPs parents live in Newcastle and do a day a week too.

We can only get 1 morning at Breakfast club so we'd be stuffed. We both work in Newcastle so dropping off and legging to work would see us very late :(

@PickAChew

I've sent them a long message and at the end I've basically put:

''I've been advised that if I keep him off school until the end of DS3 isolation period, that it will be put down as unauthorised absence for DS2. Please can you confirm whether this is indeed the case & if so, how the school recommend I ensure DS3 stays safe whilst completing his isolation period as well as ensuring DS2 attends school?''

I can't see what you are supposed to do in that situation pickachew. How frustrating!

The chronicle are saying the north east will be in tier 2.

Thank you all for the kind words - it's easier knowing she's peaceful but feels so cruel that someone can't be there with her all day...

I've had to stop reading things as I'm just getting upset at the varying reports. On most things it does look as though Newcastle could be in tier 3 and I'd imagine we'll fall into whatever they do given the councils are working collectively in their approach.

Checking in here from Damp, chilly N Yorks bUt heading back to home this afternoon.
Hating to tear myself away from this peaceful, calm, contented view From my bedroom window

they only arrived last night. First time they’ve appeared in the field since lockdown was lifted.

Hope everyone Is doing ok.
I stay well away from tv, radio and the news. There’s always someone wants to burst your bubble.
I’ll find out soon enough.

Heartfelt hugs to anyone who is struggling.
Spoke to my lovely but fairly dementory cousin in Cardiff this morning and even she has changed her tune..her first words were..it’s all about control.

I was cheering ..at least she’s getting it.

Also spoke to my lovely dd, she’s swimming and paddle boarding her way through the crisis and reaching out to her friends too.
Her children have always been home edded..and they are just fine.
In fact the middle one is such a home bod that on his birthday in July, she’d booked a family paddle boarding trip at S Shields and we were invited as well ...and he said..do I have to come? 😂 Hes 13 and so droll.

As they haven’t had a family holiday this year, she’s bought a cheapie hot tub and jumps into that when she’s home from a swim.
@bes

In caSe you didn’t see my last post
Just wondered where in Yorkshire you are going for your holiday?

It's in the Guardian that the North Eat will be in tier two.

That's really good news.

I feel like I've aged 5 years in the past week.

I hope everyone is doing ok.

Northumbrian here

A friends beauty salon has just had to close as a client tested postive. She rang up and said she wasn't very well when she came in but she classed her nails as essential!