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

[PennyDreadfuI]

Haway if you're in Sunderland, of course

Well my eldest has come home with another letter states a case in his school - 2nd letter in 2 days. Really hoping we make it to half term without getting that ''It always happens in 3s'' as I fear it'll be 3rd time (un)lucky!

@FrolickingLemon
It's possible if someone had been in my position previously, that they may have just taken the 'unauthorised absence' as gospel.
I'm too stubborn to just accept that when it seems so wrong to me as I don't have any other option.

The whole of Durham is a sorry state. Silver street is half empty and I won’t talk about North Road. Was there the other day and it was depressing. Even the park and ride is a pain, now you can’t get on opposite —The Gates—. I wish it would stop raining.

@Snoringferret How has the cat responded to the drip today? Hope all ok.

She's not responded the way the vet would have hoped so she's off to the vet hospital for an overnight stay.

I'm really upset but not really able to process it as it's been so so fast.

I'm just really glad we forked out for the expensive pet insurance as it's crazy how quickly it adds up!!

@Snoringferret sorry to hear that, hopefully the vet hospital will get her fixed up! It's horrible when you're just sat and waiting for news though. Hope you get something positive soon

@Snoringferret

Morning all. Feeling fatigued and not much to say really. Never ending state of waiting is not good for the soul. I remember after 1st lockdown was announced, I felt a shift of acceptance. This is just permanent state of alert. Not good at all for peoples mental health.

snoring I hope you get some good news from the vet today.

Morning all. Feeling fatigued and not much to say really. Never ending state of waiting is not good for the soul. I remember after 1st lockdown was announced, I felt a shift of acceptance. This is just permanent state of alert. Not good at all for peoples mental health.

Totally agree: I caught myself hoping for a 2 week circuit breaker last night as it would give two weeks of certainty and also I'd get to close my business for two weeks and have a break.
Obviously I don't actually want that to happen, and I would end up working through the lockdown anyway, but just that that thought would cross my mind is insane:

My worry about a 2 week circuit breaker is that the goalposts would shift in that 2 weeks and, rather than come out of it because the rise in cases has slowed, which is the original idea, we wouldn't come out of it because cases aren't down to almost zero.

And the people who take the piss and regularly have a houseful, now, would continue to take the piss, anyhow.

Oh I agree pick I don't want one when I'm being logical, it's just a sign of how tired I am.

I think we all know we're going into tier 3/circuit breaker at some point and waiting for the shoe to drop is exhausting.

I think that's exactly it, it's the uncertainty and waiting for the next thing to drop that's exhausting. It's not healthy to live with this constant anxiety.

I agree about it being all the uncertainty.
It's the worse thng ever for me.

DS2s school have sent a text out, asking parents to let them know as soon as possible if their child doesn't have access to the internet. This is despite asking about internet access & tech back in September as part of the 'planning incase bubbles need to close'.
The as soon as possible really worries me.

Yeah, ds2's school are offering him his haircut (life skills) before half term, just in case. He was decidedly shaggy by September.

Ds1 still is! He's just about OK having his cut but only ever at home. It takes some building up to it. Managed 1 haircut the full time but he needs it doing again & he's delayed it for 3 weeks now.

It's been one of those weeks this week & I'm not sure it's going to get any better any time soon

The schools must be in a really tough position having to plan for every situation.

And I really feel for you parents!

I managed to get DS1 to the barbers a week before lockdown. We're at the point of slicing it back with gel, now. His own barbers rules effectively exclude him and he doesn't trust anyone else.

Afternoon, just collected DS from school and have called on the park since it’s dry.
His school sent out permission requests to set up see saw profiles and gave notification of catch up sessions that will start after half term after school via teams/zoom.
I’ve started Christmas baking prep and have made my own mince meat for mince pies.

I see the Stanley academy is moving to online teaching only until after half term and Durham
Uni has recorded nearly 1000 covid cases! 😱

This is scary right now

Text from DS1s school earlier: ''There has been a further member of staff tested positive for covid. No further pupils are requred to self isolate. PH advice has been followed''

Nearly 1000 cases?! I knew they'd end up with quite a few but almost 1000?!

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/nearly-1000-staff-students-durham-19109144

Gosh I remember when 100 cases was shocking.

Surely they have to confront the fact that the units are hotbeds soon.

Durham uni is high isn’t it. It’s definitely ruining our figures, without them, County Durham wouldn’t be bad at all. Hopefully it will start to come down soon. Durham city is like a ghost town. I’ll be annoyed if we go to tier 3 because of the university.

Is that right about Durham uni? I think they only went back at the end of September so that seems a very large amount of cases. Didn’t read the article mind.

It's encouraging that the numbers at Newcastle and northumbria are slightly down on last week.