North East thread 4: Fingers crossed we catch the Angel bus!

[Someaddedsugar]

Just thought I'd start a new thread for the north east lot as number 3 is getting pretty full!

@PennyDreadfuI hope you're ok and hope you don't mind me picking the thread up!

Finbarr’s takeaway sounds amazing. I loved it when it was down in Durham city but have only tried the new location new county hall once.

We are treating ourselves to a Deano’s takeaway from Lanchester.

Thanks @myrtleWilson - keeping both of those in mind!

@MrsEWeatherwax is your DD usually tidy or is this a result of lockdown .

Is the coffee shop open for takeaway in Lanchester do you know @Florelei? We often go for a walk along the river and up to Lanchester but I've not been for a while and I was thinking it'd be nice to be able to get a coffee and walk back down again.

We went for a walk today and attempted to make a snowman but the snow is more like ice so it was a very poor attempt. We've just had homemade pizza and now DS is asking if he can go to bed but I can't face a 5.30am wakeup call if he does go now!

@Someaddedsugar - do you mean the Austrian Kafehaus? If so, I think it’s open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at the moment.

I think the other one in the gift shop is closed but I’m not 100%.

I know Hanley’s and Cooplands do takeaway coffee though.

@Someaddedsugar it’s because she is bored!
I don’t miss the early mornings with a toddler, but I do miss the cuddles.
I so miss going to cinema and restaurants.
The paths are sheets of ice and the snow is now rock hard. I might try a persuade DH for a walk around Chester park tomorrow and buy a Costa I will be getting a fine!

That's the one @Florelei - I'll have to plan a walk once the ice has gone!

I miss restaurants too @MissEWeatherwax, and I'm also missing being able to go to a shop and wander about without actually needing anything but instead just having a look. And I'm really missing my family.

We're going to start our book with DS next week @NUFC69 - thank you so much for that idea.

Enjoy Chester Park @MissEWeatherwax. I couldn't believe that story in the news! I still can't understand how they can say a takeaway coffee is classed as a picnic. I bet those women were totally shocked when the police turned up!

@Someaddedsugar yes I’d definitely wait until the ice has gone. The paths around the village are absolutely treacherous in places.

Someaddedsugar, the GC are enjoying it so much we have carried on over the weekend. We ended up with a Chinese takeaway tonight, it was lovely, but half of mine is now in the fridge as I couldn't finish it. I miss eating out so much. As we're retired a lot of our socialising involves lunches out with friends.

I am very fed up with the weather, minus 7 here last night.

Didn’t go for my walk again. I am so lazy.
My DF received his first dose of vaccine, I am so relieved. No date for DM yet, but I have fingers crossed.
Saw on Facebook that the Durham Botanic gardens only are open for 4 hours a day from 11 January.

I actually did get my first walk since Monday, this afternoon, as there were enough gaps in the ice. Only a short one - 1km round the block. Needed it as my lower back's playing up and that can cripple me if it goes.

I'll probably get plenty, from tomorrow, as DH is back working and DS2 will need his walkies. Some arbitrary home schooling might happen but I will be very selectively picking my battles in between performing my duties as cleaning and endless bloody laundry fairy, magicker upperer of tasty food etc etc.

@MissEWeatherwax thanks for Gardens update - that'll be a nice one to break up the same scenery!

Hopefully you'll get your walk this week!

Great news about your DF. Our neighbour received her date on Friday and she's a few years older than my Nana so hoping she'll get a date through soon to.

@PickAChew hope today goes ok (despite also being the house fairy).

I'm now mid argument about DS not wanting to get dressed and I've given up for 10 minutes. When people say newborns are hard work they clearly haven't met a toddler like ours

@PickAChew shame the house fairy can’t go on strike!
Going food shopping today, just for bits and bobs because I stocked up before Christmas and other than fresh stuff, my cupboards are full Also going to get a cappuccino and a sandwich.
@Someaddedsugar hope you won the argument.
Pleased the snow has gone. Also Ushaw house the gardens are open.

No home schooling has happened, yet, that's for sure. He was persuaded to go for a walk with me. He's now in his room, listening to Dominoes clatter off each other. Ds1 is supposed to be having a camhs home visit, right now, but no sign. I missed a "private" call while I was in the shower, on Friday morning so. I suspect that was a cancellation but my phone with that number on it has been silent, this morning.

On other news, the fucking ice is returning, tonight and heavy snow warning for Thursday.

Can I rejoin? I was on the first thread, name changed since then and a bit crap at keeping track of where I'm at to be honest

Firstly, thanks so much to @Someaddedsugar (I think it was) for the Durham escape rooms tip - DD did it online yesterday with her friends (via zoom) and thoroughly enjoyed it! Kept her occupied for a couple of hours

I saw Crimdon dene mentioned at one point - that is our local nature reserve, but not local enough to walk to so sadly arent visiting at the moment. Fortunately we do have a large rec field within walking distance which is normally deserted so we are visiting that daily. I just hope the rumoured stronger restrictions still allow for that.

I hope everyone is keeping as well as they can be, although I dont reguarly post I do always read, and its nice to keep a track of all things local

Welcome back @Iceroadtruckingextremefishing! Pleased DD liked the escape room! I've heard good reviews about the other ones they have too.

I'm having a morning of procrastinating and struggling to actually do my work! It's not helping that every 2 minutes DP sends me helpful articles about nurseries possibly closing - not helping me feel very calm about getting my mountain or work finished in time for various deadlines! I'm sure some people don't realise how much the news can impact other people and their mindset!

@MissEWeatherwax I did win the argument but ended up using a chocolate biscuit as bribery. Definitely not going to be winning any parenting awards anytime soon . Pick your battles and all that!

No shame in using biscuits as bribe, needs must.
I received my flu jab letter today! I had a private flu jab in early November and informed my surgery. Obviously no joined up database. What a waste of a letter! But at least they are getting to the 50 year olds. Hardly worth the effort this late in the flu season!

I got my 50+ flu jab last month. Knobbled my arm for a full week!

That’s a shame, a couple of years ago my flu jab gave me a dead arm plus it itched for a week. But this time nothing!
I was beginning to think they had forgotten about the 50+ people. DH is going to try and organise his(me really, not him, he doesn’t like talking on phone and he won’t do online either.)

It was quite efficient for me. Consent text end of November then appointment mid December. Far too close to shoulder joint though. So swollen that I couldn't wear a bra over that shoulder for a week and it woke me up every time I rolled onto that side. I took a lot of nsproxen to get me through it!

I had mine through a scheme at work as end up getting ill every winter and didn't want to chance it this winter and ended up with a sore arm and a nice red mark for a week too!

Hope everyone's ok today. It's very icy outside!

I had mine in September, my DH saw a note in our little Boots in August, so I rang and got appointments for both of us. No problems this year, although I have once before.

Lovely day, I have just read Chapter 10 of the DGC's book, although we have agreed to limit to half an hour, as we were going on and on. Their school is doing a good job of online teaching. DH has gone out on his bike for a ride.

Was a lovely bright sunny day today. Shame I was at work. Went in dark came home in dark. But it was nice to look out of window and I noticed the sun didn’t go down until about 4.00 but it felt like it stayed light longer.

FSMs:

South Tyneside: no vouchers.
Sunderland: no vouchers.
Gateshead: no vouchers.
Newcastle: yes, here's your FSM vouchers!

Sigh

We started ours at the weekend @NUFC69 and despite DS only being 3 he's been fascinated by us having the same book my Dsis is reading him.

It's been lovely hasn't it @MissEWeatherwax. A shame if you've been indoors all day though. It was lovely to notice that it wasn't fully dark when I logged off at 4.30. Feels like spring is definitely on the way. Well other than the cold! And the snow that's apparently due tomorrow!

I've just booked my remaining annual leave to have a day off with DS each week until the end of Feb and I'm so looking forward to a 4 day working week for a bit! I've just raided the recycling bin for boxes and bits to make something on our day this week as it's looking unlikely we'll be venturing further than Chester Park, and hopefully the DB Gardens!

@PusheenLove

FSMs:

South Tyneside: no vouchers.
Sunderland: no vouchers.
Gateshead: no vouchers.
Newcastle: yes, here's your FSM vouchers!

Sigh

The FSM issue is horrific - I cannot believe that there's no provision to support families. It's hard enough as it is without having the added worry of feeding your children each day!