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!

Thanks everyone, I did enjoy the longer summer days, and it's much more beautiful here. Just a bit tough in the depths of a lockdown winter. But it's February tomorrow so spring is just around the corner

@Florelei, so, I am back. Appointment at the Centre for Life was at 10.50, I suppose I got there just before 10.45. It's incredibly well organised with lots of staff telling people where to go. Plenty of chairs, too. I have had the AZ vaccine. I was in the waiting room at 10.49 where I had to sit for five minutes - back in the car at the station at 11.07! They advise you not to drive for fifteen minutes if you have had the jab. So very impressed. All the staff were great, too. They give you a little card with details of the injection, which you have to take back when you have the second one. Please let me know if you want to know anything else.

Just thought, do take your mum'# NHS number with you as it saves time, plus the booking reference, of course.

@NUFC69 THATS WONDERFUL!! Thanks so much - again I’m so happy for you. Enjoy the hugs with the grandchildren in due course!

Great news @NUFC69

It's like a Spring day here so I've got all the windows open whilst I potter on.

I've got a lateral flow test this afternoon, my first one.

@Florelei same as NUFC69 my DF had the AZ jab at the centre for life today. He said it was very well organised and it went very smoothly.

DM went along with him and she got offered the jab too even though she wasn't booked (the wrong side of 70) and she jumped at the chance!

Pleased to hear about everyone getting the vaccine. Once my DP’s have their second jab. I’m not sure I will be able to keep my DD’s away from them. Because if teenagers aren’t at high risk themselves.
Sun was out, but very cold. Either heavy frost or it snowed lightly as paths were white and icy. Is lovely to look out of the window and it not be dark

That’s brilliant news @gingeristhenewblack43! Thanks so much for letting me know!

All this good news is just amazing.

such great news about vaccines... I'm involved in getting volunteers for a LA and its been so heartwarming seeing so many putting up their hands.

in other news, I've submitted my tax return with at least 7 hours to go which is pretty damn impressive for me

Brilliant news for all those who've had their vaccines today! So pleased to see things progressing. Great for your DM too @gingeristhenewblack43.

Also good news about your tax return @myrtleWilson - I bet that's a relief!

It's been a nice quiet day for us. DS still has a stuffy nose so we've played dinosaurs and Paw Patrol at home today.

I've decided the diet starts tomorrow. I managed the first two weeks in January and then work went a bit crazy and I totally fell of the diet wagon - I don't think a sharing bar of Galaxy counts as a healthy lunch although I bloody well wish it did . Let's see how many weeks in February I can manage!!

@Florelei, you'll be interested to know that I have had no reaction, apart from a slightly sore arm, from the vaccine yesterday.

Lovely day here, DH is going for a bike ride and, when he's back, we'll go to Wallington for a walk.

Have a good day, everyone.

Glad to hear it @NUFC69

Heavy snow is forecast for my area tomorrow so
I’m trying to get everything done today!

@Florelei it would be wise to make sure your DM has a supply of paracetamol just in case of side effects. I know 4 people who've had the AZ vaccine and 1 (DF) has been feeling quiet ropey since last night: headache, chills and aching all over. He said that paracetamol is helping though and he'd rather feel like this for a day or so than catch Covid!

Thanks @gingeristhenewblack43 - I’ve made sure she is well stocked up with paracetamol.

I hope your DF is back to normal soon! As he says though better to feel like this for a day or two than get covid. Also, I suppose it shows that his immune system is creating the antibodies that he needs!

@Florelei: I agree with what Ginger has said about the paracetamol- I felt as if I had a head cold later in the day, and they did the trick. My DH was an Oxford Vaccine volunteer and yesterday rang the RVI to ask for his test to be unblinded, so that he could have a vaccination if he needed it. Unfortunately he had had the placebo, so he's going to the Centre for Life on Friday to get his done. There was a wonderful article in the Guardian recently about how well Newcastle is doing vaccinating people. Unfortunately I can't link as it was sent to me via WA on my mobile. It made me cry.

Heavy snow forecast here, too.

Yep, woken up to a blanket of the stuff, this morning.

My parents get their jabs, this week and my sister and neighbour, who both work in the nhs, has theirs last week. I'm I'm the last of the current priority groups so will need to wait until next month.

@NUFC69 I saw that as well. Very emotional. I also got a bit emotional when I read that people were coming for their jabs in their best suits and clothes. That’s how much it means to people.

I hope you feel back to normal now. Hopefully not too long for your vaccine @PickAChew - are you group 5 or 6? I heard that they are starting group 5.nationally next week.

Group 9 - current estimates late Feb - April!

It's so nice to hear everyone's getting their vaccines - makes things seem like they're progressing in the right direction.

Once they've done the full list of the current priority groups does anyone know if the plan is to move on to the wider population? I'm not so bothered about myself as I work from home and don't really see anyone, but DP works away from home and I worry about him catching it from a colleague or someone's home where he's working.

The plan is that every adult will be offered a vaccine, there is no guidance yet as to how that will work once they get through the 9 priority groups. Will it be done by age, by public facing profession, by not being able to wfh? I imagine it's something that is being debated now in preparation.

Thanks @gingeristhenewblack43.

V excited that my parents are in group 8 and parents are in 7 - based on your dates @PickAChew I’m hoping that means they’ll all have had their first dose by the end of April and we can hopefully have a few outdoor belated celebrations in the summer for various family events!

Horrible weather here at the moment. Pouring rain turning all of the snow to slush, and it’s so cold outside.

Pouring here, too. If you put your age into omnicalculator.com, it will give you an estimate of when you should get your vaccine. (There are other questions as well about vulnerability, etc).

May to end of July this year for me and DP for dose 1 @NUFC69 - that's better than expected so I'll take that as best case scenario!

I can't wait to be able to be with loved ones again .

In weather news apparently it could be -8 here at the weekend!

-8, that’s bloody cold. It was freezing today, the wind was bitter. I’m glad it’s raining now. The snow can go away and never come back. I am so bored there is nothing to do, work or sitting watching tv. I’ve got an online food delivery this week and I’m so excited 😆.
I had a little cry about how the north east vaccine is going, I think we are showing some parts of country up. The north east Covid figures are definitely going in the right direction.

I spent a fortune on fabric, last week, to make some easy lounge wear. I was making a shirt but it was impossible to concentrate on the fiddly bits with all ds2's noise. That will have to wait until he's back at school.

He's still up and down. We had a decent day, yesterday and I managed to engage him in some kitchen activity to go towards his tasks set by school but he's not wanted to know, today and his executive functioning has been pretty poor. We're pushing for a camhs referral for him as, even though he loves school, he's often unreachable there, too.