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!

I don't know of anywhere. Though I got lucky with the collection point next to Newton Hall coop, a few months back, but lugged my stuff there and found it locked!

Arnison might be fairly quiet, today. The roads leading there aren't busy at all.

I might load everything into the boot and then keep an eye out for collection points!

Very selfish I know but my positive mood is rapidly disappearing with the news that schools may be closing on Monday (although no word on early years learning yet).

I have annual leave still to take so hopefully will be able to take a couple of days a week but still feel guilty that DS will be stuck in front of a screen on the days I have back to back calls.

@Someaddedsugar I feel exactly the same. I can certainly appreciate how school staff must feel but the thought of having to deal with other people's crises on the phone while my DD is stropping about because she can't do her school work has got my stomach in knots ☹️

@gingeristhenewblack43 it's going to be a challenge.

If there are closures I hope there's an end date. I don't know why but I find it much easier to cope with things when I feel in control and know that it's for x days or weeks rather than feeling like we're in limbo.

Work were really flexible with people during the first lockdown, however it was on the basis of manager discretion and while my manager is lovely, I don't think they appreciate quite what it's like having a toddler while managing your own team and keeping an eye on their wellbeing and then your actual job.

I do genuinely feel for the teachers though as it must be horrible having to go to work without the correct PPE. I'm more frustrated at the lack of notice as it feels like we won't told what's going to happen until tonight or tomorrow night which seems unfair to everyone involved.

Been trying to explain to Ds2 that he's not back to school until Thursday now. He's not having any of it.

@PickAChew hope he's ok. Is that because of the strike?

I was wondering about charity shops, if the local clothes bank is locked. I’m seriously thinking of putting everything in bin!
Arnison centre was quiet. Sainsbury’s quiet as well. We went the long way round via Pity Me, just for a change .

[quote Someaddedsugar]@PickAChew hope he's ok. Is that because of the strike?[/quote]
No. They need a couple of days to get testing and new arrangements in place.

I got a bag for the children's air ambulance through the door, this afternoon, so it looks like collections are still happening. I never put stuff that's really good in bags, though, as they so often get nicked or wet.

Fingers crossed we'll get a collection bag soon as I can usually see the collection van out of the window of the room I work in so they don't spend too long outside. I'm sure one of ours was stolen as it disappeared in the middle of the night on a non-collection day once!

So pleased it isn't just me with items ready to be donated!!

I’m so desperate, I wouldn’t care if it did get stolen . I don’t understand why Freecyle aren’t allowed to run. Surely people could give time frame and you could leave outside your door.
I know, no travelling but within say 5 mile limit would be safe.

I hadn't realised Freecycle wasn't allowed to run! It seems a bit silly that your nearest supermarket could be 5-10 miles away but a website promoting free goods that might be in the next street can't run doesn't it. And I agree - a contact free time slot could easily be arranged. Especially when the likes of Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are all still running.

I might just stick on Gumtree for free and see if anyone in the same area spots it and wants any of it. As some of it is baby clothes it surely could count as an essential for someone who needs it?

I’ve put free on Gumtree, I just bag and leave outside. But I received an email from freecycle saying they weren’t running at present time. Received email when we went in tier 4. Definitely try, good luck.

We received a collection bag on Thursday, so I am going to fill it today for collection tomorrow. We have masses of stuff as we didn't do any donating during the national LD last year, and you had to make an appointment to drop things off at the shop when it reopened. We've tried over Christmas to take books to the book bank but it's been full all the time.

I do hope they stand firm about the schools reopening, whilst I have sympathy for the teachers, I do feel their unions are being obstructive all the time. My DGC will be ok, I know, but there are lots of children who won't be.

I'm assuming there'll be an announcement today re the schools. Looking elsewhere on Mumsnet some people have already been told their schools are opening on Monday but will close if staffing becomes limited (completely understandable).

I just wish the government had given the schools the PPE and other required equipment over Christmas to make the reopening possible and safe for teachers. We might be in a different position today had that been the case!

DCC have just said that it’s the decision of individual schools but that they will support whatever decision the schools make.

It looks like both the primary schools in my village will be shut.

We haven't been notified of a nursery closure yet however I'm guessing it'll be take DS in tomorrow and then they'll close from Tuesday onwards.

I've just seen that Labour are calling for a national lockdown in 24 hours. I actually will cry if this happens. At least we can go for a walk with one other person at the moment - it's keeping me sane knowing I can have a walking meeting during the week!

Ds2's school has just announced that it's not opening until the 18th. Make that Easter, at the earliest, then.

Ds2's tics are mostly very shouty, today. Since The News, they've morphed into shouting the name of his taxi driver. This is going to be so much harder than the Spring.

I'm in Gateshead (I font have children) but my sister has 2 nursery age. Gateshead Council have put out a very wish washy statement.. To me it reads that they don't think schhodl should be open but can't do anything to stop them. They did say they would support schools that felt they couldn't open.

I work on a project with schools in various counties of the region. We have already done so much to adjust the project. I'm genuinely worried about whether it can still be delivered if schools keep closing. I know it's not the prst thing ever, but it is my job and colleagues jobs at risk. Anyway the uncertainty is just crappy. I try to plan but don't know what will happen.

Hope every one is doing OK given all this uncertainty.

Yay I found you, I was so busy in the run up to Christmas I missed the new thread.

Happy New Year everyone.

I have a few friends in Gateshead and Newcastle who are receiving last minute texts this evening saying school is closed.

Re a lockdown, I’ve been told that a lockdown is open to parliamentary scrutiny, whereas tiers are not. It would explain all the wishy washiness of decisions and constant moving of goalposts.

@PickAChew

Ds2's school has just announced that it's not opening until the 18th. Make that Easter, at the earliest, then.

Ds2's tics are mostly very shouty, today. Since The News, they've morphed into shouting the name of his taxi driver. This is going to be so much harder than the Spring.

Hope you're both ok. The awful weather makes everything so much harder too as it's not like the spring lockdown where you could just go out when needed!

My 'yay it's 2021' mood has deteriorated rapidly. The thought of working from home with a demanding 3 year old who's desperate to see his friends just feels like the impossible right now. Especially when it's unlikely DP will be furloughed this time as the company he works for now has a number of contracts classed as essential and mine have said they'll be flexible but that just means they'll expect you to do the work on evenings and weekends. And I fully appreciate and acknowledge I am being a complete selfish drama queen as there is so much worse going on in the world.

I've said it before but I really do hope they say we're locking down on x date and will come out of lockdown on x date and that is guaranteed. None of this we'll review every 3 weeks (and the review doesn't ever happen).

I hope your job's ok @Plussizejumpsuit - that must be a worry. Is there a way you can alter the project to work around a lockdown?

I think the constant worry about what next is even worse than the reality of any particular circumstances at the time. There is no time to adjust.

DH is off work, this week, as he has a massive backlog of annual leave to use and he's been doing the walks as he's better on ice and slippery mud than I am - I have dodgy hips and slipping can knobble me for days.

Ds2's walks are going to be very short, once he's back at his desk. Home learning will be non-existent.

I agree @PickAChew - I think it's the uncertainty that makes me anxious. I can't not be in control and when I'm not I get unnecessarily panicky because it feels like there's nothing to hold on to.

Poor DS fell over as soon as we opened our gate this morning thanks to some black ice. He recovered well though and handily announced the ice was silly and it shouldn't make him slip which amused me. This was all despite me saying please mind the ice there as you'll slip

Purely selfishly (and am not always selfish I promise) I'd welcome a national lockdown as I'm quite anxious about this strain of Covid as it is all hands of deck 24/7 with DD's anorexia - if she got it, I have no idea what affect her blood levels could have on severity, if either her Dad or I picked it up, then am not sure how we'd manage the full time job of feeding, caring and minimising the self harm of DD.
I'm due back to work tomorrow but we're able to WFH but when DD is in one of her anorexia induced rages she self harms, she is abusive (never normally swears but boy it comes out then) - can imagine being on a Zoom call with all that kicking off in the background - thank God for the mute button... DH has been signed off work to be her primary carer and I can/will take leave if necessary but we've got some big projects coming up - its all a MESS. One minor positive note for us, as DD has stopped sixth form for this year as she's not well enough to progress with A-levels in the summer, at least we don't have to face a decision about sending her in or night - small wins eh?