Coronavirus in ROI/NI part 2

[Zantedeschia]

Following on from the other thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/craicnet/3834552-Coronavirus-in-Ireland-N-Ireland?pg=40&order=

Thank you iblinkedandiamold, I found the other thread.

ElspethFlashman I too am watching Normal People weekly. I wish i could get the BBC player.
I read two chapters of the book and couldn't understand what all the acclaim was for.
Is Marianne on the Autistic spectrum. Dd and I watched it separately and discussed it afterwards. We both thought she was very a bit odd.

I think she's odd because she doesn't want anyone to know how fucked up her family is. Her brother is abusive and her mother doesn't give two shits about her.

I'm intrigued to see how the schools will go back in September. I know it says something like a phase bases or something in the plans.
It's very interesting and sort of depressing too.
Also if anyone can tell how to Socail distance 2.8 yr olds and up that'll help..oh wait it's 2.6 years now I think for the free preschool. I might have to tape off areas of the floor. Again interesting.

I’m so glad our holidays fall when they do, as I’d be so stressed about them restarting in June, as has been suggested across the water.

I've been awake since 5.30 thinking about these things. I haven't been sleeping great since all this started. I thought it was because I'm not doing much these days and eating later than usual but last night I was dreaming I was driving a car and couldn't stop it. So I guess I'm feeling out of control. Sometimes when I wake early I can go back to sleep but this morning I couldn't.

I think they are being vague, because they are waiting to see what happens in other countries. It seems to affect children very little, so I suspect the social distancing will be between adults, with staff being expected to distance from each other and possibly wear masks, but children being pretty much left as they are, apart from possibly a smaller class, shorter school day/week.

I think it's unlikely anyone expects to keep toddlers apart, which is why creche and childminders may end up being the guinea pigs in all this - well the second wave of guinea pigs, nurses and nursing home staff were the first wave.

There is no easy answer, but I suppose at least if parents have to stay home that'll be one way to keep numbers in workplaces down enough that people can social distance at work.

Yes, starting in June in populated parts of the UK is just bonkers. Especially as many children go to school by public transport.

Social distancing for the under 8s is just not going to happen no matter how hard everyone tries. Maybe by September the R number will be really low, but then we're facing into the winter and flu, etc. I'm worried we'll have a surge then and be back to lockdown in the dark, cold months which will be really grim.

There was a headline yesterday in the IT about a lot of new cases in private houses by which I think it meant families but there wasn't much detail on it. I wonder what's going on there? Maybe people becoming by too blasé about restrictions. A friend sent me a photo of her local, small, park yesterday and it was jammed with families having picnics, groups with 2-3 prams/buggies beside them which would make you think they weren't all living together. On the one hand I'm relieved that restrictions are easing soon, but on the other I'm worried about the consequences. The R number went up from 0.6 to 0.9 in Germany within a few days of schools and some shops opening.

Meanwhile in our strange new world, my mum is watching the funeral of her friend (non Covid death) on her iPad while the service is going on down the road. It must be so hard for the family.

I've been sleeping really badly aswell, but ds(6) has been really out of sorts, he has asd and I think the change has been a lot for him to take in, he is struggling.
I dont know how schools will re-open safely, especially with the smaller ones at ds age, the minute they see another child they will be tempted to run straight over to them and play, social distancing will go out the window no matter how many times you remind them. Also dont see how social distancing would work with his SNA, it would be hard for them to maintain social distancing.

My 3 year old has started to get very tearful and clingy and has started talking about her friends in creche and her keyworker all the time, so we suspect that's it. It's been bubbling for a while but this week shes just so upset.

So I think I would send her back if it opens over the summer, even with misgivings. She's so lonely. She has a big brother but half the time he is in a Lego world of his own.

Honestly I'm not sure. On the one hand I think it's nuts what the UK is doing in June but then here I am considering basically doing the same thing for creche. Maybe I'm just being ridiculous and should just ride it out with her at home.

I'd love to be going back to work on 18th for a few weeks of normality but I dont know if that'll happen. Have heard nothing from the boss although there is a facebook post up.

My DD is supposed to be starting crèche in July when I go back after mat leave. I don't know how I feel about it now. One half of me is saying children aren't affected badly and the other half doesn't want her to go.

I don't even know if her space will still be honoured as they usually have 10 kids with 2 minders so perhaps they will have to reduce numbers if adults need to socially distance.

Yeah nobody know yet how it's going to work.
I broke the rules today and I'm not sorry. Took the long way to the shops and stopped off to see the bluebells in the forest. I feel so good now, much happier. I needed a change of scenery. It was so lovely and peaceful. 40 mins there did me the world of good.
I also took some photos and I want to see if I can add in some fairies. It looks that magical. The bluebells will be gone soon unfortunately. I wish they'd stay longer.

I thought you'd photographed the actual fairies! I'm at the point of hoping to see fairies. We have sea mist here and its cold, not great weather for older people to break free, but I am impressed at the older people who stayed home alone. I do a walk most days, but I am so bored of it.

I do a walk most days, but I am so bored of it.

I haven't been out at all today. I'm too conscientious to skive off WFH for an hour so planned on doing so once I'd finished for the day at 4 pm but it's too wet.

To make up for it I might just skive off tomorrow morning and do some grocery shopping.

I live such an exciting life, you'll all be envying me so you will.

Is your keyboard policing you? Dd2 can't take any extra breaks, because her employer would know if she is away too long. She has a class on Friday lunchtime, so will be in our boxroom all day.
I'm telling her to be grateful for the work, but it is lacking in the social part of things.

Anyone watching Ozark? Ruth is my hero. I love her.
My sister is WFH she spends most of her day staring at the computer waiting and she cant leave, she has to be ready.
@Englandonion. I do believe in fairies I do I do. (Peter Pan)

We have that at work also, when WFH they have ways of monitoring how long periods are between typing/clicking the mouse so we couldn't skive off. That being said, it's been so busy if I did skive off I'd have to work an evening to make up the time because it's been so busy.
I've taken this week off as holidays though so I am enjoying spending more time with the kids - not from behind my computer at the kitchen table.
The weather is poor but we got out for a long walk in the woods and made homemade pizza for lunch. I also enjoyed doing the school work with ds at a reasonable hour, not at 6pm!
@iblinked if you have taken a photo can you please share? I love photos of trees, leaves, flowers etc, I love the colour.

An ex senior army man ( bomb disposal) just on Pat Kenny Newstalk talking about a wipe that has been developed by a prof from NUI Galway that looks promising in the battle against Covid19.
Here's hoping and praying it will work.
Worth a listen.

Re the Leaving Cert - what is happening to students doing A levels in UK ?
What has happened in Italy, Spain, France, Denmark etc re final year secondary school students ?

A wipe??

Yes.

Amazing!

I'm going to listen to it now. Thank you.

Cool I'll have to find that. Just been for a slow paced run, it's very hot. Very smelly too, the Joy's of country life. At one stage the smell of silage or manure or whatever it was, was so strong I thought I was going to throw up. Cant wait until I have a bit more freedom to run somewhere less stinky.

NUIG are very busy. They've also developed an app that lets you know if you get too close to someone else!