Ireland's Calling for Normal Life to Return, thread number 5

[eggandonion]

Unlinked because I can't remember how to do it, and can't find Help thing.

I dont understand why the government wants till the last minute to announce things. We all know lockdown is going to go on past Feb, what we dont know is when schools are reopening. Why not come out and say schools will be shut until x,y,z. Why have meeting after meeting. It seems to me like they want the public to used to the idea through press leaks before they announce it.
I still wonder how it is safe me to operate and not schools.
I read in the uk, one in 10 Early years staff contracted covid. What I didnt see was if that was in work or not.
I am seriously concerned now.

It is a worry. Not only is it possibly more dangerous but apparently the two newer strains (not the uk one) are resistant to the vaccine. Makes me wonder are we fighting a losing battle. It's just doing what a virus does, it adapts and mutates to be able to survive and multiply. Are we ever going to get on top of this thing?? And the late late show so bloody depressing tonight. I need something light hearted to distract from all the gloom, much as I love Ryan I had to turn it off.

I agree @Iblinkedandiamold. Just spit it out!

I'm loving this music on the LLS but no doubt once it's over Tubridy will be back to depression mode.

X post @LifeInAHamsterWheel I missed the depressing stuff earlier then, phew!

I dont watch the late late, I am currently on Facebook watching mock the week videos. Just the improv bit where Dara gives them the title "things you're unlikely to hear in...." so bloody funny.
I'm also watching clips from it's me or the dog USA. Crazy stuff there

I can't stand Dara O'Briain. I can barely tolerate Tubridy.

I heard actual real gossip/news today from government friend that lockdown ALL Feb and probably March too 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ just so fed up of schools being shut!!

DS2 will be delighted. Thanks to Covid he has lost all interest in school

There's absolutely no way they'll let us "out" for St Patrick's Day! So it'll be after that for sure, but then Easter is early 4th April so I wouldn't be at all surprised if we're in lockdown until then. Maybe schools will open before that though? We just don't know. It's the not knowing that's the worst. We'll just have to wait for it to be leaked...

I think schools will open before lockdown ends. We were open right through a level 5 lockdown after all.

Unfortunately Norma has burnt so many bridges and goodwill levels are at an extreme low. They'll have to do a lot of smoothing over in negotiations.

What is the connection Marian Keyes has with traybakes @OwlLovesTea z?

Schools were safe to open throughout level 5 as numbers were much lower, the adults couldn't drink or shop once level 5 was lifted the 1st of December people started shopping, eating out, meeting friends, local shopping centre was bunged, with higher rates and the new variant I can't see them opening till March.
Yesterday was a nice bright day lots of the DC were playing on the green including mine for an hour. it is hard to keep them locked in.

I couldn't watch the late late show Dsis phoned in tears after it.

@LadyEloise

What is the connection Marian Keyes has with traybakes *@OwlLovesTea* z?

At the point in my life where I read her books as quickly as she could write them, she kept mentioning that church of ireland people love their tray bakes. I wasn't even 100% certain what a tray bake was. Although my aunt does make lovely almond squares, and cuts them in to squares herself! so i think that counts.

I'm not sure I really believe the connection. I think if you aren't working a 50 hour week and you have time to do more than peel the film off a centra lasagne, you're doing very well!

I do like the odd post on fb from the happy pear. That's the extent of my domesticity at the moment.

@Emeraldshamrock

I couldn't watch the late late show Dsis phoned in tears after it.

What happened on The LL. I don't have a tv

@JaneJeffer

DS2 will be delighted. Thanks to Covid he has lost all interest in school

My son too. I'm trying not to get to care too much because I can't control him. I can't make him log on to lessons when I'm doing my own work and under a lot of pressure there. My eldest is doing the LC (maybe?) so it's like one fire at a time. I've had to unclench and let my son do whatever the hell he does in his bedroom all day long when his teachers are sending me emails asking me if there's anything they can do to get him to engage............

oh god bring back schoooooooool

Its still January. Have Nphet added a few extra weeks to January so February and March are further away?
I'm never sure that recently bereaved people should be on the late late show. I can't make my mind up if they are being brave, or if it's harmful to them. Maybe its just the wrong programme to be on, with phone in competition and imelda may or whoever? Maybe it's because social media can be so harsh, they face backlash? But on the other hand it was a powerful interview and message.
Forty years after Stardust too. That was sad. Life continues, but it is never quite right.

That's true social media is very cruel I'd never open myself up emotionally on TV. I don't think I'd cope with the trolling.
Agree January is never ending this year.

Yes. It was hard to watch that lady last night, but it would have been disrespectful to switch over. It would send chills through you to think what happened to her husband.

What was the late late about? Didn't get to see it as DS was watching a film

OwlLovesTea
A bereaved woman called Jeni lost her husband to Covid last week.
He sounded amazing- so kind, a Samaritan volunteer, a kidney donor, he appeared in good health. She described his decline with Covid19.
She was great. I have no idea how she did it. Tears in our house too, watching it. They have two children, left without a loving, beloved dad because of this awful virus.
If When it's all over, serious questions have to be asked about it's origin. It has wreaked havoc on the world - health wise - physical and mental - and economically.

Yes it was difficult to watch, hard to hear, and would have been disrespectful to stop as you say.

I'm not a massive funeral attendee, but have missed a few this year. I'm sure lack of proper funerals is making things worse.

That's the danger of the virus isnt it. I could catch it and be okay but I could be unlucky and get very sick. Just because you are seem fit and healthy doesn't mean you will survive it.

How is she allowed to travel to dublinfrom Waterford for a tv show ??? How much more terror can our elderly take ?? Its gone ridiculous and disturbing the never ending narrative and vaccine push. Teachers all about getting up the vaccine queue thats what its ALL about!!!! Kids suffering parents suffering ! What about kids in direct provision. Poor wifi. School at home 8 hrs a day doesnt equate to what children get on school and not just educationally ! Like great tweet from michael clarke yesterday on twittet saying no one is saying there is no risk in school but we are in the midst of a pandemic and no job is risk free and education is as essential as health care #so true

I too am worried about the new strain of virus from SA, it's apparently immune to the new vaccine.
Only hope l can offer is, listening to an immunologist on BBC who said that when they discovered the new faster spreading UK strain they would be able to tweak the vaccine to kill that virus as they already had the "blueprint" of the vac. Hopefully they can do the same with the SA one but things are changing so fast it's hard tell.

As of today there are only about 40 in the UK that have the SA virus.
How about we take a leaf out of Australia and New Zealand's book and try and prevent this new strain entering the country, stop international travel into Ireland unless absolutely necessary. And add strict border controls when entering, ie negative covid test and strict 14 day isolation in a hotel/centre that is actually enforced, like the have in New Zealand.

l mean we are an island after all. How hard can that be?