Unlocking Ireland - thread uimhir a seacht!

[LifeInAHamsterWheel]

A shiny new thread for us all to talk pure shite whilst we wait for lockdown to end

The minister for education, Norma foley, said this:

"Speaking at the annual congress of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), Ms Foley did not give any indication that the Government will reverse its decision to introduce an age-based approach to vaccinating the population instead of one that prioritises frontline workers.

Ms Foley said the revised approach was driven by international research, which shows that 60-65 years olds are 70 times more likely to die as a result of Covid-19 than those aged 30-35.

“This is the latest medical and scientific evidence,” she said. “This is not a value judgement on any given profession. This is simply the science"
.”

I am actually raging at the teacher's unions. How selfish and ignorant can you be?

@SecondRow

I like the sound of the wool pillows MarDhea. Do they feel quite heavy and dense? I like a firm pillow.

Oh that reminds me - I meant to ask before.

Does anyone have a weighted blanket? Would you recommend?

I like the thought of them, they look cosy and soothing, but I don't know how to identify a "good" one. Any I've seen online look pricey.

In the UK teachers and SNAs in special schools have been offered vaccinations in my local authority which seems fair .

@Carriemac

In the UK teachers and SNAs in special schools have been offered vaccinations in my local authority which seems fair .

And in Spain. A friend of mine got the jab before her parents.

the difference is that an Elderly person is far more likely to die of Covid than a younger person, it doesn't matter how many snotty-nosed kids that a person is around. Young people have died of covid young carers it isn't unheard of - it isn't worth the risk.
Long covid is an issue in younger people Dbro sailed through the virus now he physically exhausted.
An elderly person can avoid catching it but following safety guidelines a teacher doesn't have the luxury.
Judging by the Easter socialising they're at higher risk heading back.

Also very interested in the weighted blanket advice! Also, if anyone had some nice midweek dinner recipes going I'd love to hear them? Bit bored with my current rotation.

I read a stat the other day that said special school staff were 3 times more likely to get Covid and primary teachers 1.9 times more likely. Luke O'Neill I think it was. Considering how special schools have to run that doesn't surprise me - I often wonder how the behavioural units especially are getting on right now.

Norma Foley would want to be careful because schools rely so much on teacher goodwill and that's been steadily eroded over the past couple of years. Will be interesting to see what happens her and Madigan at the next election, they're on thin enough ice in the Govt already I'd say.

I'm hoping to get my vaccine in the summer, my sister was very sick few about a week after getting hers. I am off for the summer so at least I can relax about being sick.
Once we go back there is only 10 weeks before the summer.
Once I am vaccinated by September I dont care

Weighted blankets are very expensive but people who have them seem to love them.

I was going to get one for my DS before but started with a weighted lap pad instead.

Are there reviews online on the shops you are looking at for the blankets they have?

@Thesagacontinues

Weighted blankets are very expensive but people who have them seem to love them.

I was going to get one for my DS before but started with a weighted lap pad instead.

Are there reviews online on the shops you are looking at for the blankets they have?

I must admit, I mainly see them on Instagram ads, which remind me that I want one, but then I forget to actually look them up properly. I have clicked through a couple of the Insta ads, but they usually bring me into websites I don't recognise.

I don't have a weighted blanket but we got a wool duvet for a wedding present and loved it . Slept so well under it but has to throw it away after a family vomiting bug 🤮 as it was unclean able

@3timeslucky it seems to be in the UK for now.

On weighted blackets, l have one as l have insomnia

Got mine on Amazon for around €40. I can't say it cured my insomnia but it does stop you moving around in the night so a much less restless sleep. It gives a you bit of a snug layer too. l know my last dentist used one for patients who were nervous and found it a great help.

It's a bugger when you're lifting it soaking wet out of a washing machine, nearly did myself an injury

I've seen deals on weighted blankets on places like pigs back and escapes.ie. I've often thought of getting one too but the price puts me off even with a deal in case it's a total waste. It'd be handy to try one out for a while.

I definitely think that the environment people work in should be taken into consideration regarding vaccines. But no of deaths and risk of hospitalization is a huge thing too. Don't see why teachers and other public facing roles can't be prioritised within their age group. People who are vulnerable should be vaccinated outside of age group, which doesn't seem to be the case.

The weighted blankets are expensive I didn't realise people without SN used them they're advertised a lot for SPD.
I thought about buying one for DS - you could try the sensory stretching bedsheet for a weighed feeling it's a cheaper alternative DS loves it

Dealz do weighted blankets sometimes and I think MR. Price do too. I was thinking about getting one fir when my anxiety gets really bad. (,usually around that time of the month)

Oh they are both near me, I will keep an eye out

Moth larvae would put me off a wool pillow.

All I’m seeing is ads above this post for weighted blankets 😆

I can understand why teachers are annoyed when they were sold the idea of being prioritised in the vaccination lists to get them back to work and that’s being pulled now. I find that there is a major anti teacher sentiment on mumsnet in the UK and that is creeping hugely into Ireland.

@SecondRow

I like the sound of the wool pillows MarDhea. Do they feel quite heavy and dense? I like a firm pillow.

I wouldn't say they're heavy but they are more dense, in a kind of springy way. I have a medium one but you can get softer and firmer ones if you prefer.

I usually plump mine up at bedtime until it looks huge, and it feels amazing to sink your head into it when you first lie down. Over the night it flattens out a bit but nowhere near as much as my old feather ones used to. If I flip it over, it's good again for a few more hours.

@Emeraldshamrock

Moth larvae would put me off a wool pillow.

I've survived two clothes moths infestations that included them demolishing a wool carpet in the bedroom, but the little mothy bastards didn't get to my wool duvet or pillows!

I have Baavet ones and the wool part is encased in very densely woven cotton, so fine a weave that you could barely blow air through it if you tried. I think that's what keeps the moths out.

Thanks for all the recommendations..
I went with the orthopaedic ones from Dunnes in the end. Ordered online as it's just as easy for me , can

Hit the post button too soon! Cannot wait to get rid of my old pillows now!

I haven't any experience of a weighted blanket but a friend got one for Christmas and is very happy with it.

Teachers call themselves frontline when they want up the vaccine queue and happy to sit at home pressing buttons thinking zoom classes equate to the same as in person teaching. Wear full ppe like nurses in covid wards if its so dangerous until vaccinated. So selfish happy to sacrifice childrens essential development and education on full pay while whinging. Tell that to parents pushed to the pin paying bills,holding down jobs with kids at home. The issue for a lot of teachers is no masks in primary school. Fine then. Ill put my kids in masks no bother
.supermarket workers are just as deserving as teachers but ultimately going by age is the fairest. Like nphet, teachers lost the public a long time ago and need to wake up to how spoiled and entitled they are and this is how they are coming across. Barely 4 months in the classroom since last march !! Hse staff in hospitals worked without a sniff of a vacccine for nearly 9 months.they were at the absolute coalface with little complaints from them.
The into and asti are playing with fire here.
The public sector should be damn glad of secure jobs . Isint it just hilarious thr public sector shout the most for vaccines and those in private sector seem to patiently wait their turn.
If too scared to work,go on the PUP

I'm glad you got the pillows sorted, halfpasteleven. I could do with getting some new sheets soon. I also like Dunnes for bed linen.

I'm with you on the sheets, I could do with an upgrade! And don't get me started on my wardrobe - I keep putting off the clear out that needs to be done.

I got some gorgeous sheets & bed sets in Homestore a couple of months ago when their monthly deal was half price bedclothes. I bought 2 lots of 500 thread hotel quality sets for my own bed. OMG I’ll never sleep in anything else again! 😁