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

Also, I'm so amused by all the comments saying "fecking teachers unions, why aren't they fighting for the REAL frontliners like supermarket workers!?!". Clearly these people don't understand what a union actually is. Last I checked, shop staff weren't part of the TUI etc...

@JaneJeffer

The whole Government needs an overhaul. It's only a year since the election.

I really miss A Wear too. Still have a few "pieces"

Oh god you're right - it's only a year! Man that puts it into perspective.

This feels like some kind of reverse Tir na nOg where every day is actually a year long...

@sillysmiles

Re teachers and vaccines ...

Am I the only one that thinks this story is being used to flood the media to cover from the fact that the gov have fecked it up ....again.

AFAIK the teachers union were asked if they were happy with the change in schedule and they said no - which you would expect and now it's the only thing in the media and no one is follow what happened with the Beacon or the Coombe.
To me, it seems this is being used to cover the media so the general public gets angry at the teachers rather than question - why it's taking so long - especially outside Dublin and what's happening in the cases of blatant vaccine nepotism.

Personally I think teachers and guards should be vaccinated as a priority. Whether they vaccinate by age or job/risk - I'm way down the list anyway.

You are not wrong.

@thelegohooverer

I have a dress in my wardrobe from A wear that’s 20 years old. I’d love to say that’s because it’s so hard wearing but actually it’s only worn about two days per year when it’s hot enough!

I liked A-wear too.

This feels like some kind of reverse Tir na nOg where every day is actually a year long...
I look like someone who returned from Tír na nÓg and fell off my horse after that year!

@JaneJeffer

This feels like some kind of reverse Tir na nOg where every day is actually a year long... I look like someone who returned from Tír na nÓg and fell off my horse after that year!

That made me laugh 🤣

My DS is 7 with ASD and does not cope well with school closed. He loves the routine and social interaction in school. On his easter hols now he is emotional, tear-y and angry.

Clothes-wise, I have been WFH for over a year so am now living in leggings and jumpers. I get the high wasted supporting leggings from h&m to keep my tummy tucked in . I dont think any of my jeans/skirts etc fit me any more. I really need to start a diet but never quite have the motivation to follow through with it.

I remember talking to an American man who worked in politics and he asked me which party out of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail were to the left and which party was to the right

I don't disagree that both FF and FG are variations of the same but I wonder how an American's experience of politics (both their party system and their nonsensical outdated electoral system) would make sense of any aspect of ours or European politics

Total derail. Sorry!

Oh I loved A Wear, I remember when it used to be called Gay Wear.... John Rocha was my go to.

Wanting to buy things recently I really found I miss Debenhams, so loved them, loved when they had their blue cross sale and would get fantastic bargains. I think I bought most things there. Always bought make up, clothes etc

What's happening with the schools? Are the teachers going to strike? I really think it's unfair they are not being prioritised.

In laws still not vaccinated, they're late 70s early 80s. Its a joke.

I don't disagree that both FF and FG are variations of the same.
I like they're similar the vast difference with Tories/Labour creates a two tier system rich against poor.
Are the teachers going to strike? I really think it's unfair they are not being prioritised.
I'm not sure. I think they do have a right too and shouldn't be blamed on the government's joke of a vaccine schedule.
Maybe I'm biased my DC have always ad excellent teacher's with great support even throughout the pandemic.
You'd think they created Covid19 being abused for school closures.

My understanding of it is if that the issue isn't fixed by the end of the school year (revising the scheduling, not having every teacher vaccinated by then) then they'll ballot for industrial action. It's a bit of a storm in a teacup tbh, schools aren't closing over the next couple of weeks. Well, aside from cases but unfortunately we can't blame that on teachers

I'd think it'd make sense to have teachers vaccinated for the 21/22 school year. I know kids in my school didn't have access to the SET teachers from about the middle of October to the December this year, they were constantly covering classes. There's just no subs and you can't split classes at the moment. Very unfair on those children. Same will happen again next year - I know in theory the vaccine schedule should improve a lot - but I wouldn't bet on it.

I loved AWear and Jane Norman. Also Oasis.
I've a t shirt from A wear that has lasted years and just "fitted right" if you get me...
Online shoe shopping is not for the faint hearted but it's almost the norm for me lately! I needed runners as my other pair both had holes starting to peek through at the toes!

I too think the teachers are a very handy distraction for the govt at the minute.

Why no subs @SionnachRua? Is it availability in the area? My DS school have a substitute in for the last few weeks, I guess we are lucky they found someone who was willing to go there.

My DS teachers and SNA have been excellent and so supportive to us, particularly from jan - march this year. I would like to see the SNA's vaccinated for their own sake as social distancing can be difficult for them.

@Thesagacontinues

Why no subs *@SionnachRua*? Is it availability in the area? My DS school have a substitute in for the last few weeks, I guess we are lucky they found someone who was willing to go there.

My DS teachers and SNA have been excellent and so supportive to us, particularly from jan - march this year. I would like to see the SNA's vaccinated for their own sake as social distancing can be difficult for them.

Oh there's a huge problem with availability. Two of my friends schools (Dublin area) haven't had a single applicant to take a maternity leave contract, never mind someone to do the odd week or two when the teacher is out with symptoms. In the past you'd have retired teachers willing to come in but we're finding that they won't do it this year - and tbf, would you want to walk into a classroom where confirmed or suspected Covid cases have been? I wouldn't.

This is exacerbated now because pregnant teachers have been told to work from home (I think so anyway, I'm not sure if that's continuing after Easter) so the demand for subs is even higher. A lot of it comes back to pay scale inequality and schools in the ME and Asia snapping Irish teachers up.

SNAs , Primary teachers and frontline Gardai should be vaccinated asap.
No ifs no buts.

I see the Board of the Mater hospital were offered vaccines. Some accepted.

In Ireland it's a "who you know" society.
The "sleeveen" culture, a throwback to 700 years of being ruled by others hasn't gone away you know.

Agreed @SionnachRua I dont think I would be too keen on taking a position at the minute.

My DS teacher is pregnant, thats why they have had a sub since returning in March and I presumed they would just have the sub until the end of the year now. We will see on Monday I guess!

It'll be great if they can keep the same sub on for the class @Thesagacontinues . Nice bit of consistency for the kids! I'd imagine that the sub would prefer a routine job to travelling between schools too, if the school is treating them right.

The trouble in NI is crazy not helped by Arlene F. I just saw on fb a shout out in a loyalist area from an influencer to drag a fenian to the Shankill and beat them to death to get demands met.
I know these thugs don't represent NI. DP is from west Belfast thankfully it is quiet it is not a mainly Catholic.
It is rumoured to be about drugs/brexit.

Awful.

Tensions being stoked in the North by Brexit, "border " in the Irish Sea, and not helped by pronouncements about a United Ireland.
🙄🙄🙄

I don't disagree that both FF and FG are variations of the same.

I like they're similar the vast difference with Tories/Labour creates a two tier system rich against poor

I think the argument goes that the similarity between the two means that you have SF now on the rise to fill the void left by Labour's failure to operate/succeed as a left wing party; that the two tier system exists in economic terms but without proper working class representation at a political level (enter SF stage left). I suspect it is also the lack of a proportional representation system in the UK that is the real problem in creating the two tier political system and all that goes with it.

@Emeraldshamrock

I don't disagree that both FF and FG are variations of the same. I like they're similar the vast difference with Tories/Labour creates a two tier system rich against poor. Are the teachers going to strike? I really think it's unfair they are not being prioritised. I'm not sure. I think they do have a right too and shouldn't be blamed on the government's joke of a vaccine schedule. Maybe I'm biased my DC have always ad excellent teacher's with great support even throughout the pandemic. You'd think they created Covid19 being abused for school closures.

Sorry, shouldn't have commented on the teachers. What I meant I think it's unfair they are not being prioritised with getting the vaccines. Our teachers have been great too but we've lost 2 due to covid who were very young. We've had alot of burst bubbles where teachers have become ill with it. I don't blame them, in fact I feel sorry with how they have been treated.

@Emeraldshamrock

Awful.

I've never heard the word Nate before.

What I meant I think it's unfair they are not being prioritised with getting the vaccines.
Oh no worries I knew you meant it was unfair too.
I've never heard the word Nate before.
Neither had I and judging by the fb comments from people in NI either had they. Possibly just terrible at spelling the message is confusing.

@sillysmiles I'm thinking nate is tage/taig on autocorrect not sure of correct spelling I know it's a derogatory name for a Catholic.