New Fred. It nearly ended in tiers.

[Cismyfatarse]

Sorry. Lost track of what was proposed. Hope this will do.

@anon444877 well this is it. If she's had these powers all along then why not use them? This is the straw that broke the camels back for me. Totally and utterly unacceptable to bring this in now if she's had the ability to do it. She could have had her NZ wish last year! Ok would still have to let the rest of the UK in but surely that's better than the rest of the fucking world!

I suppose the enforcement was the hardest thing to do - the guidance, laws, subtle threat of police were all easier to do (and less effective). We're at a last resort strategy that was probably our first best option with the benefit of wonderful hindsight!

some UK minister who's name I forget was on the radio this morning saying not to book holidays abroad or even in the UK for summer because the situation is so unpredictable.

I think the real issue would have been lack of UK government funding for packages for travel industry. If she had gone further than UK government last summer then travel industry could potentially sue for discrimination based on location maybe?
It felt to me at the time that she would have closed down all travel had she been able, but was the barrier maybe financial rather than legislative? I thought what happened at the time was monstrously unfair - allowed to be open so presumably no government funding- but daily sermons from the mount about the perils of leaving God's own country (Scotland for the avoidance of doubt).

This could be complete rubbish by the way, just my speculation.

@jabbathebutt yes I can't understand why they're ringing klaxon bell of doom about UK holidays.
I can see that our 3 family holiday in one cottage at start of July may not take place in current format, but I can't see why at least Scottish holidays for those of us in Scotland wouldn't proceed as the vaccine will have been rolled out to most people by then.

Also all these briefings - it's too soon to say it can't happen, unless that's a govt level decision. Why is the govt speculating when we are what 20 percent through a first dose roll out and haven't reached that vaccine tipping point?

@rookiemere but how is she going to fund it now? I think England have 33 red countries? She's put enforced quarantine for all countries so surely the bill will be a lot more than England?

It boils down to the fact she didn't do it. Yet another failure.

Do any of you write for Parent Club?

Re the border issue, my recollection from last summer was that NS was very much stressing the 'border control is within Westminster's power, we don't have the power to close borders' line, and I don't remember finances being a big factor in it. Perhaps discussions about finance were going on in the background and the 'Westminster powers' thing was a convenient excuse for not going further - it certainly ties in with the theme of 'if only we had the powers and were independent we could have done x' that we've seen at various points over the last year. But yes, looking back now it does look a bit like grandstanding.

Grant Shapps stating the UK cannot close borders and impose quarantine on all countries because critical supplies, including food would be compromised. Rather begs the question why a few tourists added to this reality makes any difference at all.

Scotland is no more self sufficient than the rest of the UK is.

Now back down the rabbit hole wondering why it is OK for me to talk to the checkout lady in the supermarket yesterday but not my neighbour in the communal hall outside my front door.

If we need waking up we go for a quick walk round the block before schoolwork but not an outing or we would indeed not do schoolwork at all. We usually go for a walk after lunch on days when it's dry as that is when the daylight is best and it breaks up the day.

My lot don't have tech in their rooms and never have had. Even DH only uses his there when he is working. We also have all meals and snack breaks together. Prevents the kitchen turning into a tip, keeps us all sociable and stops me feeling like I am running a 24 hour room service. We have quiet time for an hour on the afternoons when we don't go out when you can read, draw or otherwise entertain yourself without annoying anyone else. This is also screen free. My DD1 calls most evenings and definitely helps DD3 to talk nonsense with her. I don't tolerate moaning very well so "mindfulness" is pretty much hardwired in my lot already. No-one is allowed to disturb anyone else after their allotted bedtimes. Everyone has HW responsibilities and is also regularly made aware of their impact on other HH members.

So basically saying most of the same things as Starryeye but in a
more draconian way.

We should be railing against this, not being “mindful”.

We've had dozens of threads of 'railing' now and I don't think it seems to be helping anyone to deal with it any better. Managing ourselves is all we've got when we can't manage the actual situation.

So we should all just accept a complete loss of liberty unquestioningly as it’s “for our own good?”

I find railing quite helpful in doses.

Same as looking for positives.

I need a balance between the two poles!

@WouldBeGood

We should be railing against this, not being “mindful”.

Yep. Quite frankly- and with due respect to those still preparing supporting tools- actually no mindfulness guide will help those P4 and upwards from the 22nd. Nor any grown up desperate to see family abroad- not just for a holiday, ffs- but now financially unreachable to many and potentially leave you a criminal record/another disproportionate fine if you try by other means.

What have we become?

I was really feeling positive with the vaccination news. But it seems that, no matter what happens, we are to be locked up for years, with a variety of justifications which alter to suit the current narrative. This is way beyond protecting the NHS now.

I’m just despairing

Don't disagree wouldbegood. However I do the getting cross so DD3 doesn't have to as much as possible. I also let NS and MH and co get as cross at me as much as they like while minimising the impact as much as possible.

My favourite street busker at the Fringe implored everyone to put their contribution in her hat whether or not they enjoyed her performance cos then at least someone wouldn't end up disappointed. My theory of "mindfulness" is similar.

On all the spurious travel nonsense. I think the restrictions are coming now to diffuse growing pressure from those vaccinated to get back to normal while the rest of us don't. Also no point being allowed to travel to lots of places because most have restricted entry worse than ours.

We all hate this and want this to change @wouldbegood but we also have to just try and not loose our minds.
Its a battle I am constantly fighting just now not to loose my mind and some days I’m all this can’t go on and I feel angry all day and others I’m just trying my best to ignore it all and enjoy what I can. Honestly I think I have a split personality some days.
I don’t think it’s going to help being nasty to everyone that’s just trying their best to cope in whatever way we can.

@Dinnafashyersel genius busker 😀

I have found something lovely for you all. A tweet from Weetabix but the replies are absolutely hilarious and get better and better. This beats the kitten lawyer.

As a small slice of internet happiness it really is worth a read.

twitter.com/weetabix/status/1359074254789165059?s=21

I saw the wheetabix tweets. Spend about an hour giggling through them last night. Still don't know if it was a wind up!

The Twitter thread is hilarious.

@ IncludeWomen That's amazing your wee boy is so self aware and able to make the changes he needs to feel better. Mine's much younger but I need to remind keep reminding myself to not rely on it too much!

@ Goodname That's lovely you do prayers at night. I used to do that with my parents but haven't carried it on. Must be so nice when your children show empathy for others that you didn't expect.

I was just reading this re when everyone's back in the classroom and agree with a lot of it.

www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-schools-5-ways-we-should-be-more-finland-during-covid-19

Great article Starry👌 I think we should adopt more strategies like Finland in our own education system. DS (5) didn't enjoy being out in the snow yesterday, he cried within 10 minutes because it was "too cold". Lacking resilience. I am sure Finnish children don't behave this way as it's a habit to play out in all weathers from such a young age. My youngest (3) will stay outside all day if he could. Since being out of nursery, 5yo has really struggled a lot and is less resilient. No doubt about it.