Thread 14? Corona Cohort Yr 12 2021 - 'Vaccinations and Eliminations'

[orangecinnamon]

Just place marking for the New Thread!

Oh yes, canvas tote bags are a given monkey. I judge a uni that does not do a good canvas bag!

So dd's first lesson is in 7 mins and she hasn't left the house yet...

I have not missed this morning stress.

..and she's gone! Bounced out of door in games kit as she has netball after school. Big grin on her face and mine.

Left driving the car alongside DH who appears to have agreed to sit in the passenger seat and then drive the car back home THREE DAYS A WEEK (what a mug...)

DS has his LFT this afternoon, then all back tomorrow. He's simultaneously excited and a little bit nervous I think.We went for a walk yesterday and ended up somewhere that was busy and he found it overwhelming (autistic, and often finds overcrowded areas too much in 'normal' times): I'm really glad sixth form are the first group back at his school, so at least the numbers in school will ramp up over the week. It made me really conscious of the fact that - for ds at least - the last few months have actually been very calm and unstressful, even if he's missed his mates and found lockdown learning dull.

DS2's birthday coming up and he wanted a blood test for his birthday - part of the exercise and nutrition obsession! I persuaded him to have a festival ticket instead, and we managed to get tickets for his group of friends a day before Truck Festival sold out. He has been happily meeting 1 friends at a time so has not suffers the social isolation many have felt. DS1 at university, on the other hand, is desperate to resume a social life but can not really believe that a festival summer will really happen.

If your household is thinking about festival tickets, it may be worth trying to decide quickly as the smaller ones are now selling out.

All 3 of mine are back today - thank god.
Ds1 couldn't find his Rugby shirt or his school shoes so I hope they're in his bedroom at school.
Ds2 was rather mournful & dd2 thrilled!
I was really apprehensive yesterday. I really don't know why 🤷

Mine went off quite happily in the knowledge that it is a half day - school have decided that if they have free periods for the afternoon, they must come home this term. THis is a very radical idea for this school!!

She has her second LFT test today. Are all parents taking up the offer of LFT tests? Neither DH or I are at work, and barely leave the house. We figure that DD is the only source and she is being tested regularly so not sure there is any point in us doing them?

DS went off at 7.20 this morning, he was fine. I am sadly missing him already, which is really unusual for me as I'm usually not particularly emotional. He always used to pop into my office in his breaks usually bringing me a cat. I'm sure I'll get used to it but for now I'm a little sad (happy for him obviously though!)

Seeline DH and I are the same - both WFH, only really mix with other people in the supermarket, and I don't even go there at busy times. Our area now has a low infection rate, and most of that is in the local prison. I might do one just for the experience! But don't really see much need otherwise.

Dd made it to school and is back already! She only had 2 hours of non-A-Level classes, broken up by a LFT and followed by ten minutes of tutor time. She's pretty happy today because she had a good chat in the queue for the LFT with 2 girls she didn't know who complimented her on her top. I'm praying this might lead to a friendship for her at long last.

Are all parents taking up the offer of LFT tests? Neither DH or I are at work, and barely leave the house. We figure that DD is the only source and she is being tested regularly so not sure there is any point in us doing them?

I have a pack of 7 but don't think in reality we will test twice a week. DH is usually working from home, I always work from home and neither of us go out much at all. Our shopping is delivered too.

I found you can order a pack of 7 LF tests online but for more you have to go and pick them up, our nearest place to pick up is a 25 mile trip!! I very much doubt I'll be doing that trip every week/10 days.

TheySeeHerRowling Oh that sounds promising - it's been so hard to make friends for those that have moved settings for 6th form.

I never knew parents could do lateral flow tests too. Do you just turn up to a test site?

@TheySeeHerRowling that sounds like a promising start to the new phase of face-to-face school. 🤞🤞 for some nice new friendships.

We're doing LFTs (DH and I) as we both work outside the home. We're not in workplace schemes (small businesses) but can walk in at a centre set up locally for this purpose. However you can't pick up tests there to take home and its only open 9-4. Luckily the place where you can pick them up is next door to where I work.

I thought it was just parents of primary school children that have been asked to test.

Thanks Seeline and Monkey2001 - here's hoping!

Not just primary school, households/bubbles of primary, secondary and college students and staff are eligible.

www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

I've ordered the pack of 7 LFT tests (anyone with school age children is eligible, although I'm surprised how little publicity there's been. Both dh and I don't have workplace schemes, dh can't work from home, and I am WFH mostly at the mo, but do work in the community inc with vulnerable adults, so think the option to test is great. I'm not convinced I'll both twice a week routinely, but if figures start to go up locally and/or the kids school starts to see more cases I'll start. @TheySeeHerRowling : really hope that those friendships start to build for your dd (and reminds me I need to check what ds is planning to wear when he pops to get his LFT test later: he's been living in a scuzzy bunch of too-small-but-comfy clothes that he's probably forgotten are NSFS!

It sounds like all your kids are back today?! Mine are both back on Thursday. Their schools are prioritising a year group a day and they both happen to be priority four (year 12 and year 10 in different schools).

Do we think there will be any uni open days in before Sept/Oct? We're going backwards and forwards here between Psychology and something vocational - probably Mental Health Nursing or Occupational Therapy. Dd thinks she wants to be a therapist of some sort and I noticed that both qualified OTs and Mental Health nurses can go straight on to high intensity therapy training, so that seems like a better route to me. I also think she'd prefer a practical/vocational course than an academic one. But she's not sure... I think having been at 2 very academic schools, she's not known anyone go into nursing. It would really help to be able to visit some departments...

Mine is back next Monday crazy.

By the way, re LFTs, you aren't meant to eat or drink for 30 mins beforehand. This is not publicised so worth knowing!

I've got y10 back today, y12 back tomorrow.

Just walked round to the LFT pick up place and got some, no details taken, no questions asked about eligibility, literally just "one box or two".

When I booked in for one at a local centre the email said about the not eating or drinking for 30 mins beforehand. I forgot to remind DD this morning but I think by the time she got to school it would have easily been that long.

Both Ds's home from school. Both seem underwhelmed.

I hadn't realised this

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56321537

If you test positive at school you and your bubble have to SI and you can't confirm or otherwise by PCR test. So if you get a false positive that's you and your family at home for the next 10 days. That would be bloody annoying.