The broom cupboard 2 - just for when we get briefly stranded without a staffroom

[TheHoneyBadger]

I'll pop a link in the old one so you know where to find safe haven. I have tried to clear out some space by getting rid of the ohp and vcr trolley and gin is hidden behind the sick sand bucket.

I did all my bookmarking last week, so this is online. I am delighted to see that so many of them didn't bother to do it.... it's their GCSE revision but apparently they place my workload ahead of their qualifications. What thoughtful souls. 😡

Checking in. Daughter has brought home the gift of a cold for us all which is fun. It’s so cold that we’re hiding indoors which is making H antsy - he’s no good at doing nothing and won’t potter around doing housework like me.

I’ve not seen anyone I’m not related to socially for over a year now, I had two really good local friends but they both moved really far away (different reasons) in 2019 and the last time I saw them was Feb half term before this all kicked off when they came to visit.
I’ve not seen anyone outside my immediate family socially since last summer when I could travel to stay with my parents and my sister. Everyone lives too far away.
Life still on hold here and not likely to change till the summer holidays. Not vaccinated either so no bending the rules.

I've got my third vaccine appointment on Monday (day out in Chorley... whoop) so I know I'll have had at least one dose before term starts.

Third MrsH? Something to do with the trial?

noble I like the way you explain that your friends moved away for different reasons lest we think it was your fault

My hairdresser was the first person I texted when I saw the roadmap. Haha!

I was a bit worried about that, Jan. If all your friends move hundreds of miles away, maybe you’re the problem

Interesting, on the thread about whether masks will continue after the holidays (not to be read unless you have low blood pressure!) someone says their school’s has masks since Sept and only one case, ergo they “must work”.

Made me wonder, have the schools who masked early fared better? The sort of thing the unions should have been collecting data on, but I haven’t seen anything.

Does anyone know or has read of such schools and how they’ve done?

Well the ONS data is interesting as primary infection rates have risen by more than secondary rates, and primary don’t have masks or testing.

Not sure how they can argue to bin masks in the light of that data and with other stuff starting to open, unless they no longer care about infection rates (e.g. due to vaccinations but I don’t think we’re at that point yet).

In the last few years 3 of my closest friend have moved to Wales: none had family connections or anything. I am almost in East Anglia.......

“Right, we need to get as far away from Jan as possible without going north. Great Yarmouth isn’t far enough, what’s in the other direction? Wales? Ok then.”

In ‘everyone is getting on with it, it’s only teachers who moan about having to go to work’ news, the DVLA in Wales have gone on strike over Covid concerns: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56647149

Oh yes, they were in the news a while back : it is shocking (but not surprising) that that is a government employer.

If all your friends move hundreds of miles away, maybe you’re the problem

My best friend moved to Estonia. Our best couple friends moved to France. Erk.

I’m feeling better now, at least one of my friends stayed in the same country.

I hate being the only adult: am dealing with a leaking toilet valve and various workmen coming to quote for things today.

I think I’m going to tackle the valve on my own/with youtube’s help/ a friend’s husband on the phone. (He’s vulnerable and awaiting second dose, otherwise he’d have done it himself.)

Just don’t want to end up with a child needing a no. 2 just when I have the toilet in pieces
“Poo now, kids!”

It must be difficult, and tiring when everything is down to you, Jan.

We had a leaking toilet valve during lockdown 1 that couldn't be fixed, the cistern needed replacing and we waited months to get someone in. The joy of flushing the toilet without having to then empty a pot of water after was immense.

@Saucery

Bloody hell, Beachhuts, seriously!

I know, right? Only a year until I can apply for indefinite leave to remain, and then citizenship, and can maybe unclench a little!

Normally it's easy to follow the law but this last year has been very stressful with the stay at home/but go to work/go to the pub/with just one household/unless you're outside/see your family/never see anyone again back and forth, so it's easier to err on the side of caution. Had a few lovely date nights last summer and looking forward to starting that up again, and this year we have a patio set and it's definitely allowed to have people over on that now.

I went next door for tea in the garden. It was sunny but chilly. It's now snowing!

Yes, Jan. The trial is now a crossover trial so we all get four jabs and stay monitored for the rest of the year. There's some talk of extending it further to cover boosters too.

We had friends issues when we moved pit of our old city. All other mates also moved out, and went in the other direction. Lots of them live near each other, we're on the wrong side of town. But nearer to my family and to London (for partner work reasons). He wanted to move the other way too, but it's miles from anywhere and really hippy. Just not my bag.

Checking in as also been away for a while. Been struggling actually. Just feeling really down and can't quite work out why.

Pleased for everyone who has managed to see some family and have a lovely Easter weekend

Ive just had lunch outside with 4 kids who have been at a sports camp all morning - it snowed, they were all wrapped in blankets. All a bit mad really.

Met dcs nursery friend in the park this morning enjoyed the conversation with a non household member!

Bent rules with support bubbles here, needed 2 for childcare with no way round it. Most of my family have been vaccinated now.

A lot of resentment brewing around covid passports round here. Younger people worried about the timing and whether they'll have had the opportunity to be vaccinated. Local Facebook page up in arms.

Just back from a 5 mile work with my work wife and her boys and my DC. As we were out two elderly ladies practically jumped in bushes when we needed them and made some passive aggressive comments about social distancing. Makes me realise how different our lives in school are to the rest of the population.

It snowed on our walk! Now the sun is out!