Off Topic Corona, joking apart ...

[Dancingstripes]

I started off taking it very seriously and sticking to the government guidelines.

I now find myself in a position where I'm starting not to believe in the hype anymore.

To wreck the world for something that is arguably slightly worse than the flu is just insanity.

The real damage isn't in the deaths (which are inaccurate and questionable).. The real damage is the job loss and business crippling destruction it's caused world wide.

I'm sorry for anyone reading this who's lost someone through COVID, but my hunch is that won't be very many.

 

[samwise_new]

'lockdown' had pretty much been my life for a dozen years or so due to mental illness...then came the cardiac arrest and i decided i could no longer live my life that way...had just started with short walks on a night and figured there is no feckin way they were going to stop me now, taken me so long to get started...walk has increased to a mile a night with a little house/garden work through the day and the odd quiet trip to seaham/roker/anywhere for a bit fresh air and more walking, wont sound much to most but to me it is like a marathon a day and looking to increase the distance again.

so really i actually have been doing more since lockdown began, the real downside was not being able to see the grandkids (as well as my own health we have a disabled family member here so all contact was minimal)...son went up the wall working from home, hated it, i was never one for eating out and stopped drinking over 15 years ago so luckily that side of things did not bother me...i do realise it has been a massive disruption for most but i am also now in the 'why have they never done this before with previous, more deadly pandemics' brigade.

 

[Makemstine Roger]

I have to say I’m not enjoying it.

Ive always had a certain lifestyle, I’m sociable, I spend very little time in the house.

I eat out, I drink. I move around and travel. I just like being able to up and do what I want with my free time.

Im predominantly working from home and I don’t feel I can do as much over Teams and Zoom, there’s less buzz.

I can go for a pint, but I can’t mingle, I can’t fully enjoy myself and be open to what I want to do, i night have to queue, might need to book days in advance for food etc, that doesn’t work. I don’t know what I’m gonna want to do or eat days in advance.

Then there’s the footy, can we feel as engaged without the fortnightly pilgrimage? I don’t think so.

I’m having to decline certain things in the off chance I pick something up and pass it on to my ageing parents, I won’t risk having to reduce contact with them even further, so that’s another compromise.

I’m spending 75% or more of my time in my home, and for all we are getting through it, for all it’s ‘getting there’, I am absolutely struggling with the reduction in human interaction.


It is what it is, but there’s no upside in any of this for me.

there is always bedsports my advice lots of practice makes perfect....

 

[Nads]

there is always bedsports my advice lots of practice makes perfect....

Never short in that area Rog

 

[Evil Jimmy Krankie]

I started off taking it very seriously and sticking to the government guidelines.

I now find myself in a position where I'm starting not to believe in the hype anymore.

To wreck the world for something that is arguably slightly worse than the flu is just insanity.

The real damage isn't in the deaths (which are inaccurate and questionable).. The real damage is the job loss and business crippling destruction it's caused world wide.

I'm sorry for anyone reading this who's lost someone through COVID, but my hunch is that won't be very many.

You really haven’t got a clue have you? Just because it may not have entered your own little world doesn’t mean it’s not real. There are people dying all over the world because of this. But you sound exactly like Donald Trump “fake news people, nothing to see here.”
COVID is very very real. The fact that not more people have succumbed to it is testament to the hard work people have put in to try and stop it spreading. To be perfectly honest your statement is pathetic and insulting.

 

[Nads]

It’s definitely real, it’s definitely overplayed, but what none of us know for sure is ‘where is that line?’

The facts are, and it’s like I said in my initial post on this thread, without knowing that, what can you do?

I’m not prepared to do bits that would limit my contact with my family, even less so things that would have the potential for me to pass it on to them, or anyone else.

The interesting part at the minute is not the numbers for me, anyone can see that they are dropping, in interested in the more and more widespread data that suggests it’s mutated into a far less potent killer, morality rates even in countries on the rise are far, far lower.

It’s so hard to gauge it. I have to say having been one of the biggest critics of the UK handling of it on the ‘way into it’, it appears we’ve done a fantastic job thus far of managing in ‘on the way out’, we aren’t spiking, the local lockdowns have been efficient, we have plummeted down the tables in terms of numbers.

I read that they are planning to use some of the unused Nightingale hospitals to fast track cancer patients etc and I actually think that is a wonderful thing, from a water resource to something with an immediate and long lasting benefit. That’s great.

The economic damage is huge and will take years to put right, that’s gonna kill or disrupt more than the virus over a sustained period. It’s gone full circle for me as Sunak was the bloke I gave credit early on but seeing the ha doing of certain folk, some have been hung out to dry.

One thing is certain, this ‘new normal’ is not for me, I won’t allow it to be my ‘new normal’. We all need to just dig in together, do what we gotta do, eradicate it and get back to ‘normal normal’

 

[Smug in Boots]

It’s definitely real, it’s definitely overplayed, but what none of us know for sure is ‘where is that line?’

The facts are, and it’s like I said in my initial post on this thread, without knowing that, what can you do?

I’m not prepared to do bits that would limit my contact with my family, even less so things that would have the potential for me to pass it on to them, or anyone else.

The interesting part at the minute is not the numbers for me, anyone can see that they are dropping, in interested in the more and more widespread data that suggests it’s mutated into a far less potent killer, morality rates even in countries on the rise are far, far lower.

It’s so hard to gauge it. I have to say having been one of the biggest critics of the UK handling of it on the ‘way into it’, it appears we’ve done a fantastic job thus far of managing in ‘on the way out’, we aren’t spiking, the local lockdowns have been efficient, we have plummeted down the tables in terms of numbers.

I read that they are planning to use some of the unused Nightingale hospitals to fast track cancer patients etc and I actually think that is a wonderful thing, from a water resource to something with an immediate and long lasting benefit. That’s great.

The economic damage is huge and will take years to put right, that’s gonna kill or disrupt more than the virus over a sustained period. It’s gone full circle for me as Sunak was the bloke I gave credit early on but seeing the ha doing of certain folk, some have been hung out to dry.

One thing is certain, this ‘new normal’ is not for me, I won’t allow it to be my ‘new normal’. We all need to just dig in together, do what we gotta do, eradicate it and get back to ‘normal normal’

There's no gain for anyone in having these lockdown etc.

The government especially.

The economy is being crippled and businesses are collapsing ...

... if there's a hidden agenda it's beyond me tbh.

 

[Nads]

There's no gain for anyone in having these lockdown etc.

The government especially.

The economy is being crippled and businesses are collapsing ...

... if there's a hidden agenda it's beyond me tbh.

There has to be mate, the numbers simply do not support the narrative that it’s a stone cold killer.

Without question it’s been a big one, but the reality is back to my last post, the mistakes were made ‘on the way in’.

If the mess in the care homes had been avoided, we’d be able to call it a ‘strong winter flu’ almost, as it wasn’t we don’t know with clarity.

Will we ever know for sure? Would they tell us? I don’t know.

The local lockdowns seem to work, could that have been implemented? Deaths certainly aren’t rising even though infections are (that’s simply testing of course).

It’s the lack of defined information and clarity that’s done the most harm, like I say I’m always thinking of my Dad who’s getting older, but he might not even be at risk.

All we can do is suck it up and do what we are advised, but it’s taking down so much, you’re right, that economically it’s been a far bigger damage.

You feel for folk out of work without a contingency in an environment when cuts galore are still happening.

 

[Jack Ford]

Personally, not too bad. It was only last weekend when I went for my 1st pint(s) in a pub since it all began. Mind I have been drinking quite a lot at home on weekends. It was amazing how that 1st visit perked me up. Dropped into local by myself yesterday and had a quick 3 pints. Much better than sitting upstairs at home in my public bar.
Mrs has underlying health conditions and did not go out at all until the 4th June. She was very tense and nervous and did not venture out again for another month. Luckily she seems to have now regained some confidence as we spent and hour and a half together at Metro Centre. 1st time we've spent that amount of time together since lockdown..
I done all the shopping throughout lockdown

Compared to many others we have got off very lightly for which Im grateful

 

[Gil T Azell]

Personally totally p*ssed off with being controlled. I dont think anybody has got a f*cking scooby what is going on or happening. Its tragic to all the people who have lost their lives but compared to some other illnesses/diseases this Covid has got absolutely sweet f*ck all on heart attacks, strokes, cancer and a few more which the NHS has dealt with admirably yet the govt dont mention this.
Yes I have tested positive for it as has my woman and basically I was fatigued for a few days, my nose was sore (strange admittedly) and I lost my sense of smell and taste. Maybe I had a watered down version but flu has hit me a damn site harder than this.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

News: something positive to ponder: another year and it'll be gone!?

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says he hopes the coronavirus pandemic will be over in under two years.

Speaking in Geneva, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Spanish flu of 1918 had taken two years to overcome.

But he added that current advances in technology could enable the world to halt the virus "in a shorter time".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-53870798

 

[JC91]

I'm struggling like. Furloughed upto end of October but then redundant. Haven't started looking yet. Low on energy and low on morale. Shielding due to the mrs so have barely been out with the kids. Always thought I was mentally strong but this has been an absolute ****ter.

Minus the wife and kids part, I'm in the same boat. Furloughed until October end, then redundant. It's ****ing Awful like, what's more awful is I've been knocked back for 3 jobs already due to "inexperience" , despite applying for jobs in the sector I've been in for the last 5 plus years.

I'm putting on a brave face but mentally, I don't know how I am going to cope financially.

 

[SAFCDRUM]

Minus the wife and kids part, I'm in the same boat. Furloughed until October end, then redundant. It's ****ing Awful like, what's more awful is I've been knocked back for 3 jobs already due to "inexperience" , despite applying for jobs in the sector I've been in for the last 5 plus years.

I'm putting on a brave face but mentally, I don't know how I am going to cope financially.

I know mate, it's a worry. I need to start looking myself. I should be able to get by until the new year but no wiggle room thereafter. Good luck mate.

 

[Gil T Azell]

Minus the wife and kids part, I'm in the same boat. Furloughed until October end, then redundant. It's ****ing Awful like, what's more awful is I've been knocked back for 3 jobs already due to "inexperience" , despite applying for jobs in the sector I've been in for the last 5 plus years.

I'm putting on a brave face but mentally, I don't know how I am going to cope financially.

Sorry to hear this mate. I never thought of that angle when putting my post on.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Minus the wife and kids part, I'm in the same boat. Furloughed until October end, then redundant. It's ****ing Awful like, what's more awful is I've been knocked back for 3 jobs already due to "inexperience" , despite applying for jobs in the sector I've been in for the last 5 plus years.

I'm putting on a brave face but mentally, I don't know how I am going to cope financially.

This is what's on my mind tbh, people like you and @SAFCDRUM who really don't deserve what's happening.

My life has always been chaotic so I cope, reasonably well, with sudden unemployment, massive income fluctuations and periods of sheer panic.

My heart goes out to anyone who's been plunged into that, it's dreadful.

All I can advise is to talk to people close to you and don't worry about accepting a bit of help.

 

[JC91]

I know mate, it's a worry. I need to start looking myself. I should be able to get by until the new year but no wiggle room thereafter. Good luck mate.

If Royal Mail do what they usually do & take on loads of Data Keyers up Doxford Park, I should be fine and get into that , however with Covid, I am unsure if they'll recruit as large as numbers as they usually do. I say I'd be fine as they always ring and ask me if I'm free to do it, this is the first time in years where I'll be free to do so and I'm unsure if they'll be doing it. Hope it all goes well for yourself on the job front mate.

Sorry to hear this mate. I never thought of that angle when putting my post on.

We're all different mate, that's what makes us all human afterall. Thank you for your concern though, I'm unsure how this is coming across as tone doesn't seem to be represented well over a computer screen at times ha .

This is what's on my mind tbh, people like you and @SAFCDRUM who really don't deserve what's happening.

My life has always been chaotic so I cope, reasonably well, with sudden unemployment, massive income fluctuations and periods of sheer panic.

My heart goes out to anyone who's been plunged into that, it's dreadful.

All I can advise is to talk to people close to you and don't worry about accepting a bit of help.

I've been talking to them , family members and one really close friend. All they can do at the moment is offer me advice and a talk, they're upset by it to be fair.

 

[Peterslass]

New here so not sure if posting this is appropriate, but, I’ll type it out & maybe press send.
It’s been awful, aware it could be a lot worse, but awful.
I’m full time carer for my adult daughter who has mental health problems, ‘autistic traits’, a personality disorder & much more. What’s going on now is her absolute worst fear, she had regular nightmares about this happening.so hopefully you can imagine how she is coping.

Also look after my 87 yr old dad. He now has dementia. Not diagnosed, but mam had it for 10 years, last 2 years in a home & we know the signs. He knows it himself.
Mam died a year ago today. For dad, lockdown couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The social isolation has had a definite impact on his decline. I have been desperate for months to go & visit properly, but trying to be so careful.

I have a sibling but they live abroad & cannot visit or help.
Oh & to top it all off my cat was killed in early lockdown. Strayed onto a road he wouldn’t normally go near & was hit by a car. He was the one thing that gave me comfort & made me smile.

So yeah, not great, but ploughing on.
Sorry, been a rough day.

 

[SAFCDRUM]

New here so not sure if posting this is appropriate, but, I’ll type it out & maybe press send.
It’s been awful, aware it could be a lot worse, but awful.
I’m full time carer for my adult daughter who has mental health problems, ‘autistic traits’, a personality disorder & much more. What’s going on now is her absolute worst fear, she had regular nightmares about this happening.so hopefully you can imagine how she is coping.

Also look after my 87 yr old dad. He now has dementia. Not diagnosed, but mam had it for 10 years, last 2 years in a home & we know the signs. He knows it himself.
Mam died a year ago today. For dad, lockdown couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The social isolation has had a definite impact on his decline. I have been desperate for months to go & visit properly, but trying to be so careful.

I have a sibling but they live abroad & cannot visit or help.
Oh & to top it all off my cat was killed in early lockdown. Strayed onto a road he wouldn’t normally go near & was hit by a car. He was the one thing that gave me comfort & made me smile.

So yeah, not great, but ploughing on.
Sorry, been a rough day.

Dont apologise for posting. You have a lot going on even without covid/lockdown. My cat is 17 and has been through loads with me. I can appreciate your loss. Stay strong, your family clearly appreciate you.

 

[Nacho]

New here so not sure if posting this is appropriate, but, I’ll type it out & maybe press send.
It’s been awful, aware it could be a lot worse, but awful.
I’m full time carer for my adult daughter who has mental health problems, ‘autistic traits’, a personality disorder & much more. What’s going on now is her absolute worst fear, she had regular nightmares about this happening.so hopefully you can imagine how she is coping.

Also look after my 87 yr old dad. He now has dementia. Not diagnosed, but mam had it for 10 years, last 2 years in a home & we know the signs. He knows it himself.
Mam died a year ago today. For dad, lockdown couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The social isolation has had a definite impact on his decline. I have been desperate for months to go & visit properly, but trying to be so careful.

I have a sibling but they live abroad & cannot visit or help.
Oh & to top it all off my cat was killed in early lockdown. Strayed onto a road he wouldn’t normally go near & was hit by a car. He was the one thing that gave me comfort & made me smile.

So yeah, not great, but ploughing on.
Sorry, been a rough day.

Christ that's a lot to deal with. The fact you're cracking on and getting on with it as best you can is commendable.

Sorry about your cat, it's no different to losing a family member if you care for them.

 

[Peterslass]

Dont apologise for posting. You have a lot going on even without covid/lockdown. My cat is 17 and has been through loads with me. I can appreciate your loss. Stay strong, your family clearly appreciate you.

Thanks, appreciate it.
Cat was only 4 years old, adopted him 2 years ago. He was the sweetest, most loving, funniest cat I ever had. Had one previously who died at 19, he got me through my ptsd. They can be such a comfort.
Hope all ok with you