Coronavirus

Meanwhile, for all of you office workers who are feeling lonely and isolated now you have to work at home, just download this free app, https://soundofcolleagues.com/# which enables you to surround yourself with the comforting sounds of the office you’ve had to leave behind. Various effects can be included, including occasional barks from the office dog, but surprisingly, there’s no noisy shouting from the boss.
Apparently, 2/3 of office workers now work from home and some of them can’t concentrate properly if it’s too quiet. Possibly they took their laptops to Bournemouth beach for some cosy overtime this weekend? I see Boris, Carrie and the sprog, (no mention of the unfortunate puppy) are setting off on a fortnight’s holiday among the midges in Scotland, whilst he ‘takes control’ of schools reopening etc via a daily Red Box, so that’s all right then. It’s nice to know we are all in safe hands.
 
We have had two people trying handing out face mask exemption passes to people at the bus station, they had boxes full, Lord knows where they got them, we just got security and the police to deal with them. We only noticed because they came over to the office saying they had them if we didn't want to wear a mask, and they can get loads more.
 
bigyetiman said:
We have had two people trying handing out face mask exemption passes to people at the bus station, they had boxes full, Lord knows where they got them, we just got security and the police to deal with them. We only noticed because they came over to the office saying they had them if we didn't want to wear a mask, and they can get loads more.
Click to expand...

Apparently there is a website from which you can download "official looking" exemptions :evil:
 
A lot of snideness about office workers at the moment in the press and from politicians, apparently in some kind of effort to save pubs and sandwich shops. The reality is that productivity is up, working hours are also up as three hours aren't being wasted commuting both ways. Going forward, sick leave will be down in winter as everyone won't be catching whatever virus "is going around" at any moment in time. Commuters meanwhile will have between 2-5k extra in their pocket as they don't have to waste it on the privilege of standing all the way into London on packed trains. Not to mention pollution, congestion etc. Against that we have going back to doing things exactly as they were because the old guard can't handle change. Let's bring back gas lamps and poss tubs while we're at it.


The government website has printable exemption cards and badges, no need to get any dodgy ones. It also states that:

"Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.

This is a personal choice, and is not necessary in law.

If you would like to use an exemption card you can use the PDF attachments on this page.

Those who have an age, health or disability reason to not wear a face covering should not be routinely asked to provide any written evidence of this. Written evidence includes exemption cards."

Which means you can simply go around without a mask and no one has the right to challenge you, making the law strictly self enforcing.

A valid reason for not wearing one is "where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress" which anyone could fake. Really is relying on people not being total scumbag morons.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
 
It seems so contradictory to me, not only to reopen pubs and restaurants, but to encourage people to use them with food vouchers for those wealthy enough to make this a viable choice. Why not give the cash to food banks? There will be uproar when pubs are told to close again, to make it possible to open schools. Yes it’s nice to go out to a restaurant, or to the pub, but hardly a necessity compared with the needs of children.
 
Yes, me too, especially as the shade temperature here in Hampshire has been up to 30C+ the past three days. Imagine frying on a crowded beach with no shade, and the tide coming in, and then cooling off by going swimming in water that hundreds of people have been using in the absence of public toilets. When our daughter was a kid she got a very bad enteric illness from swimming on Weymouth beach, so I don’t fancy it.
This thread is developing into an interesting communal diary of how a group of friends are managing to get through 2020, isn’t it? Looking ahead, I’m not going to be caught out again by the combined effect on supplies of possible renewed lockdown and no-deal Brexit. I’ve just re-ordered 6 months‘ supply of bread flour from FWP Matthews https://www.fwpmatthews.co.uk/ who do a lovely range of flours, as they are now back to normal online sales after being overwhelmed in March and April. And although Waitrose are still out of stock of bread yeast I’ve found some on Amazon so have several pots in store. And I’m hoping to be able to get some nicely productive pullets soon. You can live quite well on eggs and bread!
I’m still booking online food deliveries a month ahead because if I don’t there will be no slots available. I can only get the ones I do need because I’m on the ‘protected species’ list.
 
I can see things escalating here too, because of the huge surge in cases in the midlands. Thankfully, in our area, there have been very few cases, and currently, there are no active cases, although there are one or two "suspected" cases in the hospital awaiting test results. I'm sure it's only a matter of time though, because the local beaches are quite busy. Masks in retail spaces are mandatory from today, with large fines for non compliance.
 
This is brilliant. Just how I feel now.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/12/everything-has-changed-forever-i-miss-just-going-out-the-door-and-doing-stuff
 
What I miss most are hugs although I didn't get many before Covid-19. Cats just don't hug back in the same way :(
 
It’s possible that one of our daughters and our much-loved granddaughter may be calling in for lunch in the next few days. We haven’t seen them since February, and haven’t seen the other daughter and her family since last Christmas. When they come, how am I going to be able to just look at them, and not hug them?
 
Margaid said:
What I miss most are hugs although I didn't get many before Covid-19. Cats just don't hug back in the same way :(
Click to expand...

That's what I love about ex-batts. They're the cuddliest hens I've ever had. Hugging an ex-batt is a wonderful feeling. My last lot were coming up to me for a hug within a week of me getting them...
 
Icemaiden said:
Margaid said:
What I miss most are hugs although I didn't get many before Covid-19. Cats just don't hug back in the same way :(
Click to expand...

That's what I love about ex-batts. They're the cuddliest hens I've ever had. Hugging an ex-batt is a wonderful feeling. My last lot were coming up to me for a hug within a week of me getting them...
Click to expand...

I can cuddle/hug the cats but they can't put their paws around me and hug me, although they do snuggle up sometimes.
 
Marigold said:
It’s possible that one of our daughters and our much-loved granddaughter may be calling in for lunch in the next few days. We haven’t seen them since February, and haven’t seen the other daughter and her family since last Christmas. When they come, how am I going to be able to just look at them, and not hug them?
Click to expand...

What about a cuddle curtain? Various designs on Youtube.
 
This was posted by a friend, who got an unsolicited phone call.

‘Good afternoon I'm calling from the NHS track and trace service. According to our system, you are likely to have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This means that you now need to self-isolate for 7 days and take a COVID-19 test.'
'OK. Can you tell me who that person was?'
'I'm not able to tell you that. That is confidential information.'
'Right. Um... so ....'
'But you do need to be tested within the next 72 hours. So can I just get the best mailing address so that we can send a kit to you?'
'Ok (gives address)'
I just need to take a payment card so that we can finalize this and send the kit to you.'
'Sorry - a payment card? I thought this was all free?'
'No - I'm afraid not. There is a one-off fee of £50 for the kit and test results. Could you read off the long card number for me, please, when you're ready.'
'No - that's not right. This is part of the NHS so there's no charge.'
'I'm afraid there is. Can you give me the card number please - this is very important, and there are penalties for not complying.'
Puts the phone down.
This is how scammers work. And vulnerable people will fall for it.”
Don't fall for it...!
?Please tell any elderly and vulnerable people you know that don’t have access to internet too so they don’t fall victim to this. Even tell them to put a note next to phone stating it’s a NHS Track and Trace is a free service and you DO NOT pay!?
 
How lucky am I. After much deliberation I agreed to go to the Netherlands for a couple of days with my husband to see his elderly Aunt and Uncle both in their 90'S, as his Uncle is quite poorly with cancer, so might not see him again. Im now at the airport waiting to go home, just so relieved the curfew is tomorrow, after seeing the BBC news this morning.
 
Marigold said:
This was posted by a friend, who got an unsolicited phone call.

‘Good afternoon I'm calling from the NHS track and trace service. According to our system, you are likely to have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This means that you now need to self-isolate for 7 days and take a COVID-19 test.'
'OK. Can you tell me who that person was?'
'I'm not able to tell you that. That is confidential information.'
'Right. Um... so ....'
'But you do need to be tested within the next 72 hours. So can I just get the best mailing address so that we can send a kit to you?'
'Ok (gives address)'
I just need to take a payment card so that we can finalize this and send the kit to you.'
'Sorry - a payment card? I thought this was all free?'
'No - I'm afraid not. There is a one-off fee of £50 for the kit and test results. Could you read off the long card number for me, please, when you're ready.'
'No - that's not right. This is part of the NHS so there's no charge.'
'I'm afraid there is. Can you give me the card number please - this is very important, and there are penalties for not complying.'
Puts the phone down.
This is how scammers work. And vulnerable people will fall for it.”
Don't fall for it...!
?Please tell any elderly and vulnerable people you know that don’t have access to internet too so they don’t fall victim to this. Even tell them to put a note next to phone stating it’s a NHS Track and Trace is a free service and you DO NOT pay!?
Click to expand...
This was inevitable, wasn't it? The scammers don't hang about.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top