You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Watcha' Doing - 2020
Sounds painful, Margo!I also love sunflowers. :)
I'll be admitted on 25th for surgery the next day, up walking the same day, home on 28th hopefully. I started my cocooning (shielding) yesterday and have to go for covid test the day before admission. I was at hospital two separate days last week for pre-op tests. It's exhausting!!! It's very frustrating to be confined to house/garden again. I'd only just gained my freedom and now it's gone again LOL
You can do this, Margo! It will all be behind you soon and you'll be on the recovery side.
Janice wrote: "You can do this, Margo! It will all be behind you soon and you'll be on the recovery side."can't wait :)
Margo wrote: "It's very frustrating to be confined to house/garden again"It's annoying hey? But I am so glad I live in a place with a garden, and green spaces.
Melbourne's on day 11 of stage four lockdowns here, which means you're allowed out for 1 hour of exercise, and one person per house is allowed to go to the shops per day. And masks are mandatory. But so many of my friends live in apartment buildings which sometimes don't have openable windows, let alone a garden.
We've started taking our garden seriously lately, as we completely took ours for granted. Even when locked in my property, I can sit in the sun, breathe fresh air, lie in the grass if I wish, look at birds and insects (including the giant wolf spider I uncovered with my hands yesterday, that wasn't fun), and think about food I'm going to grow.
So I'm sorry you're in lockdown again, but that's a bright spot! I know, I'm being Pollyanna-esq again. And you'll hopefully be feeling better on the other side too :D
Sorry, I reread that. I'm not in Melbourne, I'm in Canberra. We're not in lockdown. But I was meaning a lot of my friends, and nearly half my family, are in that sort of lockdown in icky apartments.
Rusalka wrote: "Margo wrote: "It's very frustrating to be confined to house/garden again"It's annoying hey? But I am so glad I live in a place with a garden, and green spaces.
Melbourne's on day 11 of stage fo..."
So what is happening in Melbourne? This comment under an article about wearing masks was on Facebook this morning, "People need to read a history book. People need to check out what’s happening in Melbourne. People who are so quick to give up their liberties, deserve NONE."
ETA - Do people feel that they are unfairly being treated in the lockdowns?
A small amount do. The majority think this is something that needs to be done.Melbourne started having community transmission of the virus. They couldn't source or trace where people were getting it from, and people really weren't socially distancing, so they went back to lockdown. And as community transmission was getting higher than we would like, they mandated masks outside the home.
Certain areas of the internet have lost their shit. And because the state government has enforced cover your face (here it is "strongly" recommended now. I have a couple of masks I'm wearing on campus outside my building, one has chooks on it) certain groups, have lost their minds over human rights and the like. It's actually my human right to be alive, same with my elderly relatives. It's not really your human right to breathe germs all over randoms in Bunnings (the big hardware chain where people are particularly angry about wearing masks... no idea why Bunnings is the epicenter of annoyance, but you know, why not).
The numbers kept on getting higher, some people still ignored lockdown, and they got up to 800 cases per day, half in aged care. Our death rate is in the 20s per day at the moment. Comparatively with other countries, this is great. But our ICUs are beginning to reach max. Health care workers are now also becoming infected at high rates. I have two cousins in the two major hospitals in Melb who are a nurse and a doctor and it's terrifying. They are working 60-70+ hours per week in these hospitals that are the most equipped to take these patients, but they are exposing themselves and our family members to this virus to help these people. As they should. But it's worrying.
A guy got fined today for not wearing a mask as he had a large pimple on his chin (public service announcement: if you wear a mask, people can't see the pimple). I mean... ffs. Most Melbournians are tired, lonely, over having to teach kids remotely and working, over not having work or income anymore, and frustrated. But not really feeling hard done by. Fed up, but not unfairly treated. But they want to be able to get on with it, and then leave 2020 behind. Suck it up, and we can then make it better for everyone.
Yet other parts of the internet think that Melbournians are rolling over and exposing their tummies. I can tell you how pissed off that makes my friends and family. "Socialism!!! People won't fight for their rights so they don't deserve them!!" Maybe the responsibility to society outweighs the individual need to buy sofa cushions from a chain store for six weeks. You know, so like people don't die.
Thanks for clarifying that, Rus. The woman I quoted above says that Melbourne is under tyranny - fresh from her QAnon manufactured outrage, I'm sure. I prefer to get my information from someone who is living in the area.I told her that in 2 years time, we will be back to attending quilt retreats together with all our freedoms intact. This is a temporary situation. People need to look at the bigger picture.
This is exactly what is happening here too Rusalka! Although I think there is a bigger percentage of people who feel like their rights are being violated or are just plain fed up of it all and are just going to do what they like. I just went to a small supermarket today for the first time since March. It went ok, I wasn't anxious and I'm pleased I did it. However, as cases are on the up here (over a 1000 three days in a week) I think it will be my last for now and return to click and collect or get Rob to go instead.
Peggy wrote: "I'm sorry you're in such a difficult situation Saar. Is her girlfriend no help with the practical things?"No, not really. I don't think she sees the importants of things.
@Travis: I would be in such a panic and at first I would be mad at my son for not answering. I can imagine your panic.@Janice: I'm glad your surgery went well and the recovreing is going good. Take the rest you need and take care :)
@Sarah: how is you thigh muscle? Is the stifness gone?
@Margo: that sounds really painfull! I hope it's better now. It will be allright, Margo, your cocooning is for the best. It will be over before you know it.
I had vacation for 3 weeks and next Monday I have to start again at the hospital. Vacation has been weird and different, though. We weren't on planning on going on holiday, so we had to be creative: walking in the forest, going to the parc, we went to the zoo,..It was more a 'staycation' with a 7 year old...Luckely we've got our garden and I worked a lot in our vegetable garden. Unbelivable what you get from that! In these 3 weeks 'the social bubbles' needed to get smaller, so we havent got a lot of friends coming over from the few we have. Shopping changed again to half an hour and you need to go alone. But then you see tourists shopping together, some without the mask. It's like 2 messures. We need to follow the guidelines, but the tourists don't. We didn't went to the coast, with all the trouble there. For groceries, we do just collect and go on the website. It's easier.
I read a lot and wasn't active online a lot. I had a list of needed tasks to do at home, but didn't gotten halfway, haha!
Since 8 days we have a heat wave up to 38°C It is crazy! Every day sweeting, feeling annoyed because of the heat, my animals suffer from the heat...I don't mind such weather for a day or 2, but more than a week...The weatherman predicted a thunderstorm yesterday. Well, we didn't see it. It's to much summer...
Rusalka wrote: "A small amount do. The majority think this is something that needs to be done.A guy got fined today for not wearing a mask as he had a large pimple on his chin..."
Yikes, how large was this pimple? Maybe the mask wouldn't fit over it 😂😂😂
I just got word all my test results are fine so I'm good to go ...... after my isolation and test ....
Some people always feel the need to protect their civil liberties and to hell with the rest of the world. We were talking about that here (in my house) the other day, the Irish have become very good at following rules. The entire midlands region is under lockdown at the moment and we are accepting it for the greater good but everyone is puzzled as to why the entire region is closed when here in Offaly the level is very low. I've been googling like made to find a rate per 100k but that info doesn't seem to be available. A food processing plant two counties away had a cluster and some genius seems to have said "Ha, that's in the mid lands - I know, we'll close it all off and just go round the edges!!!!"
I want to change some bathroom fittings. Pete works in an unaffected county close to a big hardware shop. As usual I texted him about what I wanted and he said "Can't do it!" He is allowed to be across the border to work but not to shop LOL Ah well, it's only for two weeks.
Margo, 2 weeks is not too long. It is summer and from what you say, you have a garden. Eyes on the prize!!There were protests here as well. I am still no sure how wearing a mask is affecting my liberty. But i have not seen anyone around not wearing a mask inside.
There is one thing that i could not believe tough. There is a cute little vegan zero waste shop that i used to visit. There have a ready to eat counter and i used to stop there to eat when I was in that part of town. Well, they actually published info on the protest on their shop FB account, inviting people to join.
I dug to see why they would do this. Well, they state that, as vegan, they are healthier so they do not need masks. (I am not even going to comment this.) I am sure i am not the only customer they lost with this one. I am going to miss their food. Anyone knows a good beet brownie recipe?
Vegans being "immune" to the virus is in the top 5 most ignorant things I have heard during this pandemic...
Being restricted sure makes us value the things we’ve been taking for granted, like fresh air and sunshine. In Queensland at the moment we are allowed to move around anywhere in the state. Gary and I have left Harrison with our son for a week, and come to Rainbow Beach in our little caravan. Yes it is as beautiful as it sounds. We’ve been doing bush walks, and beach walks, and eating and drinking and reading. Heaven!
I've been to Rainbow Beach too! Loved it :) we also did a 3-day trip to Fraser Island from there. The starry skies we saw there were incredible, we still mention it sometimes. Actually, the next few days we'll be close to a Dark Sky Park where you're also should be able to see tons of stars as there's no light pollution. We hope to re-experience a bit of Fraser. That was 13 years ago and I never saw stars like that since. May have been possible in Iceland last year except for the clouds ;-)
Oh Peggy its so nice to hear overseas visitor’s experiences, Fraser Island is so special. Tell me about Dark Sky Park.
Rusalka wrote: "A small amount do. The majority think this is something that needs to be done.Melbourne started having community transmission of the virus. They couldn't source or trace where people were getting..."I’d love to see your chook mask! We don’t have compulsory masks here yet, but I’d do it if I was told to do it. I’m very compliant. 😁
Saar - my leg is all back to normal again now thank you. Just a couple days of stiffness and struggling up and down steps and transitioning from standining to sitting and vice versa. No damage done!
After my rather civil discussion on Facebook yesterday, I went to that friend's page to see if she had deleted me as a friend, hoping I hadn't insulted her.She had a post that hadn't come across my feed that said she was going to go to Walmart and refuse to wear a mask, lean close to people and cough towards them. She was going to pick up apples and "hot breath" them so she could polish them on her skirt and replace them. I was appalled. I wondered why I was worried about her defriending me when it should be the other way around. I know this woman. We quilt together every month. I don't want someone so ignorant in my life. I'm getting out my ban-hammer.
Lord, that sounds like a weird post Janice, could it have a joke do you think? That would be disgusting behaviour! I don't understand why people are so anti face masks, yes they are hot and make your glasses steam up but if there is evidence that they might even save one life surely they're worth it. But then you get stupid people holding covid parties - it would make you despair for humanity :( @Ester, talking about despair for humanity, I'd never heard the vegan myth before. Yes, you will have do some baking LOL
She could be charged with assault. There is talk now of charging people who deliberately couch on others with attempted man slaughter. Man slaughter is trickier. I feel they would need to be showing symptoms for manslaughter
It is against the law here and people have been charged with it, regardless of whether they are symptomatic or not.
Wow, Janice. That's horrible. I've seen people on the news being arrested for intentionally coughing on others. Even if you're not sick, it's still rude and there's no excuse for it. Why do people care so much if others are wearing masks and social distancing. Sometimes I really don't understand people.
No, I don't think it was a joke. She's very far right leaning and very vocal with her strong opinions. I've noticed some snarky comments from her about Covid being a cold and a "nothing burger". I should have reported the post about Walmart when I saw it but can't do that now that I've defriended her.
Kristie wrote: "Wow, Janice. That's horrible. I've seen people on the news being arrested for intentionally coughing on others. Even if you're not sick, it's still rude and there's no excuse for it. Why do people ..."I think, in these last months, we have seen the best and the worst of people.
Janice I’m sure there would be others in your group who would agree with you.
Esther wrote: "I think, in these last months, we have seen the best and the worst of people."For sure, Esther.
Ugh, I've had a week of headaches and they are driving me mad. One was an optical migraine but the rest have been really strange. It starts in my neck at the base of my skull then shoots through and up over my head, finishing above and behind my eye. Not a constant pain just lots of sudden shooting pains. So annoying. I might get a new pillow and see if that helps. Mine is a bit too thick for my liking.Our heatwave has broken and we've been left with heavy rain. I'm pleased it is not so hot though. Yesterday all the combines were out harvesting the fields ahead of the rain. We were in the same spot last year when they harvested. There is a field right next to the canal and all the dust from the combine has covered our boat and some came in through the windows too. Part and parcel with living in the country I guess.
Maybe there's a nerve who's twisted or something in your neck or it could be tension head ache? I can imagine that it's frustrating!
I feel for you, Sarah. Literally, since I've had constant headaches from wrenching my neck after the procedure. I hope a new pillow helps. If not, maybe see a doctor.
I hope your headaches go away Sarah. I've had migraines for years, though luckily not as often and mostly not as severe as some other people do. I've noticed for the past months that it seems also hormonal and my meds don't seem to work for those. Before we left on holiday I had one of the worst migraines I ever had, even Rob was worried. This reminds me that I planned to contact my doctor about it.We came home from holiday today. Because of corona we stayed in the Netherlands, but in 2 of the northern provinces where we've never been. We had a great time, and our coast in the north (Wadden Sea) is absolutely amazing. No beaches, but dikes and mudflats and peace and quiet. I had no idea.
Oh, obviously I knew about the sea and the mudflats (wadden), but I meant the peace and quiet and beauty of it all when you're actually there.
Sarah wrote: "Ugh, I've had a week of headaches and they are driving me mad. One was an optical migraine but the rest have been really strange. It starts in my neck at the base of my skull then shoots through an..."Both me and my mam have had rotten headaches all week as well Sarah. Here it has rained for 2 weeks solid and it's quite warm so the humidity has been 70 - 80%. The pressure has been low. These factors combined always mean a head ache for me ☹
I have more headaches when it's humid too.
Peggy wrote: "I hope your headaches go away Sarah. I've had migraines for years, though luckily not as often and mostly not as severe as some other people do. I've noticed for the past months that it seems also ..."Peggy, I'm glad to hear you had a great holiday .
Sorry to hear about the headaches Hope you feel better soon
Sarah, I'm sorry to hear about your migraine. Bad weather certainly make things worse. Peggy, quite vacations... how wonderful...
We went for a walk on Tuesday and just above where my socks are (or perhaps in my socks?) I've been bitten by insects. Or maybe I touched a plant that stings. I don't know. But on one leg I have four big red spots that look like insect bites, nicely in a row next to each other, and on the other leg I have 3 in a row. A few times a day it seems like all 7 of them start itching simultaneously and it's driving me crazy. I feel it from my knees to my feet.
Peggy, fleas bite in rows, and they specially like "tight" spaces like under elastics or the sort. If you find more on you or in your partner I would everything to wash (bed sheets, towels, clothes you used these days, etc). If this happened on Tuesday and so far you didn't find new bites probably they are not around.
I hadn't considered fleas. I thought they only spread through pets (which we don't have.. don't know what happened in the Airbnb we stayed in before us though ;-)). Rob hasn't been bitten and I also didn't get any more bites, so hopefully that's not it. Or if it is, we didn't take them home with us. Everything is washed (or will be soon) anyway :)
I've been bitten loads this summer. There seems to hqve been moree insects that bite than usual, some i've not seen before. Might just be that i'm sat outside more this year due to lockdown and hot weather. Anti histamines and hydrocortisone cream have been my saviours.
@Peggy, they mostly spread through pets, but can also be in other places, even in gardens. My best friend bought a house a couple of years ago and after many bites they couldn't figure out where the fleas were. They knew the previous owners had pets. The fleas were in the wooden floors (thin spaces in between planks). They had to treat the floors and at the time were advised of also treat the backyard and garden. If your walk was in a green place, it might be. Not the most common thing to catch, I know.
Peggy wrote: "We went for a walk on Tuesday and just above where my socks are (or perhaps in my socks?) I've been bitten by insects. Or maybe I touched a plant that stings. I don't know. But on one leg I have fo..."sounds nasty Peggy. Try some over the counter anti histamines to calm the itch. Calamine lotion is good too.
It seems that every summer I get bitten like that when I go outside in a grassy area. We have tiny bugs we call No-see-ums. You don't see them and you don't feel the bite. You just feel the itch afterward. I've managed to escape them so far this summer.
Lol! Love that name! Might have been those, it was very grassy and I didn't see anything.I put lots of tooth paste on them now. It's a trick I learned from my mom, the menthol helps against the itch.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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Roberto Bolaño (other topics)Dervla McTiernan (other topics)
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That sounds awesome Sarah, I love sunflowers!