Coronavirus

[Hopalong]

Ohhhh, so happy to read a vivid description of your town!
I do envy you that kind of environment. RIVER!

And yes, the rubbish and pollution is very sad. Yet moving water
somehow still calms the human psyche. And we can clean it up.

When you walk in the mornings does Son come? Or does he have
a lie-in so you can enjoy a little Tupp-time?

I think morning walks are the BEST, though I just enjoyed a brief
early afternoon one with Pooch. It's absolutely PERFECT here today.
High 60s, sunny, cool but not cold. I've seen and chatted with several
neighbors and have a contact to get the number for a lovely lady up
the way I've chatted with briefly and am positive I'd like to get to know.
Went past her place on a walk a few days ago and she had a whole circle
of about 8 women sitting socially-distanced with masks on in a circle in
the sunshine, knitting. (Got no interest in knitting but DO like the idea
of befriending someone who creates circles like that!)

Happy Sunday to you, Tupp. Now that I've re-involved myself in the church
bit by bit, it's becoming one of the Best Days again. Good faces and good music
via Zoom, but lately even good ftf gatherings. (They're doing a meet-in-the-park-to-talk thing--limited number, masked, 8 feet apart, bring own chair--I want to go to next Sunday afternoon. It'll "fill us all up" a little before the cold closes in.)

hugs
Hops

PS--SEALS? I'm speechless. For no reason I watched several videos last night of this wonderful team of guys who chase seals on the huge beach somewhere (not Galapagos, I forget) where many of them congregate. For the purpose of nabbing the ones that are entangled in fishing lines. They catch them either with a net or by kind of leaping on them to hold them down, and it's amazing how many of the seals calm down and recognize that someone is helping them--even though they have to painfully dig into their necks or flippers with a metal hook and knife to cut the line free which can take quite a few minutes. It's remarkable and heroic. A temporary diversion from dog-rescue videos! Although you'll be pleased to know I've added the cat ones. Check out Hope for Paws on YouTube.

[Twoapenny]

Aw I'll keep a look out for seal help videos, Hopsie, I love those videos of people helping animals out and yes, they do seem to know sometimes that someone's trying to help.  I keep watching the ones where someone rescues a dog that's been abandoned or badly treated and how they bring them back to life.  Amazing what some kindness and TLC will do.  The thing that always strikes me is that they get results by letting the dogs do what they need to - if they hide behind the sofa for weeks or only eat food off the floor they let them do that and get comfortable in their own time.  I think we should do that more with people.  Too much pressure to get fixed within a set time line or in a certain way and it just doesn't work like that.  I'll add seal videos to the list!

We don't get many in the river but we do along the coast line and as it's tidal, they do sometimes wander along looking for fish.  There is a cafe near one of the beaches here that's very close to the top of the slip way so at high tide the water is inches from the building and they have, on occasion, looked up to see a seal looking in the window which I find very funny.  They're beautiful creatures.

The social circles/church groups/distanced chats with neighbours sounds lovely, Hops, I'm so glad you are getting that interaction and have people around you who are taking precautions but also getting out there.  I feel more anxious about it here; more people seem to be only taking precautions when they have to (going in to a shop, for example) so I don't feel confident about socialising at the moment.  One lady I've seen for coffee a few times as she is being careful as well but other people I know are more or less ignoring it.  It's kind of weird.  We're averaging 100 deaths a day here again now, which is apparently where we were at a month before we were topping out at a thousand a day in the summer.  I get that more people than that die each day under normal circumstances but this is on top of that.  If we were seeing planes crashing and losing a hundred a day very few people would be flying.  Yet this doesn't seem to elicite the same concern.  It's kind of weird but we're just doing our thing so I'm trying not to think about what others are doing just now.  I'm glad you've got those opportunities ahead to help get through the winter.  I'm experimenting with my SAD lamp; I think I've left it on too long a couple of times as I've ended up going to bed very late so I'm adjusting the times a bit now - a good balance is needed.

I am trying to walk for an hour without son, and then take him out for half an hour later in the day (half an hour is about as much as he can manage without getting too tired).  It's funny because we had two days last week where we were out doing things so we did walk about an hour, in short bursts, and I just didn't get the same effect from it that I do from walking for an hour on my own.  I think it's the head space that helps.  I can leave him for an hour and he's okay; I text my sister when I'm leaving so she knows if she doesn't hear from me that something will have happened and son has his own phone so he can call me if there's a problem, which there hasn't been because basically one he's in front of his computer he doesn't move anyway.  I just tell him not to answer the door but apparently you can get a thing on a phone now where you can see who's at the door even if you're out?  I'll have to look in to that.

On the subject of door cameras I did watch some clips of YouTube of drunk people trying to get in their own front doors and not being able to manage it.  The door cameras pick up what they're doing and it made me laugh so much.  One guy was talking to the door asking it nicely to let him in and not to make any noise because he didn't want his wife to know.  Funny drunk people make me laugh.

Happy Sunday!  Although it's Monday here now so Happy Monday! xx

[Hopalong]

Thanks, Tupp.

City plus County are what I check daily. That's basically our metro area--I have as many friends in county neighborhoods as in the city.

Today we have 10 new cases but that bounces around -- a few days ago it was 32. The total case # in these two localities so far is 3,000, with 55 deaths. The curve is heading up.

Happy little joggers blasted close past me on my walk yesterday, huffing and blowing, mask free. Fortunately I'd happened to re-anchor my mask just before I heard them, heading up to greet a gardening neighbor. Unbelievable.

What part of PLUME do they not understand? What part of OUTSIDE IS NOT MAGIC THOUGH IT'S BETTER do they not understand?

I am developing a very getoffmylawn feeling about runners. They can dangle a mask from one ear just as easily as I can, and yank it up when coming up behind a walker. I guess the runners' high means too-high-to-notice-slower-humans. Spit.

Grrrrrr,
Hops

[Twoapenny]

I hear you on the joggers, Hopsie!  And similarly oblivious people.  We've been to the beach today, first time since March.  Very careful, masks, hands, took food and drink with us so we didn't need to go in to shops, etc.  Beautiful weather, the beach was lovely and most people doing their bit but some, just oblivious.  Walking very close or letting their dogs walk the full length of the lead and taking up the pavement, meaning we had to get into the road to get past them.  The local authority have tried to organise it so everyone walks on the left, to keep distance more easily so there are signs up and someone has written "Don't be a slave" on the sign that says "Please keep left".  How can anyone compare walking to one side (which is what we all do when we drive, right?  To avoid crashing into each other?) with slavery?  Seriously.  I feel so sorry for all the people who are working extra hard, spending money on PPE for their staff, staying in, avoiding family and so on, and wonder how much of that effort is mitigated by people taking no notice.  Very demoralising for them.  Anyway, it was a nice day but I think next week we might try a different beach as it's usually quieter than that one.  Son was very excited though xx

[Twoapenny]

Death rate in our area just jumped up.  Sigh.  We're staying in all week as it's half term holidays and the place is full of holiday makers.  Just so frustrating, surely people should be staying close to home unless further travel is absolutely essential?  Still seem to be so many people who just don't get it.

[Hopalong]

I hear you, Tupp. The UK is in bad straits.

For me, having ZERO expectation that others will respond to science rationally....makes me calmer and happier. Otherwise it's a constant roller coaster of hope and disappointment.

Where people disappoint, animals and nature never do....

hugs
Hops

[Twoapenny]

I thought I'd replied yesterday Hopsie but it's not here, I must have dreamed it!  Yep.  I think people focus on what's most important to them.  I was talking to a friend earlier and the differences in our approach became clear as we were chatting - I'm concerned about my son dying if he gets it, she's concerned about not being able to go on holiday over the winter.  It's just different priorities, isn't it?  Anyway - we're on Medium alert level here at the moment but local cases have dropped a little bit, with no more deaths locally so that's good. 

[Twoapenny]

Numbers and deaths are up across the county but have dropped slightly in our immediate local area, which is good.  I spent the afternoon sorting out piles of son's education stuff, projects to work on, things to get rid of, things we might still use, and rearranging everything so it's easier to get to when we need it.  In doing so, I discovered a list that it turns out his tutor (before we moved here) had got him to write up, with suggestions of how he could avoid moving, which included going to court to have a judge say he didn't have to move.  Fortunately that seems to have gone over my son's head; he had no idea what it meant and wouldn't have understood what she was talking about, but she'd obviously put some time and effort into this (items on the list are things like 'practise disagreeing' and 'remember your other options'.  It's clearly come from her; I don't mean this in an unkind way but he just doesn't have the capacity to come up with things like that on his own even now, and certainly wouldn't have done three years ago.  I was absolutely fuming - not with him, but realising that she was sat in my home, drinking my tea and eating my biscuits whilst encouraging him to refuse to move.  At age 15!  What did the silly bint think would happen if he decided to stay on his own, given that he can't look after himself?  I've only put it in this bit because it made me want to break my diet soooooo badly but I want to focus on my fitness during this Covid thing so I have resisted and I am going to go for another walk after dinner.  What is it with these people?  Endless interference and never any help.  Anyway, I have talked to him about it all and he says he's really glad we moved and he likes it better here.  I did ask him if he wants to move back if we get the chance and he said no, he wants to stay - he doesn't mind another house if it means he gets a bigger room   But in this area.  I've told him it's always alright to say he doesn't want to do something or he's not happy, and that I can always get him someone else to talk to if he doesn't feel comfortable talking to me and he said he's fine.  So I'm just proud that I kept up my Covid diet even though finding that out made me want to eat pizza and loads of biscuits.  Lol x

[lighter]

Well, I'm amazed at your resolve, Tupp.  My sister and I ordered gf Dominoes Pizza 2 nights ago on a really tough day.  We felt worse for it too.

Keep up the good habits, if you want to.  Your body and clearer thinking will thank you for it.

Lighter

[Twoapenny]

Well, I'm amazed at your resolve, Tupp.  My sister and I ordered gf Dominoes Pizza 2 nights ago on a really tough day.  We felt worse for it too.

Keep up the good habits, if you want to.  Your body and clearer thinking will thank you for it.

Lighter

Lol, the urge was strong, Lighter!  It was all I could think about.  But the funny thing was, once I'd decided that I wasn't going to do it, all those deep down feelings that surged up - you know how it is, that fear just consumes you all over again - started to subside, and quite quickly as well.  Usually, I'd stuff my face and then ruminate on it all for hours, whilst trying not to, and then eat more crap.  But I started to feel calmer quite quickly, found some Cauliflower Curry in the freezer so I had that with brown rice and a bit of mango chutney and then went for the walk.  It really helped.  I had a bath when I got back - didn't sleep too well but that seems to be normal at the minute.  It just felt better not to let it control my life again, if that makes sense?  But the lure of the pizza was strong, I can understand you ordering yours in xx

[Hopalong]

Tupp, I can imagine how jarring it must've felt to find those notes from the tutor. I wonder if moving at that time seemed scary and stressful to your son, or if he was reacting to all the changes or prospect of them.

Change is quite hard on people with autism, as I understand it. Not exhilarating or exciting, just scary. Or maybe he was picking up on all the stress and intensity you were feeling. He's a sensitive guy deep inside and I wonder if it must be hard to express his emotional life sometimes?

I'm so glad that he responded well in your conversation with him. He's grown in inner strength in his own ways just as you have during this time.

We're all being tested one way or another. Sorry that paper turned up to rattle you.

Be extra good to yourself next week, friend. You've been having a rough go the last few days. I am mentally shooting arrows of light into those gray clouds over your head!

hugs
Hops

[Twoapenny]

Tupp, I can imagine how jarring it must've felt to find those notes from the tutor. I wonder if moving at that time seemed scary and stressful to your son, or if he was reacting to all the changes or prospect of them.

Change is quite hard on people with autism, as I understand it. Not exhilarating or exciting, just scary. Or maybe he was picking up on all the stress and intensity you were feeling. He's a sensitive guy deep inside and I wonder if it must be hard to express his emotional life sometimes?

I'm so glad that he responded well in your conversation with him. He's grown in inner strength in his own ways just as you have during this time.

We're all being tested one way or another. Sorry that paper turned up to rattle you.

Be extra good to yourself next week, friend. You've been having a rough go the last few days. I am mentally shooting arrows of light into those gray clouds over your head!

hugs
Hops

I don't think I explained it very well Hops, it was the tutor that was the problem, not son.  I'm very aware of the difficulties he has with moving house and the notes weren't about that xx

[Hopalong]

Oh I'm sorry, Tupp.

I thought the tutor might've been talking about that with him because for some reason he'd brought it up or made comments that she interpreted as important enough to "strategize" with him. Waaaaay too many assumptions on my part, and sharing with you my brilliant insights about how an autistic kid might feel about moving house was very inappropriate. I apologize for that too.

And how inappropriate it was for her to initiate that kind of conversation with him rather blows my mind. One should NEVER get between a child and their mother, unless abuse is suspected. We all know how that has scalded and harmed you in the past, so I can understand why it was triggering to run across the note.

That really was a weird thing for her to do. Curious: Was she young? Relatively inexperienced? I'm glad it's well past, and didn't mean to poke a bruise. Please forgive my lapse into cluelessness.

I think you explained it fine; I just went off on a knowitall-tangent. (I'm good at those.)

humble hug,
Hops

[Twoapenny]

Oh I'm sorry, Tupp.

I thought the tutor might've been talking about that with him because for some reason he'd brought it up or made comments that she interpreted as important enough to "strategize" with him. Waaaaay too many assumptions on my part, and sharing with you my brilliant insights about how an autistic kid might feel about moving house was very inappropriate. I apologize for that too.

And how inappropriate it was for her to initiate that kind of conversation with him rather blows my mind. One should NEVER get between a child and their mother, unless abuse is suspected. We all know how that has scalded and harmed you in the past, so I can understand why it was triggering to run across the note.

That really was a weird thing for her to do. Curious: Was she young? Relatively inexperienced? I'm glad it's well past, and didn't mean to poke a bruise. Please forgive my lapse into cluelessness.

I think you explained it fine; I just went off on a knowitall-tangent. (I'm good at those.)

humble hug,
Hops

Nothing to apologise for, Hopsie, I was vague about it so it wasn't clear she was the problem, she was my age with kids my son's age so I suspect the usual public sector problem we have of people walking into situations they don't understand, deciding you're doing it all wrong and sticking their noses in with no clear idea of why or what the outcome will be.  I'm wondering now if she was the reason he was saying he didn't want to go.  He said a couple of phrases at the time that didn't sound like him but as he was going to Youth Club I assumed he'd picked them up from the other kids.  Doesn't matter now, I just get baffled at the lack of common sense and forethought that so many of them display but there we are.  The important thing was I didn't break my diet!  And have stuck to it today as well.

In Covid news, dopey face has (I think) announced another national lockdown from next week although he's leaving schools, colleges and universities open which, along with all the key workers is probably about half the country still going out every day.  Due to end beginning of December if they get infections down; they've just announced 1 million people infected since it started and between 42 and 62 thousand Covid related deaths, depending on which set of figures you use.  Our local area has dropped slightly again today though and if they shut a lot down again next week hopefully we'll get down to zero again soon, at least in our little bit.  What an absolute pigs ear they have made of all of this.  High death rate and trashed economy.  Couldn't even pick one or the other.

Trick or treat was banned so son and I did our own indoors; he knocked on the sitting room door and I gave him some chocolate lol.  He's had his face painted all day (he did it himself this morning) and we're going out for a walk in a bit just to look at some of the decorations that are up.  We did our little pumpkin and it's in the window as we speak.  It has finally stopped raining which is a relief, I think it's been a solid week of downpours? xx

[Twoapenny]

It's bedlam here.  People have been panic buying all weekend and the shops are empty.  Why on earth do people do it?  We only run out because people hoard; the shops won't be closing, they get deliveries every day, it will literally be no different to any other time.  I just can't believe the stupidity, again, even seeing how stupid it was last time hasn't stopped them.  'We will not comply' is trending on Twitter, I mean, seriously?  What part of 'this is really serious' do they not get?  It has been appallingly handled, we could be in a much better place than we are, people have worked really hard to re-open their businesses and to have to shut them again could have been avoided with decent testing and contact tracing, plus assurances that wages would be covered if people had to stay home.  But surely people can see that behaving like dicks is just going to make it worse for longer?  I am truly baffled.  Roasting peppers, beetroot and garlic for dinner tonight, lots of vitamins and anti-oxidants.  Weigh in tomorrow, end of first week, I'll let you know if I've lost any weight xx