Today I shall be Mainly...

[Sue]

Just as you suspected all the time. Having a bad tooth and an infection nearby is a slam dunk in my book. Perhaps your dentist will now act! I want to hear you say it has all gone away! You have suffered far too long.
Only an opinion Sue and worth nothing but I always suspect that modern dentists tend to sheer away from extractions because expensive treatments are better for their wallets, but then I am an old cynic. Good luck with it!
I shall be in the shed trying not to cock-up.

Morning
I disagree with the comment about dentists, Stanley I have always been given a choice on the treatment I have and the costings are clear to see. My dentist is NHS so there is hardly much profit for the dentist. Yesterdays discussions were very helpful indeed and I have swung towards the filling. The procedure and difficulties were explained to me very clearly as was the success rate which is very high. Although it was explained in my case that may not be so as the tooth has calcified making it difficult to access the root and the root may be broken . I am considering private in this case, simply to speed things up and as there is not much difference in cost when you way up the benefits. We have insurance that refunds half our health care costs for all sorts of treatments not just dental. Meanwhile I can live with it as it is not painful, except when pressure is applied ie chewing something hard so apparently that is a big plus . My concerns have drifted away after the consultation.

Today is lunch out , we are meeting friends who will sit on another table far enough away to be legal, near enough to chat. It looks like Manchester will be in Tier 3 by Monday if not before. We are off to the Forest of Dean tomorrow for three nights. Its a self catering apartment , we will eat in, and keep to ourselves but enjoy the break. We hope to do plenty of walking come rain or shine. As level 3 only advises not to travel we have decided to go ahead as it is all paid for. It will probably be our last break before March. So this afternoon will be packing and a bit of tidying in my sewing room.

Have a good day all

[Marilyn]

Hubby is pushing me a bit to make a decision about having a short holiday in December. I think I have convinced him that my answer is NO, though we have looked at many self catering options as far as accommodation go ( everything from a honeymoon style house boat to a honeymoon River Shack for two, to cabins everywhere etc. my answer is still NO. ) I just don’t trust cleaners and previous patrons when it comes to Covid.
I am not generally a person who is pernickety, but something in my gut screams NO.
So I’m going with “me gut”.

[Stanley]

I did say I was a cynic Sue. It sounds as though you have decided on your route out and I wish you all the best with it. I'm glad I haven't got the problem!
I have just come out of the shed after a morning of small adjustments to even smaller parts. I'm making progress but it's fiddly work and slow. There is so little clearance for the linkage and fastenings. But I am getting there! Off for a walk now and then breakfast and posting. A treat coming up is that its Melvyn Bragg and 'In Our Time' at 09:00. One of my favourite programmes on R4.

[Sue]

I did say I was a cynic Sue. It sounds as though you have decided on your route out and I wish you all the best with it. I'm glad I haven't got the problem!
I have just come out of the shed after a morning of small adjustments to even smaller parts. I'm making progress but it's fiddly work and slow. There is so little clearance for the linkage and fastenings. But I am getting there! Off for a walk now and then breakfast and posting. A treat coming up is that its Melvyn Bragg and 'In Our Time' at 09:00. One of my favourite programmes on R4.

It makes no difference private or otherwise, there is only one dentist available to do the procedure, apparently a high covid risk for them, for a waiting list of 17 . The receptionist was brilliant . She has written urgent on my notes, with an instruction to phone immediately if I get any of the symptoms I was told to look out for.

Maz we have stayed in a hotel twice on both occasions the cleaning activities were stringent . We stripped our own bed and had an option to have no visits from housekeeping during our stay. I have no qualms about staying where we are going. You have to be out earlier so they have longer to do the cleaning required. Even the key was disinfected and left in our room when we went. TV controls were the same. Every morning we put out our dirty cups and cleans ones were left outside the room. We had to request shampoo etc, tea and coffee and it was given to us in a sealed bag . We have been careful where we have picked to stay, but this will be our last one. We booked it when we cancelled France

[Marilyn]

How are they cleaning pillows, quilts and mattress, Sue? ( and the insides of drawers and wardrobes)
Covid would penetrate linen and you may be jumping into a bed that an infected person slept in and coughed into the pillow all night. The temptation for sick people to travel is high if the venue doesn’t have a late refund policy (“ they won’t give us our money back and I’m not that sick so i shall travel”)

I know. I worry too much ( possibly/maybe/probably)
Mind you, if we really knew what lurks in hotel beds, none of us would climb in one

[Stanley]

Ignoring the fact that my usual helpers appear to have fallen off the edge of the world.... I sent out a call to Susan for help with what I suspect is a collapsed bed base. She will respond when she has time so I tell myself to be patient!
Otherwise, more fiddly fitting on the beam engine. The basis of my difficulties is that, as usual, I have made everything a tight fit as I know that as soon as I have it running it will ease off. I don't make things easy for myself. I console myself with the knowledge that my own builds are always like this at this stage and always turn out OK. So onward and upwards and keep chasing the little jobs down!

[Sue]

How are they cleaning pillows, quilts and mattress, Sue? ( and the insides of drawers and wardrobes)
Covid would penetrate linen and you may be jumping into a bed that an infected person slept in and coughed into the pillow all night. The temptation for sick people to travel is high if the venue doesn’t have a late refund policy (“ they won’t give us our money back and I’m not that sick so i shall travel”)

I know. I worry too much ( possibly/maybe/probably)
Mind you, if we really knew what lurks in hotel beds, none of us would climb in one

As we only go for a couple of days we rarely unpack, butI have never found an issue when we have hung up coats etc the bathrooms have always been absolutely spotless. I look at it this way, its a livelihood they cannot afford to lose, they have to get it right, and as far as I am aware there have been no spikes caused by hotel bedrooms etc.

[Sue]

Morning

So still in tier 2 we can depart on our three day break and leave the politicians to argue it out. There are pros and cons on both sides, so they need to listen to each other and a big word NEGOTIATE. Thats my politics for the day. We had a lovely lunch with friends , on adjacent tables 2 metres away we still managed a non stop conversation and the sharing of my bowl of extra onion rings

We shall leave after rush hour this morning and take our time with our drive down to the Forest of Dean. We have nothing planed for our couple of days, so will take it as it comes. The weather is meant to be OK . We are taking all our food with us so no need to visit shops or restaurants. I am sur we will visit the odd cafe. We shall just enjoy.

So on that word, enjoy your day too, ours will be mainly in the car.

[Stanley]

I take it as read Sue that today will be filled with activity. I am having a lazy day, other matters got in the way of an early start in the shed and as I wanted to do my weekly shop at 7AM as soon as the Cathedral of Choice opened I never bothered to go in. A day off will do me good!
So an easy day, I shall shortly go for my second walk and then have breakfast which is already made and only needs heating in the microwave. (I feel guilty not going in the shed, silly isn't it!)
(Just seen your post Sue which came in while I was typing. Have a good trip and enjoy the break!)

[Sue]

I take it as read Sue that today will be filled with activity. I am having a lazy day, other matters got in the way of an early start in the shed and as I wanted to do my weekly shop at 7AM as soon as the Cathedral of Choice opened I never bothered to go in. A day off will do me good!
So an easy day, I shall shortly go for my second walk and then have breakfast which is already made and only needs heating in the microwave. (I feel guilty not going in the shed, silly isn't it!)
(Just seen your post Sue which came in while I was typing. Have a good trip and enjoy the break!)

I was just about to say DRIVING when, I read your last sentence. I was late writing this morning, woke up late after over 8 hours solid sleep. My body knows it I feel stif , which will improve after my shower.

[Stanley]

We were writing at the same time Sue. 8 hours sleep is good! But I know what you mean about how you feel when you eventually surface. I have never worried about waking in the night wanting a pee, I reckon it's good to have that short walk and back to sleep again!

[Marilyn]

Best of luck for your trip, Sue.
( but I would not be chancing travel and accommodation given your current Covid climate)
I know...my comments are not welcome...And rarely have been...but I like to err on the side of caution...but that is how I am.

[PanBiker]

Your comments are always welcome Maz regardless of how popular you think they are. It's just a different viewpoint and you are entitled to it. Good job we are not all the same.

[Marilyn]

[. Good job we are not all the same.
[/quote]

True. And not taken as a negative comment. I live in a holiday seaside destination and hibernate when we are invaded in the holidays. I am that way even before Covid, yet possibly worse since Covid. I simply refuse to go anywhere except for our quiet walks.
It is a fear that grows now if I see big crowds. We recently had school holidays here and our town was packed. We are mostly older folk living here by the seaside and I fear we would be pretty well wiped out by Covid.

[PanBiker]

You do right Maz, your outlook is on a par with Stanley's. His management is helped though by the unusual hours that he keeps. Do you have a tiered infection scale thing like we have here and if so whereabouts are you on the scale? You will know that our corner of the forest in Barlick and West Craven is in the high category and teetering on being shoved into the extremely high tier, only a matter of time I reckon for us.

[Marilyn]

To be honest, we are low on any Covid scale, but with borders opening up, we are a sure destination for anyone wanting quiet refuge before heading for the city. And those wishing to escape the city for a few days, again we are the perfect seaside destination. So I see us as a melting pot at present. It is a scary place to be. Lots of strangers in town, yet so many locals managing their day on mobility scooters..

[Stanley]

I think Ian is right, they are running out of options and clever tweaks.... And yes, getting up early does help. I reckon the Pioneer Car Park and immediate surrounds are Covid free at 05:00!

[PanBiker]

As I was posting my last reply Lancashire County Council have agreed to accept tier 3 Extremely High Covid status. There are anomalies though between tier 3or Liverpool and tier 3 for Lancashire. Apparently Lancashire can keep their gyms open which is the direct opposite of the restriction in Liverpool where they all have to close. Could this possibly be because Lancashire is a Tory controlled authority, surely not, level playing field?

Andy Burnham is holding out in Greater Manchester for the same deal as the original lockdown.

[plaques]

Apparently Lancashire can keep their gyms open which is the direct opposite of the restriction in Liverpool where they all have to close.

I can only speak for the leisure centre in Colne which provides both swimming and gym facilities the two areas being completely separate. Admission is by forward booking limiting both numbers and time of entry. On the pool side the majority are seniors 70% women and a lesser number of workers taking a quick break from working at home getting out of the house for a bit of exercise and mental relief. I'm not a user of the gym but I know a lot of young ladies use it along with a surprising number of seniors. Young beef cakes (Cathy's firefighters) are in the minority. Considering the type of people who use the centre and the strict controls the benefits look to outweigh the risks. Nobody forces you to go and if you have any doubt keep away.

[PanBiker]

I take your point about the organisation in the gym's etc. What is wrong is that the rules are not the same for everyone. If they are open in Lancashire they should be open in Liverpool.

[Big Kev]

My understanding is the gyms being left open, in Lancashire, was a bargaining chip to accept tier 3 restrictions.

[Sue]

Best of luck for your trip, Sue.
( but I would not be chancing travel and accommodation given your current Covid climate)
I know...my comments are not welcome...And rarely have been...but I like to err on the side of caution...but that is how I am.

I understand exactly what you are saying but we are very careful indeed. Never go in a shop, hardly mix with people, I would say 7 since June. That is Wendy and Col, two weeks ago socially distanced, my daughter and granddaughter, outside in a big nature reserve, Stanley in his back yard and our friends Wendy and Keith socially distanced in a restaurant. This place is immaculate, checked the wardrobes etc! We are in a tier 1 area and will spend two days walking in woods,and with wild animals and birds. We are probably safer here than at home. At home we do not live in a conurbation, our local numbers are very low indeed, we keep away from Rochdale town centre, where the Rochdale numbers are mainly concentrated and the most dangerous thing I have done in the last 5 months is visit the big Manchester hospital dental clinic this week . I may live in Greater Manchester but I dont live in Manchester. In 5 minutes I am on the wild moors of Lancashire which is where we do our walks. That is the sort of area we also visit.

[Stanley]

"the gyms being left open, in Lancashire, was a bargaining chip"
That disturbs me Kev. I could be wrong of course but I don't think there should be 'bargaining chips'.
Another thing intrigues me, how do you enforce restrictions on borders where there is a difference in regulations? For instance, Liverpool and Wales?
As for what I shall be doing... the same as usual, a bit of light shed and being thoroughly anti-social!

[chinatyke]

...how do you enforce restrictions on borders where there is a difference in regulations? For instance, Liverpool and Wales?

You put Cheshire between them!

[Stanley]

There isn't a lot of it barring the way China? The Welsh government is sufficiently worried to start looking at ways of barring entry. God knows how they can manage that one!