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What a week! Last Friday it was perfectly safe (allegedly) to send your child to school - today the country's on lockdown.

Marianna and I self-isolated for the week because I felt like I was coming down with a cold. Turns out it was just a cold as I've not developed a cough or had a high temperature. (I've scarcely managed to break 36°C.) On Saturday we went out for a walk for the first time and dropped off a pot Marianna had made for my mum and dad. We returned weighed down with enough chocolate to sink a ship after M complained I had refused to stockpile for her sweet tooth...

The worst part of the week - worse than feeling utterly useless as other councillors deliver food and stuff, and worse than trying to dream up ways to fill hours of home schooling - has definitely been seeing Marianna scared and upset. She keeps asking who she'll live with if we die, and whether or not it will hurt to die from coronavirus. :( We did clapping for the NHS from her bedroom even because she was freaking out we'd die if we went out on the doorstep, complete with the likely timescale.

We watched the Operation Ouch Q&A a few times but by Friday I decided we'd just avoid the news and live TV so she doesn't see it. I mean, I don't want to simply pretend it's not happening, but at five there's only so much of it she can understand and she's absorbing everything she hears about it like a sponge.

In other news I started a new Kindle Unlimited subscription for a distraction. I've got a bunch of UFO books and some true crime lined up ready to read this week. Anthony's been applying for jobs with all the supermarkets as most are taking on at the moment, so fingers crossed on that score. Despite Natwest so very kindly - heh - charging just 19.89% APR on overdrafts until June it's still an absolute imperative to get out of it ASAP.

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Deal of the Week -

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On the blog I wrote a guide to Kerusso's God's Girlz dolls as well as posts about Marianna's Sindy Surprise House, and my five favourite fashion trends.

I've also been updating a rundown of Torfaen's temporary services every day and put together a list of 50 free Welsh language resources.

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Song of the Week -

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Five of my favourite fashions throughout history...

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#5. Batwing Sleeve

Nothing says comfort like slouching around in a batwing sleeve.

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#4. Pussy Bow Blouse

If it comes with a bishop sleeve, so much the better.

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#3. Shoulder Pads

Power dressing for the win.

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#2. Gibson Girl

I love the whole Edwardian silhouette, whether it's the practical blouse and skirt or frilly summer dress. It always looks so elegant.

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#1. Circle Skirt

There is only one downside to the circle skirt - ironing it!

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What is your favourite look? Let me know in the comments! :)

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So last week I wasn't sure if it was just my anxiety or if the govt really were making a hash of things. The swift policy u-turn pretty much cleared that up! I'm glad we took Marianna out of school early to reduce the risk.

Monday and Tuesday are just a blur in my memory, I was so freaked out and panicky. On Wednesday I kind of pulled myself together again and don't feel too bad now. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for Thursday, so they took it over the phone and agreed to give me a month's supply of anti-depressants. I thought I might get three months' worth as that was the Welsh Govt guidance I was seeing, but I suppose the worries about people OD-ing, etc, don't go away.

Work wise, I've had a few meetings by teleconference for the first time this week. It makes me feel like some hotshot business type from an 80s movie, lol. All I need now is a decent pair of shoulder pads!

Marianna said to me yesterday that the days seem longer without school. Yes. Yes, they do. I've stocked up on craft kits and workbooks to keep us going because The Book People were having a closing down sale, and Poundtoy had a good clearance section this week. Anthony's mum dropped off lots of stuff from The Works after work on Friday too. It's going to be a long few months, all the same.

Hmmm, what else? Watching the panic buying news freaked me out big time last weekend so I put an online order in with Iceland. They delivered within two days and only flaked on three items (spray cleaner, soap, and hash browns). Rhys says his freezers (Morrisons) have been totally cleared every day this week, but deliveries of fresh food are still stable so I'm not too worried on that score.

Just gotta take things one day at a time, I guess.

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Deal of the Week -

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On the blog we reviewed So Slime DIY's sweet shop set, latestdeals.co.uk, and posted doll guides for Lisa Frank Fab Friends and Mattel's 1978 range for Mork and Mindy. For Friday Five I wrote about my favourite Hanna-Barbera characters, and on coronavirus I did a post on the benefits of TV learning.

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Song of the Week -

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It's been quite a strange week, really. I was very unwell at the beginning of the week, had an emergency doctor's appointment mid week to get my anti-depressants doubled, but today I actually feel pretty good. I don't know whether it's the extra 20mg kicking in, the placebo effect of doing something about the problem, or the genuine mood lift of good news. Probably a mix of all three!

There was a double bout of full council on Tuesday which I was dreading and had worked myself up into a state about. I've always done my best to be fair and impartial when chairing but this week I found it very hard to be patient - I told members off for commentary during a recorded vote, and I was pretty short with a couple of people. It was a major relief when it was over, not gonna lie.

On Wednesday I went to the doctor's and had my medication upped and a referral back to counselling. I'm hopeful it will make a difference because there have been multiple times over the last few weeks where I've just felt like I can't cope much longer.

On Friday I had staffing committee at Bron Afon and lots of catching up on stuff from earlier in the week. In the end I sorted out my casework and wrote a draft Chair of Governors letter for the headteacher job advert at Maendy. In the evening it was Cwmbran Community Council's civic dinner / celebration evening, and afterwards we ended up going out in Newport with some of Anthony's friends. I think it's the first time I've been since before Marianna was born so it was really nice to spend time just having a laugh for a change.

Yesterday I reaped the 'rewards' of drinking for the first time in months and Anthony went to advice surgery in my stead, which was very good of him! In the afternoon I watched a bit of the rugby before turning over in disgust and spending a few hours entering competitions. Fingers crossed. :)

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Deal of the Week -

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On the blog I posted guides to Bratzillaz and Drew Carey dolls, along with a Mini Mart review of My Tiny Knits on Etsy. I also blogged about my top ten hits of 1959 and my top five San-X characters.

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Song of the Week -

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Happy St. David's Day!

Marianna had her school Eisteddfod on Friday for which, as ever, I was totally unprepared. We had to cobble together a Welsh lady costume and made a rather lacklustre dragon puppet. She did win second place in her class handwriting competition though, so at least she was happy with that. It's World Book Day this week so I promised we'd make more effort for that one.

I had another safeguarding training session - this time for Chairs of Governors - and the usual round of casework, etc. Mostly this week has been a depressive blur to be honest. I tried to get an emergency appointment to see the doctor but there's nothing doing for at least a fortnight. Just gotta focus on distractions, I guess.

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Deal of the Week -

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On the blog I posted guides to Marvel Rising Secret Warriors and Beverly Hills 90210 dolls, an A-Z of Fanfiction Recs for International Fanworks Day, and my top five My Little Ponies.

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Song of the Week -

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