The Mock Turtle

God yes, the day the pubs etc open here will be carnage! I would avoid that too, Shoe but I get it about your dad. My mum is always telling me what things have changed and then getting huffy when I tell her the change isn't happening for another week or that I don't want to do it anyway. She keeps saying "but Nicola said..." as she is a big fan of our First Minister

I think it's likely that some places will be organised and fine, but I just don't feel sure about which ones they're going to be yet. I can imagine some pubs in residential areas doing the 2 hour table slots and operating calmly, but others are going to be utter carnage. For me the joy of eating/drinking out is going to be totally offset by the anxiety of it for a while yet. I go out to relax and have fun, not sit tensely wondering if that drunk looking man is going to lurch over our table breathily.

Funnily enough, I'm not finding that particularly reassuring But I live permanently in a world of doom and gloom so it's fine.

Still no word if Bradford is being shut down, I'm not sure what's taking so long. I've also absolutely no idea if it's just a a big circle around Bradford like Leicester was (I'm 20 miles out so no idea of that affects me or not) or if it's just all postcodes that fall under Bradford council. Either way, I'd quite like to know what I'm allowed to do over the next few days!

I've booked a table at the ice cream parlour on Sunday as a treat for the kids but luckily haven't told them yet in case we all get shut down before then.

Exactly, Goat.

I’m sure some venues will be able to get the distancing, clientele and service right, but there will be so many that won’t. Plus I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder and fidgeting in my seat avoiding others that don’t observe sensible restrictions.

The shops in my town seems to be quite sensible and are intending on keeping 2m distancing even though they can go down to 1m in a week or so.

We ate out last weekend and I won’t be rushing to do it again.

They had everything in place; ordering from a window, outdoor spaces 6ft apart - either on your own picnic blanket or their tables and chairs, sanitiser etc. I made sure the boys went to the loo before we left the house but to be honest I found the whole thing really stressful. We ate quite early and by the time we were leaving downtown was really busy. Loads of people crammed into both the outside and indoor spaces, no one wearing masks etc.

It actually made me feel worse than before.

That sounds stressful and the opposite of a nice relaxing meal out. Even where the restaurants/bars get it bang on, you can't account for other people or what your journey there and back will be.

This is exactly why I'm avoiding shops/hairdresser/restaurants/anything fun (other than the ice cream on Sunday) because it is absolutely not worth it when it's so stressful.

My favourite coffee shop has got it nailed and you order at horse box windows and you're sheltered from the rain etc so I'll keep getting take away stuff from then because I'd be devastated if they go under.

I also can't imagine taking 3 kids to the pub at the moment, even for a meal. They'll just end up wanting wander around and it'll be a nightmare.

Loralei wrote: ↑Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:42 am I think it very much depends on what's normal for and around you, Sal. Meeting up with one or two sensible people outside doesn't freak me out any more as it's been normalised. That isn't to say it's the right thing to do, however, and I have found just saying, "I'm not ready to do that yet, sorry," has been fine whenever people I know are relaxing things faster than I am.

I very much agree with this. Most people I'm in regular contact with are pretty much in the same place as me at the moment - and working through re-integration into society at a similar sort of pace broadly in line with the roolz.

Interestingly, the friend who seems to have moved back to completely normal life (she's called time on our online quiz group as apparently we'll all be doing the real thing in the pub - erm ... I won't) is the one who has been working on a Covid ward and children have been in keyworker provision from the start.

Luce wrote: ↑Fri Jul 03, 2020 1:43 pm This is exactly why I'm avoiding shops/hairdresser/restaurants/anything fun (other than the ice cream on Sunday) because it is absolutely not worth it when it's so stressful.

The stress is horrible. We’re seeing my folks tomorrow for the first time since Feb 1 and I’m really anxious about it!

The people I know who are front line workers are either just like that, Flora, or the exact opposite and absolutely furious with anyone who puts themselves needlessly at risk and doesn't take it seriously. I guess both are logical responses to dealing with the reality of it day in, day out.

Just seen that pubs are opening at 6am tomorrow! What could go wrong?

I was just coming to say this. I am filled with hope that this will all be deeply sensible and responsible.

Fucking hell. 6!

I've just been reading that a local go karting track and laser quest place is reopening on Saturday. Helmets and suits that are used by multiple other people does not sound a good idea! They are going to be sanitised by using an ozone cabinet, apparently. Madness.

Apparently only ones that have that sort of license anyway, so in practice that's about two pubs near Smithfield.

Which means it was a completely unnecessary announcement and just intended to get people in the plague spirit, I suppose.

Mountain Goat wrote: ↑Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:20 pm Apparently only ones that have that sort of license anyway, so in practice that's about two pubs near Smithfield.

Which means it was a completely unnecessary announcement and just intended to get people in the plague spirit, I suppose.

That's not quite as bad then. I was fully expecting loads of pubs to open at midnight then have a lock in for a few hours until they could open again at 6!

Oh I see, the 6 am thing wasn't a "you can start early" thing, it was a "you can't just open at midnight on Fri" thing. Which makes more sense.

I am so tired with this government.

6 am. what in the fucking TITS made anyone think that would be a good idea at the best of times? Never mind the end of times.

Oh, I see. A had to go to a shop today for the first time in three months and came home nearly hyperventilating.

Mountain Goat wrote: ↑Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:38 pm Oh I see, the 6 am thing wasn't a "you can start early" thing, it was a "you can't just open at midnight on Fri" thing. Which makes more sense.

Yes, that's what that Graham Shapps (?) said earlier today.