Anti Ds We might be locked out of last thread,..but we will never be totally locked dow 👍

[Dowser]

How did that happen?
Taking one for the team 👍

I am intrigued too.

@LivinLaVidaLoki

I've just seen a news article stating that retail trading has dropped since masks became mandatory. No one could see that coming could they.....

Shocker!

I wasn't shopping loads before but I was taking myself off for a late night trundle round Aldi for chocolate, crisps and middle aisle delights. Haven't been since masks came in. Not planning on going any time soon.

This is saving me a fair bit of money which is good for me but not the economy.

Livin drop off in sales is no surprise here. I've been to our city centre today with DD. I managed three shops, taking my muzzle off between each one, before I finally though 'just fuck it, I'm going home'

Doesn’t surprise me either. I went to Bluewater earlier in the week and couldn’t wait to get back outside and take my mask off. I would have stayed much longer, had a mooch and probably impulse bought more if I didn’t have the mask on. Instead I was in and out once I got what I wanted

I went to M&S Food and Boots on a retail park. I’m going to stick to online for non-food stuff. It’s too Handmaid’s Tale for me.

I should say, I wasn't not shopping because of Covid, I'm just not much of a shopper.

I would like to go for a mooch around places like Wilko, Dunelm, Home Bargains, B&Q. But not in a mask.

I've just done a little run ending at the local shop for BBQ supplies. I had the foresight to use my buff as a hairband/face rag, but bleurgh it was an unpleasant 4-5 minutes. At least the chillers keep the temperature down.

I'm normally a smiley person but I just find myself avoidong looking at faces and keeping my head down, concentrating on breathing. It's horrible. And it's affecting the way I interract with people which is of more importance than ever when I'm carrying out so few of my normal interractions with things like the school run.

Made it out for a walk by the river. There's a tiny sandwich shop, which can only take one customer inside at a time now. Stuck my head round the door & waved my mask. They said it was up to me so I went commando.

They weren't wearing masks - I think they live together so no need, & they were behind the perspex screen, so no worry there either. Common sense prevailed, I felt.

You could argue that had I sneezed & been unwittingly carrying covid I could've infected the empty, wipe-clean surfaces & passed it on somehow, but I think I had more chance of being hissed at by the local geese. In fact, I was hissed at because I was not going to share my lunch.

I braved the shops in my mask earlier because I really needed to go buy something. Mask was a total waste of time, it kept slipping down every 5 seconds! Not a fan! I need to go back out tomorrow to return the things for a different size but after that I'll be in and out in a flash, no wandering around browsing.

I am in and out of shops getting what I need and no more because I worry about people attacking me like in Helena's articles. Good for my efficiency and my wallet but not shops' profits.

"And it's affecting the way I interract with people which is of more importance than ever when I'm carrying out so few of my normal interractions"

Yes, I've noticed that too. I'm shy in certain situations & rely a lot on facial expressions if I'm a bit tongue-tied. I have also been brought up not to stare so my instinct is to look away from a face that looks "wrong" because of a mask on it.

That & the arrows & the rules etc makes me less inclined to make small-talk. But I don't want to lose that social contact so I'll keep trying. It's hard work though.

I've noticed some shop staff are really using a lot more eye contact. Not sure if they are subconsciously doing it to compensate for the concealed mouth. It's caught me off-guard a few times & feels a bit intense but I think they're being friendly so I'm trying to maintain eye contact & not retreat into my shell.

I suppose it's better than the shops where you are invisible.

What an interesting psychology/ human communication study it would make (though I could live without it).

@LivinLaVidaLoki

I've just seen a news article stating that retail trading has dropped since masks became mandatory. No one could see that coming could they.....

Another area Wales seems to be more sensible - only on transport - and part of their reasoning was anticipating discrimination against those who can't wear them.

I’ve just taken the kids up to meet my dad in Pitlochry and check out the salmon ladders.

The salmon ladders are closed due to the ‘rona. 🙄 because walking next to a river looking at fish is a HUGE risk.

Car parks, cafes + restaurants chocka and the traffic was SO heavy all the way. But hey, unsafe salmon.

I’m a fat Jewish autistic single mum. I’m basically the goddess of the new social cleansing. 😂

Drop off in sales doesn’t surprise me either. I got so stressed last time I was in a shopping centre with DS. Stupid mask seems to obscure a chunk of my vision below my nose and as anyone who has a toddler knows you need fucking 20 20 laser vision. So I can’t see him properly if he’s standing right next to me and he needs to stay in the buggy, which he hates. And the mask makes me too hot. I’m a clumsy bugger and half the time I look down at the floor and see I’m going in the opposite direction to the arrows, God knows how.

Monsoon lost a big old sale from me. I saw a lovely coat but as I couldn’t try it on I left it. I’m 5ft 9 and need to see that a coat will cover my bum. I can see the logic behind not letting me try on a top that’s going to come into contact with my sweaty armpits but a coat, which will only be touched by my hands and clothes? When loads of different hands have already touched that coat?

Monsoon lost a big old sale from me. I saw a lovely coat but as I couldn’t try it on I left it. I’m 5ft 9 and need to see that a coat will cover my bum. I can see the logic behind not letting me try on a top that’s going to come into contact with my sweaty armpits but a coat, which will only be touched by my hands and clothes? When loads of different hands have already touched that coat?

And yet I have been trying on and returning items of clothes that didn't fit that I bought online. You can see why the high street clothes stores are struggling for footfall.

@InsaneInTheViralMembrane

I’ve just taken the kids up to meet my dad in Pitlochry and check out the salmon ladders.

The salmon ladders are closed due to the ‘rona. 🙄 because walking next to a river looking at fish is a HUGE risk.

Car parks, cafes + restaurants chocka and the traffic was SO heavy all the way. But hey, unsafe salmon.

I’m a fat Jewish autistic single mum. I’m basically the goddess of the new social cleansing. 😂

@InsaneInTheViralMembrane how idiotic is that? The worst one I’ve heard so far was from my friend who took the Eurostar recently. I shit you not, he said there was an announcement over the tannoy saying there was no WiFi ‘due to the pandemic.’

@InsaneInTheViralMembrane

I’ve just taken the kids up to meet my dad in Pitlochry and check out the salmon ladders.

The salmon ladders are closed due to the ‘rona. 🙄 because walking next to a river looking at fish is a HUGE risk.

Car parks, cafes + restaurants chocka and the traffic was SO heavy all the way. But hey, unsafe salmon.

I’m a fat Jewish autistic single mum. I’m basically the goddess of the new social cleansing. 😂

Those disease ridden salmon are so dangerous you know they might jump out and bite you! Or you could fall in the river and need 15 police and firemen to rescue you, 3 ambulances to take you to hospital and you would kill them all with your germs. The giant Dr would be sobbing his heart out!

Hope Wee Nippy doesn't pick up on the over 50s crap! She can sod off. Plus what about staff who work in England but don't live there? Who the hell is gonna keep a roof over my kids heads if i don't continue working?

I queried my shielding letter with hosp and they agreed it wasn't necessary but I was on the list from year before for treatment. Wonder how many people shielded unnecessarily because they got an official bloody scary letter pages and pages long and it scared the crap out of them ? Losing income, losing contact with friends and family and the outside world for nothing

@LadyOfTheImprovisedBath I agree, Wales is now looking like the most sensible of the lot! The slow creep out of lockdown was horrendous to get through, but in every step since they have prioritised children and considered the effects on the less able. I feel like a hypocrite now, but I'm actually really glad to be here.

Cardiff city centre is looking amazing. Loads of people, all being responsible and social distancing, but spending money because the atmosphere is so upbeat.

I agree about Wales. I thought what the hell why are they dragging their feet esp about schools and what not and now they seem the most sane.

Just seen the over 50s thing. What a load of old shite.

The over 50's thing though is an absolute masterclass in click bait headlines. They're proposing risk assessments for over 50's and if you tick a number of boxes then they would advise greater caution. Not sure about actually putting you on a shielding list as obviously that would have a price tag attached to it.

Most of us are aware of the risk factors and have been using our own judgement anyway. The way you read some of the MSM they're about to round the over 50's onto cattle trucks!

The over 50s assessment in my head makes a bit more sense.

If someone has a lot of risk factors they could perhaps have more PPE if they work and or be advised to restrict contacts. People could therefore make their own judgment about looking after GC, meeting friends inside, shopping and eating out based on their own medical risk assessment.

More places could open with people managing their own social distancing depending on risk factors and their own judgement and lifestyle.

Just been to a retail park for emergency dog food. It seemed ludicrous that the shops and fast food places were open and busy and the massive gym shut 🤷‍♀️

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8585039/Professor-Robert-Dingwall-calls-sense-proportion-brands-Covid-19-nasty-infection.html
Yes it’s the DM, but it’s a bit of common sense

This has better be sorted before DH gets to 50 next year
Plus I've been looking forwards to a 40th birthday next spring.