To talk to you about life in Spain right now

[Changednamesorry]

In case UK follows many other countries and tightens the rules, I made a post about what it's like here in Spain.

A few things worth buying. Vitamin D for kids in case you are not allowed to take them out from next week, especially if you have no outside space. Craft materials (these are now very scarce here as supermarkets have had to close that section if they had it to discourage browsing). Disney Plus for movie nights. Microwave popcorn!

I live in Spain. We have an apartment in the city centre and no outside space at all. I am separated from my son's father but we chose for him to move in just before the lockdown as we saw it coming in the news and wanted to ensure the kids were not separated from him for months on end. We get on very well, I appreciate this is not an option for everyone. We also have a flatmate who is a lovely 27 year old Portuguese guy. So we are 3 adults and 2 kids in 115 square metres of space..... And that's better than some of our friends who live in 60 or 70 square metre apartments. Spanish children have not been outside for 3 weeks. My sons are 9 and 3 and normally active boys doing lots of sports and we are normally out of the house every day between 8am and 8:30pm. That has all changed. Schools are fully closed and have been since 13th March, no exceptions.

1. How are people coping with kids?

Varying levels of coping, of course. Here with the little one I bake, do drawing, dance, play football inside etc. For the older one I made little bags. One has basketball drills (his favorite sport) which he does 2 a day. One has exercise sets (I will post an example), one has different amounts of screen time and one has activities linked to school (maths, history, Spanish, English, science projects, baking etc). He chooses 3 of those.

1. Grocery shopping.

My ex goes to the shops once every 6 days. That's it. You are asked to carry a paper justifying your journey. You can not go to whatever shop you choose. You must go to the closest one to home. If you are caught turning this into a walk you will be stopped and fined between 600 and 30000 euros. If the police decide you are covering up a walk with a "shopping trip".... Fined. Someone I know was fined 200 euros for only buying a can of coke and a chocolate. We have not seen scenes of panic buying or bulk buying here, possibly because in cities most do not have a car so you take a granny trolley and a couple of bags for life so no space for millones of toilet paper etc. This may be different in rural areas but there haven't been many reports of it (I haven't seen any, in fact). People wear a mask and gloves and supermarkets make you queue outside 2 meters apart and don't let many people in at a time. Most supermarkets also provide gloves and require you to wear them.

1. What can you leave the house for?

Essential food shopping, pharmacy, medical appointments, essential workers, walk your dog (but only so he can go to the toilet... No big long walks) Only allowed to leave the house individually unless you are accompanying someone who is unable to go alone.

4.Can you use your garden or roof terrace?
If it is for private use, yes. If it is for communal use (shared garden or roof terrace with other flats), no. You'll get fined as if you were outside.

1. Clapping?

Yes. Every night for keyworkers at 8pm. Most people join in. Slight difference with UK is its unusual for kids to be in bed before 9pm here. Occasionally will be extra one for kids at 6pm.

1. Doctors appointments

All non urgent appointments canceled. Telephone appointments with emailed prescriptions available and I had one within an hour of asking.

Please stay safe. It's difficult, but it's not forever and it will be less time the more people abide by the rules. Feel free to ask any questions and I will try to answer. It's tough, but we are coping. So will you if the UK tightens the rules for a while.

You've given a very fluffy view of your situation.

You found that fluffy?! Fuck me.

Ponoka7 in case you are confused, IMHO OP isn’t the Spanish Government.....

Have they shut down all non-essential industry?

In the UK we haven't, which means people are facing tougher and tougher restrictions while still being expected to get on public transport, alongside frontline workers, to go and do a non-essential job where it's difficult or impossible to socially distance.

There was nothing fluffy about the op’s account of her situation

I think some on here are wanting riots a little like after Brexit people were itching for an uprising to happen it won’t or shall be so minimal people will be shamed into being compliant because this impacts is all

Humans are incredibly adaptable we thrive under the most extreme conditions and we just about manage under the worse that doesn’t mean it doesn’t impact our physical and mental health but often less than we fear or the impact is later

I was there when the lockdown first happend and you didn't dare go out unless to the shops. We didn't realise the only two out at a time and were walking in threes, we got told off.
It did feel a little scary and the police stopped us a few times to check we were only going to the shop. My friends who were in a different apartment To us went for a little sit In the communal garden (they thought it was allowed) and people told them to get in or they would ring the police.

Are postmen/ women still working? And parcel delivery people are they classed as key workers?

I'm interested to read that they are now disinfecting streets and resorts.
I was under the impression that the virus isn't viable after a certain time: up to 72 hours on some surfaces.

Enthusiasm I do not think anyone is wanting riots here. Is a discussion that the possibility of them if certain social and economical factors fail actually wishing for them?

You need to re read what people are saying, no one is wanting them and assuming that is pretty poor form.

I'm in Spain as well, in an apartment with no garden. Two dc (age 6&2) and we haven't left the house in 23 days.

DC2 is thriving on the attention and extra time with us.

DC6 I'm getting very worried about. No motivation left.

All schools are closed by law so children of key workers are not in schools. I'm not sure where they are, I assume one parent is staying home.

I'm self employed and am not receiving any help at all, neither for my loss of income or to help with the mortgage. I'm really worried about money.

We do clap though, in fact our area has a mini disco after the clapping as there's a teenager with a sound system on one balcony who does one song per night. Last night was John Lenin's Imagine and is was lovely to hear the singing along all across The Valley.

It has just been extended to April 26 so it will be 5 weeks in total by then I think.

Tanith it’s very viable that the virus can last for extended periods of time depending on the type of material, metal, wood, plastic, concrete etc. That’s the reason all those videos from China were circulating showing the mass disinfection of streets and buildings.

I was going to ask about jobs too-we already cant mix households you have to stay put wher eyou are now

Postmen still working. But they stand well away from us when they hand over parcels.

Thank you for this post op its been very interesting. Stay safe x

I’m in Spain with a two year old, the measures are strict but necessary. Where I am there is less than 1000 cases in the whole area we are very lucky that we went into lockdown before it spread to badly. Most people are following the rules we can still get mail and arnt limited at the shop for what we can buy. I’ve seen only two older kids in 23 days and they were throwing out trash.

My flat is only 90 m2 with no outside space we deal with the mess and play with my dd she’s learning to play on her own now too yeah it’s hard but it’s necessary.

Thanks OP, sadly that level is needed here, unfortunately for the law abiding majority there are just too many twats out and about. Wonder if it will come next week.

Thank you for sharing this, OP.

Tanith just for you. 😊

And Ofitck, it will be six weeks or more of lockdown ( depending where you are).by 26th April, three lots of two weeks

sadly that level is needed here it is not needed here, and other countries are on much less restrictive regimes too, and not because they're behaving any better, eg in Bonn people were out looking at the cherry blossom despite having been asked to stay away.

OP it sounds really tough, sounds like standing in a queue to get into the supermarket would be the highlight of one's week :(

A dose of reality for some of the idiots here

What makes you think that the idiots would bother reading it

Sorry if I've missed it but what will the law be for co parenting family's? If they toughen the lockdown ?

Why are Spanish citizens obeying with staying in more than the uk?
Did you feel you had time to get a few things sorted before lock down? E.g I wanted to make sure I got a book back to the library.

Spanish help for the genuine self-employed. (not the cash cowboys)

murciatoday.com/self_employed_in_spain_entitled_to_700_euros_a_month_unemployment_benefit_during_the_coronavirus_emergency_1363139-a.html

hth

@Natsel84 they may move between parents homes every other week if no alternative possible but i believe only if the homes are close to each other not sure of the distance. They must carry the court order.

Oh my god
We won’t cope as a nation if they do that here
Brits just don’t seem to want to comply

@cologne4711

it is not needed here

Just wait a week or two...