To ask what on Earth wales are doing?

[Whenismumhome]

I don’t live in Wales but I’ve heard that they’re having a “firebreak” and shops cannot sell non essential items.

AIBU to think that that is just a step too far and completely over the top? Ok fair enough, tell people to stay at home but surely if someone needs to go shopping for essentials they can buy non essentials whilst they’re in a specific shop.

You think 2 weeks is bad?!! Just a few miles away we have 6 weeks of level 5 here in Ireland!! With non essential shops, gyms, libraries, swimming pools all shut again. And restaurant and pubs only doing takeaway or delivery. We're hoping it might only be a month though🤞.

@MadameBlobby

You are more trusting than I would be if you believe it’s only going to be 17 days. We were fed similar shite about a “reset” in Scotland and it’s now going on indefinitely.

That's not true. The rules are extended in the central belt until November 2nd when tiering comes in. Then each area should get some fairer treatment.

And if NS had shut diwn Glasgow earlier a lot of this could have been prevented.

The biggest fear I have is what happens to Wales once Scotland is independant.

Yeah this is a very real fear. Wales will need to take a serious look at itself to avoid becoming west Englandshire when Scotland leave.

I actually think all the different approaches being taken now by various places might be quite helpful to work out which strategy works best for the least trade off. National lockdown did work in a sense, but social care for example has still taken a big hit (not just human cost either, which was heartbreaking, but financially and mental wellbeing too). The problem is there is simply no easy answer to this at all, the testing system speaks for itself and the virus has ran rampant through schools and universities.

I would also support a similar approach-or even stricter-to that taken in Wales-if there is evidence it will work for longer than a couple of weeks and people who are financially impacted are properly supported. With question marks over whether people even develop long term immunity to COVID, (antibodies appear to dissipate quicker than originally thought, although T Cell immunity not fully understood yet), all countries, not just ours, are going to have to decide what the long game is now.

It might be that we have to concentrate on therapeutics, a MUCH better testing system and long term behaviour modification rather than vaccines/eradication. Which is a tough pill to swallow, but that is where we are.

So far we’re doing exactly what we would have in any other half term; nice walks in the mountains, bike rides to the beach, kicking leaves in the woods. We’re lucky to have all these things right on our doorstep so it’s not a bit like being under house arrest

Everyone I know thinks Drakeford has got it right and we spend a lot of time being concerned about friends in England. Don’t worry about us.

Oh and as for shopping more locally, we have a thriving swapshop-type arrangement where if you need something, someone locally will leave it in their garden for you to pick up on your daily exercise. I’ve seen a huge increase in this sort of recycling (all done sensible and carefully with no contact). As well as our little local shop getting in loads of supplies so that we don’t have to traipse out to the supermarkets and we keep our spending even more local than usual (they were amazing in lockdown before). They’ve also set up some online events for the community to come together which is great.

It’s only two weeks and if it brings down rates in Wales enough that we can be together for Christmas then I’m more than happy.

I always used to think Wales was better off as part of the U.K., but I’m changing my mind day by day.

I’d much rather do occasional two week lockdowns than this gradual drip of rule changes that no one understands.

And on the news this morning talk is of a national lockdown...

It’s very silly. People aren’t catching this browsing the clothing aisles.

I always used to think Wales was better off as part of the U.K., but I’m changing my mind day by day

I was the same. Before the Scottish referendum I was dead set against that path for Wales but now I’m a member of Yes Cymru. Is there an Annibyniaeth thread anywhere?

I live in Wales and although do not disagree with the principle of a firebreak, after all it is only for 2 weeks, but what worries me is what comes after......MD has already said new measures will be brought in after the 17 dyas is up. And also the fact that another one is already on the cards for jan/feb time.....

I find the 'non essential' side of shopping very dictatorial though - I doubt many people go to their local supermarket to 'browse'. To pick up a book or some knickers yes, but to spend hours trying on clothes?

@TrufflyPig

I always used to think Wales was better off as part of the U.K., but I’m changing my mind day by day

I was the same. Before the Scottish referendum I was dead set against that path for Wales but now I’m a member of Yes Cymru. Is there an Annibyniaeth thread anywhere?

If there isn’t, then I think we need one. I know a lot of people who feel the same - people who have always been against it up until now.

I find the 'non essential' side of shopping very dictatorial though

Stopping people from buying certain items from certain stores for two weeks is hardly dictatorial. The fact you are totally free to complain about it means you do not in fact live under a dictatorship. It is possible to have a conversation about devolved power without throwing around the D word (I’ve seen the other thread but no way am I engaging with it).

@TrufflyPig

I think the English media as usual is whipping up a storm out of nothing to try and quash any notion of independence, support for which has surged as of late. They do the same for Scotland, Sturgeon can’t fart without them curtain twitching! It’s belittling.

The English media has hardly mentioned it. Other than the Daily Heil, obvs.

There was little or no mention of it in the Times.

I didn't realise that you were only allowed to read, and comment on, news from your own territory. Lets get rid of all those threads about Trump, then.

I never thought I would support an independent Wales - in fact I voted no to more powers in the last referendum, which I regret now! Since the Brexit referendum, and the horrors that the Tories have reaped on this country my views have changed completely. If Scotland leaves we will be in big trouble, we’ll be stuck with a Conservative government forever. I’ll be voting Plaid in May.

And MN had better delete this thread too: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4060923-Damning-report-about-Sweden how dare anyone who doesn't live in Sweden (or indeed is not Swedish) comment on anything that happens there?

Trump affects all of us though - Boris is waiting for the US election result before committing to a deal with the EU. I’m not sure Mark Drakeford has any effect whatsoever on the other nations of the U.K., and certainly not to that degree!

I live in Wales and I actually do get the sentiment regarding the ban on selling non essential items to make the playing field level for all shops. However, it was badly set out which is why you got utter douchebag (individual) retail mangers banning the sale of things like tampons, baby bottles and other random but very essential items. My local Tesco for example, have cordoned off the clothes, toys and hairdryers etc but haven’t gone power crazy and taped off off the tampax or the tommee tippee.

Anyway, here’s hoping the firebreak or whatever they want to call it works to some degree.

Of course you can comment on other countries affairs but don’t do it under the guise of ‘being concerned for our wellbeing’.

There is a very transparent and constant narrative they are using in the English media (which is inherently the Welsh one as we don’t really have an independent media). Throwing out the words ‘confusing’, ‘baffling’, ‘controversial’ etc when it comes to the devolved governments not wanting to follow England’s lead. It’s all to start a discourse about how ridiculous a notion independence is, keep the smaller nations in their place.

You might not always pick up on it if you aren’t Welsh or Scottish though, it’s just another click bait article. That’s why people are being ‘sensitive’ on this thread.

Another Wales resident here in support of the firebreak. And in support of another in the New Year.

We should of done the same in england but then we have boris .

It's really not that big a deal. I'm in Wales and support the lockdown fully

Well said TrufflyPig.

[quote IndiaMay]@JesusInTheCabbageVan dont know why your posting things like that when all I've seen is Wales refusing to sell women sanitary products, some bloke shopping in his boxers because clothes are no longer essential and no ability to buy alcohol from even shops after 10. Wales is a fucking shambles but cheers I'll go down the pub for my sunday lunch this weekend and go see my mum on her birthday Thursday[/quote]
Good for you, enjoy it! while you can

[quote MadameBlobby]@Mydogmylife the result of the US elections doesn’t affect us here as we don’t live there but a lot of people still want Trump to lose.I like
It when incompetent politicians get their comeuppance at the hand of the electorate.[/quote]
What?? The result of the US election affects the whole planet!

Disappointing to see the OP feels sympathy for the people in Wales, because we are being cared for in difficult circumstances. She must prefer the chwit-chwat approach in England, leaving everyone at sixes and sevens.