To go to a local garden centre?

[Thetimehascomethewalrussaid]

I feel like I might get flamed for this. I'm on maternity leave and obviously we're in full lockdown. Where I live is also currently in the throes of Storm Christoph and the rain outside is literally like the wrath of god - so no chance of a walk. My baby is teething and really grumpy and I'm going out of my mind being stuck in the same four walls all day every day. All baby classes have been cancelled, can't even go somewhere for a quick coffee to break up the day. My husband is at work (he's a teacher and over half of the school are in because the government have massively expanded the list of what constitutes a 'key worker' - so it's not really a lockdown, but that's another thread!) We have a support bubble because we have a child under 1 but they're also at work in the week (also teachers). Our local garden centre (2 min drive away) is open - would I be unreasonable to pack the baby in the car and go and have a look round there for an hour? Just to break up the day and regain a bit of sanity? Not an essential journey, but arguably important for mental health! My husband now has weekly COVID tests - he had one yesterday and it was negative so it's highly unlikely we have it! Feel like I'm going mad!

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

That's a second time in Daily Mail for me😁 I might have to hire an agent soon😁

[SidekickSally]

Maybe we should all start taking personal accountability rather than rely on being told what we can and can’t do.

Start thinking “should I” rather than “can I”.

OP, yes you are allowed to go to the garden centre and clearly you have. I guess you felt the risk of catching something from everyone else there who thought the same was low?

[Cuntitinthebin]

I'm shocked they didn't post my comment.

Shocked.

[Dowser]

Well done everyone
We’ve made the daily Mail.
Must be a slow news day

Congratulations to all of you who got a mention.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9164731/Mother-BLASTED-wanting-garden-centre-pass-time.html

[GabriellaMontez]

@Eyeslikethesea

As a now ex supermarket staff, I implore you not to go. I got out of retail 4 months ago because I couldn’t take it anymore. Garden centers are open because of greedy bosses. Not because staff want to necessarily. I was so scared all the time but the anger that ate away at me because “browsers” just didn’t give a shit about me, my colleagues or my family. I know it’s hard for you, but please think about people who don’t have a choice

Greedy bosses
Is it greedy to bring in some money to pay the bills? Secure a future for your business and the staff that work in it?

[PunkAssMoFo]

Everyone’s mental health will be a lot worse the longer this drags on. We all fancy popping out to the shops for a browse, but if we all did that it would make rates go up again. One trip to the garden centre is not going to magically cure any mental health issues.

I’ve seen many a patient who ‘doesn’t really go out or see anyone’, but somehow managed to get Covid. They’ve probably managed to pass it on somewhere too.

[CherryRoulade]

I guess it depends whether you’d want an intensive care bed if you had a major postpartum haemorrhage?
The thing is you may think you’re low risk but if everyone who thinks they’re low risk carries on doing everything they want then it will take a whole lot longer to reduce ITU congestion.

Boredom is boredom.

[sweeneytoddsrazor]

There is a huge difference though between I want a pot plant/conifer/sun dial or whatever, great lets go to the garden centre and get one, and little Johnny is bored it's raining lets go for a trip to the garden centre wander round aimlessly browsing and the pick up a random thing to justify the trip. 1st scenario acceptable 2nd not acceptable

[countrygirl99]

@GirlCrush

What ‘flowers’ did the kid smile at? Our garden centre is merely shrubs at this time of year, not exactly spring just yet

Hellebore, primroses, pansies, hyacinths for a start

[Peanutquavers123]

@ScrumpyBetty that’s okay :) I didn’t phrase it very well in fairness! :)

[user1493494961]

Stay at home.

[ScrumpyBetty]

Ah sorry @Peanutquavers123 for misunderstanding you

[Haenow]

Quite clearly a goady thread but I’m glad I read it because of this little gem ”This reminds me of the thread where a poster insisted they had to take their toddler shopping (rather than leave him at home with his father) as he liked to woof at the dog food.” Thank you @RedskyBynight I must have missed that thread but you made me actually laugh.

[LadyCatStark]

Go if you must but be aware that a lot of other people have probably had the same idea as you. Before Christmas, our local garden centre had devised an Alton Towers style queueing system 😵.

[ilovesooty]

@Eyeslikethesea

As a now ex supermarket staff, I implore you not to go. I got out of retail 4 months ago because I couldn’t take it anymore. Garden centers are open because of greedy bosses. Not because staff want to necessarily. I was so scared all the time but the anger that ate away at me because “browsers” just didn’t give a shit about me, my colleagues or my family. I know it’s hard for you, but please think about people who don’t have a choice

A bit late now. She went, as she was always going to do by the looks of it.

[Peanutquavers123]

[quote ScrumpyBetty]@Peanutquavers123 guess supermarkets should be shutting their toy isles, their cosmetics and homeware isles, their stationary isles, even alcohol and cigarette sales should be stopped then as none of those are essential.
So how is going to an empty garden centre, where everyone is socially distanced and staff are behind screens any less risky or than going to Tesco to pick up wine, cigarettes and lipstick? [/quote]
You misunderstand - I’m all for going to garden centres!

I just don’t get the people claiming it’s an essential shop and you should only buy essential things that they sell and not candles etc... if it’s open go nuts, but don’t pretend like it’s an essential shop... especially in January!

As an aside, I really wanna go to my local garden centre tomorrow.

[Sparklingbrook]

Blimey I haven't bought a lipstick in ages. That's mask wearing for you.

[ScrumpyBetty]

@Peanutquavers123 guess supermarkets should be shutting their toy isles, their cosmetics and homeware isles, their stationary isles, even alcohol and cigarette sales should be stopped then as none of those are essential.
So how is going to an empty garden centre, where everyone is socially distanced and staff are behind screens any less risky or than going to Tesco to pick up wine, cigarettes and lipstick?

[Sparklingbrook]

[quote thosetalesofunexpected]@Thetimehascomethewalrussaid

I also say ignore Hysterical Posters
Who say /think You that everybody should be banned from going to Garden centres Cause of Covid 19

There is a real Valid reason why a lot of peoples struggling with mental/emotional health issues Since Lockdowns have started/ongoing situation!

Lockdowns envoriment is similar to a Prison/under house Arrest envoriment !

Such as in a Prison envoriment you are often/usually not allowed to have any visitors even family visit you have the Permission of the Prison Authorities !

Lockdowns/Prison envoriment you are often isolated either on your own/ or sharing a space within a confined envorimental for e.g a pressure cooker envoriment to have family arguments can over seemly trivial things(which part of bigger issues already were there before Covid 19 enhanced them),or trivial things can get under your skin,blown out of perspective !

Lockdowns/Prisons are/can be Claustropic feeling so enhances the feeling of being trapped /Cabin fever feeling..

Lockdowns/Prisons being cut off isolated from Nature affects us as people as we are part of Nature ,think of it we come into the world cause of Natural basic instinct reproduction !
At times it may seem we have become estranged/divorced from Nature look at the envoriment issues plastic Rubbish Pollution etc

Also Lockdowns/Prisons/under house arrests there are Curfews time restraints/No Autonomy so feeling out of Control enhances

Throw into the equation of the economic uncertainty such as Some Business established some time ago hitting the walls, some people uncertain if they will still have Jobs and how Covid 19 has changed (shifted the Jobs landscape in seismic way

High Tax worries !
Also worry of uncertainy of Covid times of how much Taxes are we going to end up having to pay back to improve the economics of the uk, cause of Furlough/the demands /pressures on NHS etc,?

I know nearly everywhere I go I see NHS rainbow signs on windows but
There is No endless Pots of Gold at the ends of the Rainbow, unlike Judy Garlands Character from children's family Wizard of OzOz

Also with throw in to Covid Times uncertainty of lack of Jobs or having one etc,
Knock on Dominoes effect
Reflects sign of Times are the rise of Food Banks/reliance on Welfare State Benefits System

So Any Posters who Dismiss /think Mental Health /Emotional Health Downplays This kind of Feeling as being a case of Just having a odd off day or a Case of Temper Tantrum of not having your Own way !

Is Clearly talking Through their Back side really ![/quote]
Prisons? Wizard of Oz? Dominoes? Temper tantrums?

[Peanutquavers123]

Just a quick point for everyone stating garden centres are essential to food production - do you all really think that farmers are popping to their local garden centre for a trowel?! They’ll use different suppliers, they won’t go buy their seed potatoes from there 😂

For anyone else, food production in England is a hobby. A lovely one at that, but still just a hobby. It’s about as essential as knitting.

[shinynewapple2021]

TBF if you have run out of pet food but don't need anything else from a supermarket you are probably safer to go either to a garden centre which stocks or to a pet store as there are likely to be less busy .

[VinylDetective]

@GirlCrush

What ‘flowers’ did the kid smile at? Our garden centre is merely shrubs at this time of year, not exactly spring just yet

Our supermarket has lots of pots full of daffodils, hyacinths, primroses and snowdrops. It’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that a garden centre also has them.

[thosetalesofunexpected]

@Thetimehascomethewalrussaid

I also say ignore Hysterical Posters
Who say /think You that everybody should be banned from going to Garden centres Cause of Covid 19

There is a real Valid reason why a lot of peoples struggling with mental/emotional health issues Since Lockdowns have started/ongoing situation!

Lockdowns envoriment is similar to a Prison/under house Arrest envoriment !

Such as in a Prison envoriment you are often/usually not allowed to have any visitors even family visit you have the Permission of the Prison Authorities !

Lockdowns/Prison envoriment you are often isolated either on your own/ or sharing a space within a confined envorimental for e.g a pressure cooker envoriment to have family arguments can over seemly trivial things(which part of bigger issues already were there before Covid 19 enhanced them),or trivial things can get under your skin,blown out of perspective !

Lockdowns/Prisons are/can be Claustropic feeling so enhances the feeling of being trapped /Cabin fever feeling..


Lockdowns/Prisons being cut off isolated from Nature affects us as people as we are part of Nature ,think of it we come into the world cause of Natural basic instinct reproduction !
At times it may seem we have become estranged/divorced from Nature look at the envoriment issues plastic Rubbish Pollution etc


Also Lockdowns/Prisons/under house arrests there are Curfews time restraints/No Autonomy so feeling out of Control enhances

Throw into the equation of the economic uncertainty such as Some Business established some time ago hitting the walls, some people uncertain if they will still have Jobs and how Covid 19 has changed (shifted the Jobs landscape in seismic way

High Tax worries !
Also worry of uncertainy of Covid times of how much Taxes are we going to end up having to pay back to improve the economics of the uk, cause of Furlough/the demands /pressures on NHS etc,?

I know nearly everywhere I go I see NHS rainbow signs on windows but
There is No endless Pots of Gold at the ends of the Rainbow, unlike Judy Garlands Character from children's family Wizard of OzOz


Also with throw in to Covid Times uncertainty of lack of Jobs or having one etc,
Knock on Dominoes effect
Reflects sign of Times are the rise of Food Banks/reliance on Welfare State Benefits System

So Any Posters who Dismiss /think Mental Health /Emotional Health Downplays This kind of Feeling as being a case of Just having a odd off day or a Case of Temper Tantrum of not having your Own way !

Is Clearly talking Through their Back side really !

[sweeneytoddsrazor]

Even if you are buying non essentials you should not be treating a shopping trip as a family day out. All shops whether you deem them as essential or not have a limit with regards to the numbers allowed in, so a family of 4 having a browse around for an hour then buying a nice little pot plant is not going to help whereas 4 different customers in an hour buying a pot plant might help significantly more. This is more what people need to be thinking about rather than the black and white should I go or not. Yes I get all the MH arguments but shops are not family days out.

[soundofsilence1]

I imagine less than 5% of the visits to garden centres are 'essential'. There can't be very many people visiting them for grow your own supplies in January and diy bits are generally minimal can be bought via click and collect. If all the non essential visits stopped it probably would not be worth them staying open.