Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To go to a local garden centre?

339 replies

Thetimehascomethewalrussaid · 19/01/2021 09:58

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!

OP posts:
Lovemusic33 · 19/01/2021 14:04

Compost is essential to me 😁, we grow our own veg and in the next month or so I will need compost to plant seeds for my veg (im sure vegetables are essential?). Garden centres were changed to essential because gardening improves mental health, during the first lockdown many of us turned to gardening to aid mental health. So technically OP used the garden centre for the right reasons.

Our local garden centre sells food (farm shop), others sell pet food, both of which are classed as essential.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 19/01/2021 14:08

It was actually quite sad during the first lockdown because it hit at the time farms grew all the plug plants for sale. I was ordering cucumbers and cucamelons and the delivery was still really wobbly.

Robbybobtail · 19/01/2021 14:08

Good for you OP!

Normal/rational people: 1
Dementors: 0

Until next time....

UrAWizHarry · 19/01/2021 14:11

@dayswithaY

What would be an essential item from a garden centre? Just curious really, I mean no one really needs potting compost or scented candles and you can buy pet food at supermarkets.
It's far better that places like garden centres/ off licences and stuff do stay open to sell things like pet food/tools etc, rather than concentrating everyone into a single supermarket or local shop.
BustopherPonsonbyJones · 19/01/2021 14:11

To be fair, it’s the government’s fault as they’ve allowed them to stay open and left it to individuals to decide what to do. I wouldn’t have done it (mainly because I don’t want to be ill and/or in hospital - I’m selfish) but your husband will be a fair risk after teaching in school anyway. Fingers crossed you aren’t contaminated.

Robbybobtail · 19/01/2021 14:13

contaminated! Grin

BogRollBOGOF · 19/01/2021 14:15

I'm glad that OP's had a good trip out. I find something thrillingly refreshing like a trip to the tip gives me a boost for a couple of days. I'd like to be irreverent as usual, but for once I'm serious!

I had a lovely trip to the garden centre in October. Things were OK at that point but the hard winter was on the horizon and rapidly approaching. I bought lots of pots, bulbs and winter bedding as a symbol of hope to keep me going until spring. Times are hard now, and it makes a difference seeing the tips of bulbs emerging as a sign of easier days approaching.

chaosrabbitland · 19/01/2021 14:16

@Seriouslymole

2 bits of advice
  1. do whatever you need to make it through this in one piece (within the rules -as this would be). Go and walk round the garden centre, wear a mask, keep your distance.
  1. do not ever post on MN asking whether you should set foot out the door - it is full of complete lockdown lunatics. Most people in real life are slightly more measured.
this . isnt it just all crying that if we only stay inside our houses like good little citizens this lockdown will be over soon , in a pigs ear it will , i wont be surprised if we are still living like this next winter . some of these ppl posting on here sound nuts
BustopherPonsonbyJones · 19/01/2021 14:17

Plague-ridden, virusey, lurgified! Take your pick. I’m being nice - I don’t agree with those of you who are ignoring the spirit of the lockdown but I don’t want you to be ill. Mainly because you might block the beds if I get it though.

Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2021 14:18

i wont be surprised if we are still living like this next winter

We will be if everyone keeps going out to Garden Centres for an hour for no reason. Nuts indeed.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 19/01/2021 14:21

@Sparklingbrook

i wont be surprised if we are still living like this next winter

We will be if everyone keeps going out to Garden Centres for an hour for no reason. Nuts indeed.

Tbf OP didn't go for no reason. She went shopping. But "I want to go buy something from garden centre" just doesn't bring as many comments as making it sound like a simple walk with no reason to actually go😂
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/01/2021 14:22

@TableFlowerss

**What do you call substantial food FFS?! Should my local corner shop close and go out of business?

Of course some things are essential to some but not others. Are you one of those who thinks only things that are essential to you should be allowed to open**

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Worrying about the local shop going out of business?? Most of the business in the leisure/recreation industry aren’t allowed to open full stop!! and many of them will be lucky to still have a viable business after all of this!

And when I said shops that see non essential items I meant the lines of the cheap ones that sell anything and everything! The reason being, folk are going for a day out and chose new throws and cushions.

Schools are closed for Christ sake, that’s a massive big deal! So the sooner this is over the sooner our kids can get the education they need. Yes - that’s far more important than having those shops/garden centres open. Folk are using it for something to do.

So don’t find at me with your sarky comments because if I had my way, everything would open instead of the economy going down the pan for this!

Why wouldn’t I worry about the corner shop going out of business? I’m also worried about the hairdressers and local restaurants as well. We’ll need these places when lockdown is lifted and I don’t want it to just the large chains left.

I apologise for thinking you’re ‘one of those posters’, there are so many of them about now it’s difficult to tell who is and who isn’t these days.

Dowser · 19/01/2021 14:23

Yes go, they need the business

chaosrabbitland · 19/01/2021 14:25

@Sparklingbrook

i wont be surprised if we are still living like this next winter

We will be if everyone keeps going out to Garden Centres for an hour for no reason. Nuts indeed.

nope whats nuts is your misplaced belief that our goverment is going to lift these restrictions just based on this crap . they are now saying even once the vaccine programme is done restrictions will still have to be in place . if you want to sit in your house for an indefinate periods of weeks and months at a time then fine carry on bedwetting , but some of us do actually think theres more to life than worrying about dying all the frigging time
Dowser · 19/01/2021 14:26

We went after Christmas
Was a nice little run out
They needed the business
Everyone was careful
I don’t see the problem

UrAWizHarry · 19/01/2021 14:26

@Sparklingbrook

i wont be surprised if we are still living like this next winter

We will be if everyone keeps going out to Garden Centres for an hour for no reason. Nuts indeed.

No, we won't.

Maybe if the government fucks up the vaccine program that it's fucked everything else up, but individuals going to open shops and distancing properly?

Nope.

AlwaysLatte · 19/01/2021 14:26

I think OP is lying down in a darkened room after reading some of these posts. I know I would be! Kindness would be good, especially now.

Dowser · 19/01/2021 14:28

Good for you op
I’ve stayed in the house for three days on the trot
Have I saved anyone’s life
Of course not

Greenknees · 19/01/2021 14:30

Well done OP! I went to the post office to send some birthday presents (non-essential really) and then popped into the coffee shop next door to it for a takeaway cappuccino- so shoot me! If I didn’t have the odd small outing like that I would barely leave the house as DH does our weekly shop. I need it for my sanity.

chaosrabbitland · 19/01/2021 14:31

@AlwaysLatte

I think OP is lying down in a darkened room after reading some of these posts. I know I would be! Kindness would be good, especially now.
i hope she isnt to be fair poor thing , shes maybe hoping to christ she does not know any of these people carrying on in an hysterical fashion in real life though lol
Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2021 14:31

nope whats nuts is your misplaced belief that our goverment is going to lift these restrictions just based on this crap

I don't believe I have ever stated my beliefs about what the government is going to do regarding lifting of restrictions. Don't know what you mean about 'bedwetting' but I have to go out to work so can't sit in the house even if I wanted to, sadly.

UrAWizHarry · 19/01/2021 14:31

@Greenknees

Well done OP! I went to the post office to send some birthday presents (non-essential really) and then popped into the coffee shop next door to it for a takeaway cappuccino- so shoot me! If I didn’t have the odd small outing like that I would barely leave the house as DH does our weekly shop. I need it for my sanity.
I sincerely hope you were dying of thirst and the only beverage available was a cappuccino.

Otherwise I am afraid we are going to have to put you against the wall.

Dowser · 19/01/2021 14:32

@Lippyheaven

We are all feckin board! I think people just post on here to cause an argument. People know full well we are on a lockdown. I don’t know what the words going out for essentials that people don’t understand? It’s the staff I feel sorry for. They don’t want to be working in a pandemic and haven’t the luxury of Wfh. They certainly don’t want you to visit because your board.
At least we are keeping the businesses ticking over The staff aren’t going to be very happy if their workplaces are closed and they have no job or no chance of getting one either As everywhere else was closed because some people were just too selfish, stayed at home all the time , instead of helping to support them
Dowser · 19/01/2021 14:34

@Greenknees

Well done OP! I went to the post office to send some birthday presents (non-essential really) and then popped into the coffee shop next door to it for a takeaway cappuccino- so shoot me! If I didn’t have the odd small outing like that I would barely leave the house as DH does our weekly shop. I need it for my sanity.
Of course you do And why not It’s allowed
CuppaZa · 19/01/2021 14:35

@Thetimehascomethewalrussaid it would be a real dickish thing to do