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!

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.

@Sparklingbrook

I don't know of an garden centres that sell P* F*d. There's B&M/Pets at Home/Home Bargains/every single supermarket for that.

Ours do, and all the ones where I lived before. Squires, Wyevale for a start. They also have Pets Corner concessions so it is possible to buy the better quality food rather than the Whiskas and Felix type stuff and things that are not available in supermarkets or PAH, and a good selection of litter, small pet supplies, frozen raw food.

Plus aquarium things which are in a different section of the GC and not possible to find in a supermarket, pumps, water treatments etc.

Of course you can go!

Gardening isn't essential so if you could go to a garden centre ONLY for essential purchases, there would be no point in them opening!

I'm sure the staff will thank you - especially if you buy something to keep them in a job.

If its open YANBU.

@SlopesOff we do have a Wyevale (now Blue Diamond) with attached aquarium bit but no pet food. I guess it all hinges on what other shops are around as to whether they would want to sell it.
Maybe round here is well served without them having to.

It's probably a family owned/ small business. If you go and buy something (putting money into the economy) then I don't see the problem. I'm on maternity leave too, but fortunately my support bubble are retired so I get plenty of company. When they had to isolate i felt so lonely, in fact i spent a lot of the time crying, so I totally sympathise with you doing it all the time.

There’s been a few examples of the essential things garden centres sell on this post

@PinkSparklyPussyCat
There’s ‘essential for some’ and properly ‘ESSENTIAL’.

FWIW - I also think shops that don’t sell substantial food should be made to close.

@Sparklingbrook

it is full of complete lockdown lunatics

Rude.

True

It's always a First-time-poster, isn't it? Never the gumption to post under their usual screenname.

OP is sat smirking at her early daffs resting a frothy coffee by now

Got any half naked pics of forrin leaders Sparkling?

@TheQueef

OP is sat smirking at her early daffs resting a frothy coffee by now

Got any half naked pics of forrin leaders Sparkling?

No more, and I have searched, believe me. Only the Greek one so far.

It’s your choice. It’ll be you stuck in the house next week with a teething baby AND Covid on top of it if you catch it. Some of these posts about dying are ridiculously OTT, but I’ve known young, fit friends who’ve had it- and they really don’t recommend it at all.

Will you think it’s worth it just for a cactus and tin of travel sweets?

Firstly, you can't rely on those weekly covid tests if they are home kits.

My partner works for the NHS. His colleage was feeling unwell and did 4 of those tests on different days and they were all negative. Then her husband got ill, went for a test at a test centre and it turns out she and everyone in her house were actually positive.

The home test kits really aren't very reliable, so the fact that your husband is doing those is a non-factor.

I see what you're saying about mental health, but I really don't think you should be going to the garden centre. Obviously I can't tell but from your post it sounds more "a bit fed up" than "mental health crisis", so tbh I think you can deal with it.

Imagine if everyone else had that idea and the place would be packed (I wouldn't be surprised if it is busy actually as it's the only place open that people tend to like to "potter around").

YABU.

YABU We are all bored and fed up, don't put yourself or your baby at risk. Wrap up warm put your coat on and go for a walk outside instead.

I would go. The staff will want you there of course (as long as you buy something). They will all be out of a job if nobody buys anything and most things in a garden centre are not ‘essential’ but as they are allowed to be open they can’t go on furlough.

Another point to make is that your husband works in a school so he is a high risk of having it and passing it on to you.

There is a good chance that you could be carrying it and then you would go to the garden centre and pass it on to others.

Unless you are literally having a mental health crisis (which I don't think you are) you are extremely irresponsible to go walking around a garden centre for no reason other than to get out of your house.

Go OP. Go and enjoy it.

Tomorrow go to a supermarket and browse the home and clothing sections too. Fab day out!

If you don't want to be "at risk" don't leave the house ever!!! Unless you're vulnerable your risk of harm from covid is extremely low. The baby is more likely to get a cold, however this is actually good for them as it builds their immunity and they need to be exposed to germs. I hope you have gone and had a nice time...I went the other day and bought some veg seeds... Mumsnet covid vigilante forum, is this allowed?!

Mumsnet covid vigilante forum

Lol

@ManCubsMama

Go OP. Go and enjoy it.

Tomorrow go to a supermarket and browse the home and clothing sections too. Fab day out!

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

Put on a coat, put waterproof cover on buggy, and go for a walk in the rain. I used to find it lulled DD (a sleep hater) quite well and I still got fresh air (winter baby with DH working FT so long days alone at home - but before pandemic).

Leave the makings of a cup of tea/coffee/hot choc (your fav) ready before you go out, and enjoy.

YWBVU to go to a GC at the present time.

Bit bored today. Might have a walk in b&m. Idk

Go, support an ailing business. Growing food is essential and gardening is important for mental health. Just take the appropriate precautions. They’re allowed to be open, use them.

I should have added there were no groups around locally that I could find when DD was a baby. I was pretty much alone all day because everyone around us was also WFT during the day. And our family lived almost 3 hours away so that wasn't an option either.

So I am coming at this from the perspective of someone who was quite isolated at that time. And in the depths of a wet miserable winter.

You're not the wicked witch of the west that a drop of rain will melt you - wrap up well, and get out into it.

It is actually possible to go outside in rain.

Put on a waterproof coat, pull down the cover over the pushchair. A quick 10 minute walk around the block and you'll feel better.

You REALLY don't need to go to the garden centre.