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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Re shop openings on the 12th April

116 replies

Timeisavirtue · 16/03/2021 22:23

I’ve been thinking about this a lot and think it’s a really really stupid idea that they are planning on opening shops half way during the half term. I work in a clothing retail and I’m itching to go back to work after being furloughed since Christmas Eve but I think this is by far the stupidest idea Bojo has suggested. I think it would be better to wait a week and ease into it as kids will be at school.

OP posts:
thenightsky · 16/03/2021 22:54

Easter isn't, and never has been, 'half term'. Its end of term. Half is halfway through a term, so February, May and October.

fluffysocks89 · 16/03/2021 22:55

We’ve got supermarkets open, what’s the difference.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 16/03/2021 22:59

@mum2jakie

Delay any longer and there won't be any shops left to reopen!
Hmm a week would make no difference to viability, might make a difference to the spread.
Midlifephoenix · 16/03/2021 23:00

I live in SE England and kids are back by then here. Guess different authorities have their own term dates.

Original poster
Timeisavirtue · 16/03/2021 23:04

@thenightsky

Easter isn't, and never has been, 'half term'. Its end of term. Half is halfway through a term, so February, May and October.
Okay sorry for the wrong terminology but it has absolutely nothing to do with wether it’s better to wait a week 🤦🏼‍♀️ 😂 only on mumsnet would you find people pathetic enough to point this out 😂
OP posts:
EternalOptimist7 · 16/03/2021 23:05

The kids go back on April 19th here

RampantIvy · 16/03/2021 23:07

Not in Leeds they're not

They are in Barnsley and Doncaster, but not in Sheffield, so Meadowhall will be busy.

LaurieFairyCake · 16/03/2021 23:07

In London, the 12th is the beginning of the 2nd week.

They're going by the science - cases are really low now

FoxyTheFox · 16/03/2021 23:14

We've got open up at some point and, while there is plenty I could criticise about the government's handling of covid, at least they're not rushing re-opening this time like they did last time. The case numbers are dropping significantly, as are the deaths, and the numbers vaccinated are increasing. Given that large numbers of people are currently mixing at work, school, parks, the beach, supermarkets and other essential shops, inside homes, etc I really don't think that opening up nonessential shops is going to lead to a massive spike in cases.

Lou98 · 17/03/2021 00:40

I really don't think it makes a difference waiting a week or not. Most people I know with kids would rather wait to go shopping when they're at school anyway so don't think it will make it any busier opening them on the 12th.

As PP said, if they wait much longer there won't be many shops left to open.

sleepwouldbenice · 17/03/2021 00:48

So I am now really jealous that some people get to take a break or go shopping at Easter and we get f all!

Becca19962014 · 17/03/2021 01:12

Some places now have set holidays for "Easter" regardless of where Easter falls and gave for some years. I know some elected to have the first two weeks of April for example so sometimes this means extra time off if Easter is later or earlier. Others have the last week of March and first week of April so again if outside that time get extra days off.

It was done to avoid confusion. Supposedly.

Becca19962014 · 17/03/2021 01:13

And wasn't done the same everywhere.

Living in a touristy area it's meant that tourist season now begins last week of March regardless of actual holidays and now ends last week of October, even though some schools have half term later.

ConeHat · 17/03/2021 01:20

I dont think anywhere except Primark is going to see a rush of people. It's been a year on and off and theres nothing much I cant buy in a supermarket that I can find on the high street.

Plus I'm so tuned into getting only what the kids really need clothes wise I dont think I would find much joy in browsing my half empty high street for clothes none of us have anywhere to go in. My town and city high streets have been decimated.

I cant see myself rushing out on the 12th with kids in tow. Spending and shopping habits will take a long time if ever to return for me.

SleepingStandingUp · 17/03/2021 01:21

We're not back for the NEW TERM until 19th here in the West of the Midlands. I've got 56 ton of charity stuff to take up so we will go into town with DS but it'll be to the charity shop. We certainly won't be making a day of it queued up outside JD Sports or Primark like lots of people did last time

May17th · 17/03/2021 01:25

I think they need to open the shops they have been closed a while. I want to get DS cheap summer clothes for summer.

GiveMeNovocain · 17/03/2021 01:29

I guess it depends if you want a job to go back to. Our city centre is emptying out fast.

Flowerlane · 17/03/2021 04:30

In the south east here and we go back the 12th.

Also don’t think the shops will be that busy. Most shops have sold online the only exception I can think of that will be busy is Primark. Grin

I remember when the shops opened up after the 1st lockdown I was talking to a manger of a shop chain and she said it had been empty everyday since they reopened, she was sat twiddling her thumbs.

HeartsAndClubs · 17/03/2021 04:39

That degree in epidemiology must be really going to waste what with you working in a shop.

PlanetPuddle · 17/03/2021 06:57

I think they wanted to open everything up but had to wait 5 weeks after each thing so sounds like they could have opened shops earlier but thought it safer to wait 5 weeks.

PlanetPuddle · 17/03/2021 06:58

I can't imagine many people will be out shopping though. We've survived this long without buying new clothes. It will just be fashion conscious and those with an essential need.

PlanetPuddle · 17/03/2021 07:00

I could be wrong and there will be crowds but you'll have distancing measures in place.

peak2021 · 17/03/2021 07:01

OP whether or not children are back at school, starting re-opening on a Monday will mean it is not a rush concentrated over the first weekend. The timing of changes when restrictions were introduced or removed during last year was poor or in some cases I would consider disastrous, so this may be a lesson finally remembered from experience.

Personally I would have removed restrictions in a different order, and think the Welsh (so far) are doing it in a better way, but my opinion would never be listened to by Mr Johnson even if I met him.

I think the House of Commons might be in recess that week, which may in part explain the timing too.

withmycoffee · 17/03/2021 07:02

@cardibach

Easter holidays vary, Easter can be at the start, middle or end. OP is unreasonable in referring to it as ‘half term’. The confusion of this really fucks me off. It’s simple. It’s been the same for donkeys. 3 terms, holidays Christmas, Easter and Summer. Half terms fall between those. This is marginally less irritating than people referring to eg October half term as ‘the end of term’
Your anger is unreasonable. But I am completely in agreement with you and your outrage GrinGrinGrin
Waxonwaxoff0 · 17/03/2021 07:05

Yes, Mumsnetters know better than the experts who devised this timetable.