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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

OK, this isn't funny any more. Where's the army?

999 replies

Orangejuicemarathoner · 27/09/2021 18:53

One quarter of staff and students late to school this morning, and 10% didn't get there at all. It has been announced that, excepting physical disability, any student within 4 miles or adult within 6 miles will be expected to walk in, but Its expected to be worse tomorrow with a good chance we will be closed by Wednesday.

AA reporting over 100 "incidents" on the road within a 10 mile radius of the school - mostly roads blocked, and mostly by queues outside petrol stations.

I struggled to get home by bike, because of the chaos on the roads - I got off my bike and walked several miles of it.

I called in at a supermarket on the way home. The shelves were more than three quarters empty. No bread or milk. So I'm sitting here drinking black tea planning rice for dinner instead of cheese on toast.

I know its not a catastrophe that I spent an extra hour getting home, and dont have milk in my tea, but what is that saying about the state we are in?

AIBU to say the army should be called in. What have we got an army for? Surely, an organisation of thousands of fit, capable, organised individuals, with vehicles and capacity and skills in logistics is exactly what we need to be utilised in this situation right here right now.

PS, is it ok to feed dog food to cats? does anyone know?

OP posts:
longwayoff · 28/09/2021 10:50

I hope Bozo picked up a good banana deal from Bolsanaro in Brazil the other day. Look at the State of our country! Banana republics have handled things better.

Mamamia7962 · 28/09/2021 11:15

Shallwegoforawalk - Is that the meat section, because last week newspapers were running stories on how supermarkets could run out of meat in a few weeks. People read that and they think it's actually going to happen so start panic buying and then the newspapers have the sensationalist story they want showing empty supermarket shelves. It's just click bait journalism.

bongsuhan · 28/09/2021 11:52

Britain has become very useful as an example of all the benefits of the single market and what can happen when they are gone.

Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 28/09/2021 12:08

@Mamamia7962

OP - Getting a bus at 6.10am isn't that bad, it will only be temporary.
I normally get the bus before that time - but the bus is not useable to the moment. Not all are running, and those that are are not stopping here because they are full. I tried to get an earlier bus, but couldn't do that either, so am home for the day
OP posts:
Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 28/09/2021 12:10

[quote Shallwegoforawalk]@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend

My local M&S yesterday, Scotland:[/quote]
our local supermarket looks like that Sad

Last time, when the shelves were about a third full, I asked the manager when the next delivery would come in, he said it just had, and this was the post-delivery look

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 28/09/2021 12:14

@Mamamia7962

Shallwegoforawalk - Is that the meat section, because last week newspapers were running stories on how supermarkets could run out of meat in a few weeks. People read that and they think it's actually going to happen so start panic buying and then the newspapers have the sensationalist story they want showing empty supermarket shelves. It's just click bait journalism.
I dont eat meat - I was trying to buy bread and milk -and cat food - obviously a rare and exotic shopping list. I couldnt get any of it
OP posts:
FOJN · 28/09/2021 12:20

No other countries have fuel or food shortages. The UK is the only country so short of drivers it's affecting the supply chain.

It's been going on in the USA for longer.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-24/u-s-food-suppliers-are-having-trouble-keeping-shelves-stocked

Video here explaining some of the global supply chain issues.

EerieSilence · 28/09/2021 12:21

I just laughed at Boris's suggestion that the generous 3 months visa for EU HGV drivers will sort it out.
The irony that the "cheap EU labour" is suddenly so valuable. Why can't they make a condition for all unemployed that they will be willing to have a training and certification in one of the "cheap and unskilled" professions Britain is going to lack long-term before they give them the dole?

Harrydresdenssidekick · 28/09/2021 12:38

To all the military wives who have been on the receiving end of unpleasant posts about those who serve in the military. FlowersFlowers

Hoppinggreen · 28/09/2021 12:43

I have spent the morning On a zoom call to Germany
They find it very funny that we can’t get any fuel
I have just been to my closest 4 petrol stations - there were no queues, because there was no diesel!!
I’m not laughing

Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 28/09/2021 12:48

I spoke to some relatives in France a few days ago - their news is full of the issues in the UK. Not anywhere else in Europe - the UK. They are shocked and bemused at the accounts they see of what is happening. BJ is viewed as a Trump clone.

OP posts:
VirtueClapper83 · 28/09/2021 12:49

Nurse and teacher here. Both our cars quarter tank on Saturday so filled up. We’ll be ok now for a couple of weeks or longer as live 6/9 miles from work and will be mixing up car journeys with cycling to work (weather dependent/forecast shite).
It’s like a mass social experiment going on out there and the people of this country really are fucking stupid! Anything to protect our ‘bubbles’ eh? Selfish cunts 😂

MurielSpriggs · 28/09/2021 12:54

@Hoppinggreen

I have spent the morning On a zoom call to Germany They find it very funny that we can’t get any fuel I have just been to my closest 4 petrol stations - there were no queues, because there was no diesel!! I’m not laughing
Some of us in Britain are finding it amusing too. This is due to our own collective decisions, and the damage to our economy and supply chains was not exactly unforeseeable!
EerieSilence · 28/09/2021 12:56

I have spent the morning On a zoom call to Germany
They find it very funny that we can’t get any fuel

TBH, considering the macho attitude of British politicians regarding the Brexit, there's definitely a huge fun factor to the whole fuck up.
Especially when I remember all the posts on Mumsnet from pro-Brexit posters who were just glad that the cheap workers were going home because they can finally get jobs and everything is going to be better, cheaper, more plentiful .... Bet they're saying it's just teething problems as they are preparing for the HGV certification.

knittingaddict · 28/09/2021 13:00

I managed to fill up with petrol this morning, although queues and traffic were quite bad due to where the petrol station is. There was one women filling up her big car and at least two cans with petrol. Another man filling up a can of fuel too. I'm afraid I did judge a bit at seeing that. Some places have banned the filling of petrol cans, but not this one.

CraftyGin · 28/09/2021 13:05

They find it very funny that we can’t get any fuel

But plenty of people are getting fuel!

Blossomtoes · 28/09/2021 13:08

@Hoppinggreen

I have spent the morning On a zoom call to Germany They find it very funny that we can’t get any fuel I have just been to my closest 4 petrol stations - there were no queues, because there was no diesel!! I’m not laughing
Sunlit uplands, eh?
Tealightsandd · 28/09/2021 13:11

The government will do something when it hits the rest of the UK harder than it already is.

As it's currently London and the surrounding south east counties bearing the brunt, they don't care. Plus ca change.

Octopie · 28/09/2021 13:12

@Hoppinggreen

I have spent the morning On a zoom call to Germany They find it very funny that we can’t get any fuel I have just been to my closest 4 petrol stations - there were no queues, because there was no diesel!! I’m not laughing
They sound nice don't they, its weird people actually behave in this manner
Tealightsandd · 28/09/2021 13:14

I have spent the morning On a zoom call to Germany
They find it very funny that we can’t get any fuel

Well you get spiteful minded people who laugh at other people's misfortunes everywhere. But those people you spoke to don't represent the majority of Germans.

FanGirlX · 28/09/2021 13:14

@QueenoftheKarens

Plenty of petrol where I live, no queues no nothing. It must be a southern thing. I feel for you though it's getting silly - didn't people learn the first time with the toilet roll?
All fine here in suburban Manchester too. Noticeable queues at petrol stations but only 2/3 cars long.
waterlego · 28/09/2021 13:18

I’m not finding any of this funny at all. I find it utterly depressing and am beginning to struggle to find reasons to get out of bed of a morning. Humanity is fucked.

DottyHarmer · 28/09/2021 13:22

I agree with the minimum spend. Except for motorbikes etc. Also Jerry cans should be banned.

I remember the last petrol crisis where they discovered idiots queueing for hours and could only squeeze in £2 of fuel.

I went to Sainsbury’s yesterday (did not get petrol) and the aggression on some people’s faces who were queueing. I really would not like to tell some of them they had jumped the queue…

Hoppinggreen · 28/09/2021 13:23

@Tealightsandd

I have spent the morning On a zoom call to Germany They find it very funny that we can’t get any fuel

Well you get spiteful minded people who laugh at other people's misfortunes everywhere. But those people you spoke to don't represent the majority of Germans.

DH is German so I do know a bit about their sense of humour. It was more a gentle mocking than anything else and given and taken in the spirit it was meant. No spite
DottyHarmer · 28/09/2021 13:23

I feel the same @waterlego . So many people seem just out for themselves and are so ill-mannered.